Top 5 Asian players to have graced the Premier League

Modified Dec 24, 2019 13:53 GMT

Son Heung Min is one of the best Asian players to have played in England

#4 Sun Jihai

Sun Jihai made 130 appearances for Manchester City over 7 seasons

One of the most famous Chinese footballers of all time, Sun Jihai played a total of 9 seasons in England, with 6 of them coming in the Premier League with Manchester City. Of course, this was a pre-Abu Dhabi owned City, and Sun’s first season at the club – 2001-02 - actually saw him win the First Division title as Kevin Keegan led the Citizens back to the Premier League.

Just a few months later, Sun became the first East Asian player to score a Premier League goal, as he headed in during a win against Birmingham City, and over the next 6 seasons, he became a cult hero at the ground that would eventually become known as the Etihad Stadium. The defender eventually ended his City career in 2008, after making 130 appearances for the club and scoring 3 goals.

Following the end of his City career, a move to Sheffield United failed to work out and so 2009 saw him return to his native China – but following his retirement in 2015, Sun returned to England to become a club ambassador for City, and was even inducted into English Football’s Hall of Fame for his “ambassadorial role” in introducing the Premier League to a Chinese audience.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram