A look back at the Premier League players who have played for Solihull Moors

Solihull Moors may now be an established National League club, but their history includes a number of players who went on to experience the Premier League.

Some arrived at Damson Park as experienced professionals, while others were young players beginning their careers before eventually reaching the top flight.

Here is a look back at the names with Premier League experience who have had a connection with the Moors.

1. Darren Carter

Perhaps the biggest name to have played a substantial role for the Moors is Darren Carter.

A Solihull-born midfielder, Carter came through Birmingham City's academy and made his Premier League debut for his boyhood club.

He later played for West Bromwich Albion, making a combined 52 Premier League appearances for the two clubs and scoring three goals.

Carter joined Solihull Moors in 2017 after helping Forest Green Rovers win promotion from the National League.

He became an important figure at Damson Park, making 118 appearances and scoring 10 goals before leaving in 2021.

2. Stefan Moore

Stefan Moore came through the Aston Villa academy and broke into the first team as a teenager.

The striker made 28 Premier League appearances for Villa, scoring twice across the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons.

After spells across the Football League and non-league, Moore joined Solihull Moors in 2014.

He spent two seasons with the club, making 64 appearances and scoring 13 goals.

3. Darren Byfield

Another former Aston Villa player to end up at the Moors was Darren Byfield.

The striker made seven Premier League appearances for Villa during the 1997/98 season.

His career subsequently took him through a number of clubs, including Walsall, Sunderland, Gillingham and Millwall.

Byfield had two spells with Solihull Moors, first briefly in 2012 before returning in 2014.

He made 33 appearances in total across his two spells, scoring four goals.

4. Gaël Bigirimana

Gaël Bigirimana arrived at Newcastle United as a highly-rated youngster and made 13 Premier League appearances for the club during the 2012/13 season.

He also scored once in the top flight.

After spells with Coventry City, Rangers, Hibernian and other clubs, the Burundi international joined Solihull Moors on a short-term deal in 2019.

His time at the club was brief, but it added another former Premier League player to the Moors' history.

5. Nicky Eaden

Nicky Eaden's spell at Solihull Moors was one of the shortest, but his Premier League experience was considerable.

The full-back was part of the Barnsley side that played in the Premier League in 1997/98, making 35 appearances during the campaign.

Almost a decade later, Eaden joined Solihull Moors in 2007.

He made just one appearance for the club before moving on to Kettering Town.

6. Cameron Archer

Unlike the older players on this list, Cameron Archer was only beginning his career when he arrived at Solihull Moors.

The Aston Villa youngster joined the Moors on loan for the 2020/21 season and made 26 National League appearances, scoring four goals.

He went on to establish himself in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Sheffield United, eventually making 10 Premier League appearances for Villa and 29 for Sheffield United, as well as playing for Southampton in the top flight.

His spell at Solihull was therefore an important early chapter in the career of a player who would go on to play regularly in England's top division.

A few names need a little explaining

There are some other names sometimes included in lists of "Premier League players" connected with Solihull Moors.

Amari'i Bell came through the youth system at Solihull Moors before going on to play in the Premier League with Luton Town. He made 21 Premier League appearances during the 2023/24 season. However, his Moors connection was at youth level rather than as a senior first-team player.

Stern John was another famous name to sign for the club. The Trinidad and Tobago striker had Premier League experience with Birmingham City and later Southampton, but he did not make a competitive appearance for Solihull Moors. His only involvement came in a pre-season friendly.

John Bostock, meanwhile, should not be included as a former Premier League player. Despite his famous move to Tottenham as a teenager, he never made a Premier League appearance for Spurs. He did, however, go on to have a lengthy professional career before joining Solihull Moors.

Nathan Baxter also spent time with Solihull Moors on loan from Chelsea and made 17 National League appearances. However, his senior career has not included a Premier League appearance, so he does not meet the strict definition either.

The Moors' history therefore has a surprisingly strong Premier League thread, with established top-flight players such as Carter and Moore alongside youngsters such as Archer who used the club as a stepping stone towards the highest level.