Five of the best players to play for Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League era | OneFootball

Icon: The Football Faithful

The Football Faithful

·7 January 2024

Five of the best players to play for Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League era

Article image:Five of the best players to play for Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League era

Tottenham are closing in on the signing of Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig, with the former Chelsea forward set for a return to England’s capital.

Werner is set to sign for Spurs as Ange Postecoglou looks to add depth to his frontline, with the German having scored 113 goals in 213 games across his two spells with Leipzig.


OneFootball Videos


The 27-year-old spent two seasons at Chelsea in between those stints, and won the Champions League with the Blues in 2021. He will become the latest player to have represented both Chelsea and Spurs in the Premier League era, despite the rivalry between the London sides.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

video-poster

Here are five of the best players to play for Chelsea and Tottenham in the Premier League era.

Gus Poyet

Poyet became a popular figure on either side of the divide and formed part of a successful Chelsea side during the late nineties and early 2000s, signing on a free transfer from Real Zaragoza and forging a reputation as a regular goalscorer from midfield.

Thriving alongside the likes of Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo, Poyet won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in his debut season, before scoring the only goal of the game as Chelsea defeated Real Madrid to win the UEFA Super Cup.

The Uruguay international also helped the West London side into the Champions League for the first time and lifted the FA Cup in 2000, memorably scoring both goals in the club’s semi-final victory over Newcastle.

Poyet made 142 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions and scored an impressive 45 goals, before controversially crossing the capital divide to sign for Tottenham in 2001.

He made a bright start with Spurs and scored 14 goals in all competitions during his debut season, and further soured relations with his former side by kissing the Spurs badge during a 5-1 thrashing of Chelsea in the League Cup.

Poyet spent three seasons with Spurs before retiring, as injuries blighted his latter time with the club.

Privacy Settings

William Gallas

William Gallas embarked on a personal tour of London clubs during a memorable Premier League career, the former France international seemingly paying no attention to the capital rivalries.

Gallas signed for Chelsea from Marseille in 2001 and spent five seasons at Stamford Bridge, remaining a key figure as the takeover of Roman Abramovich brought in a wealth of investment.

The Frenchman won back-to-back league titles with the West London side under Jose Mourinho, though a contract disagreement saw him move on to Arsenal as part of an exchange deal that saw Ashley Cole head to Chelsea.

Gallas spent four years with Arsenal and captained the Gunners for a spell, before making it a hat-trick of capital clubs, crossing the North London divide to sign for Tottenham.

The centre-back 78 appearances in all competitions across three seasons, and featured during the club’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals in their first ever campaign among Europe’s elite.

Carlo Cudicini

Carlo Cudicini spent a decade with Chelsea and proved a popular figure following several seasons of dedicated service, establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League at the peak of his Stamford Bridge career.

The Italian was named the West London side’s Player of the Season in 2002 and helped the club secure qualification to the Champions League the following campaign, though found first-team opportunities limited after the arrival of Jose Mourinho and signing of Petr Cech.

Cudicini made 216 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions and won four domestic cups, though spent the majority of his latter career with the club as a back-up option.

He signed for Tottenham on a free transfer in 2009 and made 37 appearances across three seasons before finishing his career in MLS with LA Galaxy.

Eidur Gudjohnsen

Chelsea gambled on the signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen from second-tier Bolton in 2000 and it proved a fine acquisition for the club pre-Abramovich, with the forward a classy and creative talent who spent six successful years at Stamford Bridge.

The Icelandic international formed an impressive partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during his early years with the club, scoring a combined 52 goals during a brilliant 2000/01 season, as the guile of Gudjohnsen perfectly complimented the thunderous power of the Dutchman.

He remained a central figure following the arrival of Jose Mourinho and won back-to-back Premier League titles under the ‘Special One’, scoring 78 goals in 262 appearances in all competitions across his time with the Blues.

After winning a continental treble during a trophy-laden spell at Barcelona the forward returned to the Premier League, via Monaco, signing for Tottenham on a short-term loan deal and scoring twice in 14 appearances.

Later spells at both Stoke and Fulham followed, though the finest football of the star’s career undoubtedly came in Chelsea blue.

Scott Parker

Scott Parker is a rarity on this list in that his best football came in the colours of Tottenham, having endured a frustrating time at Chelsea after finding himself among an expensive collection of leading names.

The midfielder struggled for regular opportunities after signing from Charlton and lasted just a single season at Stamford Bridge, moving on to Newcastle and later West Ham – where he was named as the FWA Footballer of the Year despite their relegation in 2011.

West Ham’s drop into the second tier saw Parker move to Tottenham to keep alive his international ambitions with England. He proved a popular figure in North London, where the combative star’s full-blooded commitment won plenty of admirers.

Parker spent two seasons with the club and anchored their midfield with trademark tenacity, before finishing his career with a four-year spell at Fulham – the fifth London club of his career.

Subscribe to our social channels:

View publisher imprint