Ranking the 10 Best English Players Right Now

England has played a remarkable role in shaping the game with its globally popular and highly competitive league, the Premier League. Over the years, England has produced world-class players and the trend hasn’t slowed down the English players are dominating the English Premier League whereas, some of their top players are also plying their trades in other top-five European leagues such as La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A for some of the biggest, popular and the richest football clubs in the world.

With Thomas Tuchel appointed as the new manager of the Three Lions, the English football team and players have become a hot discussion topic among fans. Despite the world-class pool of players, they have struggled to taste success on the global stage. The England men’s football team has come close to lifting the FIFA World Cup by reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022.

While in the European Championship, they reached the final on two successive editions in 2021 and 2024, but missed out after losing in the finals at the hands of Italy in 2021 and Germany in 2024, earlier this summer.

Regardless of the recent disappointments, the Three Lions are ranked the 4th best footballing nation on FIFA rankings and boast a squad full of superstars and names who have the potential to end their curse of lifting titles. Since the 1966 FIFA World Cup glory, entire nations have coveted to taste of glory, with Thomas Tuchel in charge leading one of the best teams in the world, would they be able to finally get some triumph?

We have compiled a detailed list of the best English players in the world currently in this article. The rankings are based on various factors such as the number of appearances a player has made for England, players’ impact on the club’s performance and their role in the national team’s success, individual statistics from the 2023/24 season and their current form, etc have been taken into account to assemble the list of top 10 best English players in 2025.

Ranking Factors

England Caps: The first parameter to rank the best English footballer is to look at the number of times any English player has made appearances for the Three Lions on the International level.

Individual Performance: The second parameter to rank the best English players is to take a look at their performance for their respective teams, including club and country.

Current form: Their statistics from the 2023/24 season and current form for the club are also taken into consideration before assembling this list.

Best English Players Right Now

10. Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Jordan Pickford has fortified his place in the England national team as their first-choice shot-stopper, and he has been the most trusted name for Gareth Southgate over the years. However, he was under scrutiny most for performance on the club level at Everton. The goalkeeper quashed the accusations, keeping 13 league clean sheets in 38 Premier League outings in the 2023/24 season. Pickford’s performance was instrumental for Sean Dyche’s Everton to secure a mid-table finish and stay clear of the relegation threat.

The 31-year-old custodian has easily eliminated all the competition in the Three Lions camp from the likes of Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale, and Nick Pope to remain the first choice between the sticks. Pickford’s number for the England national team is incredible. In a total of 75 matches, he has kept an astonishing 37 clean sheets. Therefore, he is present, the best English keeper, and deserves a spot here.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	32
Goals conceded	38
Clean sheet	10

9. Kyle Walker (AC Milan)

Another Manchester City star who has made it to the list is Kyle Walker. The former Tottenham Hotspur defender was an integral part of the club’s recent success in bringing leadership and experience to the City’s backline. During the treble-winning 2023/24 season, Guardiola entrusted him with the captaincy responsibility, a role in which he excelled. Moreover, his attacking nature and defensive stability provide the right balance to both England and Man City’s teams and lead the club to lift numerous titles.

In City Colors, Walker played over 300 matches, netting 6 goals and recording 23 assists, whereas he holds a similar stature in England’s national team with 95 caps for his country. The 34-year-old Right back is the senior player and has been part of the set-up in all the major competitions in the last decade. It wouldn’t be fair not to include Kyle Walker in this list of best English players currently, and he just made his move to Serie A giants AC Milan on loan in the January window.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	30
Goals	0
Assists	0

8. John Stones (Man City)

Next up on the list is John Stones of Manchester City, the defender’s contribution to City’s dominance in the Premier League and domestic competition cannot be measured. The Englishman has been the difference maker for Pep Guardiola, who turned him from a traditional centre-half to an all-around versatile defender to arguably one of the best across Europe. The 30-year-old defender achieved six Premier League triumphs with the Citizens and was an important member of Man City’s treble-winning 2022/23 season.

Over the season, the centre-back played a monumental role in pairing up with the likes of Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte, and Ruben Dias, most recently. For England, Stones is a senior figure in the squad with 83 caps for the country since his first-ever appearance during an International friendly against Peru.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	11
Goals	2
Assists	0

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

The poster boy of Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, steadily positioned himself as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and Europe. He has been an integral part of Liverpool’s recent success and especially under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, he elevated his game to a peak. Recently, Arnold has garnered keen interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid as a transfer target in the summer. During the UEFA Euro 2024, Trent was utilized by Southgate as a central midfielder, where he showcased his dynamism by taking up the midfield role, making him one of the best English players right now.

