Best Premier League players ranked 2025
Our definitive list of the best Premier League players around in 2025 – do you agree with us?
The Premier League is the best league in the world.
The cliche that anyone can beat anyone still rings true but it is the amount of talent in the English top flight that really sets it apart. It isn't even just the top clubs anymore; there are players with star quality throughout the league.
Week after week, Premier League fans get to watch some of the best players on the planet – from dominant defenders, to majestic midfielders, thrilling forwards, and the top shot-stoppers – strut their stuff.
We've looked across all positions and based our picks on several factors including trophies won, historical performances and recent displays, style, ability, goals, assists and more. We've also tried to avoid being swayed by short-term dips and sudden bursts of form.
RadioTimes.com brings you our round-up of the top 10 best Premier League players in 2025.
Check our more football features: Best players of all time | Best players in the world 2025 | Best strikers 2025 | Best midfielders 2025 | Best defenders 2025 | Best goalkeepers 2025 | Best young players 2025 | Best teams in the world 2025
Best Premier League players 2025
10. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Man City)
A new addition to the Premier League and indeed this list, Gianluigi Donnarumma is truly world class.
The Italian is considered the best goalkeeper in the award by many, with his recent Yashin Trophy win at the Ballon d'Or awards backing up that claim, and has already shown his quality between the sticks for Pep Guardiola's side.
9. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Where would Man Utd be without Bruno Fernandes? It simply doesn't bear thinking about for the Old Trafford faithful.
The Red Devils have been through plenty of turmoil in recent seasons but their captain remains one of the best creators in the world. Indeed, at the time of writing, no player in Europe's top five leagues has created more chances than Fernandes – and it's not even close.
There is a debate to be had about whether a deeper midfield role really suits him, or what he could've achieved had he jumped ship, but he is more than deserving of a place on this list.
8. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Bukayo Saka has made the transition from Arsenal's starboy to one of the Premier League's most feared attackers over the past few seasons.
Saka's impact off the right flank cannot be underestimated – with his goals and assists central to the Gunners' recent title challenges.
Injuries limited his influence a little last term but the England star will hope this can be the season he fires the North Londoners back to the top of the pile.
7. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk should be considered among the ranks of the all-time Premier League great defenders once he hangs up his boots, alongside Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and John Terry to name a few.
Perhaps a little past his imperious best, the Dutch defender remains a dominant force, a constant, reassuring, stabilising presence at Anfield and captained the Reds to another Premier League last term.
The 34-year-old, who was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2019, has won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League during his time with Liverpool and is far from being done just yet.
6. William Saliba (Arsenal)
William Saliba is likely to dominate the Premier League for years to come, providing Arsenal continue to threaten at the sharp end of domestic and continental football.
The commanding centre-back has the physicality to deal with any striker and the pace to manage threats in behind the back four. He has it all, and if he stays in England, he'll be a top contender for the PFA Team of the Year every campaign.
Saliba is a key cog in the Premier League's best defence from each of the last two seasons and will be central as Mikel Arteta's side chase silverware this term.
5. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Cole Palmer is a true talent. The 23-year-old left Man City and quickly established himself as not only Chelsea's talisman but one of the Premier League's most effective attackers.
Masterful as both a goalscorer and creator, having notched 72 goal contributions in his first two seasons in West London, he plays with a calmness and composure few others possess.
He is a roaming, wandering presence for Enzo Maresca's Blues, afforded freedom of the final third to pick holes and exploit every single gap, every single time.
4. Rodri (Man City)
Rodri was rightly rewarded for the key role he played in the recent success of Manchester City and Spain with the 2024 Ballon d'Or but he has not quite returned to his previous heights since recovering from a season-ending ACL injury.
Man City's struggles without him were further evidence of just how good a player the 29-year-old is. He is the gold standard among defensive midfielders, a Rolls-Royce in the middle of the park, doing City's dirty work, orchestrating a perfect symphony between attack and defence, while taking games by the scruff of the neck and chipping in with important goals himself.
Rodri was crucial in City completing the treble and lifting the Premier League five times in a row. He'll be a major part of the club's history so long as he's wearing sky blue.
3. Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Declan Rice has taken his game to another level since joining Arsenal. It feels like only a matter of time before he is wearing the captain's armband for both club and country.
The midfielder, who guided West Ham to UEFA Europa Conference League success before his move to North London, is as accomplished sitting deep as a holding midfielder as he is roaming from box to box, or even sitting higher up the field as a full No. 8.
By adding goals, assists, and serious set-piece threat to his game, Rice has established himself as arguably the best midfielder in world football.
2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
The Egyptian King produced one of the greatest seasons of his career – 34 goals and 23 assists – to help the Reds to a second title in 2024/25 and he isn't done just yet.
Only three players have scored more Premier League goals than Salah, who will be keen to leapfrog Wayne Rooney on that list this term despite a slow start by his standards.
For all the money Liverpool have spent adding to their frontline in recent windows, the 33-year-old remains their talisman and one of the best players in the division.
1. Erling Haaland (Man City)
Erling Haaland is inevitable. The Man City frontman is on course to smash Alan Shearer's record and become the fastest player to 100 Premier League goals.
He may not have the playmaking ability of a forward like Harry Kane or the fast feet of Kylian Mbappe but when it comes to putting the ball in the net, Haaland is the best in the world.
Haaland has made a mockery of Premier League goalscoring statistics since heading to England. The 24-year-old is averaging around a goal per game and though last season was a disappointment, due to Man City's struggles and his injuries, he still added 34 to his tally.
Back to his brilliant best, the Etihad marksman is hunting a third Golden Boot in four years. Though he isn't always involved in City's build-up, his positioning, strength, pace and intelligence ensure he is always in the right place at the right time. That isn't luck, it's pure skill. Long may – and will – his reign continue.
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Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
