Players from 15 clubs are represented in our list of the best performers from the English top-flight over the past nine months
The 2024-25 Premier League season will live longer in the memories of some fans compared to others. Liverpool supporters will obviously cherish being able to watch their team lift the trophy from inside Anfield for the first time in 35 years, while Nottingham Forest will look back on a campaign that surpassed even their wildest dreams, regardless of whether it finishes with qualification for the Champions League or not.
Others, like those who follow Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, will be hoping to erase thoughts of their league campaigns as quickly as possible and start looking ahead to brighter days in 2025-26 as soon as the final fixtures have been played out on Sunday.
But despite some bemoaning the quality of the English top-flight over recent months, there have still been plenty of players who have risen above the rest to provide memorable performances throughout the season. Not all have been supported by their team-mates as well as others, but they all deserve celebrating for the entertainment they have provided.
50. Amad Diallo (Manchester United)
In a Premier League season that has barely risen above ‘miserable’ for Manchester United, Amad Diallo has stood out as one of few shining lights at Old Trafford after establishing himself as a regular for the Red Devils. The arrival of Ruben Amorim has taken Amad’s game to new heights after he showed some encouraging signs under Erik ten Hag, as the Ivorian adapted well to a new wing-back role.
Amad has directly contributed to 13 league goals for United, including a memorable late hat-trick to down Southampton in January, and had he not missed two-and-a-half months during the second half of the season due to an ankle injury, Amorim’s side might not have found themselves quite so low down the table heading into the final day of the campaign.
49. Dan Burn (Newcastle)
Dan Burn’s road to the top is a long and winding one, but there is no doubt that the Newcastle defender is playing the best football of his career at the age of 33. Injuries have led to Burn switching back to his preferred position at the heart of the backline rather than on the left, and he has thrived for his boyhood club.
While there’s no doubt that the pinnacle of Burn’s season came when he scored as the Magpies’ triumphed in the Carabao Cup final before making his England debut a few days later, it is his consistent Premier League form that led to that call-up by Thomas Tuchel, and there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to maintain it for another 12 months so as to earn a spot on the plane to the 2026 World Cup.
48. Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
Ibrahima Konate began the season on the Liverpool bench, but after being introduced at half-time against Ipswich Town on the opening day, the France international hasn’t looked back. Rather, Konate established himself as Virgil van Dijk’s first-choice partner at the heart of the Reds’ defence with a series of strong performances that included goal-saving blocks and impressive last-ditch tackles.
There are some Liverpool fans who believe the club still need an upgrade on the sometimes error-prone Konate this summer if Arne Slot’s side are to kick on following their triumphant Premier League campaign, but there is no doubt that the title win wouldn’t have been possible were it not for some key interventions from the ex-RB Leipzig man.
- Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest)
One of host of former Manchester United players to have found a new lease of life away from Old Trafford, Anthony Elanga has been one of the driving forces behind Nottingham Forest’s European push, with his electric pace,
quick feet and eye for a pass combining to make the Sweden international one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League.
Only two players have provided more than Elanga’s 11 league assists heading into the final day of the campaign, while he has also contributed six goals of his own, including one of the season’s best against former club United when he ran the length of the pitch before slotting home to secure a narrow victory at the City Ground.
- Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton)
A relatively unsung player outside of Goodison Park, Idrissa Gana Gueye has played a key role in Everton’s climb away from relegation trouble under David Moyes. With 133 tackles to his name, no player has made more in the 2024-25 Premier League season than the Senegal midfielder, with his effectiveness at breaking up play almost unmatched in the top-flight.
The Toffees are currently trying to convince Gueye to extend his second spell at the club past the end of the campaign as his current contract enters its final weeks; if they cannot keep hold of him, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man will take some replacing.
- Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace)
“If you define a profile who fits the Premier League, it is Daniel Munoz.” Those the words of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner when asked to describe his all-action wing-back in February, and its difficult to argue with that take on the Colombian after an excellent, if sometimes underrated, season of bombing up and down the right-hand side for the Eagles.
A player with ridiculous stamina, Munoz has run two miles further than any other Premier League player at high speed over the course of the campaign, while he ranks second in the division for tackles. Throw in his nine direct goal contributions and almost constant presence in the opposition’s penalty area when Palace attack, and there are few more effective players in his position in Europe.
- Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Enzo Fernandez hasn’t always managed to live up to his £106.8 million price tag since arriving at Chelsea, but the Argentine does seem to be taking steps in the right direction under Enzo Maresca. Afforded a little more freedom to contribute in attack, Fernandez has racked up 13 combined Premier League goals and assists over the course of the season, and having also take on an increased leadership role within the squad, the Blues will hope that the man they signed from Benfica in January 2023 will continue his growth into one of the Premier League’s more consistent midfielders in the coming campaigns.
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
Bizarrely left off the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year shortlist, Myles Lewis-Skelly has been one of the most impressive teenage performers not only in England, but across Europe after breaking into the Arsenal first team around the turn of the year. The 18-year-old has locked down some of the league’s most fearsome wingers as the Gunners’ left-back, while his history of playing in midfield has allowed him to contribute in the final third too.
An England call-up in March was just reward for Lewis-Skelly after a debut campaign which also saw him provide one of the most iconic moments of 2024-25 when he mimicked Erling Haaland’s ‘Zen’ celebration after scoring in Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Manchester City in February.
- Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
After sitting out almost the entirety of his debut season at Arsenal thanks to a serious knee injury, Jurrien Timber has made up for lost time in 2024-25. With Ben White spending much of the campaign on the sidelines, the versatile Netherlands international has locked down a regular starting role at right-back for the Gunners, and there are now plenty questioning whether White will get back into Mikel Arteta’s line up next term given Timber’s performances.
Though not quite as attacking as White, Timber’s defensive solidity has marked him out as one of the toughest full-backs in England over the course of the campaign as Arsenal look set to end the season with the best defensive record in the division.
- David Raya (Arsenal)
Still in with a chance of winning a second-successive Premier League Golden Glove, Raya has put any debates over his suitability for a team of Arsenal’s standing to bed with a season that has been packed with eye-catching saves from the Spain international.
Raya began the campaign by producing outrageous stops in a Gunners victory at Villa Park, while his heroics in the first half against Newcastle on the penultimate weekend of the season helped seal a win that all-but secured a second-placed finish for Mikel Arteta’s side. Factor in his ability with the all at his feet, and Raya is the full package when it comes to modern goalkeeping.
- Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
There’s a reason why Liverpool and Manchester City are hot on the heels of Bournemouth sensation Milos Kerkez. The Hungary international has perfectly adapted to the demands of the Premier League during two fantastic seasons on the south coast, making his £45m asking price look a relative snip in today’s market.
Kerkez has played in every league game for the Cherries after 37 rounds of fixtures impressing in most of them with his breathless energy and final-third contributions which have made Andoni Iraola’s side so fun to watch. It wouldn’t come as a shock if he was voted into the PFA Team of the Season.
- Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
There’s an argument to be made that Jarrod Bowen is the best player in West Ham’s modern history, and there surely aren’t many in the same breath as him in all-time debates. After all, he’s been a reliable source of goals and won them the Conference League in 2023 with a last-minute strike against Fiorentina, while he’s also effectively in-laws with one of the club’s most famous fans, Danny Dyer.
The Hammers have struggled to build on their recent Premier League success this season, but that’s not to the fault of Bowen, who has still contributed 12 goals and nine assists to keep his side clear of the relegation battle.
- Jordan Pickford (Everton)
England’s consolidated No.1 is getting deserved kudos at club level with Everton. Jordan Pickford has cast aside his former ‘error prone’ tag and is firmly one of the division’s best goalkeepers.
The Toffees don’t particularly want to be toiling towards the bottom of the table, and if not for the heroics of Pickford, they would be far worse off than they already are and have been over recent years. The biggest compliment the Everton faithful have paid to their starting stopper is they sang his new chant all throughout their farewell to Goodison Park: “He’s a Mackem, he’s a Blue, he’s a Toffee through and through. He hates Newcastle, he hates the sh*te, Jordan Pickford’s dynamite!”
- Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Newcastle weren’t exactly thrilled at having to part ways with homegrown midfielder Elliot Anderson last summer in order to stay within the Premier League’s PSR guidelines, and their loss has been Nottingham Forest’s gain. The 22-year-old has combined an effective blend of grit and grace to become an integral part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s midfield.
