While Premier League clubs might have once again shattered a string of financial records this summer, a number of their big-name stars have been cashing in their chips and heading abroad.
Watching the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold all choose to play their domestic football away from England’s elite over recent times, we have taken a look at some of the other England internationals who are beginning their own continental adventures.
With Thomas Tuchel already starting to put the pieces together before next summer’s World Cup finals get underway in the United States, many of England’s fringe superstars are desperate to stake their respective places.
With a frantic summer transfer window officially drawing to a close on Monday evening, we have taken a look at some of the Premier League superstars who completed their own shock European switches.
Marcus Rashford
While it might have been announced at the end of the 2024/25 campaign that Marcus Rashford would be heading back to Manchester United following a brief loan switch to Aston Villa, it always appeared a certainty that it wouldn’t be a lengthy return to Old Trafford for the 27-year-old.
At the heart of some real altercations with United boss Ruben Amorim following the Portuguese tacticians arrivals back in November 2024, Rashford endured what was an incredibly messy divorce from his boyhood club.
With it heavily suggested over the summer that Amorim had no interest in integrating Rashford back into his plans at Old Trafford, it was also reported that the England international was completely unwilling to rebuild any bridges in Manchester.
Spending the second-half of last season on loan at Villa Park and showing glimpses of the player that has earned 62 international caps, Rashford finally got his dream move back in July as he joined Spanish icons Barcelona.
Making it clear behind the scenes over the past 12 months that his sole focus was on forcing through a blockbuster move to Catalonia, United’s academy graduate will now have his sights firmly set on securing a spot in Tuchel’s World Cup squad for next summer.
📞 “Yeah… It’s official.”
Rashford follows in Lineker’s footsteps. pic.twitter.com/ZvbnDAtbax— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 23, 2025
Jamie Vardy
Immediately losing their Premier League status with a whimper last season and dealing with some public financial issues at the King Power, Leicester fans were desperate for their record-breaking talisman to stay put for at least one more year.
However, in what was an emotional announcement back in April, Jamie Vardy confirmed that he would be ending his King Power fairytale at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and would not be signing a contract extension.
Rightfully regarded by many as the most successful player in Leicester’s history, the former England international spearhead the Foxes to their iconic Premier League success back in 2016 and was also crowned an FA Cup winner at Wembley four years ago.
Notching 200 goals for Leicester and shattering a string of records after arriving back in 2012, Vardy has elected to get a shock new adventure underway after being officially unveiled by Serie A returners Cremonese on Monday.
Watching the Tigers embark on a sensational start to life back among Italy’s elite after winning each of their opening two Serie A showdowns, Vardy has signed a one-year deal with the option for a further season if Cremonese manage to avoid the drop.
🚨🇮🇹 Jamie Vardy to Cremonese, here we go! Deal in place with Italial club until June 2026 plus option for +1 season if staying in Serie A.
Agreement done right now and Vardy scheduled to travel tonight to Milano in order to start new chapter.#LCFC legend will play in Italy. pic.twitter.com/osAwzDod5H
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2025
Ben Chilwell
While Ben Chilwell might have been part of the Crystal Palace squad that were crowned FA Cup champions at Wembley back in May, it is fair to say that the 28-year-old has found his career rather spectacularly stall over the past few years.
Firmly becoming a forgotten man in west London and not making a single Premier League appearance for Chelsea last season before being shipped out to Palace on loan during the January transfer window, the former Leicester star is desperate to get his career back on track.
Not included in Enzo Maresca’s Club World Cup squad earlier in the summer and forced to train away from the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge, it was no surprise to see Chilwell get pushed out of the exit on Deadline Day.
However, despite reported interest from both Premier League and Championship clubs, the 28-year-old elected to join Chelsea’s partner club Strasbourg where he is expected to see out the remainder of the two years that he has left on his contract.
In what has become a hugely controversial topic of conversation over the past few months, Chilwell becomes the sixth Chelsea player to join Strasbourg this summer.
From English soil to Strasbourg 🏴
Hello, Ben Chilwell! pic.twitter.com/5Z32Jo8Bw0
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 1, 2025
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