Crossing the divide: five players who switched sides in London

Unlike hostile northern peers Manchester United and Manchester City, and Everton and Liverpool, rival London clubs have traditionally been much more likely to exchange players. Some deals have, however, caused much more controversy than others.

In the wake of former Arsenal (20/1 with Coral to win the Premier League), Chelsea (odds-on at 1/2) and Tottenham (3/1 for a top four finish) defender William Gallas’ retirement, Coral take a look at the most contentious capital transfers and club-hoppers.

Sol Campbell
Campbell, one of England’s unluckiest international players, famously earned the eternal ire of Tottenham fans by swapping Spurs to join Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal Invincibles.

The huge centre half progressed through the Tottenham’s academy, also spending a portion of his youth career with West Ham United, and spent nine years at White Hart Lane before making the infamous switch in 2001.

His defection enraged supporters due to the fact that Campbell had been Spurs’ skipper and left the north London club for their bitter rivals on a free transfer, reportedly rejecting a contract that would have made him Tottenham’s highest paid player ever.

Ashely Cole
Current Roma left back Cole found himself as persona non grata with Gunners fans after being involved in a transfer tapping-up drama with Chelsea.

The talented defender, an Arsenal academy product, further sullied his status amongst the Emirates faithful a year later, by criticising his boyhood club over their handling of the affair ahead of an eventual move to the Blues.

Despite winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups with Wenger’s team, Cole’s time at Arsenal will likely be remembered for his acrimonious exit and quotes from his autobiography in which he stated his anger at supposedly ‘only’ being offered £55,000 a week.

William Gallas
The recently retired centre half finished his career relatively quietly with Australian club Perth Glory, but had previously club-hopped indiscriminatingly between capital competitors Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.