Asia is home to over half of humanity and has a rich football history, yet its players have not significantly impacted the English Premier League's scoring charts.
Did you know that football was conceived in Asia? The earliest recorded game closely resembling modern-day football was invented in Asia. The game, known as cuju (pronounced tsoo-joo), meaning “kickball,” was played over two centuries ago.
Asia is home to over half of humanity and has a rich football history, yet its players have not significantly impacted the English Premier League’s scoring charts. Asian football stars such as Shinji Kagawa, Park Ji-sung, Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, Maya Yoshida, and Son Heung-min have played in the EPL.
These stars have helped boost the EPL’s popularity in the region. When you look at data from sports betting sites in the region, you’ll see that the league is popular in the region. If you’re looking for a reliable wagering site in Asia, Mã tiền thưởng reviews will help you choose the right site. In the meantime, let’s look at the highest-scoring Asian players in the EPL.
Country: Japan
Club: Brighton
Goals: 7
The tricky winger got the breakthrough into Brighton’s first eleven, during the second half of the 2022/23 season. Mitoma is now considered one of the most lethal dribblers in the league.
Mitoma has also shown that he has an eye for goal in his EPL debut season. He is already the highest-scoring Japanese player after surpassing Shinji Kagawa’s six goals.
Country: South Korea
Club (s): Bolton and Crystal Palace
Goals: 8
Lee Chung-Yong scored half of his eight goals during his time at Bolton Wanderers. He was voted Bolton’s Player of the Year, becoming the first Asian player to pick up the gong. His transition into the English top flight was easier thanks to his desire to learn the language.
Country: Japan
Club: Leicester
Goals: 14
The tenacious Shinji Okazaki played in all but two of Leicester’s EPL games in 2016 when they won the unforgettable EPL title. The Japanese claimed he had no talent or technique and admitted to being poor at headers. However, the 14 goals he scored ensured he made his mark in Asia-EPL history.
Country: South Korea
Club (s): Swansea City, Sunderland, and Newcastle
Goals: 15
During the 2014/15 season, only Yaya Toure (10) and Steven Gerrard (9) were the only orthodox central midfielders to score more goals than Ki Sung-Yeung. However, he never replicated that scoring prowess again.
Country: South Korea
Club: Manchester United
Goals: 19
Park Ji-sung is popularly known as the midfielder with three lungs thanks to his tenacity. He is the most decorated Asian player to have played in the EPL, having won 11 trophies during his time at Old Trafford. Despite scoring a decent number of goals, Sir Alex Ferguson often deployed him in specific roles to nullify opposition threats.
Country: South Korea
Club: Tottenham
Goals: 102
Son Heung-min is the most outstanding Asian footballer ever! The talented two-footed forward has been Asia’s top scorer in the EPL since November 2017, two years after joining Tottenham. Having scored over 100 goals, he may sit at the helm of this list for a long time.