It's that time of year - here at FourFourTwo we've put our heads together to come up with the best 50 players in the Premier League this season.
Tricky wingers, prolific strikers and dominant centre-backs, the Premier League really does have it all.
Without further ado here's our ranking - don’t agree with us? Tell us at on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtag, #FFTPL50…
50. Liam Delap - Ipswich Town
It was deemed a major gamble last summer when newly-promoted Ipswich Town recruited Delap from Manchester City in a £20 million deal.
Could he do it in the big leagues? The offspring of human trebuchet Rory Delap has answered those doubters emphatically this season, with 11 goals by early April. While the Tractor Boys have languished in the dropzone, their frontman has drawn widespread praise – and even repeated calls for a senior England cap – due to his tireless efforts leading their line, which has so often been a thankless task this term.
HIGHLIGHT A goal and an assist in a 2-1 win at Spurs in November, to give Ipswich their first win of the campaign.
49. Dean Huijsen - Bournemouth
Huijsen arrived from Juventus as a right-footed, left-sided centre-back who’s good in the air, strong in the tackle, ambitious in his approach and assured on the ball – and he’s only just turned 20. Scary.
DID YOU KNOW? Born in Amsterdam but raised in Spain (he can speak four languages), the Cherries defender impressed on debut for La Roja in March… against the Netherlands.
48. Mikkel Damsgaard - Brentford
Injury-hampered in his first two seasons, the Brentford playmaker suddenly attacked 2024/25’s assists table like a Nordic wedding crasher – by early April, only Mo Salah had more than his 10. In Denmark they call him ‘Damsinho’. We’d have gone with ‘Zidamsgaard’.
DID YOU KNOW? Fitness issues at Sampdoria turned out to be arthritis.
47. Daniel Munoz - Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner’s side couldn’t function without Munoz. The 28-year-old Colombian is the wing-back they needed: he doesn’t just offer elements of wing play and full-backery in a game but seems to be doing both at once, at all times.
DID YOU KNOW? Munoz is the only player to have scored a winning goal against Spain since March 2023.
46. Callum Hudson-Odoi - Nottingham Forest
Hudson-Odoi has been a man for the big moments this season. Winning goals against Liverpool and Manchester City headlined a campaign in which the former Chelsea tyro, now 24, has lived up to his early promise.
HIGHLIGHT That goal at Anfield. His clipped, curled finish in off the post was, quite literally, inch-perfect.
45. Kai Havertz - Arsenal
Once, Arsenal fans might’ve welcomed a few months without Havertz, but absence through injury has shown how vital he has become. He’s a classic Mikel Arteta player, exhausting opponents with his energy and physicality.
THEY SAID “Genetically, he is a powerhouse. He’s so well-built. His body absorbs everything” – Arteta.
44. Kaoru Mitoma - Brighton and Hove Albion
Of all the savvy business Brighton have done in recent years, there’s a case to be made that Kaoru Mitoma has been the best of all.
This is the second time Mitoma has reached double figures for goal involvements, with only a long-term back injury that ended last season preventing a clean sweep.
Known for his intelligence, Mitoma famously turned down a professional contract at age 18 to attend the University of Tsukuba, where he wrote his thesis on the art of dribbling.
DID YOU KNOW? With his goal in Brighton’s 3-1 win against Manchester United in January, Mitoma overtook Shinji Okazaki to become Japan’s leading Premier League scorer, with 15 goals.
43. Ollie Watkins - Aston Villa
Though his goal involvements have reduced, Watkins is still one of the division’s most feared strikers – only Mo Salah, Erling Haaland and Son Heung-min have outscored him since he joined Villa.
HE SAID “That’s the dream – to play for Arsenal one day – but it’s a long shot.” That was in 2020, just before he left Brentford for Aston Villa; this January, they rejected Arsenal’s bid.
42. Antonee Robinson - Fulham
The US international, 27, has turned heads during Fulham’s sneaky European challenge. Robinson has launched himself onto the Premier League assists podium from left-back, his rampaging runs drawing attention from opposition defenders and suitors alike.
HIGHLIGHT: Two assists at Anfield as Fulham so very nearly beat Liverpool.
41. Nicolas Jackson - Chelsea
Slammed last year for erratic finishing, the Senegalese striker reacted with nine goals before Christmas, only for injury in February to interrupt his progress.
