Who have been the best players in the Premier League so far this season?
We are coming to the conclusion of the final international break of 2025, with the English top flight set to resume on November 22.
We’ve used our Squawka Score to pick out the best-performing players of 2025-26 so far, and there are a couple of surprises in our XI.
NB: Only players with at least 495 minutes played so far this season are considered.
Goalkeeper: Robin Roefs
- Team: Sunderland
- Squawka Score: 73%
The top goalkeeper at the moment is Robin Roefs. The Sunderland stopper has been excellent this season, as the last line of a stingy Black Cats defence. He has prevented 0.28 goals per 90 minutes and averaged 3.55 saves — a tally only bettered by Burnley’s Martin Dubravka, while 2.36 of those have come from shots inside the box. He has caught 1.55 crosses per 90 — only Robert Sanchez boasts a higher figure — and boasts a save percentage of 78%, proving really tough to beat. Overall, Roefs has conceded just 0.91 goals per 90, while also saving one penalty.
Right-back: Jurrien Timber
- Team: Arsenal
- Squawka Score: 79%
When judging the Premier League’s best right-back at the moment, you really can’t look past Jurrien Timber. A winner of 58.89% of his ground duels this season, he has also been part of a defence to concede just 0.51 goals per game, the best in the league. Timber has conceded a Premier League-best 4.99 shots from inside the box per 90 and won 3.47 tackles — a tally only bettered by Brighton’s Mats Wieffer among right-backs. From an attacking perspective, Timber has averaged 3.87 touches in the opposition box, 0.51 shots on target and 0.23 non-penalty Expected Goals.
Centre-back: Omar Alderete
- Team: Sunderland
- Squawka Score: 74%
Omar Alderete may be a surprise name to most on this list, but he has certainly earned his place. The Sunderland centre-back is very good at getting the ball away from the Black Cats’ box, with 5.94 clearances per 90 and 8.37 passes into the opposition half completed. He has also been part of a defence that has conceded just 0.81 goals per 90, one of the best in the league.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias
- Team: Manchester City
- Squawka Score: 74%
With Ruben Dias in the team, Manchester City have averaged 0.5 clean sheets per 90 and 0.7 goals conceded. He also sits in the best percentile for non-penalty Expected Goals conceded as a defender, alongside 5.17 clearances. Dias is unsurprisingly good on the ball, completing 82.09% of his forward passing accuracy and completing an average of 7.56 passes into the opposition half per 90.
Left-back: Marc Cucurella
- Team: Chelsea
- Squawka Score: 75%
Marc Cucurella has opened up a bit of a gap over his left-back peers. The Spaniard is key to Chelsea’s side, again as a more advanced player tucking in. Cucurella has averaged 1.9 touches in the opposition box per 90 and 4.51 passes into the final third completed, alongside 0.7 successful passes into the penalty area. But he also averaged 2.81 clearances per 90 and 1.7 tackles won, as well as a Premier League-high 0.3 big chances created among left-backs.
Central Midfielder: Moises Caicedo
- Team: Chelsea
- Squawka Score: 71%
For many, Moises Caicedo is the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League right now. Caicedo continues to grow at Chelsea and is a must-start when fit. He has made the most interceptions per 90 minutes among central midfielders this season, with 2.48. He also ranks highly for his tackles won, retention rate and open-play passing accuracy.
Central Midfielder: Declan Rice
- Team: Arsenal
- Squawka Score: 75%
Declan Rice is the best around when it comes to the middle of the park. The Arsenal midfielder continues to grow especially with Arsenal’s 4-3-3 formation, having Martin Zubimendi behind to do the more defensive work. Rice gets himself heavily involved in the attack, with 0.2 goals from open play and 0.2 intentional assists per 90. He also averages 1.41 successful passes into the penalty area per 90. The England midfielder then leads the way when it comes to the most crosses attempted (5.83) and final-third passes completed (17.38). The defensive numbers aren’t as high, but again, that’s because he doesn’t need to do that job anymore. And he more than makes up for it with his work progressing Arsenal up the pitch.
Right Winger: Jacob Murphy
- Team: Newcastle United
- Squawka Score: 73%
The best winger in the Premier League right now is Jacob Murphy. The Newcastle United man has scored 0.32 goals per 90 and provided 0.16 intentional assists so far this season. He leads the way among Premier League wingers for shots on target per 90 (1.58) and shots attempted (4.1), providing a real threat from the wing for the Magpies. Murphy also ranks well for open-play crosses completed and non-penalty post-shot Expected Goals.
Attacking Midfielder: Bryan Mbeumo
- Team: Manchester United
- Squawka Score: 70%
Bryan Mbeumo has been in a league of his own when it comes to No.10s this season. He has been more of a goalscoring No.10, averaging 0.47 goals per 90 in the league from 1.32 shots on target — both league-high tallies. Despite a lack of assists, Mbeumo has still averaged 0.27 Expected Assists per 90, alongside 1.79 crosses completed — both ranking high among his peers.
Left Winger: Jeremy Doku
- Team: Manchester City
- Squawka Score: 69%
Pep Guardiola looks to have a settled starting XI at Manchester City for the first time in what feels like forever, and Jeremy Doku is part of that. He’s a key creator on the wings, creating 0.72 big chances per 90 and providing 0.43 intentional assists (the highest tally in the Premier League). The Belgian is also extremely tricky on the ball, completing 4.91 take-ons per 90 and having 9.25 touches in the opposition box — more than any other winger. He also leads the way when it comes to the most final-third passes attempted, the most touches, and the most throughballs attempted and completed.
Striker: Erling Haaland
- Club: Manchester City
- Squawka Score: 78%
It wasn’t going to be anyone else. Erling Haaland is back to his best, running away with things at the top of the goalscoring charts. And even when he wasn’t at his best last season, Haaland was better than most. Haaland currently averages a ridiculous 1.33 goals per 90 in the Premier League this season, from 0.73 non-penalty post-shot xG. He also ranks well for his 2.66 non-penalty shots, xG overperformance and 60% shooting accuracy. There is none better.
How do Squawka player ratings work?
Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.
Using extensive research and our expertise, we tailored each score to the players’ respective positions. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.