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Manchester United take on Chelsea at Saturday lunchtime with their managerial situation still unresolved.
The Red Devils will travel to Stamford Bridge looking for a huge three points as they attempt to get their season back on track.
United and Chelsea have exchanged many players over the years, particularly in recent seasons.
This summer, Andrey Santos was sold to United from the Blues, and in the previous two summers both Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho moved to West London.
Here is a list of the top 10 appearance makers for United who have also played in Chelsea blue.
### **1) Alex Stepney**
Stepney in reality only made one appearance for Chelsea, but he was an absolute stalwart for United. He made an incredible 539 appearances for the club and helped win the club’s first European trophy in 1968.
### **2) Mark Hughes**
Hughes enjoyed two successful spells at United, scoring wonder goals and leading the line at the beginning of Sir Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden era at the club.
Hughes would spend three seasons at Chelsea, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
### **3) Juan Mata**
Like Hughes, Mata probably has a special place in the hearts of both sets of fans.
The Spaniard won the Champions League while in London in 2012 and the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League whilst at Old Trafford. The silky midfielder brought plenty of shine to both clubs and entertained fans with lovely bits of skill and some excellent goals along the way.
### **4) Stewart Houston**
Houston only played nine games for Chelsea but represented United 205 times between 1973 and 1980.
The left back won the Second Division with United back in 1975.
### **5) Ray Wilkins**
Wilkins was a legend of both clubs, playing numerous seasons in both colours.
He first represented Chelsea between 1973 and 1979, and then United from 1979 to 1984 before moving to AC Milan.
### **6) Nemanja Matic**
Matic joined his former boss Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in 2017 and would spend five seasons at Old Trafford.
He had much success at Chelsea, winning the Premier League twice as well as the FA Cup and League Cup during his four years in London.
### **7) Paul Parker**
Parker played just four matches at Chelsea in 1997 but spent five successful seasons at United between 1991 and 1996.
He won three Premier League titles and two FA Cups as the club’s starting right back at the beginning of the Premier League era.
### **8) Alejandro Garnacho**
[Alejandro Garnacho](https://thepeoplesperson.com/tag/alejandro-garnacho)‘s start to his United career was excellent as he scored a double in the 2022 FA Youth Cup final and also scored in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in 2024.
Nonetheless, his relationship with then manager Ruben Amorim took a hit and his form dramatically dipped, meaning he was sold to Chelsea in 2025. He had a terrible season in London last year and was sent out on loan to Aston Villa where he is not playing as his career continues to tumble.
### **9) Danny Welbeck**
Welbeck came through the United academy and won one Premier League title in 2013.
He spent most of his career at Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion before a shock move to Chelsea this summer. Welbeck has already scored three goals in eight appearances for the Blues.
### **10) Harold Halse**
The forward represented United between 1908 and 1912.
Halse would later join Chelsea in 1913, just before the outbreak of the First World War, and would remain at the London club until 1921.
Every Man United player to play for Chelsea
Player
United
United apps
United goals
Chelsea
Chelsea apps
Chelsea goals
Source
Alex Stepney
1966–1978
539
2
1966
1
0
Wikipedia (league only)
Mark Hughes
1983–1986, 1988–1995
467
163
1995–1998
123
39
Transfermarkt
Juan Mata
2014–2022
287
51
2011–2014
135
33
Wikipedia
Stewart Houston
1974–1980
250
16
1967–1972
9
0
Wikipedia (league only)
Ray Wilkins
1979–1984
194
10
1973–1979
207
35
Wikipedia
Nemanja Matić
2017–2022
192
4
2009–2011, 2014–2017
151
7
Wikipedia
Paul Parker
1991–1996
146
2
1997
4
0
Transfermarkt
Alejandro Garnacho
2022–2025
144
26
2025–
43
8
Transfermarkt
Danny Welbeck
2008–2014
142
29
2026–
6
3
Transfermarkt
Harold Halse
1908–1912
125
56
1913–1921
96
23
Wikipedia (league only)
Mal Donaghy
1988–1992
119
0
1992–1994
68
3
Wikipedia (league only)
Mickey Thomas
1978–1981
110
15
1984–1985
54
11
Wikipedia
Romelu Lukaku
2017–2019
96
42
2011–2014, 2021–2024
15
0
Wikipedia
Jadon Sancho
2021–2024
83
12
2024–2025 (loan)
41
5
Transfermarkt
Juan Sebastián Verón
2001–2003
82
11
2003–2007
14
1
Wikipedia
Mason Mount
2023–
82
9
2017–2023
195
33
Wikipedia
Jimmy Turnbull
1907–1910
78
45
1912–1913
20
7
Wikipedia (league only)
George Graham
1972–1975
46
2
1964–1966
102
46
Wikipedia
Jim McCalliog
1973–1974
38
7
1963–1965
7
2
Wikipedia (league only)
Mark Bosnich
1990–1991, 1999–2000
38
0
2001–2003
7
0
Transfermarkt
Player
United
United apps
United goals
Chelsea
Chelsea apps
Chelsea goals
Source
Radamel Falcao
2014–2015
29
4
2015–2016 (loan)
12
1
Transfermarkt
Stan Crowther
1958
20
0
1958–1961
51
0
Wikipedia (league only)
Graham Moore
1963–1964
19
5
1961–1963
68
13
Wikipedia (league only)
Colin Waldron
1976
4
0
1967
9
0
Wikipedia (league only)
Mike Pinner
1961
4
0
1961–1962
1
0
Wikipedia (league only)
Tommy Baldwin
1975
2
0
1966–1974
187
73
Wikipedia (league only)
Andrey Santos
2026-
5
0
2024-2026
47
3
Wikipedia
Source: Transfermarkt, Wikipedia and API-Football · Updated 27 Oct 2026
_Featured image Laurence Griffiths via Getty Images_