Manchester United will take on Leeds United this Monday evening at Old Trafford.
The game is not just a massive match for the Champions League places but is also one of United’s most bitter rivalries.
In spite of this bad feeling between the two sides, numerous players have crossed the Pennines either directly or indirectly over the years.
Here is a comprehensive list of the players who have done so, arranged in the order of most appearances for Manchester United. Only players who made a senior appearance for both United and Leeds have been included.
Every player to play for Man United and Leeds United
Player name Man United appearances Goals Years Active
Denis Irwin 529 33 1990-2002
Rio Ferdinand 455 8 2002-2013
Lee Sharpe 263 36 1988-1986
Brian Greenhoff 221 13 1970-1979
Gordon Strachan 206 38 1984-1989
Eric Cantona 185 82 1992-1997
Gordon McQueen 184 20 1978-1985
Joe Jordan 126 41 1978-1981
Johnny Giles 115 13 1959-1964
Freddie Goodwin 95 7 1953-1960
Alan Smith 93 12 2004-2007
Dan James 74 9 2019-2021
Arthur Graham 52 7 1983-1985
Liam Miller 22 0 2004-2006
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson 14 0 2015-2016
Danny Pugh 7 0 2002-2004
Scott Wootton 4 0 2010-2013
David Healy 3 0 1999-2000
Danny Webber 3 0 2000-2003
Largie Ramazani 1 0 2019-2020
Paul Rachubka 1 0 2000-2002
1) Denis Irwin
Irwin was Mr Consistency for the Red Devils in the 1990s. The Irishman came through the Leeds academy but spent 12 glorious years with United, winning every trophy available.
2) Rio Ferdinand
The legendary United defender joined the club from Leeds in 2002 in a bitter transfer, but he had the last laugh as he won numerous titles including the Champions League with the club in 2008.
3) Lee Sharpe
Sharpe spent eight successful years at United and was instrumental in the first Premier League-winning sides. The flying winger left the club in 1996 directly for Leeds and spent three seasons in Yorkshire.
4) Brian Greenhoff
Greenhoff came through the United ranks and spent the seventies at the club. The centre-back would later join Leeds in 1979 and would play for three seasons at Elland Road.
5) Gordon Strachan
The feisty Scot represented both clubs over 200 times in the 1980s. Like many, he departed Old Trafford straight for Elland Road in 1988.
6) Eric Cantona
Despite Ferdinand playing many more games for United, Cantona is probably the most iconic player to transfer between the two clubs. After winning the title with Leeds in 1992, he moved to United and would be the catalyst for United winning four of the next five Premier League titles before abruptly retiring in 1997.
7) Gordon McQueen
The Scottish centre-back spent six seasons at Leeds before crossing the Pennines to Lancashire.
The tough defender would go on to win an FA Cup and Charity Shield with the Red Devils.
8) Joe Jordan
The tough-as-nails forward played eight seasons at Elland Road before crossing over to United.
He played four seasons at the club but ultimately failed to win a trophy.
9) Johnny Giles
The Dubliner started his career at United before leaving for Leeds in 1963.
The midfielder would go on to spend an impressive 12 seasons in Yorkshire after his Old Trafford stint.
10) Freddie Goodwin
One of the Busby Babes, he spent seven years at United in the 1950s before leaving for Leeds in 1960.
The wing half would also go on to play for Scunthorpe United and the New York Generals.
11) Alan Smith
Despite not playing too long at the club, Smith is one of the most iconic players to move between the great rivals. The vocally boyhood Leeds fan left the club after they were surprisingly relegated in 2004 and joined his bitter enemy.
12) Dan James
The Welshman moved to United in 2019 but could never really nail down a starting spot. He moved to Leeds in 2021 and is still representing the Whites.
13) Arthur Graham
The left winger played six seasons at Leeds before transferring to United in 1983. He only spent two seasons at Old Trafford and won a Charity Shield in the summer he joined.
14) Liam Miller
Miller joined United from Celtic in the early 2000s but could never make a serious impact in the first team. Whilst never joining Leeds permanently, he did represent them in the 2005–2006 season on loan.
15) Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
The left-back broke through under Louis van Gaal in the 2015–2016 season but would get little chance under Jose Mourinho. Like Miller, he only joined Leeds on loan for the 2017–18 season but made little to no impact.
16) Danny Pugh
Pugh came through the United academy but could never make a place in the first team squad his own. He joined Leeds in 2004 before moving on in 2006 after also falling out of favour there.
17) Scott Wootton
Wootton made some appearances for the first team in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge but moved on to Leeds swiftly after. He spent three seasons in Yorkshire before moving to Milton Keynes Dons.
18) David Healy
Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer came through the United academy but only managed three appearances. He left United for Preston North End but would join Leeds in the Championship and spent three seasons at Elland Road.
19) Danny Webber
Webber came through the United academy but had extremely limited first team opportunities. He would play for a multitude of clubs but would join Leeds in 2012 in the twilight of his career.
20) Largie Ramazani
Ramazani, alongside James, is the other player on this list who is still at Leeds.
He made one appearance for the Red Devils in the Europa League before leaving for Almeria. He joined Leeds in 2024 but is currently on loan at Valencia CF.
21) Paul Rachubka
The American keeper only made one appearance for United before leaving the club. After spending time at Huddersfield Town and Blackpool, he joined Leeds in 2011 and spent two years at the club.
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