25 Best Players So Far This Season [2025/26]

The festive period is an important one in the Premier League as reverse fixtures arrive and players are truly under assessment. There are guiding lights like Morgan Rogers, who is firing Aston Villa to the unthinkable, while Erling Haaland remains as prolific as ever.

There have been many twists and turns so far this season, including Sunderland, who are having a merry old time punching way above their weight. That’s thanks to an incredible summer transfer window that has brought some of this year’s best-performing players to the top-flight.

To celebrate Christmas, we have assessed and ranked the top 25 players in the Premier League right now, along with six others who are set to ring in the new year on a high. Even some of those battling it out at the bottom of the table are in contention.

Ranking Factors:

• Statistics — Relative to each player’s position.
• Importance — Players who are instrumental to their team.
• Team Performance — Clubs performing well, high up the table.
• Expectations — Players performing better than anticipated.

Honourable Mentions

With December consisting of 31 days, it’s only right that said list includes six players who don’t quite crack the top 25 for various reasons.

That includes John McGinn, who has been superb in the middle of the park for Aston Villa in their stunning surge into the Premier League title race. The Scottish midfielder is Unai Emery’s Mr Consistent, so it’s no surprise to see him playing his part in their remarkable campaign.

Nick Woltemade arrived at Newcastle United for a hefty club-record £64 million, and Tyne-Wear derby own goal aside, he’s looked a fine acquisition. The German striker has struck seven goals in 14 games for Eddie Howe’s men, who aren’t at their best.

It’s fair to say Marc Cucurella is enjoying his best season since joining Chelsea and he has very rarely put in anything below a 7/10 shift. The Spaniard pocketed Bukayo Saka during a 1-1 draw and that came after keeping Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal quiet in a 3-0 win in the Champions League.

Back to St James’ Park, and another new signing, Malick Thiaw, has been a rock at the back for the Magpies. The German centre-back has felt like a gift for Howe, and he even came up with a brace in a 4-1 win over Everton.

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Arsenal lead the way in the title race, and Riccardo Calafiori has been a standout performer at left-back. He’s adapted to a versatile role handed to him by Mikel Arteta and is keeping Myles Lewis-Skelly out of the team.

Last but not least, it wouldn’t be right not to mention Danny Welbeck, who continues to play a star role at Brighton & Hove Albion. The 35-year-old is proving that age is just a number with seven goals in 16 outings.

25–20: Merry and Bright

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Liverpool‘s plight has been a huge surprise, but Hugo Ekitike has more than looked at home in the Premier League despite his side’s woes. The French forward has outshone fellow new strike partner Alexander Isak and may now be able to make the number nine position his own after the Swede unfortunately broke his leg.

The negotiations between Manchester United and Brentford were so lengthy that they could still have been discussing a fee by Christmas Day. But a £70 million deal was finally struck, and Bryan Mbeumo has been a star man for Ruben Amorim, and his coach will be praying Cameroon are knocked out of the African Cup of Nations early doors.

We all know where most of the plaudits for Aston Villa’s climb into title contention are going, but Boubacar Kamara has been vital for the Villans. After an injury-plagued start at Villa Park, he is now flourishing and could be key in the second half of the season.

It’s unfair to leave Jarrod Bowen out in the cold, given the English winger continues to be West Ham United‘s talisman in a nightmare spell. The Hammers are staring at a relegation scrap, but their captain is up for the fight, and that’s shown through his leadership and eye-catching displays.

Pep Guardiola’s Scrooge-like criticism of Matheus Nunes earlier this year, not being “clever enough” to play in midfield, has worked a treat. The Portuguese has ticked all the right boxes in a right-back role, and if the Cityzens are to claim the title, he could be an unsung hero on reflection.

19–15: Snowball Effects

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Sunderland’s recruitment team geared up for the club’s return to the Premier League with plenty of presents for Regis Le Bris. One of those was Omar Alderete, who has been one of the best signings of the season and, just like the Black Cats, is exceeding expectations with colossal performances.

It was a lonely Christmas for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at Chelsea last season, given he was frozen out of Enzo Maresca’s first team. Everton swooped in the summer, and the English midfielder has repaid their faith with stellar showings that could have Thomas Tuchel on the phone ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Bruno Fernandes has admitted that he felt Manchester United were ready to sell him in the summer, and how foolish that would have been. The Portuguese playmaker continues to be the main man at Old Trafford, and his hamstring injury spells trouble for Ruben Amorim.

Arsenal will be counting on Jurrien Timber continuing his cracker of a season thus far in their bid to win the title. The Dutch defender is crucial for Arteta, and his blend of defensive solidity and attacking threat has been on display at the Emirates.

Marc Guehi didn’t down tools when missing out on a move to Liverpool on deadline day and he instead picked up where he left off last season. A Crystal Palace departure looks inevitable next summer but the English defender’s inspired performances now look to have brought others into the race for his signature.

14–11: Decking The Halls

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Where would Liverpool be if not for Dominik Szoboszlai, who is without doubt Arne Slot’s most important player after a somewhat topsy-turvy debut campaign. The Hungarian midfielder has excelled in any role asked of him, including as a makeshift right-back, and has come up with crucial goals such as his winner against Arsenal.

