United Beyond Manchester

Tomorrow, Mason Mount will face his old club Chelsea, and try to score at Stamford Bridge for the opposition for the first time. It will be an emotional day for a player who was a Cobham academy product. Mason Mount will join a list that includes eleven other players who have played for both the Reds and the Blues. Below, we take a look at each.

Juan Mata

Mata is one of the best players to play for both sides. His best season came in 2012/2013 for Chelsea when he had 12 goals and 16 assists in the Premier League. He finished his three-season Chelsea career with 33 goals and 57 assists in all competitions.

Juan Mata played nine seasons for Manchester United after making the switch from Chelsea. He scored 51 times and had 63 assists for the club. While he had a few solid seasons, he never returned to the 2012/2013 form. Mata left for Galatasaray in 2023.

Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes, or “Sparky,” played 467 times for Manchester United and scored 163 goals for the Reds. Hughes’ legendary United career was marked by two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup, and one European Winner’s Cup. The Welsh center-forward is one of the greatest attackers in Manchester United’s history.

Mark Hughes moved to Chelsea in 1995, where he scored 38 times over the course of three seasons. He added one trophy in the Cup Winners Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Nemanja Matic

Nemanja Matic’s Chelsea career included three Premier League titles. For a few years, he was regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He made his move to Manchester United to reunite with former manager Jose Mourinho in 2017.

Nemanja Matic was unable to find the same success at Manchester United, though he made 189 appearances for the club. He failed to win a trophy with the Reds, though he played in four Champions Leagues with the club.

Paul Parker

Paul Parker’s five-year Manchester United career included two Premiership titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. He played 105 times for the club, but his time at Old Trafford was marred by injuries. He was eventually replaced by United legend Gary Neville at right back. The Englishman played four times for Chelsea during an injury crisis before moving on to the non-league scene.

Mark Bosnich

Bosnich is the sole goalkeeper who has played for both sides. He started his career at United before leaving and returning for a season. He started 23 games in the 1999 season when Manchester United won the Premier League. At Chelsea, he barely played after injuries and was released when he failed a drug test. Bosnich was described as a “terrible professional” by Sir Alex Ferguson in his autobiography.

Hannah Blundell

Hannah Blundell joined Chelsea through the academy when she was 17. She scored on her debut at the club after coming on as a substitute against Birmingham City. She spent time at both left and right back for the Blues before eventually losing her place in the side after an injury. The loss of first-team minutes led to her move to Manchester United.

Blundell has been at Manchester United since 2021 and has not disappointed. She has played 61 times for the Reds and has two goals to her name. In 2022, Blundell’s teammates at United voted her the Players’ Player of the Season. She remains a fixture in the side and has played 18 times this season.

Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao was undoubtedly a top-quality striker. His goals at Porto, Atletico Madrid, and Monaco speak for themselves. Unfortunately, his time in the Premier League was less than successful. In 41 Premier League appearances for United and Chelsea, Falcao scored just five times. The Colombian stiker still plays for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.

Lauren James

The sister of current Chelsea star Reece James, Lauren played at Manchester United before joining her brother at Chelsea. James was a part of Manchester United’s first season in the FA Women’s Championship and scored the first Manchester United goal in the WSL. She also was the first player to score at Old Trafford in a WSL match. Lauren James scored 22 times in 40 games for the Reds and will forever be a major part of the history of the MU Women.

In 2021, Lauren James joined Chelsea. In her second season at the club, James won the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year. She has scored 19 times in 39 games for her current club, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in January 2024.

Juan Sebastian Veron

Juan Sebastian Veron was considered a complete midfielder who could defend well and provide quality going forward. He played 82 times for Manchester United with 11 goals and 15 assists. His time as a Red included a Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson. At Chelsea, Veron played just 14 times, scoring once.

Maria Thorisdottir

Maria Thorisdottir played 22 times at Chelsea and at 31 times Manchester United. She scored one goal for each club. At Chelsea, she won the FA WSL title and an FA Cup. She currently plays at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku started his Premier League career at Chelsea before making a name for himself at Everton. Manchester United bought Lukaku from Everton, hoping he could lead the line for the Reds for years. Lukaku scored 28 times in the Premier League for United in two seasons and was sold to Inter Milan following the 2018-2019 season. Lukaku returned to Chelsea the next season and scored 8 Premier League goals. He is on loan at Roma from Chelsea this season.