A list of the best English players who played for Real Madrid

Football has millions of professional players spread in nearly every country. Most cross borders to play in foreign leagues and teams for more experience and to earn more. Real Madrid is one of the clubs that has attracted talents from several nations, including England. Dig in for a deep dive into the club's history and find out every detail about English players who played for Real Madrid.

Which English footballers have played for Real Madrid? At the time of writing, Transfermarkt records the percentage of foreign players that play for Real Madrid at 66.7%. This article investigates details of international transfer between England and the Spanish team and lists all the English players who played for Real Madrid.

How many English players have played for Real Madrid?

Currently, only one English footballer plays in the La Liga team. Sports Brief has sourced credible information from Transfermarkt and the Real Madrid website to provide you, the fan, with a comprehensive report on how many British players have played for Real Madrid.

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Top 10 best English players who played for Real Madrid

As early as 1901, English football players made appearances for Real. Pioneers such as Spanish-English midfielder Guillermo Linney de Juan made their mark at Real Madrid between 1909 and 1911, as reported by BD Futbol. Others include Guillermo Linney, Arthur Johnson, and Charles Wallace.

In July 2024, Jude Bellingham became the latest English footballer to play for the Los Blancos, according to the Guardian. Here is a summary of English players in La Liga, their transfers and performance histories as of March 2024.

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10. Jude Bellingham

Bellingham is one of the best players to play for Real Madrid. Born in Stourbridge, England, the attacking midfielder joined Real Madrid on July 1, 2023. At the time of writing, he has represented the team in 31 Copa del Rey, Supercopa, Champions League, and La Liga matches, scoring 20 goals with nine assists.

• Full name: Jude Victor William Bellingham
• Date of birth: June 29, 2003
• Age: 20 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Stourbridge Juniors, Birmingham City, Borussia Dortmund
• Titles won at Real Madrid: 2023/24 Spanish Super Cup winner

9. Caroline Weir

Described as the ultimate midfielder, Caroline Weir was born in Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland, as reported by Real Madrid's website. In 2022, the number 10 midfielder joined Real Madrid Femenino from Manchester City on a free transfer. She is the first English female footballer to play for the Los Blancos.

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• Full name: Caroline Elspeth Lillias Weir
• Date of birth: June 20, 1995
• Age: 28 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Great Britain Olympic team, Manchester City, Hibernian, Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC
• Titles won at Real Madrid: Three FA WSL Continental Cups, two FA WSL Cups

8. Gareth Bale

According to sources, Gareth Bale is the first Welsh Real Madrid player. In September 2013, the retired winger made his first appearance for Real Madrid after a $110.5 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur. According to Transfermarkt, the Welsh footballer appeared in 258 matches, scoring 106 goals and 67 assists.

• Full name: Gareth Frank Bale
• Date of birth: July 16, 1989
• Age: 34 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Cardiff Civil Service, Southampton FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Los Angeles FC
• Titles won at Real Madrid: 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22 UEFA Champions League titles, 2015, 2018, 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18 UEFA Supercup, 2016/17, 2019/20, 2021/22 Spanish Championships, 2013/14 Spanish Cup, 2017/18 Spanish Super Cup

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7. Jack Harper

Harper is one of the youngest Scottish players to ever play for the Los Blancos. The Málaga-born centre forward was at Real between 2014 and 2015, starting in six matches for the UEFA U19 team, scoring three goals.

• Full name: Jack Harper
• Date of birth: February 28, 1996
• Age: 27 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Brighton & Hove Albion Youth, AD Alcorcón, FC Cartagena, Racing Santander, Hércules CF, Getafe CF, Málaga CF, Marbella FC

6. Jonathan Woodgate

English centre-back Woodgate transferred from Newcastle United to Los Blancos on a €18.3 million transfer ($20 million at the time of writing). Between August 20, 2004 and August 30, 2006, the Nunthorpe native played fourteen games for Real Madrid, where he netted one goal.

