Top 10 players who have played for both Chelsea and Manchester United

Both clubs are a part of the big six of the Premier League

There are a lot of athletes who have changed teams for variety of reasons. Any sport has potentially experienced this that involves club teams. Many athletes, from basketball to football, baseball, and hockey, have changed their jerseys for new outfits to boost their reputations. The coach could have been too tough to manage, the players might not have communicated well with one another, or for financial considerations. The reason could be any, but clubs vie for the best players and we've seen transfers make headlines day in day out.

The English Premier League is another competition where players frequently switch teams. In reality, there are athletes who have played for both Chelsea and Manchester United, two of the most successful clubs in Premier League history. There aren't just one or two players who have changed teams; rather, there are a few.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have produced some of the finest players in history. Given how uncommon it is for a player to represent both these teams, we've compiled a list of the top 10 players who have done that.

10. Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes had a long stint with Manchester United. Hughes, a United academy product, moved to Barcelona in 1986 and, after a few years with other teams, returned to United in 1989.

Mark Hughes began his career in 1980 with Manchester United. He spent two seasons with Barcelona after 1986. Hughes then spent time on loan at Bayern Munich before returning to Manchester United.

Hughes went to Chelsea for £1 million in 1995 and played until 1998. The Englishman appeared in 95 games for The Blues and scored 25 goals.

9. Juan Sebastian Veron

Juan Sebastián Verón, a Premier League standout, has also played for both Manchester United and Chelsea. As a retired Argentine footballer, he played for and even served as chairman for Estudiantes de La Plata, where he was the Director of Sports. He was a former midfielder who played for several clubs and helped them achieve success.

Juan moved to Manchester United in July for a cost of £24.3 million on a five-year contract after the 2001 season. This was considered the most costly transfer in English football at the time. Two years later, Chelsea paid £15 million for him coinciding with the arrival of Roman Abramovich. However, Juan stated that he was eager to stay and battle for his spot at Old Trafford, but Ferguson permitted Chelsea to speak with him and finally convinced him to go. The transfer amount was less than the record-breaking transfer fee.

8. Radamel Falcao

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has played for both Manchester United and Chelsea. Falcao joined Manchester United on loan from AS Monaco in 2014. Falcao was once regarded as one of the world's most devastating attackers. His career, however, plummeted after a terrible injury before the loan spell at Manchester United. Following the failure at Old Trafford, Chelsea decided to take a chance and recruited him on loan as well. However, he only appeared in 10 League games, scoring one goal.

Because of his talent with the ball, he is also known as "El Tigre" or "King of the Europa League."

7. Juan Mata

Juan Mata is a Spanish attacking midfielder who has formerly played for Manchester United and Chelsea.

Mata joined Manchester United from Chelsea in 2014 for a sum in the region of £34 million. The major cause for his removal from the club was his disagreement with the then-Blues manager Jose Mourinho. Later, when Mourinho joined the Red Devils, the Spanish midfielder performed admirably under his supervision.

His strengths are as a central-impact player, but he has also been spotted playing on the wing. Juan has also played for Real Madrid Castilla and Valencia.

6. Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli, better known as Romelu Lukaku, is a Belgian professional footballer best known as a striker. He is one of five players to have scored 50 Premier League goals before the age of 23, and only the fourth to have scored 80 goals before the age of 24. Romelu also owns the all-time record for scoring 31 goals for the Belgian national team. It's no surprise that he's among the Premier League's leading scorers.

While Romelu has done so much at such a young age, he has also played for Manchester United and Chelsea. He joined Chelsea in August 2011 for an undisclosed fee. Lukaku joined Manchester United from Everton on transfer deadline day in August 2017 for about £90 million. Many media sites expected the Belgian would return to his previous club because Antonio Conte was a big fan of him, but the Red Devils came out on top.

Also Read: Chelsea vs Manchester United: Head-to-Head record

5. George Graham

George Graham was a striker for both Manchester United and Chelsea. He is one of just a handful players who have represented Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. George Graham went to Chelsea from Aston Villa for £5,000 in 1964. In 72 league games, Graham scored 35 goals. The Scotsman was at the club for two seasons before moving to Arsenal in 1966.

Graham joined Manchester United from Arsenal in 1972 for a fee of £120,000. The Scotsman appeared in 43 league games for the Red Devils but scored only two goals. During his career in the Premier League, the former striker earned a few titles.

Graham won the League Cup in 1964-65 with Chelsea. He won the majority of his titles playing for Arsenal, including the First Division in 1970-71.

4. Nemanja Matic

Serbian defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic has played for both Manchester United and Chelsea. Matic spent two seasons with Chelsea. Matic joined Chelsea for the first time in 2009, from Kosice, for £1.5 million. However, throughout his two years at the club, he only made two League appearances. Matic (£20 million) was included in a trade deal for Benfica defender David Luiz in 2011.

Chelsea re-signed Nemanja Matic from Benfica for £21 million in 2014. Under Jose Mourinho, he quickly established himself as one of the League's greatest defensive midfielders. Matic joined United from Chelsea in 2017 for a fee of about £40 million. Jose Mourinho, the former Manchester United manager, wanted Matic to join him at United to help reinforce their midfield.

3. Paul Parker

Paul Andrew Parker, better known as Paul Parker, is a retired English footballer, manager, and sports television analyst. He is well-known in the Premier League, having played for a variety of clubs, including Derby County, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and others. He has also played for both Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Paul joined Manchester United in 1991 and was transferred to QPR in August for £2 million. He then appeared in four games for Chelsea from 1996 to 1997. He did not, however, play in Chelsea's FA Cup Final victory, which broke the club's 26-year trophy drought.

2. Mal Donaghy

Mal Donaghy is a Northern Irish footballer who has played for both Manchester United and Chelsea.

At the age of 31, the Northern Ireland defender joined Manchester United in the final stages of his career for £100,000. During his four-year tenure with United, he won three titles before moving on to Chelsea, his final club. 

With Chelsea, he won the European Cup Winners’ Cup 1990/91, FA Charity Shield 1990 and European Super Cup 1991.

1. Ray Wilkins

Ray Wilkins died on April 4, 2018, remembered as one of England's finest footballers. Wilkins was a Chelsea supporter and began his career with the club in 1973. He played for the Blues for six seasons. The midfielder also spent five years at United and led the team to the FA Cup victory in 1983.

Ray Wilkins won the FA Cup in 1982-83, the FA Charity Shield in 1983, and was named Manchester United Player of the Year in 1976 and 1977.