As Arsenal prepares to face Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Final, all eyes are on Mikel Arteta. But before he was the mastermind of the Gunners, Arteta was pulling the strings in the heart of Paris. Discover his story and 6 other forgotten players who played for PSG.
The upcoming Champions League Final is not just a battle for European supremacy; it is a profound tactical narrative intertwined with deep historical roots.
Mikel Arteta’s connection to PSG is a fascinating subplot to this massive clash. Before the Qatari takeover, PSG was a stepping stone for many young talents and a temporary home for established stars who are now legendary figures elsewhere.
If you dive deep into the history books, you will find a surprising list of forgotten PSG players who wore the famous blue and red jersey. Let’s explore 7 players you completely forgot played for PSG.
1. Mikel Arteta
- PSG Stats: Played from 2001 to 2002 | 53 Appearances | 5 Goals | 4 Assists
Long before shaping Arsenal into the Premier League champions, a teenage Mikel Arteta was sent to PSG to learn his trade. Arriving on loan from Barcelona B in the winter of 2001, the 19-year-old Spaniard was thrust into a midfield that featured the magical Ronaldinho and Jay-Jay Okocha. While not yet the finished article, Arteta held his own, playing as a reliable midfielder and learning what it took to survive at the highest level.
Despite PSG’s desire to keep him, Arteta eventually moved to Scottish giants Rangers in 2002 for a transfer fee of around £6 million. He went on to become a Premier League icon with Everton and Arsenal, ultimately transitioning into the elite manager who is now looking to conquer his former Parisian club on the biggest stage in European football.
2. Gabriel Heinze
- PSG Stats: Played from 2001 to 2004 | 132 Appearances | 8 Goals | 2 Assists
Mention Gabriel Heinze to any Premier League fan, and they will instantly recall his fierce tackling at Manchester United. However, the Argentine defender actually forged his European reputation in Paris – where he famously shared the locker room and the pitch with a young Mikel Arteta during the 2001/02 season.
Signed from Real Valladolid in 2001 for roughly £2 million, Heinze quickly became a fan favorite at the Parc des Princes. His aggressive style, leadership, and crucial role in winning the Coupe de France made his spell highly successful. His dominant performances caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, who brought him to Old Trafford in the summer of 2004 for £6.9 million.
Yet, football has a beautiful way of coming full circle. Years after their days together in the French capital, Heinze reunited with his former PSG teammate Mikel Arteta, bringing his tactical grit to North London as an assistant coach. Now, these two former Parisians are sitting in the Arsenal dugout, masterminding a plan to defeat their former club in the Champions League Final.
3. Christopher Nkunku
- PSG Stats: Played from 2015 to 2019 | 78 Appearances | 11 Goals | 4 Assists
Christopher Nkunku was a highly touted product of the PSG youth academy. He officially broke into the first team in 2015. However, developing in a squad boasting Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, and Ángel Di María proved to be a curse. Despite showing flashes of brilliance and versatility, Nkunku was primarily restricted to a substitute role, struggling to nail down a guaranteed starting spot.
Realizing his potential was being stunted on the bench, he made the brave decision to leave his boyhood club in 2019, joining RB Leipzig for a modest fee of £11.7 million. This move completely unlocked his career. He transformed into the Bundesliga Player of the Year, became a regular for the French national team, and eventually secured a £52 million blockbuster move to Chelsea.
4. Giovani Lo Celso
- PSG Stats: Played from 2016 to 2019 | 54 Appearances | 6 Goals | 9 Assists
Plucked directly from South America, PSG paid £8.5 million to sign a 20-year-old Giovani Lo Celso from Rosario Central in 2016. Arriving as a classic number 10, the Argentine found life in Paris incredibly difficult.
Head coach Unai Emery often deployed him out of position as a deep-lying defensive midfielder (number 6) to compensate for squad imbalances. Consequently, Lo Celso looked completely out of his depth in crucial Champions League fixtures.
Deemed a tactical misfit, he was loaned to Real Betis, who subsequently bought him permanently for £20 million in 2019. Leaving PSG was the best thing for his career. He regained his creative freedom in Spain, earned a £55 million move to Tottenham Hotspur, and became an Argentine international, lifting two Copa América titles.
5. Mike Maignan
- PSG Stats: Played from 2012 to 2015 | 0 Senior Appearances (42 apps for PSG B) | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
Mike Maignan is currently recognized as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet, shining for AC Milan and the French national team. Astonishingly, his roots belong to the PSG youth academy.
Maignan spent years developing his craft in Paris, but his senior pathway was entirely blocked by Salvatore Sirigu and later Kevin Trapp. Crucially, Maignan only ever played for the PSG B team and never made a single competitive appearance for the first team.
Tired of waiting in the shadows, he forced a transfer to Lille in 2015 for a microscopic fee of just £1 million – a deal that PSG surely regrets today. At Lille, he dethroned PSG to win the Ligue 1 title in 2021 before moving to AC Milan for £13 million, where he immediately secured the Serie A championship and established himself as a world-class shot-stopper.
6. Sylvain Distin
- PSG Stats: Played from 2000 to 2001 | 45 Appearances | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
Sylvain Distin holds the prestigious record for the most Premier League appearances by a foreign outfield player (469 games). Yet, before his spells at Manchester City, Portsmouth, and Everton, he was marshalling the defense at PSG.
Joining from FC Gueugnon in 2000, Distin spent one season as a commanding center-back in Ligue 1, helping the club win the UEFA Intertoto Cup. His imposing physical presence attracted English suitors. He was initially loaned to Newcastle United for the 2001/02 season before being sold permanently to Manchester City for £4 million.
Distin went on to enjoy a 15-year career in England, winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth and becoming one of the most respected defenders in Premier League history.
7. Mateja Kežman
- PSG Stats: Played from 2008 to 2010 | 53 Appearances | 10 Goals | 2 Assists
Mateja Kežman arrived in Paris with a reputation as a lethal striker, despite a previous flop at Chelsea. Signed initially on loan from Fenerbahçe in 2008 (made permanent for £3 million in 2009), the Serbian’s time at PSG was nothing short of a disaster. He struggled drastically with his form, looked isolated up front, and suffered a complete breakdown in his relationship with the fans.
The defining moment of his failed stint occurred when he angrily took off his PSG shirt and threw it on the ground after being substituted. Suspended by the club, he was eventually offloaded on loan to Zenit Saint Petersburg.
His career never recovered; he drifted into footballing obscurity with stints in Hong Kong and Belarus before retiring early. It remains one of the worst transfers in PSG’s pre-Qatari history.
FAQ: Forgotten PSG Players
Q: Did Mikel Arteta ever play for PSG?
A: Yes, Mikel Arteta played for PSG on a 18-month loan from Barcelona B between January 2001 and the summer of 2002.
Q: Why did Mike Maignan leave PSG without playing?
A: Mike Maignan grew up in the PSG youth academy but was restricted to playing exclusively for the PSG B team. Unable to break past senior goalkeepers Salvatore Sirigu and Kevin Trapp, he transferred to Lille in 2015 for just £1 million.
Q: How much did PSG sell Christopher Nkunku for?
A: Despite his obvious talent, Christopher Nkunku could not secure a starting role in a star-studded PSG attack. He was sold to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in the summer of 2019 for a relatively low fee of £11.7 million, where he quickly developed into a world-class forward.
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