Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, and who else? Uncover the definitive list of 12 players who played for both Chelsea and Everton.
When tracing the transfer history between Chelsea and Everton, you uncover a remarkably active pipeline connecting West London and Merseyside. From club-record strikers seeking redemption to seasoned veterans providing crucial depth, the path between Stamford Bridge and Everton’s historic Goodison Park – and now their state-of-the-art Hill Dickinson Stadium – is heavily trodden.
Romelu Lukaku remains the most famous striker among the players who played for both Chelsea and Everton
Several notable names have been on the books for both clubs without making a competitive first-team appearance for both. For instance, the late Christian Atsu was famously signed by Chelsea but spent his time on loan at Everton without ever playing a senior game for the Blues. Similarly, young talents like Ishé Samuels-Smith moved directly from Everton’s academy to Chelsea’s youth setup without senior caps.
Focusing strictly on those who made at least one official senior appearance for both clubs, here is the definitive list of 12 players who played for both Chelsea and Everton.
1. Romelu Lukaku
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Chelsea: 2011–2014 & 2021–2024 | Apps: 59 | Goals: 15 | Assists: 2
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Everton: 2013–2017 | Apps: 166 | Goals: 87 | Assists: 29
Romelu Lukaku is undoubtedly the most famous, impactful, and complex name among former Chelsea and Everton players.
Arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2011 as a highly-touted teenager dubbed the “next Didier Drogba”, Lukaku found his path to the Chelsea first team completely blocked by established veterans. Seeking to prove himself, he embarked on a pivotal season-long loan to Everton in 2013.
At Goodison Park, Lukaku became an absolute phenomenon. His terrifying blend of pace, sheer physical dominance, and clinical finishing transformed Everton’s attack. The Merseyside club was so impressed that they shattered their club transfer record to sign him permanently for £28 million in 2014.
During his four years at Everton, he established himself as one of the deadliest number nines in world football, scoring 87 goals and becoming the club’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League era.
Ironically, the story came full circle in 2021. After a highly successful stint at Inter Milan, Chelsea broke their own club transfer record, spending £97.5 million to bring Lukaku back to West London.
Billed as the final piece of Thomas Tuchel’s title-winning puzzle, his highly anticipated return quickly unraveled following an explosive, unsanctioned television interview, leading to fractured relationships and a series of subsequent loan spells away from the club.
2. Ross Barkley
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Everton: 2010–2018 | Apps: 179 | Goals: 27 | Assists: 28
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Chelsea: 2018–2022 | Apps: 100 | Goals: 12 | Assists: 11
Ross Barkley’s journey between the two clubs was one of the most heavily scrutinized English transfers of its decade.
A boyhood Evertonian and the crown jewel of their academy system, Barkley broke onto the scene drawing immense comparisons to Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne. He dazzled the Goodison Park faithful with his powerful surging runs and spectacular long-range strikes, looking destined to be the heartbeat of Everton’s midfield for a generation.
However, the fairy tale soured following a contract dispute. Desiring Champions League football, Barkley eventually forced a somewhat controversial £15 million move to Chelsea in January 2018.
His time at Stamford Bridge was a mixed bag of spectacular moments and frustrating inconsistencies. While he secured major silverware – including the FA Cup and the Europa League under Maurizio Sarri – he constantly struggled to nail down a permanent starting spot under a revolving door of managers, eventually departing to rebuild his career elsewhere.
3. Samuel Eto’o
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Chelsea: 2013–2014 | Apps: 35 | Goals: 12 | Assists: 7
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Everton: 2014–2015 | Apps: 20 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 2
Samuel Eto’o, one of the greatest African players in football history, graced both Stamford Bridge and Goodison Park during the twilight of his glittering career.
Jose Mourinho brought the legendary striker to Chelsea on a one-year deal in 2013. Even in his mid-30s, Eto’o showcased his elite predatory instincts, most notably scoring a brilliant hat-trick against Manchester United and producing his iconic “old man” celebration by the corner flag – a cheeky nod to Mourinho’s leaked comments questioning his true age.
Following his release from Chelsea the next summer, Eto’o signed for Everton on a free transfer. While his time on Merseyside was incredibly brief, lasting only half a season before moving to Sampdoria, he brought immense star power to the club and served as a valuable veteran mentor to a young Romelu Lukaku.
4. Kurt Zouma
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Chelsea: 2014–2021 | Apps: 151 | Goals: 9 | Assists: 3
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Everton: 2018–2019 (Loan) | Apps: 36 | Goals: 2 | Assists: 2
Kurt Zouma’s connection highlights a perfectly executed, mutually beneficial loan deal. Arriving at Chelsea as a French prodigy, his rapid rise was halted by a horrific ACL injury. Desperate for consistent top-flight minutes to rebuild his confidence and fitness, Chelsea loaned him to Everton for the 2018/19 campaign.
