There were just 13 foreign players in the Premier League when it began in 1992 – now there are over 300.
But of the 2,016 non-British and Irish players to grace the top flight since then, which import can be classed as the best?
The Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer Alan Shearer, former Chelsea and Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit, title winner Chris Sutton and New York Times football writer Rory Smith discussed the options for a Premier League Show Special (BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 19:00 GMT on Thursday).
A shortlist was provided to the panel featuring overseas players who had made it into a PFA Team of the Year. The panel then selected what it considers the standout candidates in each area of the pitch – three goalkeepers, three defenders, three midfielders and four forwards.
From this list you can vote for your favourite at the bottom of the page.
The results will be revealed on this page and on Football Focus at 12:15 GMT on BBC One on Saturday.
Goalkeepers
David de Gea (Man Utd)
Sutton: He was under a lot of scrutiny in his first season, as is natural for goalkeepers who sign for Manchester United. He showed he had the temperament to cope and grew in stature. Commanding, unflustered and a great shot stopper, he makes so many saves with his feet. An outstanding all-round decision maker and goalkeeper.
Smith: The fact that he’s won less than Peter Schmeichel during his Manchester United career – and hasn’t been quite as domineering a figure in football’s consciousness as his predecessor – means he has to rank below him, and behind Petr Cech, but if he remains in England for the peak years of his career, as it now appears he will, that may have to be reassessed.
Petr Cech (Chelsea, Arsenal)
Smith: Cech was the underrated player of that Chelsea team from the mid-2000s that set a lot of records. He went on to Arsenal and had a decent career so his longevity is extraordinary. He has won four titles, has more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper and more clean sheets in a single season.
Sutton: Cech has the numbers and was very calm and dependable. He was a different type of goalkeeper to the others.
Peter Schmeichel (Man Utd, Aston Villa, Man City)
Sutton: Schmeichel was head and shoulders above the rest. He was rather unorthodox, more of a handball goalkeeper when he first came over. It was very unusual but he had a very imposing presence. At the start of the era, what that Manchester United team achieved was down to his influence.
Gullit: Schmeichel was a complete package, his presence was there all the time and he was very good with his feet too – that is very important now. You probably felt safe with Schmeichel behind you and the players would have thought, “As long as he is there, we have a chance to win”. He would make saves that were vital.
Shearer: I played against him numerous times. He was hard, great at crosses and a winner. He bullied and organised his defenders and, having talked to Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister who played in front of him, they said he was pretty horrible in a good way. They had huge respect for him and you knew you were going into battle when you came up against Peter. He certainly was not afraid. He brought the starfish technique where he made himself huge and you had to be accurate to get the ball past him. The memory I take from playing against him is how big he made himself against you.
You knew you were going into battle against Schmeichel – Shearer
Honourable mention
Edwin van der Sar
Shearer: He has more appearances, more clean sheets and a better clean sheet percentage record than Schmeichel, plus four titles, yet he has hardly got a mention.
Defenders
Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
Sutton: Vidic ended my career – I played my last ever game against him.
He was part of one of the greatest centre-back partnerships the Premier League has ever seen with Rio Ferdinand. Beauty was Rio and