Patrick Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, and who else? Uncover the complete history of all 16 players who played for both Arsenal and Man City.
Long before Arsenal and Man City fighted for the same Premier League titles, these two clubs shared a heavily trafficked transfer pipeline.
Before diving into the definitive list, we must establish our strict criteria: to be counted, a player must have made at least one competitive first-team appearance for both clubs. This immediately filters out technicalities like English goalkeeper Richard Wright, who won a medal at Highbury but famously never played a single competitive minute for City’s senior team.
Therefore, we are left with a fascinating group of 16 men. From brief cameos to the most controversial transfers in Premier League history, here is the complete breakdown.
1. Neil Heaney
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Arsenal: 1989–1993 | Apps: 8 | Goals: 0
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Manchester City: 1996–1999 | Apps: 23 | Goals: 1
Neil Heaney represents one of the earliest crossovers on this list. A product of Arsenal’s youth system, the tricky winger found his path to the Highbury first team blocked by established stars.
He later joined Manchester City in 1996, walking straight into the club’s darkest era. He experienced the sheer heartbreak of City’s notorious plunge down to the third tier of English football, a stark contrast to the title-winning Arsenal teams he left behind.
2. Eddie McGoldrick
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Arsenal: 1993–1996 | Apps: 57 | Goals: 1
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Manchester City: 1996–1998 | Apps: 40 | Goals: 0
Brought to Highbury to provide width and relentless running, McGoldrick famously started in Arsenal’s historic 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup final victory over Parma.
However, as Arsene Wenger arrived to revolutionize the club, McGoldrick was sold to Manchester City. His time at Maine Road was a nightmare, suffering consecutive relegations alongside Heaney.
3. Paul Dickov
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Arsenal: 1990–1996 | Apps: 26 | Goals: 6
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Manchester City: 1996–2002 & 2006–2008 | Apps: 200 | Goals: 41
Unable to displace Ian Wright at Highbury, the tenacious Scottish striker transferred to Maine Road in 1996.
At Manchester City, Dickov transitioned into an absolute club deity. He is forever immortalized for his 95th-minute equalizer in the 1999 play-off final—a legendary goal that essentially saved City from lower-league ruin.
4. David Rocastle
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Arsenal: 1985–1992 | Apps: 277 | Goals: 34
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Manchester City: 1993–1994 | Apps: 23 | Goals: 2
“Rocky” is universally adored as an absolute Arsenal legend, dazzling the Highbury terraces with his majestic dribbling and winning two league titles.
His later transfer to Manchester City in 1993 was sadly brief and heavily disrupted by injuries, as he struggled to replicate his explosive magic during a transitional period at Maine Road.
5. Sylvinho
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Arsenal: 1999–2001 | Apps: 80 | Goals: 5
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Manchester City: 2009–2010 | Apps: 15 | Goals: 1
The brilliant Brazilian left-back scored some spectacular goals for Wenger’s side before abruptly losing his place to a young Ashley Cole.
A full decade later – and fresh off winning two Champions League titles with Barcelona—a 35-year-old Sylvinho spent a quiet twilight season at the Etihad, offering veteran guidance to an emerging City project.
6. David Seaman
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Arsenal: 1990–2003 | Apps: 564 | Clean Sheets: 237
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Manchester City: 2003–2004 | Apps: 26 | Clean Sheets: 6
Arguably Arsenal’s greatest-ever goalkeeper, “Safe Hands” secured numerous domestic and European honors over 13 legendary years.
In 2003, he moved to City for a single season. He left fans with the surreal image of cutting off his trademark ponytail while wearing a blue shirt before a shoulder injury forced his retirement.
7. Nicolas Anelka
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Arsenal: 1997–1999 | Apps: 90 | Goals: 28
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Manchester City: 2002–2005 | Apps: 103 | Goals: 45
Wenger’s original teenage prodigy lit up the Premier League, helping Arsenal win the 1998 double before his controversial attitude forced a massive transfer to Real Madrid.
Years later, Anelka returned to England as Kevin Keegan’s club-record signing for City. Free from elite European pressure, he quietly and efficiently carried their attack, top-scoring for the club in consecutive seasons.
Nicolas Anelka is one of 16 players who played for both Arsenal and Man City. Image: Getty Images
8. Kolo Touré
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Arsenal: 2002–2009 | Apps: 326 | Goals: 14
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Manchester City: 2009–2013 | Apps: 102 | Goals: 3
Plucked from obscurity, Touré blossomed into a world-class center-back and a foundational pillar of Arsenal’s legendary 2003/04 “Invincibles” team.
In 2009, he joined the massive wave of talent lured to Manchester City following their takeover. Named club captain, his leadership was instrumental in helping City secure their dramatic, drought-ending Premier League title in 2012.
9. Gael Clichy
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Arsenal: 2003–2011 | Apps: 264 | Goals: 2
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Manchester City: 2011–2017 | Apps: 201 | Goals: 3
Clichy was the youngest player to win a Premier League medal during Arsenal’s Invincibles season. However, frustrated by the Emirates Stadium’s barren trophy drought, he made the difficult decision to join Manchester City in 2011.
The move was a masterstroke for his career. His phenomenal recovery pace made him a vital cog, and he spent six highly successful years at the Etihad, securing two Premier League titles.
