Premier League fans have got to witness some of the world’s best players over the years – but other brilliant players moved to these shores simply too late.

Some arrived well past their best years and left a legacy on these shores far different to that which they left elsewhere, while other players were brilliant even after arriving England late in their career but just left us wishing we’d seen more of them.



Here is a selection of players from both categories, who for one reason or other we’ll rue for not moving to the Premier League earlier.

1. George Weah



On 12 January 2000 Chelsea signed a Ballon d’Or winner on loan and he made an instant impact.

George Weah had become the first African player to win the old version of the Ballon d’Or, when he was crowned European Footballer of the Year in 1995, as well as claiming FIFA’s World Player of the Year award that same year.

After five years with AC Milan in Serie A, the Liberian was tempted to Stamford Bridge in January 2000 by the Blues’ Italian manager, Gianluca Vialli.

And Chelsea fans didn’t have to wait long to find out if the 34-year-old Weah still had it, because he was given clearance to play for the club on the same day he signed, in a London derby with Tottenham.

Vialli brought Weah on as a substitute with half an hour to play and he duly scored the only goal of the game with three minutes left.

“It’s a good beginning,” said Weah. And it was soon to get even better, as he helped Chelsea reach the FA Cup final.

Having scored five goals in 14 matches for the club, Weah started the FA Cup final against Aston Villa – the last final to be played at the old Wembley – and helped the Blues win 1-0.

It turned out to be his last game for Chelsea, as Weah was snapped up by Manchester City later that summer.

A spell with Marseille followed, before Weah wound down his career in the United Arab Emirates.

Here’s a reminder of how good Weah was, as he scored the winner and created Chelsea’s other goal in a 2-1 win over Leicester, en route to FA Cup glory 16 years ago.

2. Edgar Davids



One of the most recognisable figures in world football, The Pitbull joined Tottenham in 2005 after over a decade of dominating midfields around Europe.

And he was decent in the Premier League but just not the Edgar Davids, helping Spurs to two fifth-placed finishes before returning to Ajax and then being worse than Shaun Derry at Crystal Palace.

3. Esteban Cambiasso

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