Transfers

When Premier League clubs exchanged players

28 Jan 2018
Mkhitaryan-Sanchez-swap-composite

After Arsenal and Man Utd traded Mkhitaryan and Sanchez, we look at previous times clubs swapped players

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The swap deal that Manchester United and Arsenal agreed for Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan was a rare occurrence in the Premier League.

We look at five previous occasions where two Premier League clubs have been involved in player exchanges (including cash) and how those players fared at their new clubs.

Andrew Cole, Keith Gillespie
Jan 1995: Andrew Cole (MUN)/Keith Gillespie (NEW)

Andrew Cole’s move to Old Trafford in exchange for Keith Gillespie and cash was rated a British record transfer at the time.

During seven-and-a-half seasons at Man Utd, Cole scored 93 goals in 193 Premier League matches and won five League titles.

Gillespie helped Newcastle United finish second in 1995/96 and 1996/97, as well as reach the 1998 FA Cup final. He made 113 PL appearances for Newcastle, scoring 11 goals.

Kevin Davies-James Beattie
July 1998: Kevin Davies (SOU)/James Beattie (BLB)

The two strikers did not have immediate impacts at their new clubs.

Kevin Davies struggled at Ewood Park, netting just once in 21 Premier League matches as Blackburn Rovers suffered relegation.

After an injury-disrupted start, James Beattie enjoyed his most prolific Premier League season on the south coast in 2002/03, netting 23 goals.

Overall, he scored 68 goals from 204 Premier League matches for Southampton.

Ashley Cole-William Gallas
Aug 2006: Ashley Cole (CHE)/William Gallas (ARS) 

Having won the Premier League title twice at Arsenal, Ashley Cole would add a third winners' medal in 2009/10 with Chelsea, where he played 229 PL matches, scoring seven goals.

Appointed captain at Emirates Stadium in his second season, William Gallas netted the winner against his former club in December 2007, one of 11 Premier League goals from 101 appearances.

Kenwyne Jones Peter Odemwingie
Jan 2014: Kenwyne Jones (CAR)/Peter Odemwingie (STK)

Joining Cardiff City for the second half of the 2013/14 season, Kenwyne Jones struggled in front of goal, scoring just once in 11 Premier League matches as the Welsh side battled in vain against relegation.

Peter Odemwingie fared better initially, getting five goals for Stoke City in 2013/14. But he was unable to score again in the Premier League for the Potters as injury blighted his stay there, making 27 PL appearances overall.

Gylfi Sigurdsson-Ben Davies-Michel Vorm
Jul 2014: Gylfi Sigurdsson (TOT)/Ben Davies (SWA) + Michel Vorm (SWA)

Gylfi Sigurdsson returned to Swansea City for a second spell and excelled, scoring 27 times and providing 26 assists in 106 PL matches before moving to Everton last summer.

Ben Davies needed time to usurp Danny Rose as a permanent fixture in the Tottenham Hotspur defence. He has made 73 Premier League appearances, scoring three goals.

Michel Vorm has had more difficulty getting selected ahead of Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal, making just 11 PL appearances. 

See: All January 2018's transfers 

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