Ranking every transfer between Arsenal and Chelsea | OneFootball

Arsenal and Chelsea might be London rivals but they’re certainly not afraid of doing business together.

Noni Madueke is closing in on a £52m transfer to Arsenal from Chelsea, the second signing of the summer the Gunners have made from Stamford Bridge. Kepa Arrizabalaga moved from Chelsea to Arsenal earlier in the summer, in what has become a well-trodden path.

There have been plenty of deals done between the capital giants and we’ve decided to rank each of them by their success after crossing the divide.

Ranking every direct transfer between Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League era.

10. Lassana Diarra (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2007)

Lassana Diarra took in spells with both clubs but made little impact with either. After just 13 league appearances for Chelsea, he moved across London to sign for Arsenal in 2007.

Diarra fared little better in North London and spent just five months with the club. He made only seven league appearances before moving to Portsmouth, where his career took off.

9. Willian (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2020)

Arsenal’s signing of Willian on a free transfer from Chelsea looks astute business in 2020. The Brazilian had been a fan favourite over seven seasons with the Blues, winning two league titles, but looked a shadow of his old self at Arsenal. After mustering just one goal in 37 games, he departed for Corinthians.

8. David Luiz (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2019)

Another whose best years were spent in Blue, David Luiz was a key part of Chelsea’s Premier League title in 2016/17.

He moved to Arsenal in 2019 as the Gunners sought an experienced option and won the FA Cup in his debut season. However, that was as good as it got for Luiz, who moved to Flamengo in 2021 after two error-prone seasons.

7. Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2011)

Yossi Benayoun might have made just 19 appearances for Arsenal but the midfielder perhaps met expectations in comparison to those previously on this list. Signed as a squad player after struggling for minutes at Chelsea, he proved a useful addition on loan in the 2011/12 season, scoring four times.

6. Jorginho (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2023)

Some questioned Arsenal’s decision to sign Jorginho in 2021, after agreeing to a £12m deal for a footballer whose influence has declined at Chelsea.

The Italian was another who proved to be a useful squad player for Arsenal, adding experience and composure to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.

5. William Gallas (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2006)

William Gallas headed to Arsenal as part of a high-profile exchange deal in 2006. The French defender had won two league titles at Chelsea but silverware proved elusive during his four-season stint at Arsenal.

Gallas did, however, initially emerge as a key figure at Arsenal and was appointed club captain ahead of his second season. Things soon turned sour for the defender, who memorably inherited Dennis Bergkamp’s number 10 shirt…

He made 101 appearances before crossing another rivalry to sign for Tottenham Hotspur.

4. Kai Havertz (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2023)

Kai Havertz remains the most expensive transfer between the clubs, having signed for Arsenal in a £65m deal in 2023. The German has divided opinion at Arsenal, with an initial role in midfield yielding mixed results. Havertz has improved since becoming a roving forward for the Gunners and has scored 29 goals over two seasons with the club.

3. Petr Cech (Chelsea to Arsenal, 2015)

One of the greatest goalkeepers of the Premier League era, Cech’s list of honours at Chelsea includes four Premier League titles, seven domestic cups and the Champions League.

The Czech shot-stopper departed in 2015 after the emergence of Thibaut Courtois, moving to Arsenal. He failed to reach the same heights at the Emirates but did pick up both the Premier League’s Golden Glove and an FA Cup winner’s medal.

2. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal to Chelsea, 2018)

The first Chelsea purchase from Arsenal on this list!

Chelsea signed the often under-appreciated Olivier Giroud in January 2018, signing the French forward in an £18m deal.

Though not always a regular, Giroud was a key contributor during some important moments for Chelsea. He won the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with the club and scored in the latter final success against former club Arsenal.

1. Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea, 2006)

Quite comfortably the biggest success story.

Ashley Cole earned heroic status at both clubs, even if relations at Arsenal soured after his cross-capital move. Cole won two league titles with Arsenal and formed part of the club’s famous “Invincibles” side in 2003/04.

The left-back left for Chelsea in 2006 and continued to mop up silverware at Stamford Bridge. Another Premier League title arrived, alongside four FA Cups, a League Cup, the Champions League and Europa League in a clean sweep of honours. No player has ever won the FA Cup on more occasions than Cole (7) who has a strong case as the Premier League’s greatest-ever left-back.

Read – Which Premier League clubs are ‘winning’ the transfer window?

See more – Gyokeres rejects three rival offers with focus on Arsenal

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