Even despite England’s riches of talent, there was a fair bit of backlash after Anderson was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel when he named his first Three Lions squad back in March. If he keeps performances up, though, the new head coach will have no choice but to select him ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
- Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Somehow, Ollie Watkins has become one of the Premier League’s most underrated strikers. There aren’t many forwards who can guarantee you goals the way the Aston Villa frontman can, and he’s quietly gone about scoring 16 of them in the league alone this year, tagging on an impressive total of eight assists as well.
The 29-year-old has been in and out of the Villa line up all throughout the campaign, firstly competing with Jhon Duran for minutes and then loanee Marcus Rashford after the Colombian was sold to Al-Nassr for an eye-watering £64m. That also closed the door on Watkins potentially joining boyhood club Arsenal, and though he wasn’t happy to have been denied that opportunity at the end of the winter transfer window, he’s one to watch this summer in Europe’s great striker merry-go-round.
- Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth)
The Kluivert name is a pretty daunting one to live up to. Justin’s father, Patrick, was one of the Netherlands’ great all-time strikers, someone who had a nose for goals and won plenty of titles at the highest level.
One place where Patrick did not succeed, though, was in England during a one-year stint at Newcastle, and it’s fair to say his son has surpassed his legacy in England, even scoring more goals than his old man ever did at St James’ Park despite playing for Bournemouth. In total, Kluivert Jr has tallied up an impressive 12 goals and six assists in the league for one of the division’s most unique and exciting teams.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
After 70 Premier League games at Crystal Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta had scored only eight goals for the club. In his last 58 appearances, he’s scored 30 goals, including 14 this season. Not many strikers have managed to turn their career around at this stage of it the way the enigmatic Frenchman has.
Mateta is now an all-round forward who leads from the front and the pride of Selhurst Park, playing a starring role on their way to FA Cup glory this season even after suffering a gruesome head injury along the way. There aren’t many strikers in Europe better than him anymore and his performances deserve a senior France call-up, even despite Les Bleus’ various options up top.
- Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa)
Signing Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City might be one of the best pieces of business Aston Villa have ever conducted. In 2023-24, he found starts hard to come by under Unai Emery, but after taking a year to acclimatise to the Spaniard’s methods, the midfielder is as important as anyone else in that squad.
Tielemans has become a reliable figure in the heart of Villa’s system, and he is one of few outfielders to have clocked up more than 3,000 minutes in the Premier League this season. The extra kicker has been the quality he’s provided, even on a tangible level with three goals and seven assists.
- Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Last summer, it seemed as if Luis Diaz would leave Liverpool for one of Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain, perhaps two of the only teams in Europe who can claim to have actually had better seasons than the Reds. Instead, he stayed at Anfield and will collect a Premier League winners medal for his troubles, with his 13 goals and seven assists certainly coming in handy.
The dancing Colombian has blown hot and cold throughout the year, yet for the most part has been dependable and a constant, even if his starting position has switched between left wing and centre-forward. His chant to the tune of ‘Bella Ciao’ should count toward his legend, too.
- Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
The only reason why Alisson isn’t higher on this list is he missed 10 games throughout the season either through injury or sat in concussion protocols. He remains the Premier League’s best goalkeeper by ability, and it’s only his availability standing against him.
Liverpool’s proficiency and security at both ends of the pitch meant Alisson hasn’t had to bail them out as often as in the Jurgen Klopp era, when their dangerously high defensive line meant there was plenty on his plate, but his standout performance in a gritty 2-1 win against West Ham ensured their march to the title was smoother during the final weeks of the season. He’s as deserving of another gold medal as anyone else contracted to the Reds.
- Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has been one of the unsung heroes of Nottingham Forest’s unlikely push for Champions League football this season under the tutelage of former shot-stopper Nuno Espirito Santo, becoming a key part of Forest’s core behind a staunch defence.
You need only glance at the Belgian’s stats to understand his importance to the cause: Sels is the ‘keeper with the joint-most clean sheets in the Premier League (13), having maintained a post-shot xG minus goals allowed (the most reliable metric for measuring shot-stopping ability) of +3 – a nine-point improvement on last season – with a 74% save percentage. He’s been a giant.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
When all is said and done, the memory of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s part in Liverpool’s title-winning Premier League campaign might well be buried under the bitterness that his imminent free transfer to Real Madrid has provoked – but he deserves his flowers for another dynamic season.
