A Foot in Both Camps: Five Players Who Represented Aston Villa and Newcastle United

Aston Villa host Newcastle United at Villa Park in the FA Cup tomorrow - so it’s the perfect time to look back at players who have pulled on both famous shirts.

By Liam Rafferty

Across different eras, several notable names have featured for both clubs.

Here are five who made their mark on Tyneside and in the Midlands.

Jacob Ramsey

Newest addition

A product of Villa’s academy, Jacob Ramsey broke into the first team in 2019 and remained part of the senior setup until 2025.

He made 137 appearances for the Villans, scoring 14 goals before making the switch to St James’ Park last summer.

Since arriving on Tyneside, Ramsey has featured 16 times in black and white, netting his first goal for the club in the recent clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

James Milner

The record

Few players embody longevity like James Milner, who equalled former Villa midfielder Gareth Barry’s Premier League appearance record of 653 games.

Milner was signed for Newcastle by Sir Bobby Robson and initially thrived on Tyneside.

However, following Robson’s departure and the arrival of Graeme Souness, opportunities became limited.

He joined Villa on loan during the 2005/06 season, but financial constraints prevented a permanent move at that time.

After returning to Newcastle and playing under Glenn Roeder and Sam Allardyce, he became a regular starter.

Milner made 94 appearances for the Magpies, scoring six goals.

After submitting a transfer request amid links to Liverpool, it was Villa who secured his signature in 2008 for £12 million.

He spent two seasons at Villa Park, making 73 appearances and scoring 11 goals before departing for Manchester City.

Nolberto Solano

'Cult Hero'

Signed by Kenny Dalglish in 1998, Nolberto Solano became a cult hero at Newcastle.

Across six years, the Peruvian winger made 172 appearances and scored 29 goals. After falling out with Robson, he joined Villa for £1.5 million.

In his single season at Villa Park, Solano made 49 appearances, scored eight goals, and won the club’s Player of the Year award.

Despite reported interest from Liverpool, he returned to Newcastle in 2005 for £1.5 million, adding a further 58 appearances in his second spell before moving on to West Ham United.

Solano later admitted he regretted not winning a trophy during his time with Newcastle.

David Ginola

Entertainer

David Ginola joined Newcastle from Paris Saint-Germain in 1995 for £2.5 million.

In two seasons on Tyneside, he became a fan favourite and played a key role in the club’s near Premier League title triumph.

He made 58 appearances and scored six goals.

Ginola later moved to Tottenham Hotspur before joining Villa in 2000, where he spent two seasons and made 32 appearances in claret and blue.

Shay Given

Longevity

Few goalkeepers are as closely associated with Newcastle as Shay Given.

Signed in 1997, he spent 12 years at the club and made 354 appearances.

Despite briefly losing his place to Steve Harper, Given regained the number one shirt and remained a consistent performer during a turbulent period for the Magpies.

He joined Manchester City in February 2009 for £6 million, shortly before Newcastle’s relegation from the Premier League.

Given later signed for Villa for £3.5 million following the emergence of Joe Hart at City.

During his four years in Birmingham, he made 37 appearances and featured in Villa’s run to the 2015 FA Cup final, where they were defeated 4–0 by Arsenal.

Others to Represent Both Clubs

Many more players have worn both shirts, including Habib Beye, Franz Carr, Ciaran Clark, Marlon Harewood, Aaron Hughes, Stephen Ireland, Jermaine Jenas, Ronny Johnsen, Charles N’Zogbia, Wayne Routledge, Matt Targett, Alan Thompson and Steve Watson.

From cult heroes to record-breakers, these players remain part of the shared history between two proud clubs.