Manchester City and Chelsea meet in the Premier League this evening, in a battle between the two most decorated English teams of the 21st century.
The Blues of Manchester and London have had similar routes to Premier League powerhouse status, with transformative takeovers taking them into Europe’s elite. There’s also plenty shared when it comes to players, including a raft of players featuring today who have represented both clubs.
In fact, there’s been some top talent to have played for both Manchester City and Chelsea in the Premier League era. We’ve attempted to squeeze them into an XI.
Goalkeeper: Willy Caballero
Ok, we start off a little modestly here, but Caballero had his moments as a backup for both Manchester City and Chelsea.
The Citizens certainly won’t forget the Argentine’s heroics to win the 2016 League Cup final, saving spot-kicks from Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in the shootout win over Liverpool.
Right-back: Tal Ben-Haim
Right, now you need to trust us, the XI really does become top-class a little later on…
Tal Ben-Haim impressed enough at Bolton to earn a free transfer to Chelsea, but the presence of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho limited his minutes.
He moved to Manchester City for £5m a year later, but again struggled for football. Neither move worked out, but a career that included 147 Premier League appearances and 96 international caps is not bad going.
Centre-back: Tosin Adarabioyo
Tosin Adarabioyo could line up against his former club this afternoon. Born in London but raised in Manchester, he came through the ranks at Manchester City but made just eight senior appearances before his exit.
A move to Fulham was the making of the centre-back, who later crossed the West London divide to join Chelsea on a free transfer. He’s proven to be an astute addition for the Blues, scoring five times in 41 appearances during a debut season that ended in Europa Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs.
Centre-back: Nathan Ake
Another current name to have represented both clubs. Nathan Ake joined the Chelsea academy as a teenager but made just seven league appearances before leaving for Bournemouth.
The regular football on the South Coast saw Ake evolve into a £40m defender, moving to Manchester in 2020. The dependable Dutchman has won 10 trophies with City, including four Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League.
Left-back: Wayne Bridge
A signing for both clubs early in their billionaire-backed eras. Wayne Bridge joined Chelsea in the first summer of the Roman Abramovich period, after five impressive seasons at Southampton. His first season included an iconic moment in Europe, as the left-back’s late winner eliminated Arsenal from the Champions League.
He made 142 appearances for Chelsea and won three major trophies, but the signing of Ashley Cole saw his role reduced. Bridge signed for Manchester City in January 2009 but saw injuries limit his impact.
Midfield: Frank Lampard
Chelsea’s record scorer needs little introduction. Signed from West Ham in 2001, Lampard developed into the greatest goalscoring midfielder of his era at Stamford Bridge.
He netted 211 goals in all competitions for Chelsea and was an irreplaceable part of three title-winning teams and the club’s first-ever Champions League success. Incredibly, his consistency saw Lampard score 10+ league goals in 10 consecutive campaigns for Chelsea.
An unstoppable strike, courtesy of Frank Lampard ☄️ pic.twitter.com/9Hq63RLkah
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 3, 2023
He moved to the City Football Group-owned New York City after leaving London, only to return to England on loan at Manchester City. A short period at the Etihad included a goal against Chelsea, one of eight he scored for the Citizens.
Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne
The one who got away for Chelsea…
Long before Chelsea were hoovering up young talent under the current regime, the Blues were hoarding some brilliant youngsters. Among them, a certain Kevin De Bruyne. The problem, however, was that Jose Mourinho was not entirely convinced. After just three league outings, he was let go, moving to the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg.
Oh, how they’d regret it.
De Bruyne returned to the Premier League three years later, with a £55m price tag on his shoulders. Even at that fee, it represented a bargain. By the time he departed a decade later, De Bruyne had a strong argument as Manchester City’s greatest-ever player, and as the best midfielder the league has seen.
Six league titles, 119 assists, and two PFA Player of the Year awards offer a compelling case.
Midfield: Cole Palmer
The one who got away for Manchester City…
When Chelsea paid around £42m to sign Cole Palmer in 2023, most felt City had got the better end of the deal. Palmer had shown flashes in limited minutes, but had started just three league games in his career to date.
Instead, it’s turned out to be one of the biggest transfer regrets of recent years. His first season at Chelsea saw Palmer score 22 goals in the Premier League, add 11 assists, and claim countless individual awards. He’s become the poster boy of the Blues’ often chaotic project and one of the most marketable and likeable talents in the game.
The boy is a genius. 💫#CFC | #CHEBHA pic.twitter.com/pIuZIiKKll
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 28, 2024
Right-wing: Shaun Wright-Phillips
A firm fans’ favourite at Manchester City, Shaun Wright-Phillips was the club’s brightest young talent at the turn of the century. The winger won the club’s Young Player of the Year award in four straight seasons and earned inclusion in the Premier League Team of the Year in 2004/05.
Far from the giant of today, City reluctantly cashed in when Chelsea came calling with a £21m bid that summer. Wright-Phillips won the Premier League and FA Cup at Chelsea, but never quite nailed down a key role. He returned to Manchester City for a second spell, though it’s his first stint that’s most fondly remembered.
Left-wing: Raheem Sterling
Manchester City flexed their financial muscle to sign Raheem Sterling from Liverpool, spending £49m to make the winger the most expensive Englishman of all time in 2015.
At the Etihad, Sterling developed from a talented but frustrating wide man to a genuine game-changer, scoring 131 goals over seven seasons. His best campaign came in 2018/19, when he scored 25 times in City’s domestic treble success to win the FWA Footballer of the Year.
After falling out of favour, he joined Chelsea for £47.5m in 2022 but has endured a tough time. He’s currently frozen out and has not made an appearance for the club since 2024.
Forward: Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka’s nomadic career took in stops at Manchester City and Chelsea, arguably two of his most productive periods.
Anelka was a marquee addition for newly-promoted City in 2002, justifying his £13m club record fee with 45 goals in 103 games. After spells at Fenerbahce and Bolton, he moved to Chelsea in January 2008.
In West London, Anelka won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full season and added a domestic double the following year.
Substitutes: Terry Phelan, David Rocastle, Mateo Kovacic, Romeo Lavia, Liam Delap, Daniel Sturridge
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