In brief
Joel Ward of Crystal Palace and Seamus Coleman of Everton are two players who have stayed with their teams for more than ten years.
Despite having the longest tenures, Nelson Semedo of Wolves and Alex McCarthy of Southampton have the fewest games played on this list.
After Mohamed Elneny left Arsenal in 2024, Bukayo Saka became the team’s longest-serving member.
In football these days, loyalty is hard to find. There is a continual squad churn as a result of Premier League clubs splurging. One of the most popular catchphrases for transfer windows nowadays is undoubtedly “out with the old and in with the new.”
Although it’s important to bring in fresh players, every team has a few mainstays who have contributed so much over the years that they have become ingrained in the team’s culture. Every club in the English top division has a touch of the old familiar, whether it has been a few years or more than ten.
However, who are the league’s most devoted players right now? Transfermarkt’s database, which is up to date as of the player’s first day of play, allows us to know exactly who has spent the most time at each Premier League team this season. And it’s safe to say that some players are now regarded by fans as club icons because they have been with the team for ten years or more.
The longest-serving player for each Premier League team
Club
The player
Time spent with the senior team at the club
Total number of club games played (senior team)
The Arsenal
Saka Bukayo
8 months, 4 days, and 5 years
250
Villa Aston
McGinn, John
7 months, 3 days, and 6 years
268
The Bournemouth
Adam Smith
Eleven years, two months, and one day
393
Brentford
Henry Rico
7 months, 3 days, and 8 years
205
Brighton
Dunk, Lewis
4 months, 11 days, and 14 years
479
Chelsea
James Reece
8 months, 4 days, and 5 years
169
The Crystal Palace
Joel Ward
Twelve years, eight months, and five days
362
Everton
Coleman, Seamus
15 days, 1 month, and 16 years
426
Fulham
Cairney, Tom
8 months, 5 days, and 9 years
346
Town of Ipswich
Woolfenden, Luke
20 days, 7 months, and 7 years
209
City of Leicester
Vardy, Jamie
One year, eight months, and five days
490
Liverpool
Gomez, Joe
8 months, 5 days, and 9 years
241
City of Manchester
De Bruyne, Kevin
28 days, 6 months, and 9 years
409.
United Manchester
Luke Shaw
9 days, 7 months, and 10 years
278
Newcastle United
Lascelles, Jamaal
Ten years, seven months, forty-one days
251
Forest of Nottingham
Yates, Ryan
26 days, 7 months, and 8 years
229
Southampton
McCarthy, Alex
7 months, 3 days, and 8 years
155
Tottenham Hotspur
Ben Davies
Ten years, eight months, five days
348
United West Ham
Cresswell, Aaron
Ten years, eight months, five days
363
Wolves
Semedo, Nelson
One day, four years, six months
170
Arsenal – Bukayo Saka
Time spent at club – 5 years, 8 months, 4 days
The fact that Bukayo Saka is now Arsenal’s longest-serving player at the age of 23 is astounding. If anything, this only serves to highlight the extent of the Gunners’ change under Mikel Arteta’s leadership. The fact that Gabriel Martinelli almost misses the lead emphasises how important these two young players have been to the squad that has been assembled around them in recent years.
Mohamed Elneny, an Egyptian midfielder, wore the crown before to Saka. But in the summer of 2024, the ball-winner agreed to a transfer to Al-Jazira of the United Arab Emirates, effectively ending his career at the Emirates.
Aston Villa – John McGinn
Time spent at club – 6 years, 7 months, 3 days
John McGinn has become as a Villa Park fan favourite and one of the Premier League’s most undervalued engine room operators. The Scot has played 239 games for the Villains since joining his current team in 2018 after leaving Hibernian.
As the team’s current captain, he has played a crucial role in helping Unai Emery’s team recover from a miserable spell under Steven Gerrard to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 1980s. The Scotsman will want to make sure he stays for as long as possible, as he still has two years left on his contract.
Bournemouth – Adam Smith
Time spent at club – 11 years, 2 months, 1 days
The player who has been with his present team for ten years is our first. Something tells us that Adam Smith loves living on the south coast, whether it’s the golden beaches or the scent of the clean sea air.
He only played in one of the 226 games in the first division for Tottenham Hotspur, the team he grew up with, but he has since made a lasting impression on Bournemouth’s history, from being in the trenches to mingling with the best of England. Smith hasn’t been able to add to his prize cupboard since he lifted Championship silverware in 2014/15. Cherries fans, however, still adore him.
Brentford – Rico Henry
Time spent at club – 8 years, 7 months, 3 days
Rico Henry joined the Bees eight years ago as they were aiming for a Championship tenth-place finish under Dean Smith. After teetering over the 200-game milestone in the early going of the current season, the Englishman has been instrumental in helping Brentford maintain their Premier League standing a little later on.
Henry, a top left-back in the league when available, suffered an injury early in the 2023–24 season that kept him out of action for a significant portion of the season. If not for that, the 27-year-old would have been able to capitalise on England’s left-back injury crisis and make the squad for Euro 2024.
