The Premier League's top 10 current longest-serving players
While the Premier League saw a lot of long-serving players retire this summer, there still are many more who have stuck by a single club for over a decade.
Here is the players currently plying their trade in the Premier League who have spent more time than anyone else at their current club:
*We consider players only from the time they made first-team debuts for the club.
10. Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United (2002 – present)
After signing for Manchester United in a massive £29.1 million deal, Rio Ferdinand has become one of the bedrocks of the side’s defence over the last decade, forming a great partnership with Nemanja Vidic in recent years.
He has won 6 Premier League titles with United, along with 2 League Cups and a Champions League.
9. Darren Fletcher, Manchester United (2002 – present)
Though he made his first-team debut in the 2002-03 season, Darren Fletcher has been in the Manchester United team for much longer, having joined the club as a youngster in 1995.
United have also proved that loyalty works both ways, and have been supportive for Fletcher over the last couple of years when Fletcher has been unable to feature due to injuries and illnesses.
8. Frank Lampard, Chelsea (2001 – present)
A product of the West Ham United youth academy, Lampard was signed in 2001 by then-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri for £11 million, and has gone on to become a legend at Stamford Bridge.
He has won 3 Premier League titles and 4 FA Cups with the Blues, with a Champions League and a Europa League title each as well.
7. Andy Wilkinson, Stoke City (2001 – present)
After a couple of years as a Stoke City youth product, Andy Wilkinson made his first team debut for the Potters in 2001, and has since become an important squad member for the Premier League club.
Helping the club move from League 1 to the Premier League, Wilkinson has made close to 200 appearances for the side, and was part of the team that ended as runners-up in the 2011 FA Cup.
6. Leon Osman, Everton (2001 – present)
Part of the Everton team that won the 1998 FA Youth Cup, Osman made his first team debut for the Toffees in 2001, and has evolved continually to still feature as a regular in the side’s starting XI.
His impressive performances last term even awarded him two England caps at the age of 32.
5. Tony Hibbert, Everton (2001 – present)
Having joined Everton as a 10-year old youngster, Hibbert has spent his whole footballing career at Goodison Park, making over 300 appearances for the Toffees.
Hibbert was awarded a testimonial match against AEK Athens last year, and while he is behind Seamus Coleman in the club’s pecking order at right-back, is still an important players for the Merseyside club.
4. Shola Ameobi, Newcastle United (2000 – present)
Born in Nigeria, Ameobi moved to England in his early days, and has since not moved out of Tyneside, becoming one the Premier League’s few surviving one-club men.
Amassing almost 400 appearances for Newcastle, Ameobi has played alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert and Michael Owen.
3. Steven Gerrard, Liverpool (1998 – present)
Recognised widely as one of Liverpool and England’s greatest ever players, Steven Gerrard made his professional debut for the Merseyside club in 1998, and has helped the club to multiple honours ever since.
The Reds’ captain has won 2 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, a Champions League and a UEFA Cup (Europa League) with Liverpool, featuring for the side over 600 times.
2. John Terry, Chelsea (1998 – present)
Called Chelsea’s ‘Captain, Leader, and Legend’, John Terry has been a mainstay for the Blues for more than a decade, and is the side’s most successful captain in their history, having won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA Champions League since his appointment in 2004.
Terry is also one of only five players to have made over 500 appearances for the Blues, and at the age of 32 still remains a regular for the team under manager Jose Mourinho.
1. Ryan Giggs, Manchester United (1991 – present)
13 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 9 Community Shields, 2 Champions Leagues, 1 Super Cup and 1 Club World Cup, among multiple other personal honours. A model professional, Ryan Giggs still plies his trade for one of the biggest clubs in the world at 39, defying age and accumulating more honours.
Giggs has been a part of Manchester United for 27 years now, with his association with the club likely to continue in recent years, given that he is now enjoying a dual role of player and coach.