English players to have played football in India

The Indian Super League and I-League have played host to some of the most well-respected players in the world throughout its history. The diversity of the competition is one of the aspects that has made it more watched globally than the Premier League, with 72 nations having been represented in the Indian Super League according to Aigar Shilvan.

Betting on the league has also become more popular over the last couple of season, with this 22Bet review highlighting that they are one of the leaders when it comes to betting on the competition. But, which players have come to play in India that are English?

David James

David James had an incredible career during his time in England. During his 26-year career, he played for some of the biggest teams in England. The goalkeeper played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Manchester City. Success almost came as second nature for the goalkeeper, as he won the League Cup and FA Cup. The last move of his career saw him play for a season with the Kerala Blasters in 2014. He made 12 appearances in that season, before hanging up his boots. He would later manage the team but was fired after a winless run in December 2018.

Michael Chopra

Michael Chopra will always be fondly remembered by Indian fans, as he became the first player of Indian parentage to have played in the Premier League. His career spun over 16-years, with the best years of his career coming with Cardiff City. He played a combined total of four years with Cardiff, with his best season coming in 2006-07. During that campaign, he scored 22 goals in 42 appearances in the Championship. He would later play in the Indian Super League for the Kerala Blasters. His first season with the club would be disappointing as he failed to score in his nine appearances. However, he later returned to the Blasters in 2016 and scored one goal in ten games.

Wes Brown

West Brown also enjoyed a season with the Blasters before hanging up his boots. The former Manchester United defender played 14 times for the club and scored one goal in the 2017-18 season. The move saw Brown link up with former United coach Rene Meulensteen. The most prestigious years of his career came while he was at Old Trafford. He enjoyed a 14-year stay with the Red Devils, as he made 232 appearances. During that time, he won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League on two occasions.

John Johnson

No English player has enjoyed as much success in Indian than John Johnson. The 31-year-old defender remains an integral player for ATK. He began his career in England with Middlesbrough, before being signed by Northampton Town. He enjoyed a successful couple of years with Northampton in League Two before being signed by Bengaluru FC in the summer of 2013. During his career with Bengaluru, he won the I-League on two occasions, and the Federation Cup twice. He was named as the defender of the year in the I-League in 2013-14.