Brighton – Lewis Dunk
Time spent at club – 14 years, 9 months, 30 days
The South Coast team, which is notorious for spotting up-and-coming talent, knew they had a long-term centre-back on hand when he graduated from the Brighton academy. However, after making his Premier League debut in 2017, Lewis Dunk has adapted to life in the league with remarkable ease.
While wearing the captain’s armband around his bicep, the Englishman played his first senior match in April 2010 while Brighton was competing in League One. Today, he is among the team’s most reliable players in England’s top division. A legend from Brighton? Of course.
Chelsea – Reece James
Time spent at club – 5 years, 8 months, 4 days
Reece James, who has already spent just over five years of his senior career in the west London club’s senior team, outlived Callum Hudson-Odoi, who packed his bags and left to Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, to become Chelsea’s most devoted employee. The 25-year-old defender, who has been with the team since he was six years old, was named club captain that season after Cesar Azpilicueta left, but he hasn’t had many chances to take charge of the team.
Sadly, James’ injury problems have meant that he has mostly watched from the sidelines as his teammates take the pitch. He may be a constant member of the team, but that is not the same as being accessible.
Crystal Palace – Joel Ward
Time spent at club – 12 years, 8 months and 5 days
It’s safe to say the seasoned defender has shown his value since joining from Portsmouth in 2012 for a pittance of £400,000. With 294 of those games being in the Premier League, Ward, 34, has participated in almost 350 games for Crystal Palace. With only six goals and ten assists, his goal contribution record is not very impressive, but that is to be expected for a player with a defensive mindset.
He is currently the captain of the team and has witnessed the arrival and departure of numerous outstanding players, including as Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It would not hurt to keep his experience around, but it is highly likely that he is nearing the end of his career at Selhurst Park.
Everton – Seamus Coleman
Time spent at club – 16 years, 1 month, 15 days
The right-back, who has played at Goodison Park for more than 16 years, has acquired cult hero status and has all the makings of one. Seamus Coleman has demonstrated undying devotion to the Toffees by spending longer time at one club than any other player on this list.
Coleman was one of the best defenders to ever wear the renowned Blue shirt, but he may be passed his best now. Premier League supporters will never forget Everton’s dynamic full-back combination of Coleman and Leighton Baines, who are both defensively sound and a threat going forward. Coleman truly has it all. Former manager Frank Lampard reportedly said that Coleman was “one of the best people” he had ever met.
Fulham – Tom Cairney
Time spent at club – 9 years, 8 months, 5 days
Cairney has been an immovable thing at times since relocating to Craven Cottage eight years ago. During that time, he has featured in over 300 games, recording 45 goals and 36 assists. He has seen both highs and lows with the team, including three Championship promotions and several relegations.
Cairney, who has been captain of the capital club for a number of years, is well-liked by Fulham supporters and in January 2024 signed a new contract with the team that would keep him in west London until the summer of 2025. The 34-year-old may spend ten years with the Cottagers if he stays over that point.
Ipswich Town – Luke Woolfenden
Time spent at club – 7 years, 7 months, 20 days
The fact that Ipswich’s longest-surviving player has had one of the shortest tenures on the list is not surprising, considering the team’s quick ascent up the English football hierarchy since Kieran McKenna’s arrival. Ultimately, a large number of the players McKenna would have taken over at the Tractor Boys would not have been able to compete at the current level. They’ve simply outgrown those boys.
However, Luke Woolfenden is one name that has endured despite these quick advancements. The defender, who came through the club’s system, has had a career that has seen him play in every professional division in the nation.
Leicester City – Jamie Vardy
Time spent at club – 12 years, 8 months, 5 days
Jamie Vardy’s shenanigans over twelve years. How fortunate the supporters of Leicester City have been. The key thing that Vardy has given the Foxes for well over ten years is goals, regardless of all the Red Bulls, comical celebrations, and other things that are associated with the Englishman.
This man, who also won the Golden Boot and the most surprising league triumph during that time, has scored more goals than any other Premier League player after reaching thirty. The £1 million that was invested to get him to the King Power was well worth it, and his signing will always be remembered as one of the best deals in English football.
Liverpool – Joe Gomez
Time spent at club – 9 years, 8 months, 5 days
The role of longest-serving Liverpool player was transferred to Joe Gomez after Jordan Henderson left for the Saudi Pro League and then Ajax. The English defender joined the Reds from Charlton in 2015 and has since established himself as a mainstay.
Gomez, who can play on either flank or centrally next to Virgil van Dijk, has played in almost 240 games for the Reds’ senior squad since joining nine years ago, but he has remarkably never scored a goal for the team. He appears poised to spend ten years with the club, assuming he isn’t sold, given that his contract is set to expire in 2027.
Manchester City – Kevin De Bruyne
Time spent at club – 9 years, 6 months, 28 days
Remarkably, Manchester City’s only remaining pre-Pep Guardiola asset is the talented Belgian. After failing to make the cut for Chelsea, Kevin De Bruyne’s £55 million arrival caused some people to take notice, but now the Manchester-based team is the one enjoying the final laugh.
