By now, we are used to seeing British footballers play abroad. Harry Kane scoring goals for fun in Munich, Bellingham lighting it up in Madrid, and more recently, a gold rush of players to the Saudi Pro League.

But beyond the headlines, there’s a wave of British footballers making names for themselves in unexpected corners of the world, away from the bright lights of Europe or the money from America or Saudi Arabia.

From Mexico to Malaysia, Nepal to Jordan, a group of UK-born footballers are scattered across the world, rewriting the stories of their careers. Whether it’s former internationals seeking a fresh start or journeymen trying to find their true home, these Brits are showing just how unique a footballer’s journey can be.

This article sheds light on some footballers who have seemingly disappeared from the game, only to resurface as cult heroes worldwide.

One Last Adventure: Aaron Ramsey Heads to Mexico

Just this summer, we have seen one of the most high-profile moves in this mould, as Aaron Ramsey, one of Wales’s most successful players, looks set to sign for Pumas UNAM in Mexico. After returning home to his boyhood club, Cardiff City, many thought Ramsey would retire there. But, after a rather unsuccessful spell, culminating in a short spell as player-manager in the final games of the season, where Cardiff were relegated to League One, he has decided to cross the Atlantic for one final challenge in Liga MX.

In an era where veterans are opting for the financial comforts of Saudi Arabia or the MLS, Ramsey’s move stands out. Aged 33, he has chosen to test himself far from home, in a different culture, far away from the noise of the UK game in a league and country known for its chaos and its passion. While he may be passing up that final big pay day, the memories and experiences he will create in Mexico may prove to outshine any paycheque.

Ramsey and his likely move to Pumas UNAM

The Reinvention of Jesse Lingard

Speaking of big-name players going down unique paths, Jesse Lingard has to be mentioned. After his Manchester United career was over, Lingard struggled to find a home in the Premier League. His one-year stint at Nottingham Forest ended unsuccessfully, with him being released after his contract expired in summer 2023. At this point, it was hard to see a way back for Lingard. Particularly when he entered 2024 still without a club. But Lingard took a gamble, and whether it was his first choice or not, he signed for FC Seoul in South Korea.

Many dismissed the move as a PR stunt or a cash grab, but after a sticky start, Lingard has seemingly embraced life in Asia both on and off the pitch. He has starred in commercials, started learning Korean, and was even named the club captain for the 2025 season. Lingard’s journey shows that British footballers can thrive outside the UK media spotlight, becoming ambassadors for players abroad by adapting to new cultures and making a real impact on and off the pitch.

Jesse Lingard celebrating with the FC Seoul fans and players

The Saudi Switch: Experience over Earnings

Of course, in 2025, no story about players abroad can be complete without mentioning the recent surge towards Saudi Arabia. Big name Brits such as Jordan Henderson and Ivan Toney have made the move directly from the Premier League to the Saudi Pro League, although Henderson’s stay was rather short. Even on the manager side, big names such as Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler have had stints managing there, but neither has lasted overly long.

Interestingly, the migration of British players to Saudi Arabia has been less than that of other countries. Perhaps this is a good thing. A sign that footballers from Britain are putting their careers first, and even when they aren’t playing on European soil anymore, they are instead going abroad to explore the different cultures, and prioritising the experiences over the money.

Britain’s Unsung Journeymen in Asia

Outside of Europe, Asia has become a hotspot for a lot of Brits abroad. So, let’s take a look at some of them. The lesser-known journeymen, whom the media haven’t shone the spotlight on. The players who you may recognise the name of or think, oh hey, I remember when he used to play for them, or, oh, I completely forgot about him!

Nepal’s Unlikely British Trio

In Nepal, there is a British revolution forming at Butwal Lumbini, where they have three players from the UK on their books: Nathan Mavila, Adam Mitter and Frank Ross.

Mavila is a former West Ham academy product but failed to make it into the first team there and spent a few years bouncing around clubs in the lower leagues of England. He did however, branch out and have short spells in Sweden, Canada and Saudi Arabia before joining Butwal Lumbini in 2025, where he now plays alongside his fellow Brits in Nepal.

