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Five brothers united in the Premier League

Following the arrival of the Ayew brothers, Sports Mole picks out five other siblings that have featured in the Premier League at the same time.

It was confirmed yesterday afternoon that the Ayew brothers would both be plying their trade in the Premier League next term.

Back in June Swansea City secured the services of Andre from Marseille, while on Monday his younger sibling Jordan completed his move to Aston Villa.

Yet, the Ghanaians are by no means the first brothers to have played in England's top flight at the same time. Here, Sports Mole has selected five other pairs to have achieved that feat.


1. Gary and Phil Neville

Phil Neville (L) and Gary Neville in action during training with Manchester United at Soldier Fields on July 24, 2004 © Getty Images

If Andre and Jordan go on to have just a snippet of the success that the Neville brothers did, their time in England will be regarded a triumph. Having risen through the ranks at their boyhood club Manchester United, the full-backs went on to win six Premier League titles together, as well as three FA Cups and the Champions League.

After Phil left for Everton in 2005, a year later the pair became the first siblings in Premier League history to have captained opposing teams when United faced the Toffees.


2. Rio and Anton Ferdinand

Queens Park Rangers English defender Anton Ferdinand (2-L) shakes hands with brother Manchester United's English defender Rio Ferdinand (R) after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford i© Getty Images

These two centre-backs both represented and scored goals for West Ham United, yet they never featured in the same team. Elder brother Rio left Upton Park for Leeds United and then moved on to Man United, where he won a host of Premier League titles and the Champions League on one occasion.

Anton's trophy cabinet does not bulge anywhere near that much, yet he did help West Ham gain promotion from the Championship in 2005 and then played in the FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool 12 months on. The Ferdinands have also both been on the books of Queens Park Rangers in the latter stages of their careers, but once again their paths did not cross.


3. Shaun and Bradley-Wright Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips of Chelsea in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge on August 25, 2007© Getty Images

Having both been a part of the same Manchester City side during the mid-2000s, these two, who are the sons of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, have recently been reunited over in the MLS with the New York Red Bulls, where Bradley has been in impressive form over the last two seasons.

Upon leaving Man City, their careers initially went in different directions, with Shaun joining Chelsea in a big money move, while Bradley dropped down a division with Southampton. Yet, neither of the duo was able to hold down a regular starting position elsewhere until Bradley made the switch across the Atlantic in 2013. No doubt former England international Shaun will be hoping to have similar impact in the Big Apple.


4. Rafael and Fabio da Silva

Fabio Da Silva (L) and Rafael Da Silva during the Barclays Premier League Match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on March 18, 2012© Getty Images

Former Man United teammates of the Brazilians have told stories over the years that it was virtually impossible to tell these two apart. In fact, the flamboyant full-backs used to trade Fabio's wedding ring - the only way some could identify them - as a prank during training sessions.

On the pitch, the twins showed much promise following their arrivals from Fluminense in 2008 and even made enough appearances to collect medals during the 2010-11 Premier League triumph, with Fabio also featuring in that season's Champions League final. But, since then the pair seem to have lost their way. Fabio left for Cardiff in 2014, while it appears that Rafael has also been shown the Old Trafford exit door by Louis van Gaal this summer.


5. Kolo and Yaya Toure

Manchester City's Ivorian defender Kolo Toure (L) and his brother Yaya Toure attend a team training session at the club's Carrington training complex, in Manchester, north-west England on March 16, 2011© Getty Images

The Toures could have featured in the same Premier League team much sooner than they actually did. The story goes that having signed centre-back Kolo, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also made a move for his younger brother Yaya, only for the transfer to fall through due to work permit issues.

Having won all there was to win with Barcelona, there was no such problems for the midfielder when he joined Manchester City in 2010. Not long after he had switched to East Manchester, he was joined at the Etihad Stadium by Kolo, with the pair both going on to be a part of the squad that won the Premier League title in 2012.


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