HE SAID “I supported Madrid when I was young and [Karim] Benzema was missing lots of chances; later, he won the Ballon d’Or. So, I’m not worried.” – Jackson in February 2024.
40. Joao Pedro - Brighton and Hove Albion
The Brazilian – Brighton’s first big splash, for £30m in 2023 – is enjoying a fine sophomore season. Though more than half of his Albion goals have been penalties, he sets up more; his assist for Kaoru Mitoma at Bournemouth was divine.
THEY SAID “I treat him like a leader and demand a lot” – Fabian Hurzeler, on captaining Pedro against Arsenal.
39. Eberechi Eze - Crystal Palace
He clearly missed his link-up with Michael Olise – who wouldn’t? – but, once fully powered, Eze sparked a resurgence at Palace, providing numerous assists and spicy solo efforts. Manchester City apparently want the 26-year-old.
HIGHLIGHT A starring role in the FA Cup quarter-final win at Fulham, days after scoring his first England goal.
38. Jurrien Timber - Arsenal
The Dutchman has slotted in seamlessly after his first year in England was ravaged by injury. His versatility is invaluable: Timber has played in both full-back positions and also in central defence, against Aston Villa in January.
HIGHLIGHT A man-of-the-match display as Arsenal beat Chelsea in March, keeping the Blues’ dangerous left flank quiet for 90 minutes.
37. Anthony Gordon - Newcastle United
Once maligned for hitting the deck too easily, Gordon has developed into one of the league’s finest left wingers: fast and direct, with a killer ball up his sleeve.
THEY SAID “He handled it really well; I know from making a mistake that the moment plays on your mind” – Eddie Howe after the former Everton man missed a penalty at Goodison.
36. Dominik Szoboszlai - Liverpool
The Hungary captain is vital for Arne Slot’s side. He’s near the top of Liverpool’s rankings for distance covered, counter presses and shot-ending fast-break moves.
DID YOU KNOW? Szoboszlai is 6ft 1in but has size 7 feet. His dad gave him boots that were too small in order to stunt his growth, believing small feet would make him a better footballer.
35. Sandro Tonali - Newcastle United
The midfielder could easily have returned to Italy after his 10-month ban for betting. Instead, he stayed to lend Newcastle his defence-splitting passes, playing deeper or as a box-to-box dynamo.
DID YOU KNOW? Tonali’s average of 12.2km covered per 90 minutes this season puts him behind only Tomas Soucek and Dejan Kulusevski.
34. Alex Iwobi - Fulham
The Nigeria international was criticised at Everton for a lack of goals and assists, but one of each against Liverpool in April took him to 13 for this season – and, crucially, gave Fulham a surprise win. This has been his best campaign yet.
DID YOU KNOW? Iwobi revealed he disguises himself as a ninja to play five-a-side incognito with his mates.
33. Elliot Anderson - Nottingham Forest
Elliot Anderson left boyhood club Newcastle last summer in search of Premier League minutes – and found much more. Now a key figure in a resurgent Nottingham Forest side, the 22-year-old midfielder has thrived in a deeper role under Nuno Espírito Santo, blending defensive grit with the creative edge that earned him the “Geordie Maradona” chant.
Voted Forest’s Player of the Month in August, he’s grown in confidence with every game and credits the club’s strong team spirit for their climb up the table. “There’s a wonderful togetherness,” he says. “We just have to keep doing the basics right.”
HIGHLIGHT Scoring his first goal for Forest in a 3–2 win over Southampton.
32. Nikola Milenkovic - Nottingham Forest
At £12m, Milenkovic has been excellent value for money. The big Serbian arrived from Fiorentina last summer and, with a set-piece threat to add to his aerial dominance in defence, has proved essential to Forest’s stunning season.
HE SAID On his hero, Nemanja Vidic: “He was willing to sacrifice for other players; to do everything not to concede; to live for a clean sheet.”
31. Luis Diaz - Liverpool
The Colombian began this season like a man possessed, scoring five goals in the first five games. Pace and skill make him a thorn in the side of every defence.
HIGHLIGHT All right, so it was in the Champions League, but the hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen was the first of Diaz’s career – and in his first ever start as a No.9 for Liverpool, too.
30. Joelinton - Newcastle United
As an industrious midfield enforcer, Joelinton 2.0 is the perfect foil for Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian can still sprinkle some samba magic in among all of his hard work, too.
