It is almost a surprise to see Cesc Fabregas will depart the Premier League at the age of just 31. He feels more like an elder statesman, the top flight's Bob Dylan.
Instead, it is longevity rather than age that means Fabregas' imminent exit to Monaco will be a notable event. His 501st appearance at the weekend, from his time at Arsenal to when he became tangled up in blue, was the end of an era.
His place in the pantheon of foreign imports in the Premier League will be up for debate, but there is one thing that cannot be doubted — Fabregas was the first of his kind in England.
He emerged on the scene in 2003, when Arsenal's midfield was dominated by the duo of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva. Fabregas had joined from Barcelona looking for a first-team opportunity.
Instead of the brutal force of those two, Fabregas was a small but silky, skilled midfielder. He was the predecessor of those who have lit up the league since, like compatriots David Silva and Juan Mata.
Even players like Jack Wilshere and Leon Britton would not have made it in the top flight without Fabregas leading the charge.
His debut, against Rotherham, came at the age of 16 years and 177 days. Within a year he was filling in for Gilberto and Edu due to injuries.
Then came arguably the defining moment of his early years at Arsenal — the time he threw a pizza at Alex Ferguson.
Manchester United had just ended Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run when a slice of pizza was launched down the tunnel.
He told the tale in 2017: 'All of a sudden, I heard noises and I thought what’s happening? So I go out with my slice of pizza and I saw Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Martin Keown... everyone pushing each other.
‘I was like, I want to get in, but I don’t know how to and I threw... peeew... just threw it. Once I saw it was hitting, like, who it was hitting, which I didn’t mean...’
Fabregas added: ‘I apologise Sir Alex, really didn’t mean to do that.’
By the end of the 2004-05 campaign he'd won the FA Cup, and when Vieira left for Juventus, Arsene Wenger trusted the youngster.
It paid off. In 2005-06, he was integral as Arsenal reached the Champions League final. He scored and provided an assist in the win against Juventus, beating his predecessor Vieira in the process.
As time rolled on, his importance grew. Few define the image of the Emirates in those first seasons more than Fabregas, strolling around midfield, pinging 60 yard passes towards whichever young European hopeful Wenger had brought in.
Eventually he became captain. Alongside Robin van Persie, he held down the fort during lean years, and when the Dutchman went to United, Fabregas the man.
That was probably when, despite a series of injuries, he had his best season in English football. He relished being the man.
Unfortunately, Arsenal's progress had clearly stalled. When the opportunity came to go back to Barcelona, he took it. This was the man, they thought, who could replace Xavi.
It did not pan out like that. He spent three seasons at the club that had initially trained him. Something had been lost, though.
He did not fit into the system like the rest of the La Masia graduates. He might simply have just become too Premier League for Barcelona.
So he was offered around. Wenger turned him down. Jose Mourinho did not. Along with Diego Costa, he became the crucial man in Chelsea's title win in Mourinho's second spell. From the moment he played a brilliant ball to Kevin De Bruyne, it was clear the Portuguese's plan would work.
Fabregas also goes down in Chelsea folklore for a crucial late goal against Queens Park Rangers in April that season. That was the day it felt the title was going to Stamford Bridge.
The next season was a struggle for Fabregas, as it was for the rest of the Chelsea squad as Mourinho's regime fell to pieces. He was criticised by the crowd along with Costa and Oscar for playing a part in the manager's exit.
While he was not an immediate starter under Antonio Conte, he played his part over the next two seasons and played the entirety of last year's FA Cup final. This season there have not been many appearances for him, and he exits, in a sense, with Chelsea's blessing.
Fabregas has been criticised for crying over leaving Chelsea, although it seems more likely that he was mourning something else. Born in Spain, reared in Catalonia, his footballing home has truly been England. At 31, he's flying the coop.
Nesaiknruy
43
But reality is, Cesc enjoyed his best moments at the bridge as he came and won numerous amount of relevant trophies, more than any current Arsenal player... he even teared up in his farewell to Chelsea fans, something he apparently didn't do when he left Arsenal for Barca. Something tells me he was a genuine blue even if his best years were enjoyed at Arsenal...