The Most Notable English players in Barcelona history

 

Only a few English players have actually played for Barcelona throughout the history compared to those signing for their archrival, Real Madrid.

The headline on Barcelona’s search for a new winger following Nico Williams’ sudden snub has been all over the news lately. Blaugrana has reportedly been eyeing the new target. Liverpool’s Luiz Diaz seems to be their top priority, but The Reds would not let him go for a low price. Such poses an issue for the Catalan giant.

England international Marcus Rashford becomes their next target. He provides a better option and chance to sign, as he himself is interested in moving to Catalan; his current club, Manchester United, is willing to sell him or loan him out; plus, Rashford’s versatility in all positions upfront could be a long-term solution for Robert Lewandowski’s replacement. The Polish forward has only one year left in his contract. He is already in his mid-30s too, which might not be an ideal choice to lead the line anymore alongside Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Unfortunately, the Catalan side does not seem to be actively making contact to sign Rashford. The time can be running out for them, as he is also open to reuniting with his former boss, Jose Mourinho, in Fenerbahce.

Deco and Barca top brass need to make a swift move should they consider signing him seriously. The frontman who went on loan to Aston Villa last season does need to play regularly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No wonder that he might inquire for guaranteed minutes or a more central role in the team.

If he does join Blaugrana, Rashford would be the first Englishman in Barcelona's main squad since the 1980s. Such is a stark contrast to Real Madrid, which appears to be more ‘English-friendly.’ They currently already have Jude Bellingham, plus their new signing, Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the 2000s, Los Blancos had the sensational David Beckham and Michael Owen, plus Jonathan Woodgate and Steve McManaman. In the 1980s, Laurie Cunningham was the most notable one in the Real Madrid squad.

Based on data in Transfermarkt, only 11 players were registered in Barcelona's main squad. The last one who made appearances with Blaugrana’s first team was Marcus McGuane in March 2018, when he came off the bench in Supercopa de Catalunya, a non-official competition in Spanish football. Yet, he is exactly not included on the list, as he mainly played for Barcelona's B team in Segunda Division. McGuane is currently playing for League One outfit Bristol City.

Here are the best Englishmen in Barcelona history so far, who did not only play regularly but also won trophies at the top level.

Charles and Percy Wallace

The Wallace brothers were one of the first Englishmen in Barcelona history. They started playing for them so early due to their early switch in Catalan. His family already moved there during their childhood.

The older one, Charles, joined the Catalan giant in 1907, or at the age of 22, whereas his younger brother, Percival, nicknamed Percy, signed for the club three years later, aged 20. Both were part of the team when Barcelona won their first ever Copa del Rey in 1910. In the final against Espanol de Madrid, both of them played together, and Charles bagged their first goal, which inspired their comeback 3-2 win later. They also contributed well in the 2011 Pyrenees Cup final against Stade de Bordelais. The Catalan side dismantled their opposition side 4-2. This time it was Percy who netted a brace.

However, they both left the club in the same year due to the understanding difference on financial issues with the club management. At that time, football was still run with amateurism, and keeping the proceeds from the friendly matches, which they did, was not seen as aligned with the spirit of football at that time.

The Wallace brothers eventually returned to Barcelona in 1913 after two years with Espanyol and Casual SC, which then dissolved. They stayed there till 1915, when Charles opted to hang his boots, whereas Percy moved to Espanyol.

During their stint there, the Wallace brothers helped Barcelona win the Catalan championship in 1910/11, with Charles also winning twice before Percy joined, and the Pyrenees Cup twice beside the Copa del Rey 1910. Charles had been known for being a prolific goal scorer too, with 105 goals in 103 games with the Catalan giants.

 Jack Greenwell

In about the same period as the Wallace brothers’ second stint, in came Jack Greenwell. He joined the Catalan side in 1912 and supposedly played together with the Wallace brothers for two years since Greenwell stayed on even longer with Blaugrana.

The former Crook Town winger signed for the club at the age of 28 already and stayed as a player till 1916. He made 88 appearances and netted 11 goals and helped the team clinch the Catalan championship twice, in 1913 and 1916.

Nevertheless, Greenwell’s stint in Barcelona was more than just as a player. He had taken a player-coach role in the last three years of his playing career and been named the official team manager from 1917 to 1923, plus his second stint in 1931-1933. While being in charge of Blaugrana, he guided them to lift the Copa del Rey trophy twice and win five Catalan championship titles.

Greenwell also introduced the passing-based tactics by building up theattack from the defence line and relying more on passing and teamwork instead of going forward with dribbling past the opposition, individual tricks, or direct shots. His idea was manifested by deploying one of Barcelona’s legendary forwards at that time, Paulino Alcantara, as a centre back. No wonder that he was considered the pioneer of the ball-possession tactic, which was truly aligned with the Catalan giant identity.

The former miner’s name was even more well-known as a manager when he moved to South America till the end of his life. He remained one of the few foreign bosses in the region who managed to clinch the Copa America title in history. Greenwell did it with the modest side at that time, Peru, in the 1939 edition.

Gary Lineker

He is the only English player who played regularly in Barcelona’s first team in the post-World War II era. Lineker was England’s most prolific goalscorer in the 1980s, with three top scorer awards in the top division and a Golden Boot winner in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

The former Leicester City man opted to switch sides to Barcelona after Mexico 1986 to be able to play in the continental competition, as English clubs were banned for five years from 1985 to 1990 due to the Heysel tragedy in the 1985 European Cup final.

His spell in Camp Nou was rather mixed. He thrived in his first season by registering 21 goals and three assists in 50 games and helped his team sit in 2nd place behind Real Madrid. One of the most memorable goals was when he netted a hat trick in a 3-2 win over their archrival at their home turf.

In the following two seasons, the ex-Everton man succeeded better in terms of silverware, as Barcelona won Copa del Rey 1988 and UEFA Winners Cup 1989. However, the dismissal of the English manager who brought him to La Liga, Terry Venables, due to their poor start to the season, did not help much in the league campaign. Lineker still managed to score 20 goals in 50 games in all competitions, but Blaugrana only finished sixth.

The arrival of Johan Cruyff to take charge of the team in summer 1988 did improve the Catalan side, but not with Lineker. He was no longer leading the frontline but deployed wide as a right winger. The English striker also saw his minutes reduced too in favour of their new signing, Julio Salinas.

Overall, despite lifting his first and only continental trophy, Lineker only appeared in 37 games and notched up 10 goals in all competitions. He decided to leave Camp Nou to return to England in summer 1989 since he was not exactly in the Dutch boss’ ideal plan. The club needed to add another foreign signing too, meaning they had to release one due to the foreign player limit at that time.