HIGHLIGHT Consecutive goals in consecutive wins, against Aston Villa first, and then Manchester United. Once a striker, always a striker…
29. Cody Gakpo - Liverpool
Having been used in various roles by Jurgen Klopp, Gakpo has established himself under Arne Slot with some stylish displays.
HE SAID “Before I came to Liverpool, I played as a left winger, then I came here and started to play as a striker. This season, the new manager said, ‘You have to focus on the left winger position… this is your position now’.”
28. Ibrahima Konate - Liverpool
Most defenders would look good alongside Virgil van Dijk, but Konate is no passenger. If he can iron out the odd brain fart, he is Van Dijk’s natural heir, with speed, strength and timing in the challenge.
HE SAID “Sky Sports, who decides man of the match? How is this possible?” After Ryan Gravenberch beat him to the award at Wolves.
27. Yoane Wissa - Brentford
The Bees like to regenerate and Wissa is 28, so his value to them was clear when they rejected Nottingham Forest’s £22m bid in January. The Congolese striker is an all-round threat, sharing goals equally: left foot, right foot and head.
HIGHLIGHT December’s neat finish against Newcastle for an eighth goal in six league home matches – all wins, with Wissa notching in each.
26. Jarrod Bowen - West Ham
The captain still delivers even if West Ham don’t. Take his winner at Arsenal: seizing the ball on the edge of his own area, he countered, fed Aaron Wan-Bissaka and found space to nod in his cross. He’s an Irons icon, and not just for marrying Danny Dyer’s daughter.
THEY SAID Danny Dyer: “I think I’m more in love with him than Dani is.”
25. Amad Diallo - Manchester United
Playing either as a wing-back or further forward, Diallo was a rare positive in Manchester United’s latest annus horribilis until injury got in the way. The Ivorian is everything their attack otherwise hasn’t been – dynamic, fast, direct – and he’s become more creative, too.
HIGHLIGHT That brilliantly-taken derby winner at the Etihad Stadium.
24. Antoine Semenyo - Bournemouth
The Ghana international, 25, is all-action – goals, assists, tackles, cards – and a product of the hard yards. Rejected by Crystal Palace, he knuckled down at Bath, Newport and Bristol City, and is now linked to big clubs having monstered their superstar full-backs all season.
HE SAID “My aim is to make defenders hate me.”
23. Youri Tielemans - Aston Villa
Having worked on his physical and defensive attributes after a mixed first season at Villa, adding tenacity to his passing ability, the Belgian started every one of their Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup fixtures up to mid-April.
HE SAID “I originally wanted to be a goalkeeper. But once I conceded, I’d dribble past everyone and score.”
22. Jean Phillipe-Mateta - Crystal Palace
Few players came into the 2024-25 campaign in such top form as Mateta. The question was whether Mateta could continue his hot streak, having netted just twice in 29 Premier League appearances during 2022-23. The 27-year-old responded dubiously, scoring just four times in the first half of the campaign, but then he turned a corner.
Mateta struck seven times in his opening six league encounters of 2025 and found himself on a more than respectable 13 by mid-April.
DID YOU KNOW? Mateta’s ear injury that he suffered against Milwall was so gruesome that the plastic surgeon who was hired to fix it refused to show the Frenchman a photograph of the wound, fearing he could pass out.
21. Morgan Gibbs-White - Nottingham Forest
A key member of the England side that won the U17 World Cup in 2017, Gibbs-White then took a little time to make his mark but has thrived under boss Nuno Espirito Santo. The former Wolves man chalked up 13 goal involvements in 15 league matches between December and March.
THEY SAID “He’s full of energy and very difficult to play against” – Lee Carsley, giving him a first senior cap.
20. Bruno Fernandes - Manchester United
You dread to think where United might be without the skipper scoring or assisting nearly half of their goals, from set-pieces, attacking midfield or deeper under Ruben Amorim. He’s the club’s sole post-Sir Alex Ferguson buy to have enhanced his reputation.
DID YOU KNOW? No Premier League player had made more shot-creating passes (121) up to the end of March.
19. Morgan Rogers - Aston Villa
Two years ago, Morgan Rogers was part of a Blackpool side relegated to League One. Now, he is established as one of England’s brightest prospects. This term, Rogers had scored 14 goals and added 11 assists in all competitions by early April, helping the Villans into the latter stages of the Champions League and leaving Manchester City wondering if letting him go was such a good idea.
