12 Premier League Players Who Played for Both Chelsea and Arsenal
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 1
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 3
12 Premier League Players Who Swapped Chelsea and Arsenal
There is a certain mystique that exists between Arsenal and Chelsea, a fierce London rivalry etched into every matchday. While that tension has always simmered, there are a handful of players who stepped over the divide and represented both sides.
Some fans hardly appreciated it, while others admired the professionalism. Still, these twelve individuals not only survived the scrutiny but made meaningful contributions at both clubs. Their journeys offer insight into ambition, redemption, and occasionally, reinvention.
Below Are the 12 Best Premier League Players Who Moved Between Chelsea and Arsenal
Bonus - Lassana Diarra
Lassana Diarra’s time in London football might read like a short chapter, but his move between Chelsea and Arsenal still paints an interesting subplot in the rivalry. At Chelsea, he was young and promising but largely on the fringes.
After being unable to secure regular minutes under José Mourinho, he made the switch to Arsenal in 2007, hoping for a breakthrough. However, the story remained the same.
Just seven league appearances later, he moved on again, this time to Portsmouth. While his impact at either London club was minimal, his journey through both sides still earned him a unique place on this list. This was a tale of missed timing rather than a lack of talent.
12. Yossi Benayoun
A technically gifted midfielder with vision and a sharp football brain, Yossi Benayoun often found himself playing the role of the trusted deputy. At Chelsea, opportunities were limited due to a crowded midfield, but he proved his worth during a season-long loan at Arsenal in the 2011–12 campaign.
There, he stepped into the spotlight with quiet authority, scoring four league goals and playing a significant role in Arsenal’s push to secure Champions League qualification. While his stay was short, it was meaningful. Benayoun represented the kind of steady presence every big team needs: experienced, unselfish, and reliable when it mattered most.
11. Noni Madueke
The latest and perhaps most intriguing figure in this list, Noni Madueke’s transfer to Arsenal in July 2025, signalled a new era. Young, dynamic, and full of potential, his move came as part of a quiet but deliberate pattern: Mikel Arteta recruiting Chelsea talents to fit his blueprint.
Madueke brings flair, directness, and unpredictability to Arsenal’s attack. While his journey is just beginning, the buzz around his arrival suggests he could become one of the most influential figures to ever cross the London divide if development and momentum stay on course.
10. Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa's Chelsea journey was as turbulent as it was high-profile. Signed for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper, he found success, winning the Champions League, Europa League, and Super Cup, but also endured scrutiny.
By the summer of 2025, his Chelsea chapter had closed. Arsenal swooped in, adding the Spaniard to compete with David Raya. Now entering his second wind in north London, Kepa’s experience and pedigree make him a fascinating addition, one who still has a point to prove in the Premier League.
9. David Luiz
The mercurial Brazilian always brought drama wherever he played, sometimes sublime, sometimes erratic. At Chelsea, David Luiz was part of the 2016/17 Premier League-winning squad and lifted multiple cups across two spells.
His 2019 switch to Arsenal raised eyebrows, especially given his unpredictable style. Yet under Mikel Arteta, he played a key role in the Gunners’ 2020 FA Cup triumph, offering experience and leadership in a rebuilding squad.
His time at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates was marked by moments of brilliance and lapses in concentration, but through it all, Luiz remained a character fans could never ignore.
8. Jorginho
Jorginho arrived at Chelsea in 2018 as Maurizio Sarri’s trusted midfield metronome and quickly became a divisive figure. But over time, he silenced critics as he guided Chelsea to Champions League and Super Cup glory in 2021.
When Arsenal picked him up in January 2023, it was seen as a smart, low-risk signing. And that it was until he left after the 2024-25 season.
Jorginho brought calm and tactical intelligence to Arsenal’s young midfield, helping guide them through high-pressure title chases. While his Chelsea peak was undoubtedly higher, his impact at Arsenal, though more subtle, was still significant.
7. Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz will always have a place in Chelsea history, not for goals or assists alone, but for that one defining night in Porto, when his strike won the club its second Champions League title during Thomas Tuchel's reign.