The move was a masterstroke. Zouma’s immense aerial dominance and incredible recovery pace quickly made him a massive fan favorite at Goodison Park, solidifying a leaky Everton backline. His outstanding form on Merseyside essentially resurrected his career, allowing him to return to London with renewed vigor, eventually helping Chelsea secure the UEFA Champions League title in 2021.
5. Mark Hughes
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Chelsea: 1995–1998 | Apps: 123 | Goals: 39 | Assists: 10
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Everton: 2000 | Apps: 19 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 0
A true icon of the English game, Mark Hughes enjoyed a fantastic twilight spell at Chelsea in the mid-90s, forming a legendary, contrasting partnership with Gianfranco Zola that delivered the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
By the time the fiery Welshman signed a short-term deal with Everton in 2000 at the age of 36, he was far past his physical prime, making it a quiet, brief cameo to end an otherwise spectacular Premier League career.
6. Graham Stuart
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Chelsea: 1989–1993 | Apps: 114 | Goals: 18 | Assists: 5
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Everton: 1993–1997 | Apps: 161 | Goals: 31 | Assists: 12
A hard-working academy graduate, Stuart cut his teeth at Chelsea with over 100 appearances before moving to Everton.
At Goodison Park, he secured eternal cult-hero status by scoring the dramatic, bobbling goal against Wimbledon on the final day of the 1993/94 season that saved Everton from relegation, before helping them lift the FA Cup a year later.
7. Asmir Begović
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Chelsea: 2015–2017 | Apps: 33 | Clean Sheets: 10
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Everton: 2021–2023 & 2024–2025 | Apps: 10 | Clean Sheets: 4
Begović has carved out a highly respected niche as the ultimate professional backup goalkeeper. He won a Premier League title at Chelsea as Thibaut Courtois’ reliable deputy, and later provided vital veteran cover for Jordan Pickford during Everton’s grueling relegation battles before moving to Leicester City.
8. John Spencer
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Chelsea: 1992–1996 | Apps: 137 | Goals: 43 | Assists: 8
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Everton: 1998–1999 | Apps: 14 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1
The diminutive Scottish striker was deeply loved at Stamford Bridge in the early 90s for his energetic displays and sharp finishing. However, his subsequent stint at Everton later in the decade was entirely forgettable, as he failed to score a single league goal.
9. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
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Chelsea: 2024–2025 | Apps: 36 | Goals: 5 | Assists: 1
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Everton: 2025–Present | Apps: 24 | Goals: 6 | Assists: 3
Signed by Chelsea in 2024 to add midfield depth, Dewsbury-Hall played a rotational squad role in London before transferring to Everton the following year, where he quickly assumed a much more prominent, creative responsibility at Goodison Park.
10. Armando Broja
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Chelsea: 2020–2025 | Apps: 38 | Goals: 3 | Assists: 1
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Everton: 2024–2025 (Loan) | Apps: 10 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0
The Chelsea academy product had a very brief, unproductive loan spell at Everton in search of game time before being permanently sold to Burnley in the summer of 2025.
11. Terry Phelan
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Chelsea: 1995–1997 | Apps: 19 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1
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Everton: 1997–1999 | Apps: 25 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 1
The Irish left-back suffered from persistent injuries during his time at both London and Merseyside, limiting his impact to just a handful of appearances for both clubs in the late 1990s.
12. Tyrique George
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Chelsea: 2024–Present | Apps: 2 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0
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Everton: 2026–Present (Loan) | Apps: 1 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0
The latest addition to the crossover list, George is an exciting Chelsea youth prospect who was sent on loan to Everton in early 2026 to gain his first taste of regular senior football.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Did Christian Atsu play for both Chelsea and Everton? Christian Atsu (Rest in Peace) was officially signed by Chelsea in 2013. However, he never made a senior competitive appearance for the Chelsea first team. During the 2014/15 season, he was loaned to Everton, where he made 13 appearances across all competitions.
Who is the most successful player to play for both clubs? In terms of individual statistics, Romelu Lukaku is the standout player, scoring 87 goals for Everton and 15 for Chelsea. In terms of trophies, players like Ross Barkley and Kurt Zouma enjoyed significant silverware success during their time at Stamford Bridge.
Are there any current Chelsea players on loan at Everton? Yes. As of early 2026, highly-rated Chelsea academy winger Tyrique George is currently on loan at Everton.
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