HIGHLIGHT Becoming the second youngest Englishman to register a Champions League hat-trick, after Wayne Rooney in 2004, by smashing three goals past Celtic in January.
18. Alisson - Liverpool
There haven’t been any indications of the 32-year-old’s powers fading in his seventh season on Merseyside. Alisson had nine league clean sheets by the end of February despite missing two months through injury.
DID YOU KNOW? As of early April, the Brazilian’s save percentage was an impressive 73.5 per cent; it’s been above 70 per cent in all seven of his Premier League campaigns. Solid.
17. William Saliba - Arsenal
A totem of consistency, the French centre-back is dominant in the air, a superb reader of the game and comfortable with the ball at his feet. Saliba has everything in his armoury to become a Premier League great, not least because he’s still only 24.
HIGHLIGHT Scoring in back-to-back matches in December, against Manchester United and Fulham.
16. Justin Kluivert - Bournemouth
For a little while, Kluivert was mainly known for two things: being the son of the legendary Patrick (and that is going to stay with him forever) and being an answer to a quiz question. His first campaign in England produced seven league goals, his best tally since his Ajax days, and he has stepped up further in 2024-25. By the end of February, he’d struck 12 times and provided six assists, with his two most notable afternoons prompting two more quiz questions.
At Wolves, he became the first player in 67 years to score a hat-trick of penalties in an English top-flight fixture. At Newcastle, he bagged another treble (this time from open play), which meant that he’d scored more Premier League goals at St James’ Park than his dad, who represented the Magpies in 2004-05.
DID YOU KNOW? Just like Justin and Patrick, Justin’s grandfather was a full international. Kenneth Kluivert played for Suriname three times in the 1960s, as well as being a goalscoring legend at Paramaribo club SV Robinhood.
15. Bukayo Saka - Arsenal
How different might the Gunners’ campaign have turned out if their cutting-in-from-the-wing king hadn’t been injured for months while Liverpool’s scored goals galore? Only that long layoff prevents Saka from being higher in this list – and at 23, he has nearly a decade on Mo Salah. He deserves to lift big trophies soon.
THEY SAID “It’s impossible not to love him” – Mikel Arteta.
14. Bryan Mbeumo - Brentford
The Premier League's most underrated forward is finally getting his flowers. Not only a top creator, presser and finisher (15 league goals from 8.5 xG with a third of the season still to go), he’s resilient, amassing 250 French and English league outings aged just 25.
HIGHLIGHT Scoring after 23 seconds against Spurs, then after 38 seconds against West Ham only a week later.
13. Matheus Cunha
One of the best players in the Premier League this season has been playing for a side battling relegation. It’s easy to see why top clubs are increasingly interested in Matheus Cunha. The 25-year-old has been talismanic at Molineux.
Prior to his four-match ban and £50,000 fine for violent conduct in a game against Bournemouth, Cunha posted 13 goals and four assists in 26 league outings and had won widespread praise for his all-round forward play.
DID YOU KNOW? It’s not unusual for footballers to speak other languages, but Cunha is a bona fide polyglot: he can talk fluently in Portuguese, English, Italian, French, German and Spanish.
12. Bruno Guimaraes - Newcastle United
The heart and soul of Newcastle’s revival, Bruno Guimaraes is more than just a midfield maestro - he’s a symbol of the club’s rebirth. His leadership isn’t for show - lifting the cup alongside long-serving figures like Jamaal Lascelles was his idea, rooted in deep respect. Bruno isn’t just loved by fans for his passing or pressing, but for his emotional connection to the club. “We behave like fans,” he says, and it shows.
HIGHLIGHT Becoming Newcastle’s first trophy-winning captain in 70 years.
11. Declan Rice - Arsenal
The Gunners shelled out a club-record £105m to recruit Rice from West Ham in 2023. It’s been money well spent. After a stellar debut campaign at the Emirates Stadium, his second season got off to a slower start – dismissed against Brighton with a second booking for kicking the ball away. The Gunners have been aiming to win a Premier League crown for the first time since the club’s days at Highbury. Rice could be crucial if they’re to achieve that in the near future.
HIGHLIGHT That night at the Emirates against Real Madrid – one of the finest performances of Rice’s career to date.
10. Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
It’s been a uniquely triumphant but tricky season for Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s many highs offset by the distraction of ever-increasing reports about Real Madrid signing him. But he’s used to it, and usually silences the old ‘defensive liability!’ naysayers with a couple of impossible passes.
