Extra Time › Played for both › Liverpool and Manchester City
Players who played for both Liverpool and Manchester City
9 famous players have played for both Liverpool and Manchester City, including Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Anelka and James Milner. 3 of them played for Liverpool first; 5 started at Manchester City.
Did you know?
- Matt BusbyEarliest on this list to play for both: Manchester City (1928–1936), then Liverpool from 1936.
Raheem SterlingLatest on this list: Liverpool first, then Manchester City from 2015.- Craig BellamyMost separate spells: 3 across the two clubs (Liverpool 2006–2007, 2011–2012; Manchester City 2009–2011).
All 9 players, most famous first
Mario Balotelli
Italy · Forward · born 1990- Liverpool
- 2014–2016
- Manchester City
- 2010–2013
- Raheem Sterling
England · Forward · born 1994- Liverpool
- 2012–2015
- Manchester City
- 2015–2022
- Nicolas Anelka
France · Forward · born 1979- Liverpool
- 2002
- Manchester City
- 2002–2005
James MilnerEngland · Midfielder · born 1986- Liverpool
- 2015–2023
- Manchester City
- 2010–2015
- Liverpool
- 2013–2016
- Manchester City
- 2009–2013
- Daniel SturridgeEngland · Forward · born 1989
- Liverpool
- 2013–2019
- Manchester City
- 2006–2009
- David JamesEngland · Goalkeeper · born 1970
- Liverpool
- 1992–1999
- Manchester City
- 2004–2006
- Liverpool
- 2006–2007, 2011–2012
- Manchester City
- 2009–2011
- Liverpool
- 1936–1941
- Manchester City
- 1928–1936
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 Liverpool and Manchester City?
9 in our data, including Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Anelka and James Milner. 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, Matt Busby: Manchester City (1928–1936), then Liverpool (1936–1941).
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.