51 Pairs of Brothers Who Both Played in the Premier League

The journey to elite sport is rarely straightforward, shaped by a combination of natural talent, relentless dedication, and a bit of luck. Having a sibling or parent with similar sporting abilities can certainly fuel the drive of a young athlete aiming for a professional career at the highest level.

From the moment they’re born, siblings often find themselves in constant competition, and this family rivalry can serve as extra motivation for those striving to break into the world of professional sport. But it’s not always a case of one sibling making it while the other doesn’t.

Premier League history is filled with examples of brothers who have both made their mark in the top tier. In fact, there are 51 pairs of brothers to have played in the league. GIVEMESPORT has compiled a list of these players, ranking them from least to most appearances. Featuring well-known names like the Boateng brothers, the Toures, and the Alonsos, this list offers a nostalgic trip through Premier League history.

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10

Craig & Gary Gardner

275 Premier League appearances

Two players synonymous with the Midlands, Craig and Gary Gardner take up the first spot inside the top 10, with the older of the two having done the majority of the heavy lifting. The former Aston Villa and West Brom man made more than 250 appearances in the top flight and was also part of the infamous Birmingham City League Cup win over Arsenal.

As for Gary, he is still playing at the time of writing, representing League One Cambridge United, having also had spells at Birmingham and Villa. At 32, it is unlikely he will add to his tally of 16 Premier League games any time soon.

9

Christian & Jonathan Benteke

281 Premier League appearances

The most lopsided addition to the top 10 is without a shadow of a doubt the Benteke brothers. Older sibling Christian is a household name for most Premier League fans, having had a remarkable rise at Aston Villa and also spending several years at Liverpool and Crystal Palace. He has since found a new lease of life at DC United.

His brother Jonathan, however, made just one of the combined 281 appearances between the pair. This also came for Crystal Palace in 2016, and there are no prizes for guessing who he replaced that very day.

8

John Arne & Bjorn Helge Riise

336 Premier League appearances

Who could forget John Arne Riise’s powerful, sizzling left foot? Liverpool and Fulham fans were lucky enough to witness some of the purest strikes of a football, with the Norwegian scoring 21 goals in 321 Premier League appearances. His remarkable ability from distance and his free-kick prowess made him a memorable figure in the league. In contrast, his brother Bjorn was far more understated, making just 15 appearances for Fulham.

While John earned recognition as one of the greatest left-backs in Premier League history, Bjorn’s career in the Premier League was much more low-key, with limited opportunities to showcase his talent.

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7

Andy & Michael Dawson

346 Premier League appearances

Some might be surprised to learn that current Wolves defender Craig Dawson isn’t actually related to ex-Tottenham and England star Michael, but the League Cup winner does share blood with older brother Andy, who played 60 times in the top flight over a two-season period at Hull City.

By this time, his younger sibling was already far more established at the top level, but the left-back was able to play a pivotal role in the Tigers’ survival in their first season after being promoted, even if that fortune did end 12 months later.

6

Shaun & Bradley Wright-Phillips

347 Premier League appearances

There was always plenty of attention on Ian Wright’s sons, Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Both broke through at Manchester City, but Bradley went on to have a successful career in the MLS, becoming a star in the USA. Despite Shaun appearing to have more natural talent, his development at Man City started to fade after his £21m move to Chelsea in 2005.

While Bradley found success abroad, Shaun’s promising career struggled to live up to expectations, and his time at Chelsea never quite reached the heights many had hoped for when he made the high-profile switch. Neither were able to match their father’s legacy, as he remains one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history.

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5

Shola & Sammy Ameobi

352 Premier League appearances

Though it turned out to be Shola who had the most longevity in the top flight, it was his younger brother, Sammy Ameobi, who had the most hype behind him when he first broke through at Newcastle. Following in his brother’s footsteps at St James’ Park, the tall and unorthodox winger had everyone excited that he could have a career that would eclipse his striker brother.

However, aged just 32, the younger half of the duo now works as an apprentice earning just £22,000 per year, having struggled with injuries at both Newcastle and subsequent spells at Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough.

4

Jordan & Andre Ayew

401 Premier League appearances

The talent of the Ayew brothers has always been apparent, but neither has fully managed to thrive in the Premier League as many expected them to. It was Andre who first came along at Swansea City, with the winger seen as a marquee signing for the Welsh outfit at the time.

His brother would follow suit and is still going strong in English football at Leicester City, having spent years at Crystal Palace. While he is not the most clinical of finishers up top, he certainly works hard and is a nuisance for his opponents – and sometimes his own managers. The duo’s combined Premier League game total has now surpassed the impressive 400-game mark.

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3

Kolo & Yaya Toure

583 Premier League appearances

Try saying the Toure name without singing the chant. You can’t. Kolo and Yaya Toure have become something of English football folklore, and both have been part of some incredible teams over the years.

Kolo was part of the Arsenal Invincibles, which will go down as one of the greatest Premier League teams of all time, while Yaya was one of the most dominant midfielders of his time, powering Manchester City to their first period of dominance in the 2010s, including a season in which he grabbed 20 league goals. Enigmatic, infectiously likeable, and two brilliant talents, the Toure’s will go down in history as one of the best pairs of brothers in the history of English football.

2

Rio & Anton Ferdinand

722 Premier League appearances

Rio Ferdinand did accumulate the majority of the 722 appearances, but Anton chipped in with a significant 218. Both Rio and Anton played in central defence throughout their careers, and they also both started their journeys at West Ham. In fact, as Anton was breaking through, the pair used to bet on who would score the most goals in a season, with the loser having to buy the other dinner.

While he was a talented defender in his own right, unfortunately, the younger Ferdinand is best remembered for the racism controversy that surrounded he and John Terry. Renowned for his technical ability and stark defensive qualities, Rio remains one of the most talented centre-backs in the history of English football and his time at Manchester United was most certainly fruitful.

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1

Gary & Phil Neville

902 Premier League appearances

Good luck toppling these two. The iconic Neville brothers top the pile with a whopping 902 appearances. Neither were the most technically talented or physically gifted of footballers, but both were huge assets for Manchester United during the 90s and early noughties.

While Gary is largely deemed to be the better of the two as a player, his issues with injury towards the end of his career meant that it was Phil who collected the most appearances of the two, making 505 compared to his older brother’s 397. With plenty of silverware between them, it would be a tough task trying to find many more siblings this successful in the sport.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – accurate as of 19/03/2025.