All Players Who Played for Both Liverpool and Newcastle

1. Michael Owen

• Liverpool FC: 1996-2003 (Apps: 264 | Goals: 136 | Assists: 32) | Newcastle United: 2005-2008 (Apps: 71 | Goals: 26 | Assists: 1)

A product of Liverpool’s prolific youth academy, Michael Owen exploded onto the scene as a teenage phenomenon, quickly establishing himself as one of the most lethal strikers in world football.

During his prime years at Anfield, he was an undeniable success, leading the line to a famous cup treble and winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2001. Seeking a new challenge, he departed his boyhood club for Real Madrid in the summer of 2004 for £8 million.

After a mixed season in Spain, Owen returned to the Premier League, joining Newcastle United in 2005 for a club-record fee of £16.8 million. Unfortunately, his time on Tyneside is largely remembered as a tragic failure.

Plagued by catastrophic knee and foot injuries, Owen spent massive chunks of his Newcastle career in the treatment room. He eventually suffered relegation with the Magpies in 2009 before leaving on a free transfer to join Manchester United, severely tarnishing his legacy among both fanbases.

2. James Milner

• Newcastle United: 2004-2008 (Apps: 114 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 8) | Liverpool FC: 2015-2022 (Apps: 330 | Goals: 26 | Assists: 46)

James Milner’s incredible longevity in the Premier League includes highly impactful spells at both clubs. He joined Newcastle United from his boyhood side Leeds United in 2004 for around £3.6 million.

As a promising and energetic young winger, Milner was a dependable asset on Tyneside, gaining crucial top-flight experience before being sold to Aston Villa in 2008 for £12 million. Following a successful era at Manchester City, Milner transitioned to the next chapter of his career.

In 2015, Liverpool secured the veteran on a free transfer – a move that would become one of the greatest pieces of modern business. Evolving into a versatile midfield engine and reliable vice-captain under Jürgen Klopp, Milner became an absolute Anfield legend.

Across 330 appearances, his relentless work ethic and leadership were instrumental in delivering every major trophy available, including the Premier League and the Champions League.

3. Georginio Wijnaldum

• Newcastle United: 2015 (Apps: 40 | Goals: 11 | Assists: 5) | Liverpool FC: 2016-2020 (Apps: 235 | Goals: 22 | Assists: 14)

Dutch international Georginio Wijnaldum was a rare shining light in a dark period for Newcastle. Arriving from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2015 for £14.5 million, he enjoyed a stellar individual debut season as an attacking midfielder, notably scoring four goals in a single match against Norwich City.

However, despite his impressive 11-goal return, Newcastle suffered a devastating relegation to the Championship.

Recognizing his immense quality, Liverpool swooped in immediately, buying him directly from Newcastle in the summer of 2016 for £25 million. Klopp transformed Wijnaldum from an attacking threat into an elite, tactically disciplined box-to-box midfielder.

He became an undisputed pillar of Liverpool’s success, famously scoring a stunning semi-final brace in the miraculous 4-0 comeback against Barcelona.

Leaving on a free transfer to PSG in 2021, his Anfield tenure is universally viewed as a massive triumph.

4. Ian Rush

• Liverpool FC: 1991-1995 (Apps: 138 | Goals: 46 | Assists: 9) | Newcastle United: 1997 (Apps: 11 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1)

While the Premier League era stats reflect his later years, Ian Rush’s legendary status was forged much earlier.

A true icon of English football, Rush originally arrived at Liverpool in 1980 from Chester City, becoming the club’s all-time record goalscorer across two highly decorated spells. The data from his post-1990 era highlights his veteran presence, where he continued to find the net consistently before leaving for Leeds United.

As his illustrious career wound down, Newcastle United manager Kenny Dalglish signed his former Liverpool teammate on a free transfer in 1997. Serving purely as veteran cover, Rush’s time at St James’ Park was extremely brief and forgettable in the league, failing to score in 11 Premier League outings.

He did, however, score an iconic FA Cup goal against Everton during his short stint before moving on to Sheffield United.

5. Alexander Isak

• Newcastle United: 2022-2024 (Apps: 109 | Goals: 62 | Assists: 10) | Liverpool FC: 2025-Present (Apps: 22 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 1)

Swedish sensation Alexander Isak represents the most modern chapter among the players who played for both Liverpool and Newcastle United. He joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in August 2022 for a then-club-record fee of £63 million.

His time on Tyneside was an explosive success; blending silky technical skills with clinical finishing, Isak plundered 62 goals, establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier forwards and helping Newcastle re-establish themselves as a competitive force.

His scintillating form triggered a massive blockbuster move in 2025, as Liverpool secured his services for an astronomical fee to spearhead their evolving attack. Transitioning directly into the immense pressure of the Anfield spotlight, Isak has embarked on integrating into his new surroundings.

With 4 goals in his first 22 appearances, the early phases of his Liverpool career are still being written as he looks to replicate his Tyneside heroics on Merseyside.

6. Dietmar Hamann

• Newcastle United: 1998 (Apps: 23 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 1) | Liverpool FC: 1999-2005 (Apps: 243 | Goals: 10 | Assists: 22)

German midfielder Dietmar Hamann had a brief but impactful introduction to English football with Newcastle. Signed from Bayern Munich in 1998 for £5.5 million, he showcased his tactical intelligence and fierce long-range shooting across a solitary, solid season, helping the Magpies reach the 1999 FA Cup Final.

Liverpool were immediately convinced of his pedigree and orchestrated a direct £8 million transfer the following summer. At Anfield, Hamann truly cemented his legacy. As a composed defensive anchor, he provided the tactical balance that allowed Steven Gerrard to roam forward.

His defining moment of absolute success came in the 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul, where his half-time introduction changed the game, capped off by scoring a crucial penalty in the shootout.

7. Andy Carroll

• Newcastle United: 2006-2020 (Apps: 125 | Goals: 32 | Assists: 16) | Liverpool FC: 2010-2012 (Apps: 46 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 2)

Andy Carroll’s narrative is one of hometown heroism followed by extreme transfer market pressure.

A towering product of the Newcastle academy, Carroll broke into the first team and became a cult hero, physically dominating defenders and scoring heavily to help the club bounce back to the Premier League.

His dominant form forced Liverpool into a panicked deadline-day move in January 2011, purchasing him directly from Newcastle for a staggering £35 million – a British record at the time. Unfortunately, the move was an undeniable failure.

Hampered by persistent injuries and completely unsuited to Liverpool’s style of play, Carroll managed a meager 6 league goals in 46 appearances. He was eventually loaned and then sold at a massive loss to West Ham, before sentimentally returning to Newcastle on a free transfer years later.

8. Jonjo Shelvey

• Liverpool FC: 2010-2012 (Apps: 58 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 2) | Newcastle United: 2015-2022 (Apps: 205 | Goals: 19 | Assists: 25)

Jonjo Shelvey was plucked from Charlton Athletic’s youth setup by Liverpool in 2010 for £1.7 million.

At Anfield, the aggressive midfielder showed flashes of brilliance with his expansive passing range, but his youthful inconsistency prevented him from nailing down a permanent starting spot. He was eventually sold to Swansea City to further his development.

In January 2016, Newcastle United paid £12 million to bring him to St James’ Park. It was on Tyneside where Shelvey found his true footballing home.

Over a highly successful seven-year period across 205 appearances, he became the team’s primary playmaker and deep-lying midfield general, sticking with the club through relegation and subsequently steering them back to the Premier League with his immense passing ability.

9. Others Players Who Played for Both Liverpool and Newcastle United