The Annual Review of the European Football Players’Labour Marke, published on Thursday by the Professional Football Players Observatory, found the number of foreigners in the top divisions in England, Germany, Spain, France and Italy last season had reached 42.4 per cent.

The study said this marked a 3.5 per cent increase on season 2006-07.

England’s Premiership again proved the most attractive draw for foreigners, who made up 59.5 per cent of the total.

The study also found foreign players had for the first time contributed more than half (51.9 per cent) of the goals scored in the top five leagues.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, whose organisation backed the review, said in a statement the findings highlighted “the need to have solidarity and maintain a balance in football”.

Blatter wants to introduce a so-called ‘six plus five’ quota system that would mean teams starting matches with a maximum of five foreigners.

“I can guarantee continents like South America and Africa are behind us on this as they are the main suppliers for big European clubs and are suffering from the exodus of their players,” added the president of world soccer’s ruling body.

According to the report, non-European players now represent 50 percent of the total number of foreigners in the top five leagues.