Making a ridiculous 10 goal contributions from right-back, Trent has been vital as a play-making full-back as he came to the fore over the decisive winter period, with the Reds taking advantage of Arsenal’s slip-ups to move top of the table at Christmas, providing five assists and scoring once in nine games. His late winner at Leicester City to tee up the title will live long in the memory, too.
- Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
After his debut season at Newcastle was dramatically curtailed by a 10-month ban for betting offences in October 2023, Sandro Tonali has looked hell-bent on making amends and making up for lost time in 2024-25. Forming a wonderfully balanced midfield partnership with captain Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali has run through walls for his team.
The tireless Italian has been crucial to Newcastle’s late charge towards a top-four finish, as he has produced four goal involvements in eight games during the run-in as he looks to help deliver Champions League football having effectively missed out last term. It’s been some way to restart his Magpies career.
- Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
Fast developing into one of the finest attackers outside the established order, Antoine Semenyo has kicked on again this season as one of the driving forces behind Bournemouth’s impressive exploits under Andoni Iraola.
The versatile 25-year-old has been a menace from the wide areas, contributing a more-than-creditable nine goals and five assists in the league alone, including a hot streak of seven contributions in nine games either side of the New Year. His powerful running, fierce ball-striking ability and decision-making in the final third have been particularly eye-catching, and the Ghanaian has supposedly made Manchester United sit up and take notice amid the Cherries’ push for a top-half finish.
- Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
If Matz Sels has been Forest’s unsung hero, Nikola Milenkovic has been their unlikely hero after an outstanding campaign in front of the goalkeeper at centre-back. Previously linked with some of English football’s big hitters, the Serb arrived with a reputation as something of a liability at Fiorentina – but he has proven his doubters wrong.
The towering defender has been dominant in aerial duels (winning more than anyone else) and ground battles, helping Sels to the cusp of achieving the unlikely feat of winning the Golden Glove when many expected Forest to be battling relegation. He has been very handy in attack, too, scoring in consecutive games against Manchester United and Aston Villa in December before nabbing a goal and assist at Ipswich in March.
- Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)
Arguably the breakout star of the Premier League season, Dean Huijsen has excelled at Bournemouth in what will be his one and only campaign with the Cherries. Without shirking his defensive duties, the Spaniard has demonstrated press resistance, the ability to pick a pass and the confidence to carry the ball forward to progress play when the opportunity arises – all at the age of just 20.
Despite interest from domestic rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, a move to Real Madrid now beckons, with Huijsen already set to fulfil his dream of playing for Los Blancos after the Spanish giants triggered his £50m release clause – a testament to just how good his debut season on the south coast has been.
- Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Antonee Robinson has enjoyed his finest campaign yet in a Fulham shirt, laying on a staggering 10 assists, more than any other defender in the Premier League. The United States star is a great asset for the Cottagers at both ends of the pitch, boasting impressive physical attributes and immaculate technique that have led some fans to claim he has overtaken Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson as the best left-back in the Premier League.
Indeed, Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for Robinson, and it’s easy to imagine him thriving at Anfield; the 27-year-old has been almost unbeatable in one-on-one situations this term, and his lung-busting overlaps have helped Fulham cause problems for all of the top teams. Craven Cottage has been the ideal place for Robinson to develop, but it feels like now is the time for him to spread his wings.
- Murillo (Nottingham Forest)
Another member of that outstanding Nottingham Forest defensive unit alongside Nikola Milenkovic and Matz Sels, Brazilian centre-back Murillo is the man who has garnered plaudits on a more regular basis with his front-footed defending and ability to play out from the back.
The 22-year-old’s partnership with Milenkovic has become formidable, with his unusual pace complimenting the Serbian’s more traditional attributes very well. He has thrilled the Forest faithful with his marauding runs forward, even if his ambitious 40-yard rockets are yet to yield a goal. It’s not a word you associate with defenders, but he’s one of the most exciting young centre-backs around – and others are taking notice.
