article_snippet: Overseas investment has become an accepted practice in the Barclays Premier League, an attractive market because the top 20 teams in English football pull in more than £3bn a season through television, commercial and gate receipts.
article_snippet: United States (Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace).
article_snippet: Russia (Chelsea); United Arab Emirates (Manchester City); Switzerland (Southampton); Malaysia (QPR); Thailand (Leicester); Egypt (Hull City).
article_snippet: Seven top-flight teams - Tottenham, Stoke City, West Ham, Newcastle, West Brom, Everton and Burnley - remain in English hands.
article_snippet: When the Premier League was formed in 1992, all 22 member clubs were owned by a spread of, mainly, British-based businessmen.
article_snippet: In those days stadiums were operating at 69.6 per cent of capacity and the combined turnover of the Premier League teams was £45m.
article_snippet: Compare that with the present-day statistics, where stadiums run at 96 per cent capacity and turnover has reached record levels, it is inevitable that the Premier League teams attract overseas interest.
highlights_snippet: Only seven top-flight teams will remain in English hands .