“Jamie Carragher Names the Ultimate Foreign Premier League Icon — And It’s Not Thierry Henry”
“Jamie Carragher Reveals the Greatest Foreign Premier League Star — Not Named Thierry Henry”
Jamie Carragher’s media-friendly persona made his shift from professional footballer to pundit effortless. It’s a platform that’s allowed him to share his views freely, and recently, he weighed in on who he believes is the greatest foreign player in Premier League history—excluding Thierry Henry.
With so many top international talents having graced England’s top division—ranging from ex-Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo to Liverpool’s talisman Mohamed Salah—choosing just one stands out as a tough challenge.
Now enjoying a new lease on life since hanging up his boots for Liverpool—a club he represented 737 times between 1996 and 2013—Jamie Carragher has found his stride in post-match punditry, often stirring debate with his candid takes.
Carragher recently sparked conversation by naming who he believes is the greatest foreign player in Premier League history—excluding Thierry Henry.
Carragher proclaimed that, apart from Thierry Henry, he believes no other foreign player has been better in the Premier League.
As previously noted, Carragher holds Thierry Henry—the legendary ex-Arsenal striker often hailed as one of football’s all-time greats—in the highest regard. But setting the Frenchman aside, he singled out Kevin De Bruyne as the next standout.
Carragher stated that, in his view, De Bruyne has been the standout performer in the Premier League for the last four or five years.
Carragher believes De Bruyne is the greatest foreign talent the Premier League has seen, with only Thierry Henry ranked above him. I’d even put him in my all-time Premier League XI.”
Speaking to Sky Sports following news of the Belgian maestro’s upcoming departure this summer, Carragher added: “He’s one of the greatest players to ever grace English football—not just in the Premier League era, but in the entire history of our game.”
The former Liverpool defender turned pundit emphasized that during the intense title races between Liverpool and Manchester City, it was Kevin De Bruyne’s intelligence and creative spark that often tipped the scales in City’s favor. Carragher continued his glowing praise of the 33-year-old:
“When Liverpool and Manchester City were going toe-to-toe for the title over those four or five seasons, he was the key difference,” he explained. “Liverpool could match City across the pitch—except in that advanced midfield role.”
Carragher wrapped up his thoughts by saying, “Whenever City edged Liverpool by a point or two, it always felt like Kevin De Bruyne was the decisive factor.”
"Besides Thierry Henry, the best foreign player we've seen in the Premier League."@Carra23 on Kevin De Bruyne's ranking in PL history 💫 pic.twitter.com/bd29BAx1dq
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 6, 2025
Since arriving at Manchester City in 2015, Kevin De Bruyne has carved out a legacy as one of the Premier League’s most prolific playmakers—racking up the most chances created (827), most big chances (193), and most assists (117) during his time at the club.
Widely regarded as one of the finest Belgian talents to ever grace the English top flight, De Bruyne recently announced he’ll be departing the four-time defending champions at the end of the 2024/25 season, leaving behind a remarkable haul of six Premier League titles.
Filling the void left by the talismanic De Bruyne—a native of Drongen—will be no easy task for Pep Guardiola and his staff. However, following the announcement of his impending departure, Manchester City fans have already identified a potential successor: Bayer Leverkusen’s rising star, Florian Wirtz.