HE SAID “The more you play, the more extravagant your dreams and ambitions become.” Poetic.
9. Alexis Mac Allister - Liverpool
The World Cup winner now looks every inch of it at Anfield, after an awkwardly deep-lying first season in which his instinctive passing caused some defensive palpitations. In Arne Slot’s system, Mac Allister makes things tick further forward. He takes ball retention to another dimension.
THEY SAID “I cannot think of a poor performance from him” – Arne Slot.
8. Cole Palmer - Chelsea
Palmer played more than half of this season in the same scintillating form as last term, so we probably shouldn’t be surprised that he finally hit a wall at Chelsea.
His latest campaign burst into life with an extraordinary four-goal first-half haul against Brighton in September – surely the best performance of his career, an exuberant interviewer enquired afterwards? “I’m not sure... maybe,” the underwhelmed star replied, as if she had just stopped him on the high street to ask about switching energy suppliers.
DID YOU KNOW? Prior to his England debut, Palmer was eligible to represent St Kitts & Nevis via his father’s side of the family. He’d start for them, at least.
7. Gabriel Magalhaes - Arsenal
A mighty presence at both ends, Gabriel was the Premier League’s ‘most feared attacker’ according to one newspaper in October, due to his set-piece prowess. He’s crucial at the back, too, so his season-ending injury on April Fool’s Day was no joke.
HIGHLIGHT Scoring the winner in a North London Derby? That’s hard to beat... unlike Spurs this season.
6. Ryan Gravenberch - Liverpool
The Premier League’s most improved player? A fellow Dutchman in the dugout has revitalised the midfielder, who rarely started last season but is now so essential – winning the ball and moving balletically upfield with it – that he’s arguably been overused.
DID YOU KNOW? His mum, dad and elder brother all played football; the latter, Danzell, was briefly at Reading.
5. Erling Haaland - Manchester City
Even in an off year, Haaland clears 20 league goals – with some early flat-track bullying to thank, admittedly. Doubts persist about his potency in big games, but many a great striker went quiet for an hour; he could yet be the greatest.
HIGHLIGHT August’s back-to-back hat-tricks against West Ham and Ipswich. He looked unstoppable.
4. Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest
The ’90s are back, and Wood is proof: a 6ft 3in striker scoring freely for a high-flying Nottingham Forest side. Clever movement catches defenders unawares, and the New Zealander’s goals – 18 in 25 Premier League outings up to mid-February – earned him a contract extension to 2027.
HE SAID “I don’t think the No.9 ever went out of fashion – they were still appreciated by certain managers.”
3. Virgil Van Dijk - Liverpool
The Dutch skipper is back to doing what he does best: making mugs of much younger strikers, with a few rare exceptions. At 33, Van Dijk is still Liverpool’s titanic, totemic lynchpin.
DID YOU KNOW? He and Wataru Endo had a big night out to get over the disappointment of a Champions League exit to PSG: watching their kids star in Fantastic Mr Fox at school.
2. Alexander Isak - Newcastle United
For a decade, fans arrived at St James’ Park longing to see the Alan Shearer arm-raise. These days, they tap their digital season ticket on the turnstile and head inside with the hope that Isak’s trademark thumb celebration will make an appearance. It usually does.
Newcastle have their our hands a generational talent, and there’s a collective sense that they need to enjoy watching the 25-year-old while we can. Few have seen a forward like Isak in black and white. His style of play is incredibly easy on the eye. His movements are balletic, even out of possession.
1. Mohammed Salah
The new season was just 65 minutes old when Mo Salah set his first record of the campaign, and he’s carried on breaking them ever since. On December 4, Salah became the first player to both score and assist in 37 Premier League matches, surpassing Rooney’s tally. A fortnight later, he was the first Premier League player ever to reach double figures for both goals and assists before Christmas.
On February 19, he became the first player in Premier League history to score 15 away league goals in a season. On February 23, he was the first player ever to score and assist in 11 Premier League matches in the same season. On March 8, Salah drew level with Sergio Aguero on 184 Premier League goals, making him the joint-leading overseas goalscorer in English top-flight history. It also took him to 44 goal involvements for the season (27 goals, 17 assists), a joint Premier League record for a 38-game campaign.
Factor into all of this that he isn’t even a striker, and Salah’s numbers have been absurd. Little wonder that he has been tipped as a Ballon d’Or contender, and that Liverpool surged so far clear at the top of the table.
