'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Over the years, the Premier League has seen some great players come and contribute a plethora of goals. Many of those great players include foreigners, who have left their mark in England's top division.
The likes of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, David Silva and many others have contributed significantly in the Premier League when it comes to goals.
Premier League has always attracted top foreign talent
The English top-flight has consistently attracted top foreign talent. One fine example in this case is that of Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian midfielder has not only been a fine creator but has also been amongst the goals at regular intervals.
Trending
It is players like him and many others that have helped the Premier League become the entertaining league that is. On that note, we take a look at five of the top foreigners who have made the most goal contributions in the history of the league:
#5 Nicolas Anelka (173 goals)
Nicolas Anelka has played for a number of clubs in the Premier League. He started out with Arsenal when he joined them in the summer of 1997. After having limited chances in his first season, he turned it around in the 1998-99 season, becoming the club's top scorer with 17 Premier League goals.
The French striker then went on to join Real Madrid in the summer of 1999 before returning to Paris Saint-Germain for a second spell. He was loaned out to Liverpool for the remainder of the 2001-02 season, later joining Manchester City, where he scored 37 goals in 89 appearances.
Anelka also played for Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. With his quick feet, good off-the-ball movement and smart finishing abilities, the former Arsenal man is a well-known name in the league. In his entire time in England, the Frenchman scored 125 goals and assisted in 48 others, contributing a total of 173 goals.
#4 Robin Van Persie (197 goals)
Robin van Persie was signed by Arsenal from Feyenoord to replace the departing Dennis Bergkamp in 2004. The then Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger intended to turn the Dutch winger into a striker just as he had done with Thierry Henry.
With his sweet left foot, superb technique and an amazing eye for goal, Van Persie proved to be a lethal weapon in front of the goal. The Dutchman had the talent to generate a lot of power with his shots and was therefore very clinical. During his time with the Gunners, the former Feyenoord attacker scored 96 goals in 194 Premier League appearances.
In the summer of 2012, Van Persie shocked everyone as he decided to join rivals Manchester United in a bid to win the league title. He was successful in achieving that in the 2012-13 season as he contributed 35 goals that very season. During his Premier League tenure, the Flying Dutchman contributed 197 goals, scoring 144 and assisting in 53 others across his spells at Arsenal and Manchester United.
#3 Sergio Aguero (231 goals)
The Premier League has seen one of its best-ever strikers in the form of Sergio Aguero. The former Atletico Madrid striker was signed by Manchester City in the summer of 2011. Post the Abu Dhabi-based group takeover, the Cityzens were going all guns blazing in their bid to win the league title.
Signing Aguero proved to be a gem of a move as the Argentine striker helped City pip arch-rivals Manchester United to the Premier League title. And not to forget the title was won in extraordinary fashion as the former Atletico striker scored in the dying minutes of the last game of the season.
Kun Aguero spent 10 seasons with Manchester City, winning the Premier League five times in the process. He's also City's all-time top goalscorer. He also holds the record for the highest number of hat-tricks in the league, scoring 12. In his time in England, the Argentine forward scored 184 goals and assisted in 47 others, contributing in 231 goals.
#2 Thierry Henry (249 goals)
Thierry Henry is arguably one of the best strikers the game has ever seen. Starting his footballing career with AS Monaco, the Frenchman was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 1999 where he was reunited with his former manager Arsene Wenger.
The French tactician was keen on turning Henry into a striker from a winger given his abilities when one-to-one with the goalkeeper. The former Monaco forward was technically sound, had quick feet, agile and dribbled well with the ball at his feet. But it was his clinical and composed finishing that made him a great player in front of goal.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup winner is considered a legend at Arsenal and rightly so. During his tenure in the Premier League, Henry scored 175 goals and assisted in 74 others, contributing in a total of 249 goals.
#1 Ryan Giggs (271 goals)
The only player on the list with more assists than goals is Ryan Giggs. The Welshman is the most decorated player in the history of the Premier League.
Having come through the ranks at Manchester United, Giggs was part of the famous Class of 92 players. With his amazing pace, mind-boggling dribbling, smart passing and amazing ability to find players, the Welsh winger was a difficult player to handle, especially on the wings.
It was sheer delight to watch Ryan Giggs run down the wings, tearing away players and creating goals at will. The left-footed winger remained loyal to Manchester United throughout his career as they were the only club he ever played for.
The 13-time Premier League winner has made more than 632 Premier League appearances in his career. During that time, Giggs has scored 109 goals and assisted in 162 others, contributing a total of 271 goals. To date, he holds the record for the highest number of assists in the history of England's top division.
