12 Players Who Played for Both Arsenal and Everton

The players who played for both Arsenal and Everton now include Ainsley Maitland-Niles, whose Everton debut in September 2026 adds a twelfth name to this Premier League-era list.

Mikel Arteta, Kevin Campbell, Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi are among the best-known connections. Their careers tell different stories: a midfielder who became Arsenal captain, a striker who helped Everton escape relegation, and established attackers looking for a new role.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. This article covers men who made a senior competitive appearance for each club from 1992/93 onwards. Statistics cover their complete first-team spells in official competitions, including appearances before 1992 where applicable. Academy, reserve and friendly appearances are excluded. Maitland-Niles’ Everton figures are through 23 October 2026.

Latest addition: Maitland-Niles joined Everton from Lyon in September 2026 and scored on his debut against Manchester United. His profile and current record appear below.

1. Mikel Arteta

Arsenal: 2011–2016 (Apps: 150 | Goals: 16)
Everton: 2005–2011 (Apps: 209 | Goals: 35)

Arteta developed into one of Everton’s most influential midfielders under David Moyes. He initially arrived on loan from Real Sociedad in January 2005 before the move became permanent, supplying creativity, set pieces and an ability to control the pace of a match.

Arsenal signed him in August 2011. He gradually adapted to a deeper midfield role, helped the club win the 2014 FA Cup and later became club captain. His playing career ended in 2016, before he returned to north London as manager.

He is the clearest modern link between the clubs, but his Everton career was substantial in its own right: he made more appearances for the Toffees than for Arsenal.

2. Kevin Campbell

Arsenal: 1988–1995 (Apps: 228 | Goals: 59)
Everton: 1999–2005 (Apps: 164 | Goals: 51)

Campbell came through Arsenal’s youth system and became an important forward during the early 1990s. His honours included the 1990/91 league title, the 1993 domestic cup double and the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

His route to Everton went through Nottingham Forest and Trabzonspor. Arriving on loan in 1999, he scored nine goals in eight league appearances during the run-in, helping Everton stay up. The move became permanent, and he later served as the club’s first Black captain.

Campbell died in June 2024. His standing with both sets of supporters reflects his contribution on the pitch and the affection in which his teammates and fans held him.

3. Theo Walcott

Arsenal: 2006–2018 (Apps: 397 | Goals: 108)
Everton: 2018–2021 (Apps: 85 | Goals: 11)

Walcott spent 12 years at Arsenal after arriving from Southampton as a teenager. His pace made him a different kind of attacking threat, and he developed into a regular scorer from wide positions.

He joined Everton in January 2018 in search of more playing time. His Everton spell produced some useful goals, but his output did not reach the level of his best Arsenal seasons. He spent 2020/21 on loan at Southampton before leaving Everton when his contract expired in 2021.

Arsenal’s account of his return to the Emirates records the warm reception he received from his former supporters.

4. Alex Iwobi

Arsenal: 2015–2019 (Apps: 149 | Goals: 15)
Everton: 2019–2023 (Apps: 140 | Goals: 9)

Iwobi progressed from Hale End into Arsenal’s first team, making his senior debut in 2015. He could carry the ball through midfield and combine with teammates in tight spaces, although he did not secure a permanent place in Arsenal’s strongest attacking lineup.

His final Arsenal appearance came in the 2019 Europa League final, when he scored against Chelsea. Everton signed him later that summer.

At Goodison Park, his role evolved. Used in several positions, he became particularly valuable as a central midfielder who could progress the ball and work across a large area. He left Everton for Fulham in 2023.

5. Martin Keown

Arsenal: 1985–1986 and 1993–2004 (Apps: 449 | Goals: 8)
Everton: 1989–1993 (Apps: 126 | Goals: 0)

Keown had two spells at Arsenal, with time at Aston Villa and Everton between them. His Everton career lasted several seasons, rather than the brief 13-game spell suggested by looking only at his Premier League record.

He returned to Arsenal in February 1993 and became a central figure in the club’s defence. His anticipation, close marking and willingness to compete complemented the defenders around him.

Keown won three Premier League titles with Arsenal and remained part of the squad for the unbeaten 2003/04 league campaign. His complete Arsenal record includes both spells, rather than only the years after he returned from Everton.

6. Francis Jeffers

Arsenal: 2001–2004 (Apps: 39 | Goals: 8)
Everton: 1997–2001 and 2003–2004, loan (Apps: 82 | Goals: 22)

Jeffers emerged at Everton as a promising penalty-area striker. Arsenal signed him in 2001, hoping his movement and finishing would add another option to an attack already containing established international forwards.

Injuries and competition for places restricted his opportunities. His eight Arsenal goals came across all competitions; four were in the Premier League.

He returned to Everton on loan for 2003/04, but the second spell did not restore his earlier momentum. His Everton totals combine the original spell and that loan, as recorded in the report of his later return as a coach.

7. Anders Limpar

Arsenal: 1990–1994 (Apps: 116 | Goals: 20)
Everton: 1994–1997 (Apps: 82 | Goals: 6)

Limpar gave George Graham’s Arsenal a creative outlet on the left. His dribbling and ability to create a chance from an unpromising position helped the team win the 1990/91 league title.

He moved to Everton in March 1994 and became an important part of Joe Royle’s 1995 FA Cup-winning side. His Everton record includes domestic cup and European appearances, which are absent from a Premier League-only total.

