The Great Leap Forward

The English youngsters who are taking their talent abroad

- Nick Bidwell

At a time when the UK is decoupling from the EU, an ever-growing band of young English footballers are opting to kick-start their careers at clubs in major European leagues.

In a not-too distant past, the vast majority of emerging Premier League prospects would have instantly rejected the offer of a cross-border adventure; either unwilling to quit their “best league in the world” comfort zone and its pecuniary advantages or rendered twitchy by thoughts of learning a new language and potential culture shock.

But attitudes change and over the last couple of years the concept of flying the domestic nest has suddenly gained traction among the rising generation of Anglos – so much so that some 20 English youngsters are presently plying their trade in the upper echelons of European football. Talk about a brave new pioneering world. The old rules of insularity and fear of the unknown are no longer applicable.

“Above all, I wanted a new experience,” says Ademola Lookman, who enjoyed a successful loan spell in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig last season and was bitterly disappointed when his Everton employers and the Leipziger could not agree on a permanent deal this summer. “RB Leipzig had been following me since I was 17-18 at Charlton and I was really excited to move to another country,” adds the 21-year-old. “There’s a different type of input, so many new things to learn. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

“I’m now much more of a striker than I used to be. I learnt to play in tight spots, find better positions in relation to opponents, to dribble, to make space for others and to shoot for goal quicker.”