Stats: Percentage of foreign players in various football leagues this season

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez of Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League

Below is an interesting statistic outlaying the percentage of foreign players in the most prominent leagues across the world. The Barclays Premier League has close to 70% of the players from countries apart from England. The highest amongst all leagues, and a possible marker as to the English league being one of the most popular in the world.

The Italian Serie A has relatively lesser with 55%, while the German Bundesliga has only 46%.

The standout has to be the Spanish La Liga, where only 39% of the players are from countries outside Spain. A true testament to the youth systems and academies in the country, where clubs rely on nurturing home born players more than buying talent.

*Stats as on 7 March, 2014