Since the competition began in 1992, footballers from 128 different nations have played in the Premier League. With FIFA recognising 211 national associations, this leaves 83 countries that have never supplied a player to England’s top tier.
Since the competition began in 1992, footballers from 128 different nations have played in the Premier League. With FIFA recognising 211 national associations, this leaves 83 countries that have never supplied a player to England’s top tier.
Several heavily populated states remain absent from the league’s history. Among them are Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam, all of which have never had a footballer featured in the Premier League.
Geographically, the competition has welcomed players from almost every part of the world. Six continents have been represented, with Antarctica standing alone as the only continent without any involvement.
In contrast, England dominates participation numbers with 1,736 players. France follows with 242, then Scotland (218), the Republic of Ireland (209), Spain (172), the Netherlands (155), Wales (135), and Brazil (125).
Haiti most recently joined the list of represented countries after Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde changed his international registration from France.
A small group of countries have barely featured at all. Armenia, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Malta, Kenya, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, and Mozambique have each been represented by just one player in the division.
The same applies to several other nations across different regions. Suriname, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Syria, and Uzbekistan have all had a single footballer appear in the Premier League.
Despite India having more than one billion inhabitants, it remains without a Premier League representative. This contrasts with neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh, both of which have already had players involved.
Former Fulham defender Zesh Rehman represented Pakistan between 2005 and 2019, while Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury recently opted to play for Bangladesh after featuring for England at the youth level.
Changing international allegiance can open doors but is often complex. Eligibility usually requires a clear personal link, such as birth in the country or parents or grandparents who were born there or lived there continuously for at least five years after turning 18.
India presents a particular challenge because its citizenship law does not permit dual nationality. Since 2008, overseas citizens of India have also been barred from competing for the country in sports, meaning players must hold an Indian passport and give up any other citizenship.
Former Australia and Fulham forward Ryan Williams, who never played in the Premier League, followed that route in 2025. He renounced his Australian nationality and secured a No Objection Certificate from Australia’s football authorities to complete the switch.
Even with nationality resolved, overseas players must still obtain a UK work visa. Approval is based on a points system assessing international appearances, playing time in elite leagues, and the standing of a player’s club.
Some nations are close to gaining their first Premier League representative. Mauritius is one such example.
West Ham’s Gabriel Caliste, who already has nine international appearances, would become the island nation’s first player in the Premier League if he features for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Other potential breakthroughs could come through dual-nationality players. Arsenal’s Marli Salmon has Mauritian roots, while Chelsea’s Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Manchester City’s Divine Mukasa are eligible through Ugandan heritage.
Their future international choices could see new countries added to the Premier League’s expanding global footprint.