After an uneven run under multiple managers, he made the move to Arsenal in 2023, seeking clarity and consistency. Mikel Arteta provided both. Havertz’s transformation in red saw him regain confidence, positional freedom, and tactical clarity.
Whether used in midfield or up front, he has become an integral cog in Arsenal’s system, proving that sometimes, a change of scenery is exactly what a talented player needs.
6. Willian
When Willian joined Arsenal in 2020 after a successful seven-year run at Chelsea, there was genuine optimism in north London. The Brazilian had been an engine at Stamford Bridge, known for his work rate, dead-ball ability, and ability to turn matches in bursts.
At Arsenal, he started brightly with two assists on debut but soon became a symbol of frustration. His performances dipped, goals dried up, and the connection with fans never quite clicked.
While his Chelsea legacy remains intact with two Premier League titles and countless big moments, his time at Arsenal will be remembered more as a misstep in an otherwise decorated career.
5. Olivier Giroud
Few players have managed to divide and delight in equal measure quite like Olivier Giroud. At Arsenal, he was never truly viewed as the successor to Robin van Persie, yet he still left with three FA Cups and over 100 goals across competitions.
In 2018, he crossed over to Chelsea, a decision many questioned at the time. Yet it was there that Giroud added silver linings to his career, lifting another FA Cup, a Champions League, and scoring in the 2019 Europa League final… against Arsenal.
His tendency to thrive in cup competitions and deliver crucial goals earned him cult status at both clubs, proving that class often speaks louder than expectation.
4. William Gallas
There’s no denying that William Gallas was a top-tier defender during his prime. He was fast, aggressive, and often vocal. But his move from Chelsea to Arsenal in 2006 came under fiery circumstances, as part of the controversial swap involving Ashley Cole.
Gallas brought leadership to the Gunners and was even handed the captain’s armband, but his tenure was marred by emotional moments, including that infamous sit-down protest at Birmingham in 2008.
Regardless, his footballing impact across both clubs was clear: title-winning form at Chelsea and defensive steel at Arsenal. Few have played pivotal roles on both sides with quite the same defiance.
3. Emmanuel Petit
Emmanuel Petit stands out as one of the rare talents to have worn both the Arsenal and Chelsea jerseys with distinction. The ex-French midfielder was known for his tireless work rate and sharp defensive instincts.
He first made his mark at Arsenal under Arsène Wenger, where he formed a formidable midfield partnership with Patrick Vieira and helped the club secure the Premier League and FA Cup double in his debut season.
After a stint at Barcelona, Petit joined Chelsea in 2001, where he continued to showcase his versatility and leadership, playing a key role alongside Frank Lampard during a pivotal period for the Blues.
Beyond club success, Petit’s international legacy is equally impressive, he scored in the 1998 World Cup final, sealing France’s first-ever World Cup triumph and also lifted the Euro 2000 trophy. His combination of strength, tactical intelligence, and ability to transition play makes him a standout figure among those who have represented both London giants.
2. Petr Čech
Petr Čech’s move to Arsenal in 2015 came as a surprise. After eleven exceptional years at Chelsea, where he won everything from league titles to European trophies, many expected him to retire a one-club Premier League icon.
But the Czech goalkeeper wasn’t done competing. At Arsenal, he brought calm to a shaky backline and won the Golden Glove in his debut season, helping the Gunners lift the 2017 FA Cup.
Though his second act didn’t quite reach the heights of his Stamford Bridge years, Čech’s consistency and professionalism across both clubs cemented his legacy as one of the league’s all-time great keepers.
1. Ashley Cole
Few transfers have caused as much uproar as Ashley Cole’s defection from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006. A graduate of the Gunners’ academy and a key part of the "Invincibles," Cole’s decision, largely driven by contract disagreements, led to years of vitriol from Arsenal fans.
But on the pitch, he soared at Stamford Bridge. With multiple domestic and European trophies added to his cabinet, Cole didn’t just enhance his career, he reinvented himself as the best left-back the Premier League has ever seen. His story is one of legacy over loyalty, and few can argue with the results.
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