You could use mercenary as a derogatory description for anyone doing anything just for the money if other people are thought to do it for love or country or some other higher reason. Note though that the term is always negative, never positive or neutral. So for instance if the sportsperson was playing in another country's league to improve their skills, or to live close to their spouse's family, they would not be a mercenary even if the money was also better. EDIT: I have googled for you and found two British quality news sources and one book by a New Zealand rugby player refering to mercenaries in sport. The BBC about mercenary football managers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37772794 The Observer about mercenary football players: https://www.theguardian.com/observer/osm/story/0,,1229623,00.html An autobiography by John Daniell, international rugby player: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Confessions-Rugby-Mercenary-John-Daniell/dp/0091930685

Hello In English, you can not use *mercenary* in this context: "She is a *mercenary* playing in the Korean league for the first time." I would suggest rather saying: "She is the "international newcomer" playing in the Korean league for the first time." Here we use "the international newcomer" and not "an international newcomer" because we are speaking about a particular person. I hope that helps!

You can. But it has a very negative connotation. You wouldn't say that about a sports person you admire.

Hello! See the answer below.