CIES: France, 2^nd biggest exporter of players in 2024, behind Brazil & ahead of Argentina

With 1,091 expatriate players in the 135 professional leagues included in the sample (as at 01/05/2024), France is in second place in the ranking of countries exporting football players in 2024, behind Brazil (1,338 players) and ahead of Argentina (995), according to the CIES Football Observatory's "Monthly Report" published on 13/05/2024. This 2024 podium is identical to those of 2023 and 2022.

In total, a record 15,310 expatriate players (up 19.2% on 2020) make up 24.3% of the squads in the 135 leagues studied. The proportion of expatriates is highest in UEFA countries, with 29.3% of the squads made up of foreign players (or 8.3 players per club), and lowest in CONMEBOL countries (11.7% of the squads, or 3.4 players per club), according to CIES.

France is also the country with the highest increase in absolute terms in the number of expatriate players since 2020 (+273 players), ahead of Argentina (+220) and England (+141).

"Luxembourg is the top destination for French expatriates (132 players). Luxembourg is also the country where the number of French expatriates has increased the…