While Ecuador have made little impression at major tournaments, the country has supplied some serious talent to top leagues around the world. Several players have arrived in England and performed strongly in the top flight.
Here are the best Ecuadorian players in the history of the Premier League.
How many Ecuadorians have won the Premier League?
At the end of the 2022/23 season, only one Ecuadorian footballer had won a Premier League title. Antonio Valencia played for ten years for Manchester United between 2009 and 2019. In that time, he won two Premier League trophies in 2010/11 and 2012/13.
Best Ecuadorian Players in EPL History
Antonio Valencia
We’ve seen that Antonio Valencia is the most successful player from Ecuador to feature in the Premier League. He first appeared in England after signing for Wigan Athletic from Villarreal in 2006.
A winger who could also slot into the right side of defence, Valencia had skill and pace, and was an effective player for both his Premier League clubs. Alongside those two EPL winner’s medals, Antonio Valencia also won the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
Enner Valencia
Enner Valencia was a prolific forward for Ecuador at international level. In 83 senior games for the senior side, he scored 40 goals. He also made useful scoring contributions in a spell at West Ham United.
It’s fair to say that Valencia’s scoring ratio dipped in England, but he remains one of the best players to emerge from Ecuador. He also appeared for Everton in a loan spell, and his overall record in England shows 91 appearances in all competitions and 13 goals.
Ulises de la Cruz
A defender who won over 100 senior caps for Ecuadaor, Ulises de la Cruz spent four years in the Premier League with Aston Villa. He was playing in Scotland for Hibernian when Villa scouts spotted his potential, and he signed for the English club in 2002.
De la Cruz was initially a first choice under manager Graham Taylor, and became a dependable figure at the back. When new boss David O’Leary came in, his opportunities diminished, and Ulises de la Cruz was sold on to Premier League side Reading in 2006.
Felipe Caicedo
A striker with a solid record at many of his clubs, Felipe Caicedo spent three years on Manchester City’s books. It was a time when City were assembling a squad that would go on to dominate the Premier League, and the Ecuadorian left before the club claimed major honours.
Caicedo joined City from Basel in 2008, and was out on loan for much of his time in England. He showed great promise, but his opportunities in England were limited, and Felipe Caicedo left after making 35 appearances for Manchester City and scoring seven goals.
Pervis Estupiñán
Left sided defender Pervis Estupiñán is still playing in English football in 2024. He joined Brighton and Hove Albion from Villarreal in 2022, and has become a first team regular on the south coast.
Estupinan was previously at Watford, but left without making a senior appearance for the club. He’s now a regular in the Ecuadorian national team and Brighton are giving the player an opportunity to show the Premier League what he can achieve.
Moisés Caicedo
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo first made his mark in the Premier League with Brighton, after joining the south coast club from Independiente Del Valle in 2021. Caicedo became part of a Brighton team that excelled in the EPL, and his performances caught the attention of Chelsea who acquired him for an initial sum of £100 million.
The size of that transfer fee underlines Caicedo’s quality, and his aim is to win major silverware at Stamford Bridge. Maybe he’s the most likely to become the next Ecuadorian to claim a Premier League winner’s medal.
Final Thoughts
It’s a small, but talented bunch of individuals on this list. Many have impressed in the Premier League, while others didn’t get the chance to show why they are among the best Ecuador internationals of recent times.
Who will be next to make their mark, and when will we see another Ecuadorian Premier League winner? EPL scouts consider players from all over the world, so we will see more talent in England’s top flight in the future.
