Top Five Uruguayan Footballers in Premier League History

England plays Uruguay at Wembley tonight, making it a good time to acknowledge some of the top Uruguayan players who have competed in the Premier League.

Here are five of the best Uruguayan footballers to have graced the league.

Gus Poyet

Poyet was part of the Real Zaragoza team that defeated Arsenal in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup before joining Chelsea on a free transfer in 1997.

His first season was cut short due to a serious injury, but he returned to help Chelsea win the Cup Winners’ Cup. Over the next few years, Poyet became known for scoring goals from midfield, often making late runs into the box.

His noteworthy goals include the winner against Real Madrid in the 1998 UEFA Super Cup and a remarkable scissor-kick goal against Sunderland, one of the club’s standout moments in Premier League history.

👕 187 appearances
⚽️ 54 goals
🅰️ 24 assists

Happy birthday, Gus Poyet 🎂 pic.twitter.com/0fv7U6kCVH

— Premier League (@premierleague) November 15, 2021

Poyet netted 49 goals in 145 matches for Chelsea before transferring to Tottenham Hotspur in 2021, where he scored 23 goals in 98 matches despite injury issues.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez, one of Uruguay’s most famous players, rose to stardom during his time in the Premier League.

He joined Liverpool in January 2011 after a successful stint at Ajax and scored on his debut. Suarez quickly became a key player for Liverpool, netting 82 goals in 133 games.

His 2013-14 season was remarkable, as he helped Liverpool challenge for the title after returning from a suspension.

🗓 #OnThisDay in 2013…

An unbelievable performance from @LuisSuarez9 👌🙌 pic.twitter.com/30aifqEaCM

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2017

In that season, he scored 31 goals in 33 games, adding 12 assists. Following a standout year, he transferred to Barcelona for £75m.

Edinson Cavani

Manchester United acquired Edinson Cavani on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 to add experience to their squad. At PSG, he scored a record 200 goals in 301 matches, establishing himself as a top striker in Europe.

Cavani quickly became popular with Manchester United fans, thanks to his hard work and scoring ability.

𝑬𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓 grabbing the 🐂 by the horns 🔴#GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/FuTW4HTwG7

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 20, 2021

Cavani scored 17 goals in his first season, but after Cristiano Ronaldo returned in 2021, his playing time decreased, leading to his move to Valencia in 2022.

Rodrigo Bentancur

Rodrigo Bentancur joined Tottenham Hotspur from Juventus in January 2022. He made an immediate impact, helping his team secure Champions League qualification.

Bentancur had his best season in North London during the following campaign, scoring six goals, including key late goals against Bournemouth and Leeds. Although injuries have affected his time at the club, he was part of the team that won the Europa League in 2025.

Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez was signed by Liverpool from Benfica for a fee that could be as high as £85m due to his impressive performances in Portugal.

While he did not consistently meet expectations at Liverpool, he became well-liked among supporters for his effort on the field.

Over three seasons, he scored 40 goals in 143 matches, leaving as a Premier League winner after clinching the title in the 2024-25 season. He is one of only two Uruguayan players to win the Premier League, alongside Diego Forlan.

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