10. Bacary Sagna
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Arsenal: 2007–2014 | Apps: 284 | Goals: 5
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Manchester City: 2014–2017 | Apps: 85 | Goals: 0
“Mr. Reliable” spent seven years at the Emirates, consistently named among the league’s best right-backs during a very difficult transitional era for Arsenal.
After finally winning the 2014 FA Cup, he ran down his contract and signed for Manchester City on a free transfer, providing exceptional veteran cover for three steady seasons.
11. Patrick Vieira
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Arsenal: 1996–2005 | Apps: 406 | Goals: 33
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Manchester City: 2010–2011 | Apps: 46 | Goals: 6
The unconquerable captain of the Invincibles, Vieira’s fierce leadership and immense technical quality perfectly defined the glorious early years of the Arsene Wenger era.
After dominating in Italy, an aging Vieira returned to the Premier League in 2010 to join Roberto Mancini’s City. He played a crucial cameo role in helping them win the 2011 FA Cup, retiring shortly after on a high note.
12. Emmanuel Adebayor
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Arsenal: 2006–2009 | Apps: 142 | Goals: 62
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Manchester City: 2009–2012 | Apps: 45 | Goals: 19
Emmanuel Adebayor’s crossover story is undeniably the most explosive, controversial, and unforgettable on this list. At Arsenal, the Togolese striker evolved into a lethal target man, famously netting 30 goals across all competitions during the 2007/08 season.
However, his relationship with the club deteriorated rapidly, leading to a massive £25 million transfer to Manchester City in 2009. Adebayor started brilliantly at the Etihad, but his legacy was permanently altered during a fateful clash against Arsenal that same year.
After scoring against his former club, Adebayor famously sprinted the entire length of the pitch to provocatively knee-slide directly in front of Arsenal away fans. The ensuing chaos and flying stadium seats cemented his infamy in Premier League history, completely overshadowing the rest of his career in Manchester.
13. Samir Nasri
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Arsenal: 2008–2011 | Apps: 125 | Goals: 27
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Manchester City: 2011–2017 | Apps: 176 | Goals: 27
Arriving at Arsenal as one of Europe’s brightest creative talents, Samir Nasri dazzled the Emirates with his incredible close control. But as Arsenal consistently sold their best players, Nasri grew openly frustrated. Refusing to sign a new contract, he forced a highly acrimonious £24 million move to Manchester City in 2011.
He explicitly stated his desire to win major trophies, a comment that saw Arsenal fans immediately brand him a traitor.
Nasri, however, had the last laugh. He became a crucial, sophisticated playmaker in City’s midfield, lifting two Premier League titles and proving that his controversial decision to abandon Wenger’s project was entirely justified for his personal career.
14. Raheem Sterling
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Manchester City: 2015–2022 | Apps: 339 | Goals: 131
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Arsenal: 2024–2025 (Loan) | Apps: 23 | Goals: 4
Sterling’s legacy is heavily anchored at the Etihad Stadium. Under Pep Guardiola, he transformed into a relentless goalscoring machine, winning four Premier League titles and scoring over 130 goals.
Following a transfer to Chelsea that stalled his career, Sterling secured a shock deadline-day loan move to Arsenal in 2024. Reuniting with Mikel Arteta, he brought immense title-winning know-how to North London before departing at the end of the 2024/25 season.
15. Gabriel Jesus
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Manchester City: 2017–2022 | Apps: 236 | Goals: 95
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Arsenal: 2022–Present | Apps: 110+ | Goals: 28+
Arriving at Manchester City as a Brazilian wonderkid, Gabriel Jesus won an astonishing four Premier League titles. However, often heavily rotated by Pep Guardiola, he desired to be the undisputed leading man.
In the summer of 2022, Mikel Arteta brought him to Arsenal, and the impact was instantaneous. Jesus brought the relentless pressing blueprint of Guardiola’s City to North London, instantly transforming Arsenal into genuine title contenders and remaining a vital asset for the club today.
16. Oleksandr Zinchenko
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Manchester City: 2016–2022 | Apps: 128 | Goals: 2
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Arsenal: 2022–2026 | Apps: 91 | Goals: 3
Brilliantly molded into a pioneering inverted left-back by Guardiola, Zinchenko’s technical security was crucial to City’s possession dominance during his four title-winning campaigns.
Joining Arsenal alongside Jesus in 2022, the Ukrainian international instantly revolutionized the Gunners’ buildup play. By stepping into midfield to orchestrate attacks, Zinchenko provided the tactical key that unlocked Arteta’s entire system.
After falling down the pecking order, his Arsenal chapter officially closed in early 2026 with a permanent transfer to Ajax.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are there any players who signed for both Arsenal and Manchester City but didn’t play for both? Yes, former English goalkeeper Richard Wright won a Premier League medal with Arsenal in the early 2000s. He later signed for Manchester City in 2012 but retired without ever making a competitive first-team appearance.
Who are the most successful players to play for both Arsenal and Man City? Patrick Vieira and Kolo Touré. Both were crucial parts of Arsenal’s legendary “Invincibles” team, and later moved to Manchester City to help the club win their first major trophies of the modern era.
Which transfer between Arsenal and Man City was the most controversial? Emmanuel Adebayor’s transfer is widely considered the most explosive. His decision to run the entire length of the pitch to provocatively celebrate a goal in front of the Arsenal away fans in 2009 remains one of the most infamous moments in Premier League history, closely followed by Samir Nasri’s acrimonious exit.
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