Extra Time › Played for both › Chelsea and Lyon
Players who played for both Chelsea and Lyon
7 famous players have played for both Chelsea and Lyon, including Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Nemanja Matić and Tiago Mendes. 3 of them played for Chelsea first; 4 started at Lyon.
Did you know?
Michael EssienEarliest on this list to play for both: Lyon (2003–2005), then Chelsea from 2005.- Nemanja MatićLatest on this list: Chelsea first, then Lyon from 2024.
- Nemanja MatićMost separate spells: 3 across the two clubs (Chelsea 2009–2011, 2014–2017; Lyon 2024–2025).
All 7 players, most famous first
- Chelsea
- 2005–2014
- Lyon
- 2003–2005
- Florent Malouda
France · Forward · born 1980- Chelsea
- 2007–2013
- Lyon
- 2003–2007
- Nemanja Matić
Serbia · Midfielder · born 1988- Chelsea
- 2009–2011, 2014–2017
- Lyon
- 2024–2025
- Tiago Mendes
Portugal · Midfielder · born 1981- Chelsea
- 2004–2005
- Lyon
- 2005–2007
- Malo GustoFrance · Midfielder · born 2003
- Chelsea
- from 2023
- Lyon
- 2021–2023
- Loïc RémyFrance · Forward · born 1987
- Chelsea
- 2014–2017
- Lyon
- 2006–2008
- Emerson Palmieri
Italy · Defender · born 1994- Chelsea
- 2018–2022
- Lyon
- 2021–2022
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.
Play today’s Football Grid
Name players who played for both clubs — a new 3×3 grid of real careers every day.
More “played for both” lists
Questions
How many famous players have played for both Chelsea and Lyon?
7 in our data, including Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Nemanja Matić and Tiago Mendes. 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, Michael Essien: Lyon (2003–2005), then Chelsea (2005–2014).
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.