All Players Who Played for Man Utd and Crystal Palace

How many players who played for Man Utd and Crystal Palace are there? Uncover the full list, including Dean Henderson and Wilfried Zaha.

Manchester United and Crystal Palace share a rather interesting connection in the transfer market. The pipeline between United and Palace features a fascinating mix of club legends, promising academy graduates, and unexpected loan signings.

Therefore, how many players have actually been on the books of both first teams? The answer is 8 players (including two goalkeepers who never made an official competitive appearance for United).

Below is the complete chronological list of the players who played for Man Utd and Crystal Palace.

1. Fraizer Campbell

Man Utd: 2006-2009 (Apps: 4 | Goals: 0), Crystal Palace: 2014-2017 (Apps: 50 | Goals: 8)

A product of the Carrington academy, Campbell was once highly regarded as a promising young striker. However, competing with world-class firepower like Rooney, Tevez, and Ronaldo meant he had almost no chance to shine at Old Trafford.

After years of bouncing around different clubs, he arrived at Crystal Palace in 2014, serving as a strategic backup striker and bringing valuable experience to the South London side.

2. Zeki Fryers

Man Utd: 2011-2012 (Apps: 6 | Goals: 0), Crystal Palace: 2014-2017 (Apps: 12 | Goals: 0)

Zeki Fryers was another Man Utd youth prospect who was handed a few domestic cup appearances by Sir Alex Ferguson.

After declining a contract extension to seek first-team football elsewhere, the left-back’s career became quite turbulent. He joined Crystal Palace in the summer of 2014 but suffered from constant injuries and failed to secure a regular starting spot.

3. Wilfried Zaha

Man Utd: 2013-2015 (Apps: 4 | Goals: 0), Crystal Palace: 2010-2013 & 2014-2023 (Apps: 458 | Goals: 90)

This is undoubtedly the most famous story between the two clubs. Zaha was the final signing of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, but he was completely cast aside under David Moyes.

Following a dark period at Old Trafford, he returned to his boyhood club, Crystal Palace. At Selhurst Park, Zaha thrived, brilliantly reviving his career to become a living legend and arguably the greatest player in the club’s modern history.

4. Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Man Utd: 2015-2021 (Apps: 30 | Goals: 0), Crystal Palace: 2017-2018 (Apps: 24 | Goals: 0)

The versatile Dutch defender had a highly promising debut under Louis van Gaal. To help him gain top-flight Premier League experience, Man Utd sent him on loan to Crystal Palace for the 2017/18 season.

Fosu-Mensah put in solid shifts for the Eagles before persistent injuries began to stall his development.

5. Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Crystal Palace: 2018-2019 (Apps: 46 | Goals: 0), Man Utd: 2019-2024 (Apps: 190 | Goals: 2)

Rising through the ranks of the Crystal Palace academy, Wan-Bissaka had an explosive introduction to the Premier League, quickly earning the nickname “The Spider” for his tackling.

His brilliant form and unmatched one-on-one defensive abilities convinced Man Utd to spend a massive £50 million to bring him to Old Trafford, making him one of the most expensive defenders in their history at the time.

6. Dean Henderson

Man Utd: 2015-2023 (Apps: 29 | Goals: 0), Crystal Palace: 2023 – present (Apps: 35+ | Goals: 0)

This outstanding Carrington product had a season where he fiercely competed with – and even temporarily displaced – David de Gea as the “Red Devils” number one. However, following injuries and managerial changes, he lost his starting place.

Unwilling to remain a backup option, Henderson permanently left Man Utd for Crystal Palace in 2023 to guarantee regular playing time.

7. Sam Johnstone

Man Utd: 2011-2018 (Apps: 0 | Goals: 0), Crystal Palace: 2022-2024 (Apps: 34 | Goals: 0)

Another goalkeeper emerging from Carrington, Johnstone was part of the 2011 FA Youth Cup-winning squad alongside Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard.

Despite being with Man Utd for seven years, he was constantly sent out on loan and never made a first-team appearance.

After making a name for himself at West Brom, he moved to Crystal Palace, where he enjoyed two successful seasons as their primary shot-stopper.

8. Jack Butland

Crystal Palace: 2020-2023 (Apps: 17 | Goals: 0), Man Utd: 2023 (Apps: 0 | Goals: 0)

Jack Butland served as a reliable backup goalkeeper during his time at Crystal Palace. In the 2023 winter transfer window, he joined Man Utd on a six-month loan to provide cover for David de Gea.

Although he was part of the squad that lifted the Carabao Cup that season, Butland never played a single official minute on the pitch for the Manchester club.

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