Premier League’s Top 30 Players: Overview of the List and Transfer Prospects
As the end of 2025 approaches and the season nears its halfway point, it’s time for various reviews. Based on performances this season, the Daily Telegraph has selected the current Premier League’s Top 30 Players. It’s not hard to see from this list that among the giants, few of the sky-high-priced new signings this summer have made the cut; “you get what you pay for” has always been just a myth. Meanwhile, elites from mid-table and small teams are paving their fast track to the giants through brilliant performances. Recently, Semenyo has been the subject of the most rumors, but he is clearly far from the only one who will attract the attention of giants in 2026.
30. Jakub Kiwior (Newcastle United) Costing 35 million pounds, the 24-year-old German center-back from AC Milan has been Newcastle’s most consistent performer this season. In Eddie Howe’s words, he is “almost omnipotent” of the Magpies’ five new signings this summer, Elanga, Jacob Ramsey and Visa from within the Premier League have either struggled to adapt or been plagued by injuries, while Kiwior and Walter Madu from Serie A and the Bundesliga have immediately shown their value.
29. Pau Torres (Aston Villa) The 28-year-old Spanish center-back returned in early October. After a winless start in the first five rounds, Villa began a strong recovery during the same period. In top form, Pau Torres is one of the best ball-playing center-backs in the Premier League.
28. Anthony Patterson (Sunderland) The 22-year-old Dutch goalkeeper joined from NAC Breda this summer. His excellent performances are one of the key reasons why promoted side Sunderland have no worries about relegation and are instead occupying a European spot.
27. Pedro Neto (Chelsea) The 25-year-old Portuguese winger has become Chelsea’s most potent attacking weapon, with particularly outstanding performances in recent weeks. His versatile attributes are a valuable asset to the team, and various signs indicate that he is not only sharp in dribbling and breaking through but also has made significant progress in his final pass and shot.
26. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) Despite dropping deeper, the 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder still steadily contributes goals and assists. Over the years, some people have always been critical of Bruno Fernandes, but he has always been Manchester United’s key player.
25. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) Liverpool have had an unfortunate season, but the 25-year-old Hungarian utility player is one of the few whose reputation has not declined but instead risen. Based on his technical skills, his hard work and versatility have helped Liverpool maintain their minimum standards as much as possible. He is also one of the most threatening long-range shooting experts in Europe.
24. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Everton) Joining Everton from Chelsea this summer, the 27-year-old English midfielder has found a more suitable stage and more freedom to showcase himself. He has every chance of being selected for the England national team.
23. William Saliba (Arsenal) This year, the 24-year-old French center-back has been overshadowed by his teammate Gabriel, but he is still an indispensable figure in Arsenal’s defense. A center-back with speed, strong physique and steady ball retention is truly rare.
22. Sheikh Doucoure (Manchester City) In terms of technical ability alone, the 22-year-old French midfielder is perhaps the most talented player in the Premier League. His close control and vision make him one of the most entertaining players in the league. Hopefully, his continuous adaptation to Guardiola’s tactical system will not smooth out his edges.
21. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United) He has scored in five consecutive league games recently, totaling six goals. Such form has led many to call for his recall to the England national team. As long as he stays fit, Calvert-Lewin will not lack performances. After leaving Everton this summer, Calvert-Lewin seems to be turning his fortunes around, and his future challenge still lies in maintaining his fitness.
20. Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) Looking at the huge transfers in the Premier League this summer, Isak, Wirtz, Sesko… Among all the sky-high-priced new signings, Ekitike is undoubtedly the most successful so far. The 23-year-old French youngster has almost all the characteristics of a modern center-forward. With 16 Premier League appearances so far, contributing 8 goals and 1 assist, the effect is satisfactory.
19. Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) Despite having Europa Conference League duties this season, multi-competition involvement has not slowed Crystal Palace down, after all, they always make large-scale rotations in the relatively low-level Europa Conference League. Wharton is a regular starter in the Premier League and has made quite a few appearances in the Europa Conference League, but the 21-year-old English midfielder still shows outstanding ability in passing, organizing attacks and improving his defense in the No. 6 position.
18. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) In 2025, Saka suffered some injury troubles, but the 24-year-old winger is still one of the most threatening attacking weapons in the Premier League and the England national team. Arsenal’s attack still mainly focuses on the right flank where he is located.
17. Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) The 25-year-old Senegalese winger is one of the most entertaining players in the Premier League currently. He has excellent dribbling ability but also works hard off the ball. How good is he? Anyway, his teammate Idrissa Gueye claims that he could win the Ballon d’Or one day…
16. Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace) The 29-year-old Colombian right wing-back continues to shine at both ends of the pitch and is one of the most threatening attacking players in Glasner’s team. In the winter window of 2024, Crystal Palace signed him from Genk for only 7 million pounds, and he has become one of the most cost-effective signings in the Premier League in recent years.
15. Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) The 23-year-old English youngster can be called one of the most versatile midfielders in the Premier League. Tuchel has his reasons for fixing him as the main No. 6 in the Three Lions. Newcastle were forced to sell him last year due to financial fair play pressure and later considered buying him back, but Anderson, who has entered the sight of giants, is no longer at a level that Newcastle can reach.
14. Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) He is probably one of the most underrated players in the Premier League, but Villa fans are well aware of his value and consider him the most important player in the team, bar none. The 26-year-old French defensive midfielder has excellent physical fitness, as well as football IQ and passing skills.
13. Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace) Compared with players who went on strike to force transfers such as Isak and Visa this summer, Guehi is an absolute positive model in terms of professionalism. Failed to complete a transfer to Liverpool, the 25-year-old English center-back still worked diligently and even played at a higher level than last season.
12. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) If he hadn’t been injured in mid-November and sidelined until now, the 28-year-old Brazilian center-back would have been enough to enter the top 5 of the list. Legend Carragher bluntly said that Gabriel is “the most influential player in the Premier League”. He has terrifying dominance in both boxes, is a defensive leader and a set-piece weapon.
11. Igor Thiago (Brentford) After joining from Club Brugge last season, his debut Premier League season was plagued by injuries, with only 8 league appearances. But this season, the 24-year-old Brazilian center-forward has handed over an excellent answer of 11 goals in 17 league games. It’s true that he scored 5 goals from penalties and many opportunistic “boring” goals, but a few goals with violent aesthetics, header goals, plus his prominent tactical role, all prove that Brentford’s 33 million euro investment is worth every penny.
10. Jurriën Timber (Arsenal) Once, Ben White was a regular starter for Arsenal, but Timber has taken the starting right-back position from him. The 24-year-old Dutch powerhouse’s aggressive defensive style and contributions in the attacking end are enough for him to enter the top 10 of the list.
9. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth) At the beginning of the season, the 25-year-old Ghanaian winger was the most in-form player in the Premier League, scoring 6 goals in the first 7 league games. Later, his form declined somewhat, but his strong physique and ambidextrous attributes are still a nightmare for defenders of various teams. As the player with the most transfer rumors in the Premier League currently, it is considered a foregone conclusion that he will move to a bigger club in the winter window this season.
8. Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) After inconsistent performances in his first two seasons in the Premier League, the 23-year-old Belgian winger has established himself this season and become one of the most eye-catching attacking talents. His speed and dribbling have long been known to everyone, and now his ability to cooperate with teammates has also made a qualitative leap.
7. Reece James (Chelsea) Whether playing as a right-back or a midfielder, a fully fit Reece James can be called one of the most versatile players in football. The 26-year-old English powerhouse has both physique and technology, and has also shown increasingly prominent leadership skills.
6. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) Xhaka’s leadership, football IQ and passing organization skills have long been famous in Europe. This season, he is likely to become the Premier League’s Signing of the Year. His transfer fee was only 13 million pounds, but the role he played is better than various sky-high-priced new signings. Without the overall planning of the 33-year-old Swiss defensive midfielder, Sunderland could not have become the biggest dark horse in the Premier League this season.
5. Phil Foden (Manchester City) After a slump last season, many people doubted whether Foden could regain the form of the 2023-24 season. Now, the 25-year-old is approaching his peak form. His performances since November have reminded people that Foden provided the best evidence for the phrase “the new generation of English players have excellent skills”.
4. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) Tuchel has established him as the main No. 10 in the England national team, ahead of the much more famous Bellingham, Foden and Palmer. He has also proved with his performances that the Three Lions coach has a discerning eye. After a sluggish start to the season, the 23-year-old youngster has not only regained his advantage in running ability but also often delivered brilliant goals and assists that decided the game. And Villa’s ability to become the top “long-range shooting team” in the Premier League, Rogers also played an important role.
3. Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) His tough defensive style and intelligent positioning ability have shaped the 24-year-old Ecuadorian star into one of Europe’s top defensive midfielders. More than two years ago, his over-100 million pound price tag attracted a lot of doubts, but in his third season at Stamford Bridge, he has made new progress every year.
2. Declan Rice (Arsenal) Buying a bargain for 105 million pounds is a rare feeling. Moreover, the 26-year-old English midfielder is still constantly improving. His stability and spiritual influence are praiseworthy.
1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) He is likely to be the most terrifying goal machine in the history of the Premier League. After more than 3 and a half years in the Premier League, people have already determined that it is only a matter of time before the Norwegian center-forward breaks the Premier League’s all-time scoring record. Last season, by Haaland’s own standards, scoring only 22 goals in the Premier League was very unsatisfactory. This season, the 25-year-old has regained his peak form, with 19 goals in 17 rounds, becoming the number one weapon for Manchester City to come from behind and compete for the league title again.
