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Players who played for both Chelsea and Real Madrid
16 famous players have played for both Chelsea and Real Madrid, including Arjen Robben, Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Thibaut Courtois. 8 of them played for Chelsea first; 8 started at Real Madrid.
Did you know?
- Christian PanucciEarliest on this list to play for both: Real Madrid (1997–1999), then Chelsea from 2000.
Kepa ArrizabalagaLatest on this list: Chelsea first, then Real Madrid from 2023.
Álvaro MorataMost separate spells: 3 across the two clubs (Chelsea 2017–2019; Real Madrid 2010–2014, 2016–2017).
All 16 players, most famous first
Arjen Robben
Netherlands · Forward · born 1984- Chelsea
- 2004–2007
- Real Madrid
- 2007–2009
Eden Hazard
Belgium · Forward · born 1991- Chelsea
- 2012–2019
- Real Madrid
- 2019–2023
- Chelsea
- 2013–2014
- Real Madrid
- 1997–2000
Thibaut CourtoisBelgium · Goalkeeper · born 1992- Chelsea
- 2011–2018
- Real Madrid
- from 2018
Gonzalo Higuaín
Argentina · Forward · born 1987- Chelsea
- 2019
- Real Madrid
- 2007–2013
- Nicolas Anelka
France · Forward · born 1979- Chelsea
- 2008–2012
- Real Madrid
- 1999–2000
- Álvaro Morata
Spain · Forward · born 1992- Chelsea
- 2017–2019
- Real Madrid
- 2010–2014, 2016–2017
Antonio Rüdiger
Germany · Defender · born 1993- Chelsea
- 2017–2022
- Real Madrid
- from 2022
Ricardo Carvalho
Portugal · Defender · born 1978- Chelsea
- 2004–2010
- Real Madrid
- 2010–2013
- Chelsea
- 2005–2014
- Real Madrid
- 2012–2013
Mateo Kovačić
Croatia · Midfielder · born 1994- Chelsea
- 2018–2023
- Real Madrid
- 2015–2019
- Kepa ArrizabalagaSpain · Goalkeeper · born 1994
- Chelsea
- 2018–2025
- Real Madrid
- 2023–2024
- Claude MakeléléFrance · Midfielder · born 1973
- Chelsea
- 2003–2008
- Real Madrid
- 2000–2003
- Christian Panucci
Italy · Defender · born 1973- Chelsea
- 2000–2001
- Real Madrid
- 1997–1999
- Marcos AlonsoSpain · Defender · born 1990
- Chelsea
- 2016–2022
- Real Madrid
- 2010
- Lassana DiarraFrance · Midfielder · born 1985
- Chelsea
- 2005–2007
- 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 Chelsea and Real Madrid?
16 in our data, including Arjen Robben, Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Thibaut Courtois. 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, Christian Panucci: Real Madrid (1997–1999), then Chelsea (2000–2001).
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.