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
Dominik Szoboszlai will probably not be content with his individual statistics (six goals, seven assists) for Liverpool in the league this season, but the midfielder’s value to the collective cause at Anfield cannot be understated.
Szoboszlai’s tireless running, ball-carrying and incisive passing have been essential to Slot’s men’s attacking play; while he might not have gotten too many assists, he was so often involved in the build-up, ranking in the league’s top 20 for big chances created (12) and key passes (47). The Hungary talisman has proven to be the perfect foil to the defensive Ryan Gravenberch and box-to-box Alexis Mac Allister in what could become a legendary Premier League midfield.
- Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle)
Firmly established as one of the Premier League’s best central midfielders, Bruno Guimaraes has only enhanced his reputation in the 2024-25 campaign. The all-action Newcastle captain has been leading the Magpies’ late charge back into the Champions League.
Equally effective in both boxes, Guimaraes never seems to stop running, crunching into tackles and always looking to progress play with his fine range of passes. He has chipped in with a very useful 11 combined goals and assists, and – like Szoboszlai – ranks highly for big chances created for his team-mates (12). The kind of midfielder that is the envy of the rest of the division.
- William Saliba (Arsenal)
Perhaps a player who will feel he deserves to be higher up this list, but Arsenal’s late-season downturn has probably put paid to William Saliba’s chances. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t detract from another fine season for a man who is on course to become one of the best centre-backs around, if he isn’t already.
The defensive Rolls-Royce has once again demonstrated his class on the ball without ever shirking his defensive duties. His immaculate reading of the game is reflected in the fact he ranks second in the division for last-man tackles (4), and goalkeeper David Raya is among the clean sheet leaders (13). Meanwhile, the Frenchman has popped up with useful goals in consecutive games against Manchester Utd and Fulham in December. The Gunners will be desperate to tie him down to a new contract as soon as possible.
19.Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)
Chelsea paid a British-record fee to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton in 2023, but there’s no denying that the Ecuadorian is now doing a fine job of repaying the club’s colossal investment in his services.
There’s been no more destructive defensive midfielder in the Premier League this season, with Caicedo winning possession more times (223) than any other player, while also ranking third for tackles won (70) and eighth for interceptions (49). What’s more, his pass accuracy is an exceptional 90 percent and, to top it all off, he’s even contributed a couple of assists to Chelsea’s Champions League push.
- Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
Wolves academy graduate Morgan Gibbs-White copped an awful lot of criticism for swapping Molineux for the City Ground in August 2022, but he clearly did the right thing for his career by joining Nottingham Forest.
After a couple of encouraging Premier League campaigns, the attacking midfielder has taken his game to a whole other level this season and is one of the main reasons why Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are in contention to qualify for the Champions League. Gibbs-White has racked up seven goals and eight assists, resulting in him being touted as a possible replacement for Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City.
17.Jacob Murphy (Newcastle)
Prior to this season, Jacob Murphy had never scored more than four Premier League goals in a single season for Newcastle, or surpassed seven assists. But the experienced winger has undergone an unexpected transformation in his seventh year on Tyneside, up 20 goal involvements in 34 appearances, striking up a telepathic rapport with Alexander Isak that has reaped great rewards.
There has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of Murphy’s delivery and shooting, which is partly down to the intensity of Newcastle’s play under Eddie Howe, but mainly because of his strength of character. “Jacob is very selfless, he always plays for the team, really takes a buzz out of creating a goal, he has always been that way,” Howe said in December. “Those qualities every team needs.”
England could certainly do with them at the next World Cup, and Murphy will be in Thomas Tuchel’s thinking if he continues to impress at club level in 2025-26.
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Would Manchester United be facing relegation without Bruno Fernandes? It’s certainly possible, given the Red Devils’ captain has recorded more Premier League goals (eight) and assists (nine) than anyone else in the squad.
Fernandes has carried the worst United team in history, according to head coach Ruben Amorim, on his back throughout an utterly awful campaign that will end with a historic bottom-half finish. The Portuguese’s quality and never-say-die attitude have put his terrible United team-mates to shame, and Amorim can count himself very lucky that the 30-year-old is staying loyal to the club given he could walk into any other team in Europe.
- Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Morgan Rogers has come of age at Villa Park over the last 12 months. There were fears the attacking midfielder would never fulfil his potential after he failed to make the grade at Manchester City, but he’s put them to bed since joining Aston Villa, slotting into Unai Emery’s 4-2-3-1 formation perfectly.
Rogers is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline, and his speed of thought and impressive close control have helped Villa come out on top in the tighter games throughout the campaign. The 22-year-old, who broke into the England squad in November, has managed to stand out ahead of a host of household names at Villa, and has the footballing intelligence to go on and become one of the Premier League’s finest players.
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
It’s impossible to know if Arsenal would have even got close to Liverpool had Bukayo Saka stayed fit for the entire season, but what we can say is that the winger was missed during his three-month lay-off, particularly during a three-game winless run that killed their title hopes once and for all.
After all, Saka had started the 2024-25 campaign in sensational fashion, racking up 15 goal involvements in his first 12 appearances, and just to further underline his importance to Arsenal’s attack, he ranks joint-second at the club for chances created this term (56) despite only starting 20 games.
13.Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Declan Rice’s performances in Europe may have garnered more attention, but the England international was also consistently excellent in the Premier League for Arsenal. A seemingly indefatigable presence in the middle of the park, Rice was always a hive of activity, constantly reclaiming possession for his side with his well-timed tackles and interceptions.
Furthermore, only Martin Odegaard has created more chances for Arsenal this season, while the presence of Thomas Partey allowed Rice to get forward more than usual, resulting in 11 direct goal involvements, including an impressive seven assists.
- Yoane Wissa (Brentford)
Brentford rejected one bid for Yoane Wissa from Nottingham Forest during the winter transfer window, but they’re likely to receive many more over the course of the summer. Whether deployed up front or out wide, the versatile DR Congo international has proven a constant menace for defenders with his power, pace, movement and fantastic work-rate.
Thanks also to the excellent rapport he has with Bryan Mbeumo, Wissa has plundered a career-high 19 league goals, as well as contributing four assists, thus making it easy to understand why Thomas Frank is so desperate to hang on to the “fantastic” forward.
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland has had a bad season by his standards. The Manchester City frontman’s haul of 21 Premier League goals is six down on his 2023-24 tally, and 15 shy of his record-breaking mark from the previous year, with a record-breaking third successive Golden Boot now out of his reach.
But when you factor in that City have been in serious decline and Haaland missed almost two months through injury, it’s clear that the Norwegian terminator is still in a class of his own. No one can match Haaland as a pure goal-scorer, which was underlined when he became the fastest player to reach 10 goals in a Premier League season back in September, and if City upgrade their supporting cast again in the summer, the 24-year-old will put them back into title contention soon enough.
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Cole Palmer was almost unstoppable during the first half of the season, with his fine form sparking giddy talk of a Chelsea title challenge in the run-up to Christmas. The goals dried up in the spring, but Palmer remained his team’s most influential attacker.
Going into Chelsea’s final game against Nottingham Forest, where a win would secure the Blues a much-needed return to the Champions League, Palmer has created more chances (88) than any other player in the Premier League apart from Bruno Fernandes. Enzo Maresca’s inconsistent team really would be lost without their classy attacking midfielder.
- Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Matheus Cunha really should have been in the running for the Premier League Player of the Year award, he’s been that good for Wolves in 2024-25. He was the Molineux club’s shining light in Gary O’Neil’s dismal final months at the helm, and has spearheaded their resurgence since Vitor Pereira’s arrival, racking up 21 goal contributions in the Premier League – a total only bettered by eight other players.
Cunha is a versatile forward who can score goals from all angles and also excels as a playmaker, which is why he is closing in on a move to Manchester United. The former Atletico Madrid star can be temperamental at times (he’s missed six games through suspension this season), but has also shown bags of personality to steer Wolves away from danger while getting supporters off their seats with his unpredictable style.
- Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
William Saliba was Arsenal’s standout centre-half last term, but Gabriel has stolen that title from his partner this time around, with Mikel Arteta admitting that the Brazilian has reached a “different level”. Gabriel’s consistency in the Premier League between August and March was incredible, as his aggressive defending set the tone for the rest of the team, while he also chipped in with vital goals against Tottenham, Manchester City and West Ham.
