From Andy Carroll to Jude Bellingham: England's Best Abroad Eleven

How much responsibility do the national media hold for the historical failure of the England football team?

While we'll never have an exact answer to that question, it is nearly irrefutable that the English media have played a role in unsettling the careers of many young prospects down the years. Such as when 18-year-old Wayne Rooney's private life became the primary fuel of tabloids' readership during the 2000s, or when Raheem Sterling somehow got bad press for buying his mother a house in his early twenties.

The English press have a track record of building up young players' on and off pitch profiles and then trying to take them down at the earliest possible opportunity. Think of how Joe Hart became the face of England's major tournament disappointments, or how Dele Alli's decline in form led to a barrage of attacks on his personality and work ethic.

It is perhaps because of this cycle that more English players have ventured abroad in recent years. They have transferred out of the spotlight - Jadon Sancho's 2017 move to Borussia Dortmund probably the first one of note - and been allowed to develop their careers without the constant fear of being attacked in the media.

So what does an eleven comprised of English players currently playing abroad look like?

Defenders

Jonathan Bond - Houston Dynamo

Some of the positions in this team were quite closely contested - but as you can probably tell by our selection, the goalkeeper spot was a tough one to fill for different reasons. In fact, of the 116 goalkeepers who have represented England internationally, only two have been playing abroad at the time of their call up.

The trend of the Three Lions' goalkeepers typically playing domestically makes sense. There is only one number one 'keeper, and by heading abroad (and out of the aforementioned spotlight), it makes it more difficult for goalkeepers to build a case for their spot in the team.

Jonathan Bond is (fairly) likely to be a name you recognise - but perhaps without knowing where from. The 32-year-old currently resides at Houston Dynamo having joined from Watford in April. He has played nine league games for the MLS outfit and kept four clean sheets.

His most recent stint for the Hornets was his second encounter with Vicerage Road. Bond graduated from Watford's academy in 2010, and went on loan to a range of clubs before moving to Reading in 2015. He was then sent on loan from Reading and sold to West Brom in 2018.

Bond never really had a long run of games at a club in England, but his current choice of club in combination with a lack of other options, has earned him a place in this team.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Real Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool exit may have been met with plenty of scatching comments from fans who felt betrayed by their local hero, but his arrival in Madrid has been far less divisive. As one of English football's greatest products of the past decade, Alexander-Arnold will no doubt be a huge part of Xabi Alonso's plans for Los Blancos next season.

And he's going to be involved sooner than that. The Club World Cup getting underway in less than two weeks means we will get to Alexander-Arnold in all white before long.

🗣️Trent Alexander Arnold on his admiration for Sergio Ramos.

“Everyone has their ways of winning and he has shown over the last 10 years that he’s a winner".

(@guardian) pic.twitter.com/s6QV4URm80

— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) June 3, 2025

Fikayo Tomori – AC Milan

One of the pioneers of the English exodus, Fikayo Tomori has made himself a cornerstone of AC Milan’s defence since arriving in 2021. His blend of pace, aggression, and positional awareness helped the Rossoneri to a long-awaited Serie A title in 2022, and, when fit, he remains one of the league’s most dependable centre-backs.

Tomori's continued omission from England squads has puzzled fans and pundits alike - particularly given the lack of consistent, injury-free centre-back options in the national setup. The 27-year-old struggled with injuries throughout Milan's difficult 2024/25 campaign, only starting 19 games as a result.

Eric Dier – Bayern Munich

For a player who had fallen off the England radar almost entirely, Eric Dier's January switch to Bayern Munich was both unexpected and transformative. The move offered Dier something he hadn’t had in years: a new challenge at the highest level. And to his credit, he's taken it.

Since arriving in Munich, the former Tottenham utility man was a reliable option in defence during a turbulent 2023/24 season, and while injuries have crept into the 31-year-old's season in the latter stages, it's difficult to dispute that Dier deserved his first major trophy in the form of the Bundesliga title this season.

Kyle Walker – AC Milan

Although Kyle Walker is only on loan from Manchester City at the moment, his England exit seems all but confirmed to happen this summer. In fact, Milan are strongly rumoured to favour triggering their option to buy the right-back. Having admitted that "things weren't going well" for him back in January, the six-time Premier League winner has made eleven appearances for Milan in the Serie A.

While not the same lightning-fast physical presence he once was, Walker's proven quality and experience would be beneficial to any European club looking to sign him permanently this summer.

🔴⚫️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Kyle Walker has agreed terms with AC Milan on contract valid until June 2027.

