12 Players Who Played for Both Arsenal and Southampton

Walcott, Ramsdale, Oxlade-Chamberlain… who else made the switch? Discover the complete list of 12 players who played for both Arsenal and Southampton.

The connection between Arsenal and Southampton has produced some of the most exciting transfers in Premier League history. For years, Southampton’s famed academy served as a goldmine for Arsene Wenger. More recently, the traffic has flown in both directions, with several Gunners making their way to St Mary’s.

Whether they are celebrated club legends, high-profile wonderkids, or forgotten backup goalkeepers, here is the complete list of 12 players who played for both Arsenal and Southampton.

1. Luis Boa Morte

Arsenal: 1997-1999 (Apps: 29 | Goals: 2 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 1999 (Apps: 14 | Goals: 1 | Assist: 1)

One of Arsene Wenger’s early signings.

The Portuguese winger arrived at Highbury as a promising talent but struggled to break into a fiercely competitive Arsenal midfield. He was eventually sold to Southampton in 1999, where he had a brief stint before truly finding his feet and becoming a Premier League cult hero at Fulham.

2. Calum Chambers

Arsenal: 2014-2021 (Apps: 123 | Goals: 6 | Assist: 8) | Southampton: 2013 (Apps: 22 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0)

A product of the famed Saints academy, Chambers broke into the Southampton first team as a highly-rated teenage right-back. After just one impressive breakout season, Arsenal swooped in with a massive £16 million bid.

While he spent several years at the Emirates and contributed some memorable moments (and spectacular goals), recurring injuries and positional changes prevented him from truly fulfilling his massive early potential.

3. Perry Groves

Arsenal: 1991-1992 (Apps: 5 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 1992 (Apps: 15 | Goals: 2 | Assist: 1)

Note: The stats above only capture the very end of his Arsenal career just before the Premier League era.

Perry Groves is a genuine cult hero at Arsenal, known for his relentless work ethic. He made over 150 appearances for the Gunners in the late 80s, winning two First Division titles.

He moved to Southampton in 1992, but a severe Achilles tendon injury cut his time on the South Coast and ultimately his professional career.

4. Neil Heaney

Arsenal: 1992-1993 (Apps: 6 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 1993-1996 (Apps: 61 | Goals: 5 | Assist: 2)

An Arsenal youth product, the winger found first-team opportunities incredibly hard to come by at Highbury. Seeking regular football, he transferred to Southampton, where he enjoyed the most stable period of his top-flight career, making over 60 appearances across three seasons.

5. Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Arsenal: 2014-2021 (Apps: 151 | Goals: 3 | Assist: 11) | Southampton: 2022 (Apps: 27 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0)

“Starboy” Ainsley Maitland-Niles rose through the Hale End academy to become a versatile squad player under Arsene Wenger and Mikel Arteta, notably starring in Arsenal’s 2020 FA Cup triumph.

In the 2022-2023 season, he was sent on loan to Southampton to help in their relegation battle, making 27 appearances in a difficult campaign for the Saints.

6. Scott Marshall

Arsenal: 1992-1997 (Apps: 24 | Goals: 1 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 1998 (Apps: 2 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0)

A Scottish defender who graduated from Arsenal’s youth system, Marshall spent most of his Highbury career as a backup to the legendary “Famous Four” defense.

After his release from Arsenal, he had a very brief spell at Southampton in 1998, making just two appearances.

7. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal: 2011-2017 (Apps: 181 | Goals: 17 | Assist: 23) | Southampton: 2009-2010 (Apps: 36 | Goals: 9 | Assist: 8)

“The Ox” was one of the most exciting teenagers in the country when he broke through at Southampton, terrorizing League One defenses.

Arsene Wenger quickly secured his signature.

At Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain thrilled fans with his explosive pace and spectacular long-range strikes, winning three FA Cups before moving to Liverpool.

8. Aaron Ramsdale

Arsenal: 2021-2024 (Apps: 89 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 2024 (Apps: 32 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0)

Signed by Mikel Arteta amidst heavy skepticism, Ramsdale quickly silenced the doubters to become a fan favorite and a vital part of Arsenal’s resurgence, helping them mount serious title challenges.

After losing his starting spot to David Raya, Ramsdale made a high-profile move to newly-promoted Southampton in 2024 to reclaim his status as a Premier League number-one goalkeeper.

9. Cedric Soares

Arsenal: 2019-2023 (Apps: 65 | Goals: 2 | Assist: 5) | Southampton: 2015-2019 (Apps: 137 | Goals: 3 | Assist: 11)

The Portuguese full-back enjoyed his absolute prime at Southampton, establishing himself as a highly reliable defender over four solid seasons.

His move to Arsenal initially raised eyebrows, but Cedric proved to be a dedicated professional and a valuable rotation option for Arteta during his time in North London.

10. Stuart Taylor

Arsenal: 2000-2002 (Apps: 23 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 2016-2017 (Apps: 0 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0)

Stuart Taylor’s career is a fascinating one. He was a highly-rated young keeper at Arsenal, famously making exactly 10 appearances in the 2001-2002 season to qualify for a Premier League winners’ medal.

Years later, he joined Southampton as a third-choice emergency backup, failing to make a single appearance – a trend that defined the latter half of his unique career.

11. Theo Walcott

Arsenal: 2006-2017 (Apps: 355 | Goals: 93 | Assist: 56) | Southampton: 2005-2022 (Apps: 81 | Goals: 12 | Assist: 7)

The ultimate poster boy among players who played for both Arsenal and Southampton.

Walcott was an absolute sensation at Saints, earning a shock call-up to England’s 2006 World Cup squad before he had even played a Premier League game.

Wenger signed him, and Walcott spent over a decade at Arsenal, scoring over 100 career goals for the club and providing blistering pace on the right wing.

In a romantic end to his career, he returned to Southampton to play his final seasons where it all began.

12. Richard Wright

Arsenal: 2001 (Apps: 16 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0) | Southampton: 2007 (Apps: 7 | Goals: 0 | Assist: 0)

Billed as the long-term successor to David Seaman, Arsenal spent big money to bring Wright to Highbury. However, a series of high-profile errors saw him lose his confidence and his place in the team. He later had a very brief, forgettable spell on the South Coast with Southampton.

FAQ: Players Who Played for Both Arsenal and Southampton

Q: Who is the most successful player to play for both Arsenal and Southampton? A: Theo Walcott is undoubtedly the most prominent figure. He made 355 appearances for Arsenal, scoring over 100 career goals across all competitions, and won three FA Cups before returning to finish his career at Southampton.

Q: Which players moved directly from Southampton’s academy to Arsenal? A: Arsène Wenger famously signed three massive teenage prospects directly from Southampton: Theo Walcott (2006), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (2011), and Calum Chambers (2014).

Q: Are there any goalkeepers who played for both clubs? A: Yes, three goalkeepers are on this list: Aaron Ramsdale, Richard Wright, and Stuart Taylor. Ramsdale is the most recent, transferring to the Saints in 2024 in search of regular first-team action.

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