Wayne Rooney recently hailed Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United as the standout performer in this season’s Premier League. But is the assessment accurate? To find out, we gathered insights from various reporters and journalists, who ranked a shortlist of the top 40 players in the league. The results culminated in the Sky Sports Top 25 rankings.
The list features players from nine clubs, with Arsenal leading the representation with seven players making the cut. The question remains: Who will emerge at the top? How do these rankings compare to those from the beginning of the season?
25th Place: Casemiro
Casemiro has experienced a revival at Manchester United this season, breaking into the top 25. Notably, he has netted seven league goals—his highest tally to date in a single season.
24th Place: Enzo Fernandes
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandes, who was previously recognized by pundit Jamie Carragher as one of the Premier League’s premier midfielders, has secured the 24th position in this list.
23rd Place: Marc Guhi
Following his impressive performances at Crystal Palace, Marc Guhi earned a transfer to Manchester City in January and quickly established himself as a crucial player under manager Josep Guardiola.
22nd Place: Bryan Mbeumo
The summer signing from Brentford has seamlessly integrated into Manchester United’s setup, achieving a remarkable total of nine goals, tying him for the top of the league’s scoring charts.
21st Place: Bernardo Silva
Recognized by Guardiola as one of his best-coached players, Bernardo Silva has consistently delivered for Manchester City, making him an indispensable asset for the squad this season.
20th Place: Elliott Anderson
Elliott Anderson of Nottingham Forest has shone despite a challenging season, solidifying his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most well-rounded midfielders.
19th Place: Martin Zubimendi
Since joining Arsenal last summer, Martin Zubimendi has become a pivotal component in Mikel Arteta’s midfield, earning a spot in the top 20.
18th Place: Reece James
Although injuries have presented challenges, Reece James has showcased his exceptional talent for Chelsea, making significant impacts at both right-back and central midfield this season.
17th Place: Moises Caicedo
Despite being one of seven Chelsea players to earn recognition this season, Moises Caicedo remains one of the top midfielders in the Premier League, according to our evaluations.
16th Place: Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike has emerged as one of the season’s top newcomers, notably filling the gap left by injured teammate Alexander Isak and finishing in the 16th spot.
15th Place: Bruno Guimarães
Bruno Guimarães has been a dominant force in Newcastle’s midfield, contributing significantly to the club’s success even in a trying season.
14th Place: Bukayo Saka
While not accumulating goals and assists at the rate of previous seasons, Bukayo Saka remains a vital element of Arsenal’s offensive strategies.
13th Place: Igor Thiago
Few anticipated Igor Thiago’s emergence in this ranking at the season’s outset, yet the Brentford striker has made a significant impact, scoring 19 goals thus far.
12th Place: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Debates have arisen regarding the superior goalkeeper between title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City, with Gianluigi Donnarumma ranking just below his Arsenal counterpart.
11th Place: Julian Timber
Pivotal to Arsenal’s title bid, Julian Timber has enhanced his attacking contributions from the right-back position while maintaining defensive stability, racking up eight goal involvements.
10th Place: Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers stands as the highest-ranked player from outside the traditional Big Six clubs. Although his form has dipped recently, he has proven to be a game-changing talent under manager Unai Emery.
9th Place: João Pedro
Having displayed exceptional potential at Brighton, João Pedro has reached new levels since his transfer to Chelsea, tallying 14 goals and five assists in his first 30 Premier League matches.
8th Place: David Raya
Despite competing with Donnarumma this season, Arsenal’s David Raya has established himself as the leading goalkeeper in our rankings, aiming for his third Golden Glove award.
7th Place: William Saliba
History indicates that Arsenal would be considerably stronger with William Saliba in the lineup. The French international has had a standout season at the heart of the Gunners’ defense.
6th Place: Antoine Semenyo
After transitioning from Bournemouth to Manchester City, Antoine Semenyo has continued to impress, scoring five goals in just nine Premier League appearances for his new club while adding 10 goals from his prior team.
5th Place: Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool’s shining star amid a tumultuous season, Dominik Szoboszlai ranks fifth, with his stunning free-kicks contributing to his reputation for excellence.
4th Place: Erling Haaland
While Erling Haaland’s scoring rate dipped in the season’s latter half, he still ranks as the top scorer with 22 goals, alongside seven assists, marking his impressive season.
3rd Place: Gabriel Magalhães
As the highest-rated defender in this ranking, Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães has proved essential for the Gunners, contributing three goals and four assists while demonstrating prowess on the defensive front.
2nd Place: Declan Rice
Declan Rice has had an outstanding season at Arsenal, making significant contributions to their title charge and earning recognition as the league’s second-best player.
1st Place: Bruno Fernandes
In agreement with Rooney’s assessment, our contributors crowned Bruno Fernandes as the premier player in the Premier League. The 31-year-old is enjoying a career-best season with Manchester United, having scored seven goals and provided 16 assists in 27 games.
Shifts in Rankings: Who’s Rising and Who’s Falling?
Noteworthy is the absence of Mohamed Salah from the top 25, a stark contrast to his top ranking in August. Salah’s decline reflects a disappointing season for him and six other Liverpool players, many of whom have slipped from their previous high standings.
Other notable omissions include Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Manchester City’s Rodri, who ranked third and fourth in August, respectively. Martin Ødegaard and Phil Foden have similarly dropped from the rankings.
Conversely, Bruno Fernandes leads the upward surge, having climbed from the ninth position. Declan Rice’s rise to second marks a significant improvement, while newcomers Dominik Szoboszlai and Antoine Semenyo also made impressive debuts within the top 10.
Noteworthy additions include David Raya and João Pedro, alongside Igor Thiago, whose emergence signals a season of transformation in the Premier League landscape.
