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Players who played for both Arsenal and Real Madrid
9 famous players have played for both Arsenal and Real Madrid, including Mesut Özil, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nicolas Anelka and Davor Šuker. 4 of them played for Arsenal first; 5 started at Real Madrid.
Did you know?
Davor ŠukerEarliest on this list to play for both: Real Madrid (1996–1999), then Arsenal from 1999.
Kepa ArrizabalagaLatest on this list: Real Madrid first, then Arsenal from 2025.
All 9 players, most famous first
Mesut Özil
Germany · Midfielder · born 1988- Arsenal
- 2013–2021
- Real Madrid
- 2009–2013
- Arsenal
- 2006–2009
- Real Madrid
- 2010–2011
- Nicolas Anelka
France · Forward · born 1979- Arsenal
- 1997–1999
- Real Madrid
- 1999–2000
- Davor Šuker
Croatia · Forward · born 1968- Arsenal
- 1999–2000
- Real Madrid
- 1996–1999
- Arsenal
- from 2021
- Real Madrid
- 2015–2021
- Kepa Arrizabalaga
Spain · Goalkeeper · born 1994- Arsenal
- from 2025
- Real Madrid
- 2023–2024
- José Antonio ReyesSpain · Midfielder · born 1983
- Arsenal
- 2004–2007
- Real Madrid
- 2006–2007
- Dani CeballosSpain · Midfielder · born 1996
- Arsenal
- 2019–2021
- Real Madrid
- 2017–2026
- Lassana DiarraFrance · Midfielder · born 1985
- Arsenal
- 2007
- Real Madrid
- 2009–2012
Years are club stints from Wikidata (snapshot 2026-09-28); a loan that runs straight into a transfer is shown as one stint. “from YEAR” means no end year is recorded — it is not a claim about a current club.
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Questions
How many famous players have played for both Arsenal and Real Madrid?
9 in our data, including Mesut Özil, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nicolas Anelka and Davor Šuker. The list covers famous footballers only — players covered by at least 45 language editions of Wikipedia — so it is not every player who ever wore both shirts.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both clubs?
In our data, Davor Šuker: Real Madrid (1996–1999), then Arsenal (1999–2000).
Where does this list come from?
Club careers from Wikidata, the open database behind Wikipedia (public domain, CC0), snapshot 2026-09-28. Senior spells count, loans included when Wikidata records them; youth and reserve teams do not. Found a mistake? Tell us via the About page.