Continuing our alphabetical world tour, next up is The Gambia. A small nation on the coast of Western Africa, The Gambia has been represented by just one player in the Premier League, according to the Premier League website.
First (and only) Player – Modou Barrow (Swansea City; 2014-17)
After growing up in the Gambia and moving to Sweden as a child, Modou Barrow began his career in Swedish football, appearing for five clubs before moving to Swansea City in 2014.
Barrow made 33 league appearances in his first two seasons in Wales, mostly from the bench, and despite earning a more prominent role in 2016/17, the arrival of Paul Clement as manager coincided with the end of Barrow’s Swansea career.
He moved to Leeds on loan, before joining Reading on a permanent deal that summer. Barrow then spent two seasons at Reading before moving to the Turkish side Denizlispor on loan for 2019/20. The portion of his childhood was long enough for Barrow to be eligible to play for Sweden, but he elected to play for the Gambia when he was first called up in 2015. He has won 11 caps, scoring one goal.
Records
- Most appearances – Modou Barrow (51)
- First appearance – Modou Barrow (SWANSEA 2-1 Arsenal, November 9th 2014)
- Most goals – Modou Barrow (1)
- First goal – Modou Barrow (Bournemouth 3-2 SWANSEA, March 12th 2016)
Elsewhere
No Gambian has featured in the Premier League since Barrow left Swansea in 2017. He has since left Reading and is unlikely to return to the Premier League. Elsewhere, Ibou Touray (Salford City) and Ebou Adams (Forest Green Rovers) also currently play in the football league.
Trivia
- Omar Koroma could have been the first Gambian player in the Premier League, but he left Portsmouth in 2010 without making a senior appearance.
- The Gambia won their first-ever away World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier in November 2019 (3-1 v Angola), their first in 40 attempts.
