The Premier League relies on immigrants. The 22 players who began this match came from ten countries.1 Eleven players were British (50%) and another ten countries are represented. (Only the Congo had more than one player.)
Both managers were British, which is odd. Only four managers in the Premier League are British and this game had half of them.2 In contrast the Liverpool vs Crystal Palace game had 32% of British players. Neither of their managers is British. The two principal trophies in English football were won by immigrants.3
Politicians ignore this, using emotional speeches. Nigel Farage places the restriction of immigration front and central in his Reform Party political message.4
Premier League clubs spend fortunes on players, most of whom are immigrants. This commercial decision explains why preemptive positions on immigration are absurd.
Other sectors of the economy make similar but less spectacular decisions. Higher Education has 18% of its workforce as immigrants and the NHS has 17.7%.5 The 2016 Brexit vote, notoriously, hit the hospitality sector very hard indeed as immigrants left.
Premier League football illustrates the importance of immigrants to Britain’s success. English football and its story reappears throughout the economy.
Negative political discourse about immigration is toxic and socially destructive.
Addendum
Eberechi Eze, a Crystal Palace and England footballer, is the son of Nigerian parents. He epitomises ‘British’ values. His charity provides opportunities in south London.6
Notes
1 Starting Lineups – Ipswich vs West Ham | 25.05.2025
2 List of current Premier League and English Football League managers – Wikipedia
3 Starting Lineups – Liverpool vs C Palace | 25.05.2025 See also “…..because of their [immigrant] backgrounds, typically from poorer countries, they do not take success or prosperity for granted. That is an ideal combination of factors for success.” How to find the most talented people on earth – Marginal REVOLUTION
4 Nigel Farage demands complete ‘halt’ to immigration as it ‘devalues UK’ | Politics | News | Express.co.uk see also REFORM 2025 LTD overview – Find and update company information – GOV.UK Reform isn’t a political party. It is a private company owned by Farage and others.
5 Number of non-EU academics in UK rises | Times Higher Education (THE) see also NHS staff from overseas: statistics – House of Commons Library
6 ‘Giving back is in our hearts’ – Eze on impacting South London – News – Crystal Palace F.C.
Politics in Havering 
So if there ae no British born managers and footballers in the premier league you would deem this a good thing? And are you speaking as a football fan?
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It wouldn’t be a *Good Thing* it would just be the outcome of the lack of talent in Britain. So If I wanted to watch elite football that’s what I’d watch. I actually support a Vanamara League team.
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I used to watch a totally British team for years and they were rather dour compared to the mix of skills and idea seen today.
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Thank you for your comment.
I watch Vanamara League football as much for social reasons as the football.
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Should there be any restrictions on the mix to encourage home grown talent or would this be a “negative political discourse”?
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Thank you for your comment.
Elite football demands elite payers and managers.
*negative political discourse*? No I don’t think so. Salah is earning £300K a week and I’d have thought that that would incentivise British talent to reach the levels of dedication that he routinely reaches.
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“So If I wanted to watch elite football that’s what I’d watch”.
In that case it wouldn’t matter if there were no immigrants in a British team as you could always watch an elite foreign team!
And so, presumably wouldn’t mind if British teams restricted the number of foreign players for “social reasons” to remain a ‘local team’ aka one supported for political or cultural reasons, which no doubt is the reason you support your ‘local team’?
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*watch* For a fan watching means attending, which is why there is away support for TV games.
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There are already restrictions on premier league squad makeups.
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Just about a third of premier division teams must be English
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Yes, but do you agree with the restrictions and to what extent and when does it become a “negative political discourse”?
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Thank you for your comment
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