Top 5 Asian players to have graced the Premier League

#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.