Unfortunately, Gabriel’s season was cut short after he limped off with a hamstring injury in the derby win over Fulham on April 1, but he still deserves to be crowned Arsenal’s Player of the Year. Indeed, the Gunners have only won two of their last eight top-flight games without Gabriel, who has become the true leader of the team this term.
- Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
There wasn’t much excitement among the City Ground faithful when Nottingham Forest signed Chris Wood on loan from Newcastle with an obligation to buy in January 2023. That’s because the New Zealand international had only scored four Premier League goals in 18 months at St James’ Park, and looked well past his best at 31.
But Wood has silenced all of his doubters over the past two years. His 14-goal haul kept Forest up last season, and he’s hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career in 2024-25 to lead Nuno Espirito Santo’s into Europe. The former Burnley striker has never been a great technician, but he’s the perfect fit for Nuno’s counter-attacking system with his aerial prowess and predatory instincts, and has led by example with his hard work off the ball.
- Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Martin Zubimendi’s decision to reject a move to Anfield looked like a major blow to Liverpool’s title hopes – but, in Ryan Gravenberch, Arne Slot found an in-house solution to the team’s long-standing defensive midfield problem. The Dutchman excelled as a No.6 this season, doing an excellent job protecting the back four while at the same time demonstrating a vitally important knack for breaking the lines with his precise passing, nonchalant feints and nimble dribbles out of defence.
Gravenberch also reads the game wonderfully well (he made more interceptions than any other Premier League midfielder this season) and, at 23, is only going to get better and better in his new role.
- Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Bryan Mbeumo may be the most underrated player in the Premier League. That was also true before Ivan Toney left Brentford last summer, but Mbeumo still isn’t getting enough praise after replacing the England international as the main man in Thomas Frank’s line up.
Brentford are still in with a chance of qualifying for Europe for the first time ever, and Mbeumo has been the driving force behind their rise, racking up 26 goal involvements. From his clinical finishing and progressive dribbling to his relentless pressing and superb powers of anticipation, Mbeumo has evolved into a complete forward who has earned the chance to step up to an elite club after his best season yet in English football, with Manchester United touted as a possible next destination.
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
It doesn’t really matter where you play Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, he’s going to do an excellent job for you. The World Cup winner is just a fantastic mix of intelligence, technique and tenacity, a ferocious ball-winner who can both create and score goals.
So, when Arne Slot says that there are few footballers in the world as complete as Mac Allister, he’s got a point. Only three Premier League players have won more tackles than the ex-Brighton man this season (58), while he’s also weighed in with five goals and five assists.
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Arne Slot has freely admitted that he didn’t know just how good Virgil van Dijk was on the ball before he arrived at Anfield last summer. The captain has, thus, become even more important to Liverpool’s build-up play – as underlined by the fact that no player has completed more passes in this season’s Premier League (2,814), while he also ranks third for successful long balls.
More importantly, though, Van Dijk remains a colossus in the air and ridiculously quick off the mark for a 33-year-old centre-back, meaning he can still deal with powerful and pacey young forwards like Erling Haaland with impressive ease.
- Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
“He is the best striker in the Premier League right now, and I don’t think it’s actually close,” Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports after seeing Alexander Isak score for the sixth straight league match in Newcastle’s 2-0 win at Manchester United. It was impossible to argue with that assessment in December, and it remains an accurate one to this day, given Isak is heading into the final weekend of the season with 23 Premier League goals to his name.
Isak’s prolific exploits in the final third look set to lift Newcastle back into the Champions League, and helped bring an end to their 70-year trophy drought, meaning he is now guaranteed legendary status at St James’ Park regardless of whether he leaves this summer amid interest from just about every top club in Europe. It’s not just the goals that make the 25-year-old a special player, though; he’s justified comparisons to Thierry Henry with his pace and ball control in tight spaces, and it’s scary to think how much better the Swede could still get as he enters his prime.
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah promised to do everything within his power to help Liverpool make amends for last year’s end-of-season collapse – and he’s proven true to his word. The Egyptian has scored 28 goals and created a further 18, making this one of the finest individual campaigns in Premier League history. Indeed, he’s already broken the record for goal involvements in a 38-game season and needs just one more on Sunday to equal the overall record.
No wonder, then, that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) handed Salah a new contract. At 32 years of age, he’s actually performing better than ever before!
