Five of the best Uruguayan players in Premier League history | OneFootball

England face Uruguay at Wembley tonight, so what better time to celebrate the best Uruguayans to have played on these shores?

Here are five of the best Uruguayan footballers in Premier League history.

Gus Poyet

Having been part of the Real Zaragoza side that beat Arsenal in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Poyet took on a new challenge in London after signing for Chelsea on a free transfer in 1997.

Though a cruciate ligament injury decimated his first campaign in West London, he returned to feature as Chelsea beat Stuttgart to secure Cup Winners’ Cup success. The following campaigns saw Poyet emerge as a regular goalscorer from midfield, forging a reputation for late runs into the box.

His catalogue of goals included the winner for Chelsea in the 1998 UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid, as well as a stunning scissor-kick effort against Sunderland that remains one of the club’s greatest Premier League goals.

Poyet scored 49 goals in 145 games for Chelsea before crossing the capital to sign for Tottenham Hotspur in 2021. He concluded his career at Spurs, where, despite an injury-hit spell, he still recorded 23 goals in 98 games.

Luis Suarez

Uruguay’s greatest footballing export, Luis Suarez’s ascent to superstardom accelerated during three-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League.

Suarez signed for Liverpool in January 2011 after a prolific period at Ajax, and marked his debut for the Reds with a goal. After a brief period of adaptation, Suarez shone at Anfield, scoring 82 goals in just 133 games.

His 2013-14 campaign remains one of the most iconic in Premier League history, as Suarez returned from an early-season suspension to fire an unfancied Liverpool into the title race.

He scored 31 goals in 33 games, adding 12 assists, as the Reds narrowly missed out on the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers. After hoovering up the individual awards, claiming a PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and Golden Boot treble, he signed for Barcelona in a £75m deal.

Edinson Cavani

Manchester United signed the veteran goalscorer on a free transfer from PSG in 2020, as the Red Devils sought experience to lead the line. El Matador had hit a then club-record 200 goals in 301 games for PSG and arrived renowned as one of Europe’s deadliest finishers.

Cavani became a big favourite during his debut season with a work-rate and clinical touch that earned him popularity at Old Trafford.

He scored 17 goals in all competitions during his debut campaign, but the return of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 limited his minutes the following season. He departed for Valencia in 2022.

Rodrigo Bentancur

Part of a double deal for Spurs, Rodrigo Bentancur and teammate Dejan Kulusevski signed from Juventus in January 2022. The pair made an immediate impact as Spurs secured Champions League qualification.

The following campaign was Bentancur’s best in North London, as he scored six goals in all competitions, including vital late efforts against Bournemouth and Leeds. Injuries have since impacted his time with the club, but he was part of the team that ended a 17-year trophy drought with Europa League success in 2025.

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a fee that could reach a club-record £85m, following the Uruguayan’s explosive performances in Portugal.

Nunez never hit the heights expected at Anfield, but became a popular figure on the terraces for his work rate and application.

He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances over three seasons and departed a Premier League winner after winning the 2024-25 title. He’s one of just two Uruguayans to have won the Premier League, alongside former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan.

Read – England vs Uruguay – Match preview and team news

See more – Iconic Performances: Forlan secures place in Man United folklore with Anfield double

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