After eight trophy-filled seasons, his amazing passing range, superb ball-striking ability, and all-around play in City’s engine room have put him in the running to be the Premier League’s greatest midfielder ever. De Bruyne’s contribution to City’s recent success cannot be overstated, as he currently ranks just second in the Premier League’s assist charts, behind Ryan Giggs.
Manchester United – Luke Shaw
Time spent at club – 10 years, 7 months, 9 days
Few people understood what to anticipate when he joined Manchester United in 2013 as a young, fresh-faced player from Southampton. After his notorious altercation with previous manager Jose Mourinho, there were moments when some believed Luke Shaw’s career as a Manchester United player would be coming to an end. However, the defender is still a vital component of United’s defence and has outlasted the Portuguese boss.
Shaw, who looks good at the back and contributes a lot moving forward, is a top-10 Premier League left-back when available. He has been a member of the Red Devils’ lineup for almost a decade. However, injuries have been his continual downfall. Shaw could have easily recorded another century of club appearances if he had remained healthy.
Newcastle United – Jamaal Lascelles
Time spent at club – 10 years, 7 months, 41 days
Following Paul Dummet’s exit from St. James’ Park, Jamaal Lascelles assumed the position of longest-serving player. According to reports, the defender, who is no longer a regular in the first team, had his position changed and is now the club captain. This means that Bruno Guimaraes leads the squad on the pitch, while he is in control of the dressing room and off-field activities involving the players.
The Englishman is a good fit for this new position because he has been with the club for more than ten years. Lascelles is worthy of such a position and will be a sad absence when his stint at the club ends because he understands every inch of the city as well as the football club.
Nottingham Forest – Ryan Yates
Time spent at club – 8 years, 7 months, 26 days
Like Lascelles, Ryan Yates’s tenure as Nottingham Forest’s longest employee is relatively new. The honour had previously gone to Joe Worrall, but last summer the defender moved on loan to Beskitas and subsequently permanently to Burnley.
Aside from a few loan stints at Barrow, Shrewsbury, Notts County, and Scunthorpe United, midfielder Ryan Yates, like Worrall, is an academy product who has played his entire career at the City Ground. Since 2018, he has been a consistent member of the squad, and in 2022, he helped Forest return to the top flight. With more than 200 matches under his belt, the 27-year-old has plenty of time left before his contract with the team expires in 2028.
Southampton – Alex McCarthy
Time spent at club – 8 years, 7 month, 3 days
Once tipped to be England’s future number one, the now 35-year-old Alex McCarthy finds himself in the category of one-cap wonders instead. Nonetheless, the goalkeeper has had a respectable career which has predominantly been spent at St Marys.
With only 155 appearances to his name over the last 8 years, it is safe to say that McCarthy has not always been first choice at Southampton. Regardless, the Englishman is a fine back-up to have and when the going gets tough for whoever is in between the sticks, managers know that they have a reliable alternative waiting in the wings, which is perhaps why the Saints have been keen to keep hold of him.
Tottenham Hotspur – Ben Davies
Time spent at club – 10 years, 8 months, 5 days
Hugo Lloris spent 12 years in north London before leaving for Los Angeles FC, an MLS team. The French goalie then handed the title of longest-serving Tottenham player to a newcomer. Ben Davies, a left-back, is that someone.
The Welshman, who joined Spurs from Swansea City in 2014, celebrated his tenth birthday in June, although he hasn’t contributed much under Ange Postecoglou, primarily because to Destiny Udogie’s ascent. Even if a transfer hasn’t happened yet, captain Son Heung-min will become Tottenham’s most devoted employee if one does.
West Ham United – Aaron Cresswell
Time spent at club – 10 years, 8 months, 5 days
Given that Cresswell had already made 218 appearances elsewhere, it is an incredible accomplishment to make over 300 appearances for one team. The defender, who was born in Liverpool, moved to West Ham from Ipswich in 2014, the same year Davies moved to White Hart Lane.
The defender is getting older, which has reduced his playing time. But the people in power could be reluctant to let a player like Cresswell, who is a piece of the furniture, go anyplace. The club has been aching for someone to take control since Mark Noble, popularly known as ‘Mr West Ham’, hung up his boots in 2022. Cresswell will be a fantastic presence at the club till he moves on, even though he won’t completely fill the boots.
Wolves – Nelson Semedo
Time spent at club – 4 years, 6 months, 1 day
Nelson Semedo, a former Barcelona defender who has been at Molineux for just over four years, is currently the oldest member of Wolves’ main squad. The right-back has outlasted many of the other Portuguese stars in the Black Country and is still a vital member of Gary O’Neil’s team.
The title was only given to Semedo last summer after Max Kilman, the previous captain, moved to West Ham. Kilman will surely be missed both on and off the pitch, but Semedo will want to make sure that the impact on what is now his dressing room is as minimal as possible.
