LONDON. — It may be known as the English Premier League, but you only have to look at the soccer squads from teams within it to discover it’s one of the most cosmopolitan top flights around. Because while England is still unsurprisingly the most represented country within the English Premier League, there are players from across a further 58 countries to bring an international flavour to these shores.

France is leading the invasion, with 37 players in England’s top flight and it is Newcastle United who have the most of them with seven on the club’s books.

With Spanish football arguably leading the way over the last decade it’s perhaps unsurprising to know they export the second most on 33. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have the joint biggest tika-taka share with four.

Traditionally, many from the Republic of Ireland also make their way to the English Premier League and of the 24 featuring, it’s Stoke City who have the most with five.

Flying the flag for England are Bournemouth, while those most keen to neglect talent on their doorstep are fellow top flight new-boys Watford. The home nations are still contributing talent to the English Premier League with Scotland featuring 15 players, Wales 16, and Northern Ireland seven.

The team with the most nations represented are Watford with 20, while the fewest are Manchester City with nine.

African stars have played a huge part in the first four games of this season’s English Premier League, and 15 nations from that continent now have representation in the league – though half of Ghana’s four players come from the same family, in the shape of the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan.

There are a few footballing powerhouses missing though – the departure of Javier Hernandez from Manchester United means there are no Mexicans, while the last Russian to play in the English Premier League was Andrey Arshavin, who left Arsenal in 2013.

Those two nations are joined by Iran and Honduras as the four countries who appeared at the 2014 World Cup but have no players playing in the English top flight.

The list of players has been filtered, with those in the 25-man squad included along with Under-21 players who have played a Premier League game.

Exceptions have been made for players who have international caps at senior level for a country which has appeared at a World Cup. — Mailonline.

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