Limpar belongs to the relatively small group remembered positively at both clubs. His Arsenal league title and Everton FA Cup win came in different tactical settings, but both teams benefited from his invention.

8. Shkodran Mustafi

Arsenal: 2016–2021 (Apps: 151 | Goals: 9)
Everton: 2009–2012 (Apps: 1 | Goals: 0)

Mustafi is the reason this list uses senior competitive appearances rather than Premier League appearances alone. His only first-team Everton outing came against BATE Borisov in the Europa League in December 2009.

He left Everton without a league appearance, then developed at Sampdoria and Valencia before joining Arsenal in 2016. His Arsenal spell brought far more football and two FA Cup-winning campaigns, although defensive mistakes frequently drew criticism.

He left for Schalke in February 2021. His single European appearance for Everton still meets the same first-team standard applied to the other names.

9. Stephen Hughes

Arsenal: 1994–2000 (Apps: 76 | Goals: 7)
Everton: 2000–2001 (Apps: 33 | Goals: 2)

Hughes came through Arsenal’s youth system and was part of the squad that won the league and FA Cup double in 1997/98. Breaking into a midfield containing Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit was a difficult task, and many of his appearances came from the bench.

He joined Everton in March 2000 to seek a more regular role. The move did not develop into a long stay, and he left in 2001. His record illustrates why a player’s league appearances should not be used as a substitute for his complete senior total.

10. Philippe Senderos

Arsenal: 2003–2010 (Apps: 117 | Goals: 4)
Everton: 2010, loan (Apps: 3 | Goals: 0)

Senderos joined Arsenal from Servette in 2003, but injuries delayed his first-team debut until the following year. He later started the 2005 FA Cup final and contributed to the club’s run to the 2006 Champions League final.

His Everton loan took place in January 2010, rather than 2009. It was a short attempt to find regular football after his position at Arsenal had weakened, and he made only three appearances for the Toffees.

He subsequently joined Fulham. Arsenal’s former-player profile covers his development and the achievements of his early years in London.

11. Richard Wright

Arsenal: 2001–2002 (Apps: 22 | Goals: 0)
Everton: 2002–2007 (Apps: 71 | Goals: 0)

Wright arrived at Arsenal from Ipswich Town in 2001 as a highly regarded young goalkeeper. David Seaman remained the established first choice, and Wright left after one season to seek more regular football.

He joined Everton in 2002 and stayed for five years. Injuries and competition prevented him from becoming a long-term successor to Neville Southall, while Tim Howard’s arrival later reduced his opportunities.

His spell was longer than the 2002–2006 period previously shown in this article: he remained an Everton player until 2007.

12. Ainsley Maitland-Niles: The Latest Addition

Arsenal: 2014–2023 (Apps: 132 | Goals: 3)
Everton: 2026–present (Apps: 6 | Goals: 1, through 23 October 2026)

Maitland-Niles is the new name in the October 2026 update. He came through Arsenal’s academy and became a versatile first-team option, appearing in midfield and in several defensive roles.

His Arsenal career included an important contribution to the 2020 FA Cup run. After loan spells elsewhere, he left the club in 2023 and established himself at Lyon before returning to England with Everton in September 2026.

He made an immediate impression at his new club, scoring a late equaliser on his debut in the 2–2 draw with Manchester United on 6 September.

The Opta player record lists five league appearances, one league goal and one League Cup appearance before the Arsenal fixture on 24 October. That gives him six competitive Everton appearances at the stated cut-off, while his total will continue to change.

Playing for Both Clubs Does Not Always Mean a Direct Transfer

Arteta, Walcott, Iwobi, Limpar and several others moved directly between Arsenal and Everton. Campbell, Mustafi and Maitland-Niles took different routes, playing for other clubs between their spells in north London and on Merseyside.

The distinction also matters when comparing this list with our Manchester United and Everton players guide. A shared club history can involve a permanent signing, a loan, a return years later or a longer journey through other teams.

For more Arsenal connections, see the Arsenal and Manchester City list and our Arsenal and Ipswich Town guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players have played for both Arsenal and Everton in the Premier League era?

This updated list contains 12 men with a senior competitive appearance for each club from 1992/93 onwards. Maitland-Niles is the latest addition. The criterion includes cup matches, so it differs from a list limited to players who appeared for both teams in the Premier League itself.

Why is Shkodran Mustafi included?

Mustafi played once for Everton’s first team in the Europa League. He therefore qualifies for a senior-appearance list even though he never represented Everton in the Premier League.

Did Mikel Arteta play for Everton before Arsenal?

Yes. Arteta played for Everton from 2005 to 2011 before joining Arsenal. He spent five seasons as an Arsenal player and later returned as the club’s manager.

Does this cover every Arsenal–Everton connection in history?

The main count uses the Premier League-era cut-off for both clubs. Earlier connections include Alan Ball, Joe Mercer, Kevin Richardson and George Wood. Kenny Sansom also played for both clubs, but his Arsenal career ended before the Premier League began.

Sources and Statistics

Figures are senior competitive club totals, rather than league-only records. Years describe club spells, with loans identified where relevant. Arsenal totals were cross-checked against club records and player archives; Everton records were checked against historical databases and transfer records. Maitland-Niles’ live Everton total is dated separately.

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