Adam Mitter has had one of the most incredible journeyman careers, having played in 11 different countries in 15 different leagues in his 14-year footballing career. And no, that’s not a typo! Included in this long list are clubs from England, Sweden, Australia, the Philippines, India, Singapore, Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Wales and finally, Nepal. He really is the ultimate journeyman with a career you would only expect to see in a football manager career mode!

Frank Ross, once a promising youngster at Aberdeen, seemed destined for a bigger stage. A wonderful free-kick against Rangers had fans dreaming of what he could become. Unfortunately, injuries stalled his development, and after stints in the Netherlands and the USA, he is aiming to revive his career in Nepal. Still only 27, maybe this move can help him get his career back on track.

A Butwal Lumbini line-up featuring the 3 Brits

The Cambodian Duo

Now, over in Cambodia, there are a couple of Englishmen who are making a name for themselves. At Boeung Ket FC, there is Charlie Scott, a former Manchester United academy player, who, after moving around clubs in the lower leagues of England, decided to take the plunge and move to Asia in 2020. Scott had spells in Hong Kong and Indonesia before moving to Cambodia earlier this year.

Also playing in Cambodia is Ben Nugent, a former Cardiff City young player of the year. During his spell at Cardiff, he was tipped by then-manager Malky Mackay to be the future captain of the football club. However, things didn’t quite pan out in the way he would have hoped and in 2023, Nugent made the move to Cambodia and signed for Angkor Tiger, where he still plays now.

Youth Products Turned Global Journeymen Gozie Ugwu, a Reading academy product, was once a journeyman in the lower leagues of both Scotland and England, playing for 14 clubs in 10 seasons. Ogwu decided to move abroad in 2022 to Saudi Arabia, where he played for 3 different clubs before finally moving to Nejhem SC in Lebanon in April 2025. Will this prove to be the club that he can finally call home for a longer period, or will this just be another short stop in an ultimate journeyman career?

Deri Corfe’s unique career path has taken him from the Manchester City youth academy to college football in the US. After being drafted by the New York Red Bulls at 22, he returned to the UK, signing for Arbroath on a short-term contract, before finding his scoring boots in New Zealand. His successful career down under ended when he joined Indonesian club Persiraja Banda Aceh, where he has continued to score goals. Corfe has seemingly found his form in Asia and Oceania, suggesting that might be where he truly belongs.

Scotland’s Indian Invasion

Over in India, there has been an invasion of the Scots. Greg Stewart, formerly of Birmingham, Aberdeen and Rangers, has found a new home in India, where he has spent a large part of the last 4 years, at 3 different clubs. His spell in India has been very successful, culminating in his current club, Mohun Bagan, winning the Indian Super League in March 2025.

Alongside Stewart at Mohun Bagan is Tom Aldred. Aldred is most known for helping Blackpool win promotion to League One in 2017 after playing 92 times in his 2 year spell at the club. Now, Aldred and Stewart are providing the Indian Super League side a Scottish contingency, helping them lift the biggest trophies that Indian football has to offer.

Also in India is Connor Shields. Shields is another Scottish footballer applying his trade in India at Chennaiyin FC. He joined the club in 2023 after a career predominantly in Scotland’s lower leagues with a brief period at Sunderland. Interestingly enough, his manager at Chennaiyin FC is none other than fellow Scotsman Owen Coyle, adding yet another Scottish person to the ever-growing core in India.

Greg Stewart holding the ISL Trophy after Mohun Bagan won

The Global Game

So there we go. Who knew there were so many footballers from the UK who are now playing abroad? And that’s not even close to all of them. The globalisation of football is not just about the billion-pound clubs and the international broadcasts. It’s also about the players. The ones who have packed up their things, taken a risk, and moved far away to try and build something different in unfamiliar places. They were once like many others in this country, out of favour at their clubs with no idea of where to go next. But now, instead of being sat on the bench, they are out there, living in a different country and a different culture, becoming cult heroes of their clubs.

So next time someone asks, “Whatever happened to that boy who used to play for X?”, don’t just assume retirement or the lower leagues of England. Maybe the answer will be Kathmandu, Kolkata or even Mexico City.

Written and Researched by Innes Taylor

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