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Between Arsenal and Real Madrid, 15 Champions League trophies have been won (don't ask me for the split). Not only have an incredible 15 Champions League trophies been won between these two sides, but some incredible players have been shared, too.
Real Madrid is the pride of the Spanish capital, Madrid. Arsenal is the pride of the English capital, London. Both sides possess a rich history and have been attractive destinations for some of the best players in the world. Therefore, it is no surprise that some players have donned both jersies.
9 players who played for Arsenal and Real Madrid
Here are the 9 most notable players to play for both Arsenal and Real Madrid.
1. Mesut Ozil
Years at Real Madrid: 2010-2013
Years at Arsenal: 2013-2021
Notable achievements: Won four FA Cups at Arsenal and one La Liga at Real Madrid. He is also a World Cup winner with Germany.
Mesut Ozil is surely the guy who first popped into your head, right? To this day, he remains one of the most exciting transfers ever made by Arsenal. Before the era of ITKs (in-the-knows) and journalists covering transfers at every stage, Arsene Wenger pulled off one of his infamous transfer surprises, bringing the hot talent Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid to Arsenal.
Regarded as one of the best creative players in the world, Mesut Ozil had experience of assisting Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu. So, it was a shock culture change for him to assist Olivier Giroud, although no Giroud slander will be tolerated here.
Ultimately, it ended sourly for Mesut Ozil at the Emirates Stadium. He always had the talent but he didn't have the mentality needed for the Premier League. Still, to leave London with four FA Cups isn't bad going. Despite how it ended, Ozil should be considered a club legend.
2. Dani Ceballos
Years at Real Madrid: 2017-present
Years at Arsenal: 2019-2021 (loan)
Notable achievements: Won three Champions League trophies and two La Ligas at Real Madrid and one FA Cup at Arsenal. He is also a Euros winner for Spain at both U19 and U21 levels.
There is one rule to follow in football - Don't fall in love with loaned players. Thankfully(?) for Arsenal, it was impossible to fall in love with many players during the woeful 2019-2021 period.
Look, Dani Ceballos wasn't a standout bad player (trust me, it took some beating), but he didn't do much to stand above the rest, either. Sure, he played some nice passes in an Arsenal shirt and made some good touches. However, there was always a feeling that he could have contributed more
Still, Real Madrid fans would beg to differ!
3. Martin Odegaard
Years at Real Madrid: 2015-2021
Years at Arsenal: 2021-present
Notable achievements: Arsenal Player of the Season (and PFA Team of the Year) two years running.
When you think of "wonder-kid", you think of Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian maestro was signed by Real Madrid as a teenager and at the time, the whole world paid attention for him. Long story short, it wasn't to be for Odegaard in the Spanish capital.
He ran the risk of becoming one of those "what if?" stories, before Mikel Arteta took a punt at him. Originally signed on loan, Martin Odegaard impressed enough to make Arsenal splash the cash. Now, it is an investment which has more than paid off for the Gunners.
Martin Odegaard is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. Not only is he talented, but he's viewed as a leader at the Emirates Stadium.
4. Davor Suker
Years at Real Madrid: 1996-1999
Years at Arsenal: 1999-2000
Notable achievements: La Liga and Champions League winner with Real Madrid.
Representing Real Madrid during the infamous Galacticos era, Davor Suker continued to establish himself as a potent La Liga goal-scorer. A formidable striker who scored over 200 career goals, it is fair to say that he is most remembered by Real Madrid fans of the time, rather than Arsenal.
At the Gunners, Suker struggled to live up to the expectation he had set in the Spanish capital. The same could be said for his second London stint, at West Ham United. Nevertheless, Suker is still regarded as a legendary talisman and one of the all-time Croatian greats.
5. Emmanuel Adebayor
Years at Arsenal: 2006-2009
Years at Real Madrid: 2011 (loan)
Notable achievements: Won the Copa del Rey at Real Madrid. He also won the prestigious Pain in the Arsenal most hated player of all time.
Sigh. I can't seem to catch a break. Many of the lists I seem to create on this site are always infiltrated by Emmanuel Adebayor. I don't think there's a single Arsenal fan out there who likes Adebayor, so I'll keep this one short and sweet.
At Arsenal, Adebayor was a brilliant striker. Nobody ever questioned this during his time at the club, it was more the manner in which he left the club and his actions afterwards which made him a figure of sheer dislike.
After leaving Arsenal to sign for Man City (gritted teeth while typing that), Adebayor was sent on a loan spell to Real Madrid. The Togo international won the Copa del Rey while on loan in the Spanish capital.
6. Jose Antonio Reyes
Years at Arsenal: 2004-2007
Years at Real Madrid: 2006-2007 (loan)
Notable achievements: Part of the Arsenal Invincible team, the only team to win the Premier League without losing a single game.
Cemented himself into the Arsenal history books forever, by being part of the Arsenal Invincibles. Remembered for his incredible pace and skillset, Reyes was a nightmare for defenders to operate against. In 69 Premier League appearances, the winger netted 16 goals.
Reyes then spent a brief period on loan at Real Madrid. This was quickly forgotten about by the Madridistas when he left Arsenal to sign for Real's city rivals, Atletico Madrid. All in all, Reyes played for six different Spanish teams.
Rest in peace, legend.
7. Lassana Diarra
Years at Arsenal: 2007-2008
Years at Real Madrid: 2009-2012
Notable achievements: Won La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa at Real Madrid. He was also an FA Cup winner with Portsmouth.
Hardly left a lasting impression at Arsenal, but it was through no fault of his own. If anything, Arsenal shouldn't have let the young player leave, since his best playing days were achieved after leaving the Gunners. He was a gem that went unnoticed by Arsenal and in the years after he left, we were left crying for a player like him.
After winning the FA Cup at Portsmouth, Real Madrid picked Diarra up and made an incredible player out of him. He became an influential midfielder for Los Blancos and never really looked back after making the move. Arsenal did, though.
8. Nicolas Anelka
Years at Arsenal: 1997-1999
Years at Real Madrid: 1999-2000
Notable achievements: Won the Premier League and FA Cup at Arsenal, then moved to Real Madrid where he won the Champions League.
It is fair to say that Nicolas Anelka's best playing days were spent away from both Arsenal and Real Madrid. Indeed, after leaving Real Madrid at the turn of the millennium, Nicolas Anelka continued to be a journeyman, playing for many of Europe's top clubs but never truly looking settled.
Of all of his clubs, Nicolas Anelka is mostly remembered for representing Chelsea towards the end of his career. All in all, Anelka won the FA Cup three times, Premier League twice, the Champions League once and even the Euros with France. Quite some career, all things considered.
Considering the period, no Arsenal fan complained about the money-grab Arsenal made by selling Nicolas Anelka.
9. Julio Baptista
Years at Real Madrid: 2005-2008
Years at Arsenal: 2006-2007 (loan)
Notable achievements: Won La Liga with Real Madrid.
Or, as many of us would know him, "the Beast". Julio Baptista was given this nickname, which fitted him rather well due to his intense size, power and strength. The Brazil international was a force to be reckoned with, and outmuscling him off the ball was a task that very few, if any, could achieve.
After spending one year at Real Madrid, the Beast moved to Arsenal and spent a season on loan at the Emirates Stadium. It was the Gunners' first season at Emirates Stadium, famously built brick by brick by Arsene Wenger. In this season, Baptista impressed with his high-calibre playing style and was part of the Arsenal side that came runner-ups in the League Cup.