Who are the Premier League’s best No.10s right now?
Cole Palmer is the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League right now.
That’s according to our famous Squawka Score, which puts the Chelsea man at least 3% ahead of any other positional peer in the English top flight right now.
A couple of years ago, Cesc Fabregas famously claimed the No.10 role is dying out in modern football. For many with fond memories of players like Dennis Bergkamp, this is a tragedy. Equally, though, some would counter that the role has simply changed and that there are still many examples in the Premier League today.
We have three midfield scores to rank the different profiles within the league (No.6 Score, No.8 Score and No.10). But here we’re focusing on No.10s and attacking midfielders who operate in, broadly speaking, central areas.
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – 82%
- Matheus Cunha (Wolves) – 79%
- Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) – 71%
- Phil Foden (Man City) – 71%
- Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham) – 67%
NB: Only players who have played half the minutes available during the 2024/25 season have been considered (1,125+ minutes).
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More Premier League player rankings:
- Who are the Premier League’s best wingers in 2024-25?
- Who are the Premier League’s best right-backs in 2024-25?
- Who are the best Premier League left-backs in 2024-25?
5. Dejan Kulusevski
- Team: Tottenham
- Squawka Score: 67%
Dejan Kulusevski started the season in a more central midfield role, but he’s recently been utilised in the No.10. The Swede has been a useful player for Ange Postecoglou, never giving less than 100%. It’s helped Tottenham Hotspur too. Kulusevski has scored six goals this season and providing four intentional assists. He’s also had 162 touches in the opposition box, with only two players managing more across the Premier League as a whole.
4. Phil Foden
- Team: Man City
- Squawka Score: 71%
There have been some serious low points for Manchester City this season, but Phil Foden continues to be a force to be reckoned with.
The England star has seven goals and two assists to his name in the Premier League. His 6.67 penalty area entries per 90 minutes, 0.26 through balls completed per 90 and 1.75 crosses completed per 90 all place him in the 80-95th percentile.
Foden can often be hard to place thanks to his ability to play as a No.10 and on the wings, but it’s when he drifts into central positions that he’s most devastating.
3. Justin Kluivert
- Team: Bournemouth
- Squawka Score: 71%
Justin Kluivert has been moved away from the winger role we’ve become used to seeing him in, operating as an attacking midfielder this season. To say it’s brought the best out of the Dutchman would be understating it drastically.
Kluivert has registered 11 goals so far this season to the tune of 0.61 per 90 minutes, placing him in the 95th percentile in his position. Additionally, he’s registered five assists, three of which have been intentional. Kluivert has averaged 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90, and has a shot placement ratio of 1.23 — the former putting him in the 80-95th percentile.
2. Matheus Cunha
- Team: Wolves
- Squawka Score: 79%
Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured a topsy-turvy campaign, swapping Gary O’Neil for Vitor Pereira and very much remaining in relegation trouble. However, Matheus Cunha’s contributions cannot be questioned. Although he has been deployed across the front line, he’s predominantly been used in the No.10 role. In this position, the Brazilian has been a nuisance for opposition defenders. He’s also scored 10 goals and provided four intentional assists, with a new contract music to the ears of Wolves fans.
1. Cole Palmer
- Team: Chelsea
- Squawka Score: 82%
Cole Palmer is on a bit of a barren run at the moment in terms of recording assists, though that’s more down to his teammates than his creativity. Palmer leads the Premier League for chances created with 66 across the campaign. That’s translated to six assists, still inside the top 10. He’s created 0.74 big chances per 90 and has been dispossessed just 0.94 per 90.
Of course, Palmer is more about the goals. The Englishman has scored 14 in the Premier League this season, at an average of 0.57 per 90, also also averaging 3.57 shots per 90 — the latter in the 95th percentile.
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How do Squawka’s 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.