It will be activated in case AC Milan decide to proceed with buy option clause (not mandatory) from City in the summer after loan.

Milan wanted Walker, it was never linked to Tomori’s exit. pic.twitter.com/6nXXNBeCHm

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 22, 2025

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid

To have gone from Birmingham City, to Borussia Dortmund, to Real Madrid without showing any signs of fear is testament enough to how Jude Bellingham is the gold standard of English footballers venturing abroad to focus on their development. To burst into Los Blancos with 25 league goals and assists in his debut season, and to embrace a whole new role the season after, is testament that the 21-year-old is a freak of nature (in the best possible way).

Jude Bellingham x Reece James x Trent Alexander-Arnold pic.twitter.com/o3FWui2AKn

— Ria (fan) (@itsjudithworld) June 4, 2025

His journey through the Bundesliga - often cited as the ideal proving ground for young players - honed not only his physical and technical skills but also his mental resilience. The willingness to take risks, adapt to different leagues, and learn under some of the best coaches in Europe has accelerated his growth in ways staying in England might never have allowed. Now, at Real Madrid, Bellingham is not just fulfilling potential, he’s setting new standards for what English players can achieve.

Conor Gallagher – Atlético Madrid

Affectionately known as 'The Pitbull' in Spain for his relentless engine and gritty style of play, Conor Gallagher has become somewhat of a cult hero at Atletico Madrid since signing from Chelsea in 2024.

The 25-year-old's season highlight is undoubtedly his first-minute strike against Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 - in front of his own fans at the Metropolitano.

The Blues' academy product has notched six goals and assists in La Liga this season, but his dogged work rate is what has endeared him to Diego Simeone and the red side of Madrid.

Angel Gomes – Lille

A name once touted at Manchester United, Angel Gomes has quietly developed into a classy, versatile midfielder at Lille. Since making the move to France in 2020, Gomes has become a consistent presence in Ligue 1, offering technical finesse and intelligent movement.

He may not be grabbing headlines back home, but in France, he's carved out a career based on steady growth and adaptability - qualities that elude most of his former club's current midfielders.

Attackers

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens – Borussia Dortmund

Fast, fearless, and still only 20, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is one of the latest English talents to thrive in Dortmund's development machine. While his minutes have been managed carefully, his flashes of brilliance - direct dribbling, clever feet, and composure in the final third - suggest a very high ceiling.

He’s following a familiar path for English youngsters, one previously trodden by Sancho and Bellingham, and looks set to be another success story for English football’s Bundesliga contingent.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jamie Gittens vs Top 5 League U21 Wingers, per 90

◉ Crosses to box — 1st
◉ Chance creation ratio — 1st
◉ Dribbles per 100 touches — 1st
◉ Ball carrying frequency — 1st
◎ Successful dribbles — 2nd
◎ Offensive duels won — 2nd
◎ Successful attacking actions — 2nd

👉… pic.twitter.com/fD4sQfsqns

— DataMB (@DataMB_) June 4, 2025

Harry Kane – Bayern Munich

Harry Kane’s two seasons at Bayern Munich have been a rollercoaster of goals, expectations, and ultimately, triumph. His debut Bundesliga season was nothing short of a Shakespearean tragedy - 36 league goals made him one of Europe’s deadliest forwards en route to the German giants losing out on the league title for the first time in eleven years. Surely at that point, Kane wondered if he would ever win a trophy.

This season though, 26 goals were enough for England's captain to secure his first major piece of silverware. Hopefully that relieves some of the pressure surrounding next year's World Cup then.

Andy Carroll – Bordeaux

Andy Carroll’s place in this team might raise some eyebrows - and rightly so. The towering striker, now playing for Bordeaux in Ligue 2, is far from the peak player he once was. Carroll’s game has always relied on his imposing physicality, aerial dominance, and hold-up play rather than pace or quick bursts. His career has taken a winding path, but his presence here is a nod to the rarity of English forwards currently playing abroad rather than a statement of current form or impact.

🇫🇷 Andy Carroll has completed a move to Bordeaux.

The 35-year-old terminated his contract at Amiens by mutual agreement in order to join the fourth-tier French side.

The striker scored four times in 28 appearances in Ligue 2 last season.

He's the second English player to join… pic.twitter.com/fzYdapgqYX

— English Players Abroad (@EnglishAbroad1) September 18, 2024

That said, this eleven is meant to be fun, and Carroll’s unique style and memorable moments give him a place in the squad’s story.

If this team were based purely on quality and current influence, Tammy Abraham would almost certainly be the striker picked. Since joining Roma in 2021, Abraham has reignited a career that was stagnating back in England.