Theo Walcott is Arsenal's longest serving player following Abou Diaby departure while Wayne Rooney is Man United's most loyal

• e-mail

Abou Diaby’s time at Arsenal came to an end last month and his departure brought an end to nine years at the club.

Diaby was the longest serving player at Arsenal having signed from Auxerre in 2006. The mantle now passes to Theo Walcott, who joined as a teenager back in 2006.

Steven Gerrard’s Anfield departure now leaves Lucas Leiva as Liverpool’s stalwart.

Sportsmail takes a look at all 20 Premier League clubs and the players who have served the longest.

Arsenal – Theo Walcott, 2006

Walcott transferred to Arsenal in January 2006 and made his Premier League debut at the age of 17 against Aston Villa on the opening day of the 2006-07 season. He came off the bench to set up Gilberto Silva for an equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Tomas Rosicky is now the second longest serving player having signed for the Gunners in the summer of 2006. 

Theo Walcott came on for his debut against Aston Villa and helped Arsenal rescue a point in the game

Aston Villa – Gabriel Agbonlahor, 2006

There won't be many Aston Villa fans too keen to remember Gabriel Agbonlahor's debut, but the Villa striker at least has a reason to smile about it as he scored in the club's 4-1 defeat by Everton.

Gabriel Agbonlahor made his debut for Aston Villa back in 2006 and has remained at Villa Park ever since

Bournemouth – Jayden Stockley, 2009

The Cherries will kick off their debut Premier League with 21-year-old Stockley as their longest serving player. Back in 2009 manager Eddie Howe had to ring 15-year-old Stockley’s school to ask permission for him to miss a maths less in order to sit on the bench at Burton. He made his debut on October 6 away at Northampton.

Jayden Stockley made his Bournemouth debut aged 15 while John Terry first played for Chelsea in 1998

Chelsea – John Terry, 1998

Now known as 'captain, leader, legend', it was small steps to start with for John Terry who was thrown into the Premier League spotlight on Boxing Day in 1998 as a substitute during the Blues' 2-0 win at Southampton.

Crystal Palace – Julian Speroni, 2004

Not many would have backed Julian Speroni to have lasted over 10 years at Crystal Palace after a shaky first season, but the goalkeeper has turned into a fan favourite over the years and celebrated with a testimonial at Selhurst Park earlier this summer.

Julian Speroni is Crystal Palace's longest serving player having made his debut back in 2004

Everton – Tony Hibbert, 2001

A product of the Toffees' academy, Tony Hibbert began his senior Everton career way back in 2001 under then-manager Walter Smith.

The tough-tackling right back has since gone on to earn a testimonial and signed a new two-year contract last summer.

Tony Hibbert has been at Everton since 2001 while Andy King is Leicester's longest serving player having been at the club since 2007

Leicester City – Andy King, 2007

It's not hard to be Leicester's longest-serving Premier League player given they have only been back in the top tier for one season, but King made his club debut against Wolves in an October 2007 Championship clash after coming through the academy.

Liverpool – Lucas Leiva, 2007

With Steven Gerrard heading for the Hollywood hills, Brazilian Leiva is now the longest serving player at Anfield. The midfielder was gently bedded into the team by Rafa Benitez and made his first start in late November.

Lucas Leiva made his first start for Liverpool back in 2007 and was eased into the first team

Joe Hart's first appearance for Man City was back in 2006 against Sheffield United

Man City – Joe Hart, 2006

Hart made his debut for City on October 14, 2006 after injuries ruled out Andreas Isaksson and Nicky Weaver for the Premier League match against Sheffield United. He kept a clean sheet in the game that ended goalless.

Man Utd – Wayne Rooney, 2004

After Ryan Giggs hung up his boots at the end of the 2013-14 season, Rooney replaced him as the longest serving player at Old Trafford. Rooney made his debut following his £25.6m move in style with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League on September 28, 2004.

Wayne Rooney announced himself on the big stage with a hat-trick for United in the Champions League

Steven Taylor (right) has been playing for Newcastle for over a decade 

Newcastle – Steven Taylor, 2004

Steven Taylor's debut in the Newcastle defence was just four minutes long when Bolton's Henrik Pedersen scored the winning goal, but the centre-half has since proven his worth by going on to make over 200 appearances for the Toon.

Norwich – Wes Hoolahan, 2008

Irish international Hoolahan swapped Blackpool for Norwich in 2008 and his debut came in the opening day Championship defeat away at Coventry.

Wes Hoolahan will be the longest serving player in the Premier League having made his debut in 2008

Kelvin Davis has made over 300 appearances for Southampton since his debut back in 2006

Southampton – Kelvin Davis, 2006

Signed from Sunderland in 2006, Kelvin Davis enjoyed a prolonged spell in the Southampton first team but is now fourth choice behind Fraser Forster, Maarten Stekelenburg and Paulo Gazzaniga.

The veteran goalkeeper made his debut in August 2006 and he made his 300th appearance for the club on the final day of the 2014-15 season in the 2-0 defeat away at Manchester City.

Stoke – Ryan Shawcross, 2008

Shawcross initially moved to Stoke on loan from Manchester United in 2007. After an impressive six-month spell his deal was made permanent. He scored two goals in his first two games for the Potters against Cardiff and Rochdale.

Lee Catermole has been a regular for Sunderland since 2009 while Ryan Shawcross joined Stoke back in 2008

Sunderland - Lee Cattermole, 2009

No Sunderland player can boast more than Lee Cattermole's six years at the club, with the midfielder playing in a 1-0 win at Bolton following a £6million move from Wigan. He has just signed a new long-term deal with the Black Cats.

Swansea – Ashley Williams, 2008

While manager Garry Monk’s time at the club goes back 11 years, he quit playing when he became manager in 2014. So Williams took over as the longest serving player at the south Wales club. Leon Britton first played at the club in 2003 but left for a short spell at Sheffield United before returning in 2011, so does not count. 

Ashley Williams has overtaken his manager Garry Monk as Swansea's longest serving player

Tottenham – Aaron Lennon, 2005

The departure of Michael Dawson left Aaron Lennon as Tottenham's longest-serving player having made his debut in a 2-0 home defeat by Chelsea in August 2005. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton but returned to White Hart Lane at the end of the season.

Arron Lennon has been at Tottenham since 2005 while Lloyd Doyley's spell at Watford dates back to 2001

Watford – Lloyd Doyley, 2001

Doyley’s contract ended in the summer following promotion from the Championship. But the club have allowed him to remain at the club until at least September as he continues his rehabilitation from a neck injury. The club have said they will discuss his future once he is fully fit. So his 14 years at Vicarage Road could be extended.

West Brom – James Morrison 2007

Along with James Morrison, Chris Brunt also made his Premier League debut for West Brom in a 1-0 loss at Arsenal, but Morrison made his first Baggies appearance a year earlier in a 2-1 Championship loss at Burnley.

James Morrison is West Brom's longest serving player having joined in 2007

Mark Noble may only be 28 but he has already been a West Ham player for over 10 years

West Ham – Mark Noble 2004

Mark Noble had already been in the West Ham team for a year when he made his Premier League debut, which came in a 3-1 Upton Park win over Blackburn.