British and Irish Players who have Played in Italy

Craig Davies - 2006 - Oxford Utd to Verona (£85,000)

One of those classic, odd transfers, involving a pretty nondescript British player and a decent sized Italian club, with someone at Hellas Verona deciding that Davies' 8 goals in 48 games in the bottom tier of English football was a good enough reason to write out a cheque for £85,000. The young striker had been given an international debut for Wales by John Toshack but was still totally untested at this level and in a different footballing environment. Most people thought it was an odd move, and they weren't wrong - zero goals and just one appearance before he was shipped back to England on loan to Wolves. See our list of football's most bizarre transfers for further details.

Franz Carr - 1996 - Aston Villa to Reggiana (Free)

The pacey right winger was a big favourite at Forest in the 80's before transferring between club after club in the 90's without regaining the form that he'd shown at the City Ground. After a stint with Aston Villa he was strangely offered the chance of a crack at Italy and went over to the northern town of Reggio Emilia for a one month trial with Reggiana. Reggiana, enjoying a spell in Serie A at the time were impressed enough to offer him a contract, which Carr accepted. However, now aged 30, Carr had lost some of his trademark pace that had made him dangerous as a youngster and struggled to make an impact against the tough Serie A defences. Reggiana were relegated to Serie B and Carr moved back to England, joining Boloton Wanderers on a free in October 1997.