6 English Players Who Have Been Brave and Moved Abroad This Summer
English players are often criticised for not taking a risk and going abroad, preferring to take the safe decision and stay where they are comfortable and usually on very good money.
However, this transfer window seems to have seen more English players taking the plunge and going to ply their trade in Europe. No, we don't just mean the conveyor belt from Chelsea to Vitesse.
Here are six young English players who have moved abroad this summer and will hopefully be better players for doing so.
1. Chris Willock
Chris Willock joined the Arsenal academy when he was just five years old, and was nurtured for fourteen years of his career before an emotional departure on a permanent deal to Benfica this summer.
He achieved great things at Arsenal, peaking with a League Cup appearance against Nottingham Forest in 2016.
Willock could have continued to make the occasional first-team appearance, but took the bold decision to leave Arsenal and go abroad to further his development.
2. Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho really isn't doing too badly for a 17-year-old. Leaving Manchester City, he was signed by Borussia Dortmund for as much as £10m and was given the number seven shirt to replace Ousmane Dembele.
Sancho was one of Manchester City's brightest hopes, especially after his Player of the Tournament Award at the Euro U-17 Championship this summer, but the teenager expressed his desire to leave and Dortmund acted swiftly.
3. Matty Willock
A desire to travel abroad clearly runs in the Willock family as Manchester United's Matty Willock has joined his brother Chris in abandoning England for pastures new.
Matty Willock has joined FC Utrecht on loan, while also signing a new two year contract at Manchester United as the club look to bring him back after his adventure in the Netherlands.
4. Reece Oxford
Remember when Reece Oxford started the 2015/16 season for West Ham at 16-years-old and everyone lost their minds?
Well you do now. After not featuring last season for West Ham, he joined Reading on loan for the second half of the season and made just five appearances.
He's decided to take a risk this campaign though, and has joined Borussia Monchengladbach on loan for the season ahead.
5. Ryan Kent
Ryan Kent has joined German side SC Freiburg on loan for the 2017/18 season, having toured the lower leagues of England over the last few years.
He has played for Liverpool in the FA Cup during one of the occasions Klopp treated the competition with disdain, and spent all of last season on loan in the Championship with Barnsley.
Kent was voted Barnsley's Young Player of the Season during his time then, and will be hoping to make a similar impression at Freiburg.
6. George Dobson
George Dobson has gone one step further than many of those on this list, signing a permanent deal to take him abroad.
Dobson has signed for Sparta Rotterdam from West Ham, and it was surely a difficult decision to leave behind his boyhood club. Mr Dobson, we salute your bravery.
The midfielder spent last season on loan at Walsall, which is probably why he is so keen to suddenly leave England permanently.
