Tuchel notes a record: less than 25% of Premier League players are English.

Thomas Tuchel is concerned about the decline in the number of English players in the Premier League

According to The Sun: England coach Thomas Tuchel expressed concern over the record low number of English footballers in the Premier League. Currently, less than a quarter of players who take the field in matches of the top division are eligible to play for his team.

This impressive figure stands at only 23.2%, which is a significant decrease compared to Gareth Southgate's time when this figure ranged between 30 and 33% — even then it was already considered record low compared to previous years.

“I am aware now. I would like to see more English players,” remarked Tuchel.

He also added that players must fight for their place in the team, and if they truly deserve the opportunity, they will get it.

Tuchel pointed out the presence of stars playing in foreign leagues such as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Fikayo Tomori, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Although Tuchel states that he has enough players for top-level competition, he acknowledges that selection issues still remain, as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish did not make the current squad.

“I am sure the guys from the last gathering deserve to be here,” Tuchel said.

Southgate, who stepped down after Euro 2024, has also frequently expressed concern about the decline in the number of English players in the Premier League.

“The numbers are what they are. They are not increasing,” Southgate said.

According to him, if in 2023 the share was 32%, it has decreased from 35% during his tenure and 38% in previous years. Recently this figure fell to 28%.

“Currently, we are significantly lagging behind France and Spain in these metrics, and interestingly, Brazil, having a strong domestic league, now has as many or possibly more players in the Champions League than we do,” Southgate concluded.

Thus, the decline in the number of English players in the Premier League raises concerns among coaches, as it may impact the future of the national team. This trend could pose a serious challenge for the development of young English talents who need match practice at the highest level.