There have been some stellar names of British football that have swapped the wet and windy stadia of the British Isles for something new on the Iberian Peninsula or its many islands. From Laurie Cunningham and Dalian Atkinson to Gary Lineker and Terry Venables, from David Beckham and Michael Owen to Steve McManaman and Gareth Bale. Now there’s a new generation of British talent leading an explosion of interest in La Liga from football fans and sports betting enthusiasts in Britain. La Liga matches are previewed in depth, results discussed and shared, and betting with mobile apps on Spanish football is probably now only behind the Premier League and Champions League in terms of popularity.
Here we look at the latest generation of British talent having a crack at Spanish football
Conor Gallagher
The highest profile England to Spain mover of the recent summer transfer window, Conor Gallagher was reluctantly pushed out of his boyhood club Chelsea because of the financial fair conundrum that the Blues were facing. But in securing a move to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, the England midfielder will surely gain incredible experience that could well stand his career in good stead. It will be interesting to see how Gallagher takes to La Liga, but in Simeone, the player has his career in good hands, and this promises to be an ideal match.
Oli McBurnie
One that may have fallen under the radar with some fans, ex Sheffield-United striker Oli McBurnie swapped the Championship for the sunnier climate of Gran Canaria, signing for La Liga side Las Palmas in the summer of 2024. With his combative approach, the Scotland striker promises to become a firm favourite among the Canary Islands-based club’s fans, and even if it doesn’t work out, what a place to live.
Scott McKenna
Another Scot plying his trade in La Liga and at Las Palmas is ex Aberdeen and Nottingham Forest player Scott McKenna. The centre half joined the Canary Islands-based club after completing a loan spell at Copenhagen from Forest, and will hope the move will help to reignite his Scotland career, for whom the Kirriemuir-born player has featured 37 times, scoring one goal to date. McKenna and teammate McBurnie are the latest in a few Scottish players who have featured in Spain in recent seasons, including Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad), Jordan Holsgrove (Celta) and Oliver Burke (Alaves).
Jude Bellingham
Undoubtedly the most famous example of a British footballer currently playing in Spain. And potentially a player who will exceed everyone in terms of impact and success. The England midfielder’s debut campaign at Real Madrid could hardly have been better, securing the double of La Liga and the UEFA Champions League whilst leading the team’s scoring charts and proving himself to be a Balon d’Or candidate. If there have been doubts about British footballers in Spain in the past, the young Brummie promises to end the debate for good.
Britain’s most successful exports to La Liga
Jude Bellingham may just well become the most successful player to swap British shores for sunny Spain. But there have been plenty of trailblazers before the young midfielder. And the club that has perhaps benefited more than any other from British talent is Bellingham’s team, Real Madrid. Laurie Cunningham was the first Brit to represent the Spanish giants in the modern era back in 1979, with Steve McManaman becoming only the second 20 years later. The ex-Liverpool player was swiftly followed by David Beckham, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate, who enjoyed contrasting levels of success in the Spanish capital. Gareth Bale then set the bar by winning no fewer than five Champions League winners medals at Los Blancos, plus adding three La Liga titles. Bellingham will have to go some way to replicate that success.
Real’s great rivals Barcelona have also had their fair share of British talent over the years. Welshman Mark Hughes represented the club during the 1986-87 season, forming a partnership with Scot Steve Archibald who had joined two years prior. Gary Lineker became a third British striker at the club upon joining in 1986. Of course, all these players’ spells at the Camp Nou coincided with that of English coach Terry Venables, who would later go on to manage England.
In recent times Atletico Madrid have been the more common destination for British players, with Kieran Trippier and now Conor Gallagher pulling on the famous red and white shirt.
