A forgotten Premier League legend and a £34M blockbuster? Explore the exclusive list of players who played for both Arsenal and Fulham. Did you know them all?
London is a city defined by its footballing geography. While Arsenal has fought for global supremacy and Premier League titles from North London, Fulham has spent much of its history establishing a distinct identity at Craven Cottage by the River Thames.
Despite the contrast in their trophy cabinets and global fanbases, the short geographical distance between the two clubs has created a surprisingly busy transfer pipeline. Let us explore the list of players who have worn both the red of Arsenal and the white of Fulham.
1. Emile Smith Rowe
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Arsenal: 2016-2023 (Apps: 140 | Goals: 25 | Assists: 15) | Fulham: 2024-2025 (Apps: 79 | Goals: 11 | Assists: 3)
Emile Smith Rowe’s move across London represents one of the most significant direct transfers between the two clubs.
A beloved product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, “ESR” burst onto the scene to become the heartbeat of Mikel Arteta’s early rebuild, famously wearing the iconic number 10 shirt. However, a series of frustrating injuries and the arrival of high-profile signings eventually pushed him to the fringes of the squad.
Seeking to revive his potential, Fulham swooped in during the summer of 2024, breaking their club transfer record with a massive £34 million deal to bring him directly to Craven Cottage. Smith Rowe quickly rediscovered his creative spark, operating as a dynamic attacking midfielder and becoming a central figure in Marco Silva’s tactical setup.
2. Bernd Leno
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Arsenal: 2018-2021 (Apps: 125 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2022-2025 (Apps: 152 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1)
Bernd Leno’s journey is a tale of a world-class shot-stopper finding his true home in West London. Arsenal originally signed the German goalkeeper from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018 for £22.5 million. He served as the Gunners’ undeniable number one for several seasons. However, his Arsenal legacy is forever intertwined with a major “sliding doors” moment in recent football history.
During a June 2020 match against Brighton, Leno suffered a severe knee injury following a controversial collision with Neal Maupay. This unfortunate incident inadvertently opened the door for backup goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who stepped in, heroically led Arsenal to an FA Cup triumph, and ultimately launched his own career as a World Cup-winning global superstar.
While Leno successfully recovered from his injury, the landscape at Arsenal eventually shifted, and he lost his starting spot to Aaron Ramsdale. Seeking regular football, Leno made a direct move to Fulham in the summer of 2022.
At Craven Cottage, Leno didn’t just rebuild his career; he elevated Fulham’s entire defensive structure. His spectacular reflexes, penalty saves, and leadership have cemented his status as one of the most reliable and outstanding goalkeepers in the Premier League.
3. Alex Iwobi
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Arsenal: 2014-2018 (Apps: 150 | Goals: 15 | Assists: 22) | Fulham: 2023-2025 (Apps: 108 | Goals: 19 | Assists: 11)
Another shining graduate of the Arsenal academy, Alex Iwobi spent over a decade developing in North London. He made 150 senior appearances for the Gunners before being sold to Everton in 2019 for a hefty £28 million fee.
After experiencing a rollercoaster spell on Merseyside, Iwobi returned to his London roots in the summer of 2023, joining Fulham for approximately £22 million. Reunited with manager Marco Silva, the Nigerian international flourished.
Given the freedom to operate centrally or drift out wide, Iwobi transformed into Fulham’s primary creative engine, delivering high-energy performances that often eluded him during his early days at the Emirates.
4. Willian
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Arsenal: 2020 (Apps: 37 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 7) | Fulham: 2022-2024 (Apps: 79 | Goals: 10 | Assists: 7)
Willian’s contrasting spells at these two clubs showcase how crucial the right environment is for a player.
After a glittering career at Chelsea, the Brazilian winger made a free transfer to Arsenal in 2020. However, his time in North London was a massive disappointment; he looked lethargic, scored only once, and mutually agreed to terminate his three-year contract after just one miserable season.
Following a brief return to Brazil with Corinthians, Willian made a shock return to the Premier League with Fulham on a free transfer in 2022.
Written off by many, the veteran delivered a spectacular career renaissance at Craven Cottage. He played with joy, pace, and immense technical quality, scoring stunning goals and helping Fulham establish themselves as a top-half Premier League team.
5. Luis Boa Morte
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Arsenal: 1997-1999 (Apps: 29 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2000-2006 (Apps: 210 | Goals: 46 | Assists: 25)
Luis Boa Morte is an undisputed Fulham legend, but his English football journey actually began at Highbury.
