Sport
Premier League players who returned to their former clubs
The return of Gareth Bale to Tottenham has brought the Welshman’s career around full-circle since departing London for Madrid. Bale’s second spell with Spurs’ is a telling chapter waiting to be written but one that we have seen play out several times before previously. The idea of players coming back to their former clubs is often looked at through rose-tinted glasses, with fans reminiscing about that players’ highlights and the hopes that he may bring an added spark to the entire team. But just who has been lucky enough to enjoy the fairytale return and ending? With that in mind, here are five Premier League players who returned to their former clubs.
5 Premier League players who returned to their former clubs
David Luiz (Chelsea)
David Luiz’s love affair with Chelsea has been a mix of extreme high and lows but one that has two distinct parts to it. His first stint at Stamford Bridge started in 2011 after he joined from Benfica and would be arguably the most successful spell of his entire career. It was here that he won the FA Cup (first time), Champions League, Europa League and the Club World Cup, cementing a reputation as one of the best defenders in the world.
It wouldn’t be long before a big-spending PSG side prized him away with a move to France in 2014 before he returned to Chelsea two seasons later becoming one of the players who played for the same club twice. The £34 million paid was nearly twice as much as they had originally paid for him in 2011, though less than the £50m they had sold him to PSG for. Luiz’s return helped Chelsea secure a Premier League title at the end of the 2016/17 season but a change in manager and a dip in form saw the Brazilian lose his first team spot and struggle to reclaim it. In the end, Luiz opted for a move across London to rivals Arsenal in 2019 marking the end of Luiz’ tenure with The Blues.
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)
Sticking with Chelsea and the David Luiz saga conjured a feeling of déjà vu when it came to Nemanja Matic. The Serbian midfielder’s first spell at the club was lacklustre, with Matic making just 2 appearances altogether and, after a loan spell with Vitesse Arnhem in Holland, Matic would move to Benfica as part of the deal that brought David Luiz (see above) to the Premier League.
The move to Portugal was a blessing for Matic who developed his game tremendously becoming one of the top midfield enforcers in Europe. Chelsea were watching and decided to make Matic one of the players who returned to their former clubs by bringing him back to Stamford Bridge in 2014. It was here that his tenacious nature and passing skills made him a key part of a Chelsea side who would win two Premier League titles in the 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons, as well as earning a PFA Team of the Year nomination as well. Matic’s skills didn’t go unnoticed and title rivals Manchester United swooped in with a £40m bid in 2017. With Jose Mourinho now at Old Trafford, Matic opted to join his former boss up north and left Chelsea once and for all.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Pogba’s career started off at Old Trafford under rather dubious circumstances, when Sir Alex Ferguson failed to see any real potential in the French midfielder. Frustrated by a lack of opportunities, Pogba left United on a free transfer only to be quickly picked up by a keen Juventus side. It was here where the talismanic midfielder quickly stole the headlines forming the backbone of a side that would dominate Serie A for the rest of the decade.
The form of Pogba didn’t go unnoticed by new United boss Jose Mourinho and United shattered the world transfer record to bring the Frenchman back to England for £90m in 2016. Pogba’s return came and he proved why Ferguson was wrong to let him go by turning in plenty of eye-catching performance, though failing to win the Premier Legaue for the club. Injuries and manager disputes have seen the Frenchman’s form dip somewhat in the last couple of seasons but he is twice the player than the young protégé who was let go for free nearly a decade ago.
Thierry Henry – Arsenal
Arguably the greatest player in Premier League history, Thierry Henry, cemented his legacy as one of the players who returned to their former clubs. The Frenchman moved to Arsenal in 1999 after a difficult time with Juventus and his lightning pace and deadly finishing skills made him a fan favourite. This came at the time of Arsenal’s best run of success in the Premier League winning 2 league titles and 3 F.A Cups including the famous unbeaten season of “The Invincibles” in 2003/04. To cap the run off, Henry also broke the club’s all-time goalscoring record, although a loss to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League Final would prove to be the limit for Henry with the club.
It would indeed be Barcelona that Henry would depart for one year later, moving to Spain for £20m. Henry was not done yet though with The Gunners as he would surprisingly join on a short term loan deal from New York RB to maintain his fitness during the MLS’ offseason in 2012. Joining Arsenal in the middle of their prolonged trophy drought, Henry gave fans and players a boost scoring on his return against Leeds in a FA Cup 3rd Round tie. It would not be the end of Henry’s scoring form though as he would net 3 times in 6 Premier League games including a now famous last minute winner against Sunderland in his last appearance for the club. An appropriate finish for his Arsenal career which finished with 228 goals across both stints – still a record for the club.
Juninho – Middlesbrough
If it is unusual for a player to play for the same club twice, Brazilian playmaker Juninho eclipsed that by playing for Middlesbrough over three separate stints in the Premier League. The first would coincide with Boro’s first trip to the Premier League, joining from hometown side Sao Paulo. He immediately made an impression scoring 12 goals in 35 league games in the 1996/97 season but Boro’s relegation saw the Brazilian move to Atletico Madrid in order to maintain a World Cup place with Brazil.
He would return on loan from Atletico in 1999 but this was a less successful stint scoring just 4 goals in the 1999/2000 season. After loan spells back in Brazil, Juninho joined for a third time on a free transfer from Atletico just after Boro were promoted to the Premier League in 2002. Injuries hampered his last stint at the Riverside Stadium however he still contributed with 12 goals in 50 appearances and helped Middlesbrough to their only domestic trophy – the 2003/04 League Cup. The Brazilian ended his Boro’ career on a high and would leave to join Celtic just a few months later. His consistent form has led him to becoming a cult figure on Teesside and was even voted their greatest ever player in a fan survey back in 2007.
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