Portsmouth FC: Ex Premier League Players

Where are these ex Portsmouth Premier League players now?

Welcome to the Portsmouth legends page – the gateway to information on ex Pompey players who have played in the Premier League.

In addition to information on ex players we have also added statistics which include the top goalscorers, most appearances and also the football club’s final league position for each year that they have featured in the EPL.


Shaka Hislop – Premier League Appearances: 221 | Clean Sheets: 59

After spending most of his career at the top level with Newcastle UnitedWest Ham United and Portsmouth, Shaka Hislop retired from playing in 2006 after an injury ravaged season in the MLS with FC Dallas. Read More..


David James – Premier League Appearances: 572 | Clean Sheets: 170

David James was playing as goalkeeper for Bristol City in the Championship at the age of 41 before being released at the end of the 2011-12 season. Read More..


Sol Campbell – Premier League Appearances: 503 | Goals Scored: 20

Widely regarded as one of the best central defenders of his generation, Sol Campbell made over 500 appearances in the English Premier League predominantly with North London sides Tottenham Hotspur and ArsenalRead More..


Aaron MokoenaPremier League Appearances: 124 | Goals Scored: 0

Former Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth defender Aaron Mokoena retired from playing in 2013 after one season playing back in his native South Africa with Bidvest Wits. Read More..


Hermann Hreidarsson – Premier League Appearances: 332 | Goals Scored: 14

One of the few Icelandic footballers that have played in the Premier League, Hermann Hreidarsson has the unenviable record of Premier League relegation with five different Premier League teams. Read More..


Andy Griffin – Premier League Appearances: 155 | Goals Scored: 2

Former Newcastle United and Portsmouth defender Andy Griffin retired from playing in 2014 after a brief spell in the Conference with Chester. Read More..


Sylvain DistinPremier League Appearances: 469 | Goals Scored: 7

Former Portsmouth and Manchester City captain Sylvain Distin finally hung up his boots at the end of the 2016/7 season after a year playing for Premier League new boys Bournemouth. Read More..


Glen JohnsonPremier League Appearances: 358 | Goals Scored: 15

One of the finest English right-backs of his generation, Glen Johnson hung up his boots at the end of the 2017-18 after getting released by recently relegated Stoke City. Read More..


Lauren – Premier League Appearances: 184 | Goals Scored: 6

An integral part of the Arsenal defence between 2001 and 2006 and one of the famous Invincibles side of 2003-04, Lauren retired from playing in 2010 whilst playing for Spanish second division side Cordoba. Read More..


Younes Kaboul – Premier League Appearances: 197 | Goals Scored: 12

Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Younes Kaboul retired from playing at the end of 2018 after two seasons at Watford. Read More..


Aliou CissePremier League Appearances: 59 | Goals Scored: 0

Former Birmingham City and Portsmouth player Aliou Cisse retired from playing professionally in 2009 after a short spell playing for Ligue 2 side Nimes. Read More..


Arjan de Zeeuw – Premier League Appearances: 146 | Goals Scored: 5

A model professional within the game and highly regarded amongst the fans of all of the English Premier League clubs he played for, Arjan De Zeeuw retired from playing in 2009. Read More..


Steve Stone – Premier League Appearances: 263 | Goals Scored: 25

After winding down his career at Leeds United, Steve Stone retired from playing in 2006 after a succession of injuries which plagued him throughout his football life. Read More..


Sean Davis – Premier League Appearances: 202 | Goals Scored: 10

Unique in the fact that he has played in all four professional divisions with the same club (Fulham), Sean Davis retired in 2012 whilst at Bolton WanderersRead More..


Gary O’NeilPremier League Appearances: 214 | Goals Scored: 16

Former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O’Neil finally hung up his boots at the end of the 2018-19 season after relegation to League One with his last club Bolton Wanderers. Read More..


Jamie O’HaraPremier League Appearances: 93 | Goals Scored: 9

Former Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara retired from playing at the end of 2020 after spending time in a player-manager capacity at non-league side Billericay Town. Read More..


Tim Sherwood – Premier League Appearances: 341 | Goals Scored: 37

A Premier League winning captain at Blackburn Rovers, Tim Sherwood retired from playing in 2005 after a short spell with Coventry City. Read More..


Niko KranjkarPremier League Appearances: 154 | Goals Scored: 20

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar retired from playing in 2018 after a two-year injury-ravaged spell playing in Scotland with Rangers. Read More..


Papa Bouba DiopPremier League Appearances: 129 | Goals Scored: 8

A strong, aggressive player during his time playing in the Premier League, former Senegalese defensive-midfielder Papa Bouba Diop hung up his boots in 2013. Read More..


Matthew Taylor Premier League Appearances: 325 | Goals Scored: 40

Former Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor retired from playing at the end of the 2018-19 season after two years playing in League Two with Swindon Town. Read More..


Eyal Berkovic – Premier League Appearances: 146 | Goals Scored: 17

Voted by The Times as one of the top 10 best midfielders in the history of the Premier League the often temperamental Eyal Berkovic called time on his playing career in 2006 in his native Israel whilst playing for Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Read More..


Nigel Quashie – Premier League Appearances: 96 | Goals Scored: 3

An intelligent, battling midfielder who was an excellent passer of the ball, Nigel Quashie retired from playing professionally in 2015 after a spell playing and coaching in Iceland with IR of Reykjavik and BI Bolungarvik. Read More..


Michael Brown – Premier League Appearances: 194 | Goals Scored: 4

Michael Brown was a tough-tackling midfielder who played in the Premier League for five different clubs before retiring from playing in 2017 after spending three seasons at Port Vale. Read More..


Patrik Berger – Premier League Appearances: 229 | Goals Scored: 38

Patrik Berger was beset with injuries throughout his career whilst at LiverpoolAston Villa and Portsmouth and ended up receiving specialist treatment in the United States. Read More..


Nwankwo Kanu – Premier League Appearances: 273 | Goals Scored: 54

One of an elite band of players that have won the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Champions League and an Olympic gold medal, Nwankwo Kanu retired from playing in 2012 whilst at Portsmouth Read More..


Teddy Sheringham – Premier League Appearances: 418 | Goals Scored: 146

After a highly successful career winning virtually every domestic honour with Manchester United, Teddy Sheringham finally retired from playing in 2008 at the age of 42 whilst at Colchester United. Read More..


Peter CrouchPremier League Appearances: 468 | Goals Scored: 108

Former Premier League player Peter Crouch finally hung up his boots in July 2019 after spending eight seasons with Stoke City. Read More..


Jermain DefoePremier League Appearances: 496 | Goals Scored: 162

Prolific former Premier League striker Jermain Defoe called time on his illustrious career in March 2022 after a brief second spell at Sunderland. Read More..


Premier League Statistics

This table shows the players who have made the most appearances for Portsmouth and the top goalscorers in the EPL.

Top EPL GoalscorersGoalsMost EPL AppearancesGames
Yakubu29Matthew Taylor144
Lomana Lua-Lua19David James134
Nwankwo Kanu17Richard Hughes114
Matthew Taylor15Linvoy Primus114
Jermain Defoe12Dejan Stefanovic112
Peter Crouch11Sean Davis102
Gary O'Neill11Nwankwo Kanu101
Niko Krankjar9Gary O'Neill100
Teddy Sheringham9Sol Campbell95
Aruna Dindane8Lomana Lua-Lua87

Statistics provided by 11v11

Last Updated on 10 May 2023 by Admin