The Portuguese winger was one of Arsene Wenger’s very first signings for Arsenal in 1997, arriving from Sporting CP for £1.75 million. While he showed glimpses of talent, he struggled to break into a legendary squad featuring Marc Overmars and Ray Parlour.
After a brief stint at Southampton, Boa Morte joined Fulham (initially on loan, then permanently for £1.7 million). It was in West London where he truly exploded.
Combining blistering pace, aggression, and an eye for goal, he became the club’s captain and talisman, guiding them to the Premier League and establishing himself as one of the most exciting wingers outside the traditional “Big Four”.
6. Andy Cole
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Arsenal: 1989-1992 (Apps: 2 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2004-2005 (Apps: 31 | Goals: 12 | Assists: 0)
Many football fans forget that Andy Cole started his professional journey at Arsenal.
Rising through the youth ranks, the young striker found his path blocked by stars like Ian Wright and Alan Smith, managing just two senior appearances before being sold to Bristol City for a mere £500,000. He went on to achieve global superstardom with Newcastle and Manchester United.
Towards the twilight of his legendary career, Cole arrived at Fulham on a free transfer in 2004. Even in his mid-30s, his predatory instincts remained sharp. He spent a single season at Craven Cottage, finishing as the club’s top scorer before moving on to Manchester City.
7. Calum Chambers
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Arsenal: 2014-2021 (Apps: 123 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 8) | Fulham: 2018 (Apps: 33 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 0)
Calum Chambers arrived at Arsenal from Southampton in 2014 for £16 million. While he proved to be a versatile and reliable squad player, he struggled to nail down a permanent starting spot at centre-back or right-back.
To gain crucial experience, Arsenal sent him on a direct season-long loan to Fulham for the 2018/19 campaign. Although Fulham ultimately suffered relegation that season, Chambers was an absolute revelation.
Deployed surprisingly as a defensive midfielder, his tactical intelligence and calmness on the ball earned him the prestigious Fulham Player of the Season award, proving his immense individual quality in a struggling side.
8. Reiss Nelson
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Arsenal: 2016-2024 (Apps: 127 | Goals: 26 | Assists: 18) | Fulham: 2024 (Apps: 12 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 1)
Another dynamic winger produced by the Arsenal academy.
Reiss Nelson spent years trying to break into the Gunners’ lineup. While he delivered some iconic moments – most notably his dramatic 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth, he primarily served as a substitute behind Bukayo Saka.
In search of a chance to truly launch his career, Nelson completed a direct loan move to Fulham on the final day of the summer 2024 transfer window. He reunited with former Hale End teammates Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi.
Unfortunately, his time at Craven Cottage has been massively derailed. A severe and persistent hamstring injury has plagued his spell in West London, keeping him sidelined and turning what was supposed to be a breakout loan spell into yet another deeply frustrating setback in his career.
9. Philippe Senderos
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Arsenal: 2004-2007 (Apps: 82 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2010-2013 (Apps: 59 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 3)
Arsene Wenger brought a highly-rated teenage Philippe Senderos to Arsenal from Swiss club Servette in 2003 for a fee of roughly £2.5 million. The center-back experienced periods of success in North London, notably starting in the 2005 FA Cup Final victory and playing a crucial role in Arsenal’s record-breaking clean-sheet run to the 2006 Champions League Final.
However, costly errors and a lack of pace eventually saw him lose his starting spot. After loan spells in Italy and Everton, Senderos made a direct move across London to join Fulham on a free transfer in the summer of 2010.
While he formed a decent defensive partnership with Brede Hangeland at Craven Cottage, his time in West London was once again heavily restricted by persistent injuries before he eventually departed for Valencia.
10. Cedric Soares
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Arsenal: 2019-2023 (Apps: 65 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 5) | Fulham: 2022 (Apps: 8 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0)
Cedric Soares initially joined Arsenal from Southampton on a short-term loan in January 2020 before making the transfer permanent on a free deal later that summer. The experienced Portuguese international was signed to provide reliable cover at both full-back positions.
However, finding himself firmly behind Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order, his playing time was severely limited.
Seeking regular Premier League minutes, Cedric agreed to a direct six-month loan move to Fulham during the January transfer window. Unfortunately, his time at Craven Cottage was largely forgettable. He failed to dislodge the excellent Kenny Tete from the starting right-back position, managing just eight fleeting appearances before quietly returning to his parent club.
11. Junichi Inamoto
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Arsenal: 2001 (Apps: 2 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2002-2003 (Apps: 46 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 3)
Junichi Inamoto’s arrival at Arsenal in 2001 on loan from Gamba Osaka was a commercial event, viewed as a major step for Japanese players in English football. However, the talented midfielder failed to adapt to the immense physical demands of Arsene Wenger’s squad, making just two cup appearances before quietly leaving.
