The 8 Forgotten English Footballers Plying Their Trade Abroad
By Robbie Walls
Although every fan loves to profess their knowledge of world football, there are those players that even the most ardent follower will have forgotten about.
While English players are often criticised for not taking the plunge and moving abroad, there are others who are forced to seek an escape route after torrid experiences on the British Isles.
Below is a list of players who have left England in recent years and currently ply their trade across the globe - you'll definitely have forgotten about most of them.
Cameron Jerome - Turkey
The former Stoke City striker was a mainstay of English football after bursting onto the scene at Cardiff City, before he left for Turkish Super Lig side Goztepe in 2018.
After seeing his career in England nosedive after early promise, the former England Under-21 international has been steady in Turkey, with three goals in 21 appearances this term.
Gary Hooper - New Zealand
Former Celtic striker Hooper was a legend at Paradise, before he foolishly left Scottish football - and the almost guaranteed Champions League qualification - for Premier League flip-floppers Norwich.
After a mediocre spell at Sheffield Wednesday, the forward join New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix, who play their league games in the Australian A-League. He's not been playing much in truth.
Lee Cattermole - Netherlands
Despite seemingly being around forever, the former Sunderland captain is still only 32, and is currently plying his trade for Dutch side VVV-Venlo.
Sadly for Lee, the Eredivisie season was called to an abrupt end - and with his contract only a one-year deal - he may be looking for a move elsewhere.
If you're wondering whether he still tucks his shirt in and wears his shorts really high, the answer is yes.
Matt Derbyshire - Cyprus
The journeyman striker is no stranger to foreign football - having spent a two years at Greek side Olympiacos - and is currently on the books of Cypriot side Omonia.
How's he getting on you ask? Well, he's absolutely banging them in, with 69 goals in 127 games for the club in all competitions, and the former Blackburn man is also club captain.
An England call up on the cards?
Chuba Akpom - Greece
One of the more successful departures from English football, Akpom has enjoyed a stellar start to life in Greece with PAOK.
In his first season at the club, Akpom helped his side to their first Greek league title in 34 years, while he also scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over AEK Athens in the Greek Cup final.
The former Arsenal man is still only 24, and it would be no surprise to see him back in the Premier League in the coming years.
Kemar Roofe - Belgium
The former Leeds and Oxford United striker traded Yorkshire for Belgium last summer, after following Vincent Kompany to Anderlecht.
While it's been anything but easy for the Belgian giants, Roofe has managed a respectable seven goals in just 16 games in all competitions.
In his absence, Leeds have again been promotion challengers, albeit with a lack of a potent centre-forward.
Jordan Mutch - Norway
The former Cardiff City midfielder has had a rather nomadic career to date, and is currently on the books of Norwegian side Aalesund.
Mutch is another who has tasted foreign football before, after having a brief spell at Vancouver Whitecaps as well as Korean side Gyeongnam.
Unfortunately for him, he is yet to play for the club since his arrival on 24 February due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Jay Bothroyd - Japan
A former member of the Arsenal youth setup, Bothroyd spent the majority of his career flitting between lower league English football, as well as strangely playing for Italian side Perugia.
Since 2014, the former Coventry striker has been playing his football in Asia, first in Thailand and now in Japan, where he has been relatively prolific for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
At 38, however, he doesn't look like adding to his solitary England cap.
