6 players who swapped the EFL for random transfers across Europe

The transfer market reopens for business in just over a week's time.

It's likely to see many players swap one EFL club for another. But January rarely sees players move out of the country.

Over the last few years, a clutch of players have decided to try their luck abroad. Most opt to do so when their contracts expire in England, allowing them to try a new adventure elsewhere.

But unlike previously, players are not just looking at traditional countries.

Some players have ventured to leagues previously untouched by players from the UK.

Here, we look at half-a-dozen players who are currently plying their trade elsewhere in Europe.

Britt Assombalonga

For years Assombalonga was a prolific goalscorer in the EFL.

Seven of eight seasons saw him hit double figures for Southend, Peterborough, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough with the only exception an injury-ravaged campaign.

But his form fell off a cliff at Boro last season and he was allowed to leave as his contract came to an end. It saw Boro lose a player for nothing, despite having spent £15million to sign him.

His next move was a surprise one - he ended up joining newly-promoted top flight Turkish side Adana Demirspor on a three-year contract.

He has scored five in 18 so far for his new club.

Charlie Clough

Clough came through the Bristol Rovers academy and made three senior appearances for the Gas.

He was loaned out ample times though and eventually moved on, playing for the likes of Sutton and Barnet. His career then took a new turn in 2019 when he joined Bruneian club DPMM.

He linked up with his old Forest Green boss Adrian Pennock and spent two years in Brunei. Earlier this month he continued his globe-trotting adventure by penning a deal with Thai Premier League team Nakhon Ratchasima.

Andre Green

Green came through the Aston Villa academy and made a total of 40 appearances for the Villans.

He was loaned out three times before being released. He then joined Sheffield Wednesday in January 2021.

But his stay at Hillsborough was brief. He made just 13 outings and shortly after the start of this season, Green made an unexpected move to Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava.

And so far the move has paid dividends for the 23-year-old. He's scored six goals and four of them have come in the Europa Conference League - the same amount as Tottenham's Harry Kane.

Jake Jervis

Jervis came through the ranks at Birmingham City and made two Championship appearances.

Other than that, he was loaned out numerous times before moving to Turkey for a brief spell. He returned to England with Plymouth and Luton but further loan moves followed.

Then, in 2020, he moved abroad again to Finnish top flight side SJK. He hit three in 10 in his first year and notched eight in 26 last season as he looks to put down roots in Scandinavia.

Kadeem Harris

Harris spent two years at Sheffield Wednesday before his contract expired last summer.

He had a trial at Reading but a deal failed to materialise and he instead tried his luck abroad. A move to Ukrainian second division side Metalist Kharkiv wasn't what most would have expected though.

He made a fine start however, notching on his debut to become the first Englishman to score in Ukrainian football and his new side are top of the table heading into 2022.

Michael Ngoo

Ngoo signed terms with Liverpool aged 16 after leaving Southend United. He was billed as a hot prospect but never made a first team appearance, with loan spells away at Hearts, Yeovil and Walsall.

He then joined Kilmarnock, Bromley and Oldham before a bold move to Albanian side Tirana in 2017.

This season he has been a big part of Tirana's rise to the top of the table. He's hit four goals in the league and will be looking to replicate his fine season in 2019-20 when he hit 13 in 18 to help them seal the title.

This term could well see a repeat.