Ex-Premier League Stars Shine in Europe’s Conference League

Several former stars from the English Premier League are still playing across Europe. Brazilian defender David Luiz is among them. He is currently in the UEFA Conference League after leaving England.

Luiz, who used to play for Chelsea and Arsenal, joined Cypriot champions Pafos in 2025. Before that, he had stints in Brazil with Flamengo and at other clubs in Europe.

At 39 years old, Luiz helped Pafos reach the Champions League league phase. There, the club played against top teams like Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Chelsea. He even scored against Monaco during that campaign.

Pafos finished fourth last season. This performance earned them a place in the Conference League, giving Luiz another chance to play in European football.

Another former Premier League player is Fabinho, who used to play for Liverpool. He returned to Europe after a brief period in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Now 32, Fabinho signed with Trabzonspor, where he has been playing in the league since leaving the Saudi Pro League. He was an important player for Liverpool, helping them win the Premier League and Champions League.

Former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac is also active in Europe. He joined Atalanta in 2023 after leaving Marseille.

Kolasinac, a Bosnian international, faced a tough time on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. But he made a comeback and signed a new one-year contract with Atalanta in May.

Meanwhile, Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho is still going strong at 40 years old. He is playing for Braga after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023.

Moutinho spent five years at Wolves and became a fan favorite at Molineux. He returned to Portugal and has continued to win trophies, including a League Cup with Braga.

Throughout his career, Moutinho has played 1,156 competitive matches, showing remarkable longevity.

These players' ongoing careers in European football show how experienced footballers can keep playing well after leaving England’s top league. They contribute to their clubs in different competitions and help them compete on the continental level.