British players to have played in Ligue 1

There have been many British players who have starred in the French top flight, opting to try their luck on the continent in Ligue 1 down the years.

Here we run-down some of the most high-profile British exports to have enjoyed themselves in France.

England

Chris Waddle - Marseille (1989-92)

Waddle starred for Newcastle and Tottenham in Division One in England but his three years at Marseille between 1989 and 1992 were the most successful period of his career.

The winger, who joined Marseille for £4.5million, which was the third highest ever transfer fee at the time, won the French title three times and was also part of the Marseille team that lost the 1991 European Cup Final.

Waddle scored 27 goals in 140 games for Marseille and to underline just how popular he was, the England international was voted the second best OM player of the century behind Jean Pierre Papin in 1998.

Glenn Hoddle - Monaco (1987-91)

Hoddle was a Tottenham legend when he decided to make the switch to Monaco in 1987. The elegant midfielder immediately made an impression in France and helped Monaco win the French top-flight crown in 1988.

Hoddle scored an impressive 30 goals in 87 appearances for Monaco and was the league's second-highest scorer in 1989 with 18 goals.

Mark Hateley - Monaco (1987-90)

Hateley was another Englishman who starred for Monaco in France, joining them in 1987 when a certain Arsene Wenger lured him from AC Milan.

Hateley was also part of the 1988 Monaco title-winning squad in his first season there, during which the forward scored 14 goals.

In total, Hateley netted 24 times for Monaco before he returned to Britain in 1990, joining Scottish giants Rangers.

Joe Cole - Lille (2011-12)

Cole had struggled to live up to expectations at Liverpool in the 2010-11 season and was loaned out to Lille for the campaign in the summer of 2011.

The former Chelsea playmaker managed to rediscover some of his old form in France, making a good impact at Lille, scoring nine goals and contributing with six assists.

Laurie Cunningham - Marseille (1984-85)

Cunningham had already been a British overseas star at Real Madrid when he moved to Marseille in 1984.

The winger scored a brace on his debut in France and ended his one and only season with Marseille with eight goals from 33 appearances before a switch back home to Leicester in November 1985.

Clive Allen - Bordeaux (1988-89)

Allen was another successful English player who made the switch to France in the late 1980s when he joined Bordeaux.

The striker had been prolific for Tottenham and QPR and even though his time at Bordeaux is not remembered too fondly, Allen still managed 14 goals in 23 games in his one season with the club.

Other notable English players in Ligue 1:

• Ross Barkley - Nice (2022-23)
• Joey Barton - Marseille (2012-13)
• David Beckham - Paris Saint-Germain (2012-13)
• Angel Gomes - Lille (2021-present)
• Ainsley Maitland-Niles - Lyon (2023-present)
• Brian Stein - Caen (1988-90)
• Trevor Steven - Marseille (1991-92)
• Ray Wilkins - Paris Saint-Germain (1987-88)

Scotland

Mo Johnston - Nantes (1987-89)

In between his stints at Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers, Johnston had a successful two-year spell at Nantes.

The Scot was a regular for the French outfit, and his goalscoring record was solid, as Johnston hit 22 goals in 69 appearances in the top flight.

Ray Stephen - Nancy (1987-91)

After spending seven years at Dundee, striker Stephen joined Nancy in 1987, who were then managed by Wenger.

A less well-known Scot to have swapped Britain for France, Stephen can be proud of his achievements for Nancy as he scored 56 goals for them in total over four years.

Other notable Scottish players in Ligue 1:

• Eric Black - Metz (1986-91)
• Steven Fletcher - Marseille (2015-16)
• Allan Johnston - Rennes (1996-97)
• Derek McInnes - Toulouse (1999-2000)

Northern Ireland

Michael Hughes - Strasbourg (1992-96)

Attacking midfielder Hughes had struggled for regular game-time for Manchester City when he joined Strasbourg in 1992.

He was loaned back to West Ham twice during his four-year spell in France, but when he did turn out for Strasbourg, he caught the eye, scoring nine goals in 85 games for Le Racing.

Wales

Aaron Ramsey - Nice (2022-2023)

Ramsey had a year at Nice, joining in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer after a loan spell at Rangers from Juventus.

The former Arsenal midfielder played 34 times for Nice but struggled to impress, scoring just one goal.

Other notable Welsh players in Ligue 1:

• Jordan James - Rennes (2024-present)
• Joe Rodon - Rennes (2022-23)
• Sorba Thomas - Nantes (2024-present)