Remembering footballers who played for both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea

It might not be near the top of everyone’s list of Premier League derbies, but there’s no doubt that Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have one of the most heated rivalries in the entirety of the English top flight.

Tempers often reach boiling point when the two sides clash in London, with the infamous ‘Battle of the Bridge’ during Leicester City’s title-winning campaign in 2015-16 a game that will go down in Premier League folklore.

Even just last season, when the Blues beat Spurs 4-1 in a thriller at the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, there were eight yellow cards and two reds—while Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was also booked on the sideline.

The first meeting of the sides in the 2024-25 Premier League is approaching in North London on December 8, and those looking for Tottenham vs Chelsea odds will certainly be checking the card markets, as the referee will likely be going to his pocket often.

Despite the fierce rivalry and the deep hatred between the two sides, several players over time have crossed the divide.

That said, as we count down the days to their first clash of the season, let’s take a quick look at some of those players.

Timo Werner

The most recent player to trade the glitz and glamour of the west for the leafy north of the capital, Timo Werner has been given a second lease of life in the Premier League by Spurs.

The German joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig after a stellar 28-goal Bundesliga season in 2019-20. However, he struggled to replicate that form, scoring only 10 goals in 56 Premier League games before returning to Leipzig after just two seasons.

With confidence still low despite a return to his homeland, his performances for Leipzig were lacklustre, and a move to Spurs has been similarly unremarkable, with just three goals and four assists in 26 games from his more favoured left wing.

Glenn Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle, a Tottenham legend with nearly 500 appearances and over 100 goals, led Spurs to two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup during his 12 years at the club.

After leaving for spells with Monaco and Swindon Town, he joined Chelsea as player-manager in 1993, guiding the Blues to an FA Cup final in his two years in charge—which they lost 4-0 to Manchester United.

Appointed Spurs manager in 2001, the Englishman reached the 2002 League Cup, but the North London side were stunned by Blackburn Rovers. He was dismissed in 2003 after a slow start to the season.

Jimmy Greaves

One of the greatest goal scorers of all time, Jimmy Greaves came through the ranks of Chelsea and scored 132 times in 169 games for the Blues.

A brief stint at AC Milan didn’t go to plan, and Greaves returned to London, signing for Tottenham. There, he won two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners’ Cup while scoring 268 goals in nine years—a club record since passed by Harry Kane.

William Gallas

William Gallas, the only player to have played for Chelsea, Tottenham, and their London rivals Arsenal, showed little loyalty throughout his career.

The Frenchman enjoyed the most success at Stamford Bridge, where he won two Premier Leagues and a League Cup under Jose Mourinho.

After leaving Chelsea on a sour note and joining Arsenal as part of the deal for Ashley Cole, Gallas moved to Spurs four years later and spent three seasons at White Hart Lane—making over 60 Premier League appearances.

Gus Poyet

Gus Poyet, the first player on this list to transfer directly between the two sides, left Chelsea for Tottenham in 2001.

The Uruguayan joined the Blues from Real Zaragoza in 1997 and won the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup, while scoring almost 50 goals in 145 appearances.

Poyet moved to Spurs for £2.2 million, and while his time at the club was injury-stricken, he still bagged 23 goals in 98 games and reached the League Cup under Hoddle.

Eidur Gudjohnsen

Perhaps best remembered in England for his time at Chelsea, where he was a key cog to Mourinho’s winning machine after arriving from Bolton Wanderers, Eidur Gudjohnsen had a largely forgettable loan spell with Tottenham in 2010.

A dual Premier League and League Cup winner alongside Gallas, Gudjohnsen returned to the Premier League on loan to Tottenham from Monaco. But scored just twice in 14 appearances during his six months at the club.

The Icelandic forward also played for Stoke City and Fulham in the English top flight but brought little to either side, failing to bolster their odds in the football betting.