His fortunes drastically changed when Fulham swooped in to sign him on a separate loan deal from Gamba Osaka the following year. At Craven Cottage, Inamoto transformed into a dynamic box-to-box midfielder and achieved cult hero status.
He famously scored a stunning hat-trick against Bologna in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, proving his genuine Premier League quality and erasing the disappointment of his Arsenal stint.
12. Emmanuel Frimpong
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Arsenal: 2011 (Apps: 9 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2012 (Apps: 6 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1)
Just to clear up that he is not related to Jeremie Frimpong!
A fiercely passionate product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Emmanuel Frimpong was once tipped to become the long-term successor to Patrick Vieira in the Gunners’ midfield.
Known for his aggressive tackling and his internet-famous “DENCH” catchphrase, he broke into the first team but struggled badly with discipline and suffered two devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injuries.
Desperate to rebuild his fitness and match sharpness, Arsenal sent him on a direct loan to Fulham during the second half of the 2012/13 campaign. Unfortunately, his spell at Craven Cottage was entirely unimpactful. He looked off the pace, managed just six appearances under manager Martin Jol, and returned to North London with his top-flight career rapidly slipping away.
13. Stephen Hughes
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Arsenal: 1994-1999 (Apps: 54 | Goals: 5 | Assists: 4) | Fulham: 1999 (Apps: 3 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0)
Stephen Hughes was an elegant and highly promising left-footed midfielder who emerged through the Arsenal youth ranks in the mid-1990s. He played a credible supporting role during Arsenal’s 1997/98 domestic double-winning season under Arsene Wenger, famously scoring twice in a crucial victory over Chelsea.
However, finding a regular starting spot ahead of legends like Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit proved impossible. To gain crucial first-team experience, Hughes was sent on a direct short-term loan to Fulham in 1999, who were then playing in the lower divisions under manager Kevin Keegan.
His stint was incredibly brief, making only three appearances before eventually being sold permanently to Everton for £3 million in the year 2000.
14. Ian Selley
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Arsenal: 1992-1996 (Apps: 40 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 3) | Fulham: 1997-1999 (Apps: 3 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0)
Ian Selley’s career is one of English football’s most tragic “what if” stories.
Developing through Arsenal’s academy, the defensive midfielder established himself as a brilliant young talent, playing a starting role in the Gunners’ 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup final triumph over Parma.
Tragically, a horrific leg break against Leicester City in 1995 completely derailed his upward trajectory. Struggling to regain his form and fitness, Arsenal eventually sold him to Fulham for £500,000 in 1997.
Heartbreakingly, his injury nightmare continued in West London. Selley suffered another severe leg injury at Craven Cottage, completely destroying his time there. He was limited to a mere three appearances over several years before dropping down the English football pyramid.
15. Julian Gray
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Arsenal: 1999 (Apps: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0) | Fulham: 2008 (Apps: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0)
Gray simply could not break into Arsene Wenger’s world-class setup, making just a single substitute appearance against Newcastle in 2000 before being sold to Crystal Palace for £500,000.
He went on to enjoy a very respectable career across the top two divisions of English football. Nearly a decade later, following successful stints at Birmingham City and Coventry, an aging Gray signed a short-term free transfer with Fulham in the summer of 2008 to provide emergency squad depth.
Incredibly, his time at Craven Cottage mirrored his Arsenal days perfectly: he made exactly one senior appearance before being released.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which Arsenal academy graduates have played for Fulham?
A: Fulham has become a frequent destination for Arsenal’s Hale End academy products, including Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson, and the legendary striker Andy Cole.
Q: Did Willian play for Fulham immediately after leaving Arsenal?
A: No, he did not. After mutually terminating his contract with Arsenal in 2021, Willian returned to his native Brazil to play for Corinthians. He later returned to the Premier League in 2022, signing for Fulham on a free transfer.
Q: Did Eberechi Eze play for both Arsenal and Fulham?
A: While he never made a senior appearance for Fulham, Eberechi Eze shares a connection with both clubs.
Long before his blockbuster transfer to Arsenal’s first team in August 2025, Eze actually began his footballing journey at Arsenal’s Hale End academy. Released at the age of 13, he immediately crossed London to join Fulham’s youth setup, where he spent two and a half years trying to make his mark.
Though he had to build his senior career at Crystal Palace before making his triumphant return to the Emirates, his unique journey through both academies makes him one of the most interesting links between the two sides.
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