• Full name: Jonathan Simon Woodgate
• Date of birth: January 22, 1980
• Age: 43 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Leeds United, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City, Middlesbrough FC

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5. Michael Owen

Legendary English centre forward Michael Owen signed for Los Blancos in August 2004 on a €12 million ($13.1 million as of March 2024) transfer fee, as reported by Transfermarkt. Between 2004 and 2005, he represented Real Madrid in 45 matches in the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League competitions, scoring sixteen goals.

• Full name: Michael James Owen
• Date of birth: December 14, 1979
• Age: 44 years old as of March 2024
• Teams: Liverpool FC, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City

4. David Beckham

David Beckham is one of the greatest players in Premier League history to join the La Liga side. Between July 2003 and July 2007, the retired midfielder started in 159 matches for Real Madrid, scoring 20 goals with 52 assists.

• Full name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
• Date of birth: May 2, 1975
• Age: 48 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Manchester United Youth, Manchester United, Preston North End, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain
• Titles won at Real Madrid: 2003/04 Spanish Super Cup, 2006/07 Spanish Championship

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3. Steve McManaman

For four seasons, legendary right midfielder Steve McManaman made his mark with Los Blancos, a team he would later lead to two UEFA Championship victories. McManaman played 158 matches, scoring 14 goals with 20 assists for Real Madrid.

• Full name: Steven Charles McManaman
• Date of birth: February 11, 1972
• Age: 52 (as of March 2024)
• Teams: Liverpool Youth, Liverpool FC, Manchester City
• Titles won at Real Madrid: 1999/00, 2001/02 UEFA Champions League, 2002 Intercontinental Cup, 2000/01, 2002/03 Spanish Championship, 2001/02 UEFA Supercup winner, 2001/02, 2003/04 Spanish Super Cup

2. Laurie Cunningham

In 1979, Cunningham became the first black British player in Real Madrid, according to the club's website. He transferred from West Bromwich Albion at a €1.17 million fee ($1.28 million as of March 2024). The left winger made his mark by winning the Spanish Championship in his first season. In the five seasons he played for the Whites, he appeared in 63 football games, scoring 19 goals.

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• Full name: Laurence Paul Cunningham
• Date of birth: March 8, 1956
• Date of death: July 15, 1989
• Teams: Leyton Orient, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Sporting Gijón, Olympique Marseille, Leicester City, Rayo Vallecano, R Charleroi SC, Wimbledon FC
• Titles won at Real Madrid: 1979/80 Spanish Championship, 1979/80, 1981/82 Spanish Super Cup

1. Jack Watson

Jack Watson is one of the most famous Scottish footballers who played for Real Madrid. According to the Not the Old Firm, he is also the first and only Scotsman to play for the Los Blancos. Watson also managed the club during his managerial tenure.

• Full name: John Fox Watson
• Date of birth: December 31, 1917
• Date of death: April 15, 1976
• Teams: Fulham FC, Douglas Juniors, Waterthistle, Bury

Frequently asked questions

Teams often scout talent from far and wide for the best football players. Here are some interesting facts about foreign players in various leagues worldwide.

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1. How many English players are in La Liga?

Over 200 foreign footballers have played in La Liga throughout the league's history. At the time of writing, 60 of the league's 507 players hail from other countries. According to Transfermarkt, Jude Bellingham is the only English player in the 2023-24 La Liga season.

2. How many English players are currently in the Serie A?

There are 549 players in the Serie A. Out of 348 foreign players, only one player, Fikayo Tomori, hails from England based on Transfermarkt stats. Tomori began playing for AC Milan on January 22, 2021.

3. How many English players are in the Bundesliga?

Nearly half of the Bundesliga's players are foreign nationals. Sources reveal that out of the league's 501 players, 245 are international players. English centre-forward Harry Kane is one such player. The Bayern Munich starter joined the Bundesliga on August 12, 2023.

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Final word

Foreign footballers often strive to make their mark in international football, an achievement that props them into history books. While only a handful of English players have played for Real Madrid, their contribution can not be understated.

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Sports Brief has published an article on English football legend Steve McManaman. The retired midfielder is one of the pioneer footballers to represent La Liga teams, making his name one of football's greats.

Before embarking on a successful post-retirement career as a pundit, McManaman was one of the most decorated footballers. Click the link above for details of his success on and off the field.