On the other side of Merseyside, it’s Iliman Ndiaye who is firing on all cylinders for David Moyes’ Everton. The Toffees could be stuck without the Senegalese attacker, who has jetted off for AFCON, and his creativity will be a huge miss.

Another present Regis Le Bris unboxed in the summer was Robin Roefs, who was signed as Sunderland’s new number one goalkeeper. It’s safe to say the Dutch shot-stopper has been a revelation of sorts at the Stadium of Light and could be in for a place in the PFA Team of the Season if he continues.

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Brentford were tasked with replacing Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, but the Bees had already done the work by signing Igor Thiago in July 2024. The Brazilian striker missed the majority of last season through injury, but is now spearheading Keith Andrews’ attack, and his brilliance is following in the footsteps of those two mentioned and Ivan Toney.

10–6: Shining Bright

REUTERS/David Klein

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If Enzo Maresca makes any wish this Christmas, it should be for Reece James to stay clear of any injury problems for the rest of the season. The Chelsea captain is performing to a level that should see him starting for England at the World Cup next summer.

James has been a delight to watch and has shown off his versatility by dominating opposition in a midfield role. He has even been a threat from set-pieces, finding the back of the net with a delightful free-kick against Newcastle.

The inevitability that comes with Manchester City during the festive period is back, and Jeremy Doku is right in the thick of Pep Guardiola’s side’s brilliance. His world-class performance in the 3-0 thrashing of Liverpool is perhaps one of the best displays from a winger in Premier League history.

If Gabriel Magalhaes hadn’t suffered at the end of November, then we may well be looking at a top-five ranking. He has been monstrous in set-piece situations and as dependable as ever at the back.

The Brazilian’s hamstring injury has been a significant setback for Mikel Arteta, whose Arsenal side lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in his absence. The Gunners need him back as soon as possible, ahead of the new year, and with the title race so tightly poised.

Chelsea’s owners have spent more than a pretty penny since taking over the club, including the £115 million signing of Moises Caicedo two years ago. The Ecuadorian has proven his worth this term and is emerging as the heir to N’Golo Kante as the Blues’ new formidable anchorman.

Form is temporary, and class is permanent, and you needn’t look further than evidence than watching Phil Foden in action this season. The Manchester City attacker has been back to his best, giving defenders a torrid time with his vision, box of tricks and eye for goal.

There were concerns about Foden heading into the season, but he is silencing his critics with phenomenal moments of class. With a run of six goals in four games recently, he has been wowing in City’s winter wonderland.

5–1: Top of the Tree

If Aston Villa win the title, they will have Morgan Rogers to thank amid a magnificent bounce back from a stuttered start to the season. That’s Jamie Carragher’s verdict of the English attacking midfielder who has lit up Villa Park and maybe taken the lead in the duel with Jude Bellingham for a starting berth at next year’s World Cup.

Rogers is becoming inevitable, and that was evident when he scored a double in a 2-1 win over Manchester United despite Villa being second-best. That’s just one of his several man-of-the-match performances that have his club’s fanbase dreaming of Premier League glory.

Bournemouth will be watching the clock strike midnight on New Year’s Eve and probably counting down the hours until Antoine Semenyo leaves the Vitality. GIVEMESPORT sources revealed that the Cherries winger’s £65 million release clause comes into effect for the first 10 days of January.

Semenyo has at times been unstoppable and come up trumps for Andoni Iraola with moments of class that have most of the ‘big six’ eyeing him. His pace on the counter has frightened defenders, and his clinical finishing was on display from the very start of the season, when he struck twice against Liverpool.

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Some questioned Sunderland’s decision to sign Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as his decision to join the newly promoted club. Nobody expected the Swiss midfielder to be among this season’s best players, but he has been an absolute steal for the Black Cats.

Xhaka has been his side’s leader, and attaining his experience has undoubtedly worked a treat for Regis Le Bris. But the 33-year-old is also tussling it out with the very best midfielders in the top-flight and coming out on top by dictating games.

When Arsenal spent £105 million on Declan Rice, David Moyes said it was £50 million below his valuation. That claim is justified every time the Englishman is on the pitch as he’s been the figurehead in the Gunners’ title quest, and that includes from set-pieces.

Mikel Arteta needs his troops to focus on getting the job done with Manchester City hot on their trail, and you get the feeling that Rice will be the man to take his side over the line. He has the winning mentality that raises the standards of those around him and his campaign is showing signs of his Europa Conference League triumph with West Ham.

It’s become the norm for Erling Haaland to be putting up ridiculous goal-scoring numbers, but at the rate he is going, he could finish the season with his best tally to date. The Manchester City marksman has shown more maturity this term, and it’s been needed with Rodri out injured and Kevin De Bruyne no longer around.

City turns to Haaland whenever the going gets tough, and the Norwegian is relishing the challenge of usurping Arsenal in the title race. It seems ridiculous to have entered the season pitting the Gunners’ new boy, Viktor Gyokeres, against him.

Haaland is proving he is in a different league to the Swede, and that might be the difference between the two sides come the end of the season. There’s every chance he also finishes with better numbers than his 36 goals in 35 games during the 2023-24 campaign.