Stars of the England, Scotland and Wales national sides are gearing up for another campaign overseas after plenty of success last term
Not so long ago, the concept of a British player opting to ply their trade abroad was seen as something of an anomaly. While the likes of Kevin Keegan, David Beckham and Gary Lineker tasted success in continental Europe, they were outliers rather than trendsetters despite their respective profiles.
Times, however, have changed, and some of the world's biggest clubs are now looking to England, Scotland and Wales for talented individuals who can add quality to their squads. As such, more and more Brits are now packing their bags and heading overseas in pursuit of both on-field glory and new life experiences away from the pitch.
British players picked up plenty of foreign trophies in the 2024-25 campaign, and the stage is set for many more to contribute to strong campaigns this time around. But who are the Brits abroad who you need to be tracking over the next 10 months or so? GOAL has 30 to keeping an eye out for in 2025-26:
Getty Images SportTrent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid)
Once again, Real Madrid's biggest signing of the summer looks likely to be one that barely cost them anything, apart from the nominal £10 million ($13m) fee they paid to bring in Liverpool contract rebel Trent Alexander-Arnold in time for the Club World Cup – a decision that probably backfired in the short-term despite two assists in five games showing what he is capable of.
Given the scrutiny Alexander-Arnold has often faced for his perceived defensive deficiencies in England, the 26-year-old right-back will want to make a strong start in his new surroundings, with the fans and media in Spain notoriously impatient when a big-name new arrival fails to hit the ground running.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportJude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Trent won't have his good mate Jude Bellingham to help him settle in initially, on the pitch at least. The midfielder has finally undergone surgery on a long-standing shoulder injury, probably with the 2026 World Cup in mind, and he is unlikely to even return to training until mid-October in a blow to club and country.
Once he is back, Bellingham will want to recapture the form of his debut campaign at Santiago Bernabeu, when he emerged as an instant hero playing in a more advanced role. He was more subdued in 2024-25 despite still having a decent season, but with his shoulder problem finally behind him, we might see the England dynamo back at his best.
Getty Images SportMarcus Rashford (Barcelona)
England, of course, now has another representative in Spain, with Marcus Rashford having moved to the other side of the Clasico divide as his exile from Ruben Amorim-led Manchester United continues. In truth, this is a journey into the unknown for the attacker as he looks to get his career back on track.
As much as it is a huge opportunity, the expectation and pressure will be ramped up tenfold compared to Rashford's relatively successful loan spell at Aston Villa, which was curtailed by injury. There is a sense that he is effectively playing for his own future at an elite-level club, whether that's at Barcelona or elsewhere. It's a chance he simply has to seize.
Getty Images SportConor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)
Elsewhere in La Liga, Conor Gallagher is heading into his second season at Atletico Madrid after a solid debut campaign in the Spanish capital. However, even though he seems like the archetypal Diego Simeone player, he wasn't the main man in Atleti's midfield last term, often shunted out wide to accommodate others or having to settle for coming off the bench.
Rodrigo De Paul's departure to Inter Miami should change things, though, and after a period of adaptation, Gallagher will want to make himself a guaranteed starter in 2025-26 with the World Cup fast approaching and his place in the England squad not necessarily guaranteed.