The percentage of English players in starting line-ups fell below one-third on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Of the 220 players who started at the weekend, only 73 were eligible to play for England. This makes a percentage of 33.2 per cent, a decrease from last season’s figure of 35 per cent. The figure was 69 per cent in 1992-3 when the Premier League was launched.
The percentage of English players in starting line-ups fell below one-third on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Of the 220 players who started at the weekend, only 73 were eligible to play for England. This makes a percentage of 33.2 per cent, a decrease from last season’s figure of 35 per cent. The figure was 69 per cent in 1992-3 when the Premier League was launched.
Three clubs had only one English player: Arsenal, Newcastle United and Watford. The club with the largest number of English players was Bournemouth with eight followed by Everton and Liverpool with six each.
Managers and club chairmen consider that English players are often too expensive. Of more than £500 spent by Premier League clubs in the transfer market this summer, just over £100m has been spent on English players. Almost half of that was accounted for by Manchester City’s £49m deal to sign Raheem Sterling.