Best Premier League players ranked 2024
Our definitive list of the best Premier League players around in 2024 – do you agree with us?
Premier League fans get to see the world's best footballers showcase their talents every week with the English top flight being arguably more competitive than ever.
New sides are breaking into the top four to snatch Champions League football and newly-promoted teams are putting up more of a fight to stay up.
The mega money on offer from Saudi Arabian clubs is a factor in ageing players leaving the Premier League but they've been unable to tempt stars in their prime to the Middle East.
It's a tough task compiling a list of the Premier League's best players given all the quality on show, but we'll do our best.
We've looked across all positions and based our picks on several factors including trophies, historical performances and recent displays. We've also tried to avoid being swayed by short-term dips and bursts of form.
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Some of the players on this list failed to hit their usual heights last term, but that shouldn't undo their status among the elite, especially as they could get back to their best very soon.
RadioTimes.com brings you the top 10 best Premier League players as of the summer of 2024.
Check our more football features: Best players of all time | Best players in the world 2024 | Best strikers 2024 | Best midfielders 2024 | Best defenders 2024 | Best goalkeepers 2024 | Best young players 2024 | Best teams in the world 2024
Best Premier League players 2024
10. Virgil van Dijk
We know it's not sexy to have a centre-back on the list, but Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk has to make the cut.
While the Dutch defender's standards may have ever so slightly dropped after returning from a serious knee injury, Van Dijk will go down as one of the best ever Premier League centre-halves.
The 32-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 at Anfield.
9. Son Heung-min
Mr Nice Guy Son Heung-min has been sensational since joining Tottenham in 2015. He's netted 120 times in 303 Premier League games for Spurs, while also chipping in with 62 assists.
Son, who scooped the Golden Boot in 2022, can go either way and finish with his left or right foot, making him one of the most technically gifted players in England.
Following Harry Kane's Tottenham exit, he became Spurs' captain, and whether they need a goal or someone to set up a team-mate, the South Korea international is the man to step up.
8. William Saliba
Two centre-halves on the list?! We know, it's a bit much, but William Saliba is the next defender that will dominate the Premier League for years to come.
It was no coincidence that Arsenal's Premier League title charge faded away in the 2022-23 season when Saliba suffered a long-term injury and with him fully fit this campaign, the Gunners almost pipped Manchester City to the title.
The defender, 23, has the physicality to deal with any striker, while also having the pace to manage threats that goes behind the back four. He has it all, and if he stays in England, he'll be in the PFA Team of the Year every campaign.
7. Declan Rice
Declan Rice seems to have taken his game to another level since joining Arsenal, and the 25-year-old looks to be a future England captain.
The midfielder, who guided West Ham to UEFA Europa Conference League success before his move to north London, can play as a holding midfielder or as a box-to-box No. 8.
Now Rice is adding goals and assists to his game, he must be regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
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6. Bukayo Saka
From one Arsenal ace to another now, and we're focusing on Gunners starboy Bukayo Saka.
The 22-year-old has already made over 150 league appearances for the Gunners, and he's helped to turn them into genuine title contenders in the last couple of years.
Saka is comfortably one of the best attackers/wide men in England, and he's consistently racking up goals and assists. He also gives Son a run for his money when it comes to being Mr Nice Guy.
5. Rodri
Rodri is finally getting the credit he deserves for keeping Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side ticking over.
The Spaniard, who is a Rolls-Royce in the middle of the park while also doing City's dirty work and chipping in with important goals, netted the winner in the Champions League final while also scoring in their victory against West Ham on the final day of the Premier League season which saw them beat Arsenal to the title.
Rodri has been key in City completing the treble and lifting the Premier League four times in a row. He'll be a major part of the club's history forever.
4. Mohamed Salah
We'll step away from City's stars for a minute to discuss Liverpool's main man Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian had a slightly off season last time out but he has been a revelation since joining the Reds in 2013, and he's become Liverpool's all-time record scorer in the Premier League.
Salah, who has won three Golden Boots including a remarkable 32 goals in 36 starts in the 2017/18 season, guided the Reds to their only Premier League title in 2020, and he always steps up on the big occasions.
3. Phil Foden
Phil Foden is just 24 years old, but he's already won every major trophy with Manchester City, including an iconic treble in the 2022-23 season.
The silky lefty, who has already won six Premier League titles, can play on either wing or cause the opposition problems while playing in the middle. When playing as a 10 last campaign, Foden scored 19 league goals and finished with eight assists, while also scooping the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award.
Foden getting the ball on the half turn is a disaster for any defence in the world. He deserves to be on the list, and it's scary how he's nowhere near the peak of his powers.
2. Erling Haaland
Our No. 2 Erling Haaland is closely linked to our No. 1 Kevin De Bruyne, with the Norwegian often being set up by the Belgium international.
You could argue cases for either of them being the best player in the Premier League but we've got Haaland just behind his City team-mate.
Haaland has made a mockery of Premier League goalscoring statistics since heading to England, with the 23-year-old netting 63 goals in his first 66 appearances.
Haaland, who has won the Golden Boot in the last two seasons, doesn't need to be involved in City's build-up. With an almost robotic style, he knows where to be at exactly the right time. He's simply unstoppable.
1. Kevin De Bruyne
With City winning their fourth Premier League title in a row last season, it's hard to argue with Kevin De Bruyne being at the top of this list.
People may have forgotten about the Belgium playmaker with him being sidelined through injury for a few months last campaign -- however, he is arguably the best midfielder in the world.
De Bruyne has racked up 180 goals and assists (68 goals and 112 assists) in his 260 league appearances.
He's been instrumental in City's success in recent years, and he'll leave you stunned at least once a game. He's flirted with the idea of leaving Manchester and heading overseas now he's 32 years old so enjoy him while you can.
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