His ability to operate in multiple positions sets him apart from the rest of the players in his position. Despite a severe knee injury, the 26-year-old made 28 league appearances for the Merseyside club and helped his side to secure a top-four finish in the 2023/24 season to return to the Champions League. The England defender has racked up 33 caps for the national team since his first appearance in 2018 at the age of 19.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	28
Goals	2
Assists	6

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6. Phil Foden (Man City)

Phil Foden was a leading figure in Manchester City’s league title defence in the 2023/24 season against the challengers Arsenal with his 19-goal tally and 8 assists in 35 games, and subsequently won the Premier League Player of the Year accolade. The attacker was a key player for Pep Guardiola, playing over 50 matches across all competitions and bagging 27 goals and 12 assists. Over the season, he has improved significantly, climbing the ranks of the club from the academy and he is now a star player of the club.

Foden has lifted the UEFA Champions League, 6 x Premier League titles, the FIFA Club World Cup, 4 x FA Cups, and 2 x Community Shields with the Citizens. For England, he debuted in 2020 after receiving a call-up under Gareth Southgate, and since then, he has appeared 45 times for the Three Lions, including the World Cup, Euro, and Nations League.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	25
Goals	7
Assists	2

5. Declan Rice (Arsenal)

In 2023, Arsenal made a significant investment to bolster their midfield as the London club broke the bank to sign Declan Rice on the club’s record transfer fee of £105 million from West Ham United, making him Arsenal’s most expensive signing. The midfielder was an instant hit among the fans with his commanding performance in the midfield and justified the most expensive player’s tag to earn the title of one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. In addition to his anchoring midfield role, he added plenty of goals to his game as well. His performance against Real Madrid in the UCL, where he scored 2 astonishing free kicks, makes him one of the best English players.

Last season, Rice scored 7 goals and provided 10 assists, steering the Gunners to finish as runners-up in the Premier League. Also, English International was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2023/2024 season. Since switching his allegiance to England after representing Ireland at the youth level, he has won 64 International caps for England and cemented his place as an indispensable player and would be an asset to the nation in the long run.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	30
Goals	2
Assists	6

4. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka is a homegrown talent who rose from the club’s academy to swiftly mould himself into the club’s key player in the attack by considering delivering through his performance. He is known for his pace, creativity, and exceptional finishing, and with his skills, he has become a pivotal cog in Mikel Arteta’s setup at the Emirates Stadium. Saka played an instrumental role in the club’s pursuit of Premier League glory in the past two seasons, though on both occasions, they fell short against Man City.

Last season, the winger produced 20 goals and assisted 14 times in 47 appearances across all competitions, among which 8 goal contributions had arrived in the UEFA Champions League. Whereas, during the 2022/23 campaign, the 23-year-old made 36 goal contributions, scoring 15 and assisting 11 in 48 games for the Gunners. The attacker is a regular call-up in the Three Lions camp and was part of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Euro, making 43 appearances and netting 12 goals and 7 assists. When Bukayo Saka is fit, he is one of the few English players in trend every single time, due to his skill and performance. Even recently against Real Madrid in the UCL, he performed exceptionally well and knocked out the defending champions from the competition.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	19
Goals	6
Assists	10

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3. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Cole Jermaine Palmer, nicknamed ‘Cold Palmer‘ for his famous goal-scoring celebration, is at number three on the list. In the summer of 2023, He opted for a shocking move to join Chelsea from his boyhood club Man City after not seeing his future with the club after taking his learnings and guidance from Pep Guardiola. Palmer flourished at Chelsea, delivering an illuminating individual campaign in which he notched 22 goals and provided 11 assists in the Premier League, helping Chelsea finish in 6th place. The 22-year-old is often regarded as one of the best England players right now.

On the International level, he made his England debut in 2023 and was part of Gareth Southgate’s Euro contingent; however, he did not get enough opportunity in the summer and only played 145′ minutes in the tournament. The 22-year-old scored a goal in the final against Spain and proved why he deserves more minutes with Tuchel’s arrival, he might get the desired chances. Meanwhile, he has started from where he had left off last season for the Blues, looking in sensational form this season as well. Palmer is one of the few English players in trend recently with his performances.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	31
Goals	14
Assits	8

2. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid’s English midfield sensation, Jude Bellingham’s journey from Birmingham to the Spanish capital has been remarkable. He rose through the ranks of Birmingham City youth and has become one of the best midfielders in the world right now following his success with Los Blancos. Bellingham recorded phenomenal numbers, racking up 23 goals and 13 assists in his debut campaign with the Spanish giants and steered his club to lift the La Liga and UEFA Champions League triumphs in 2023/24. The 21-year-old midfielder is often hailed as one of the best English players.

Ever since moving to Santiago Bernabeu last summer, Real Madrid splashed record-breaking transfer fees to secure his services. The 21-year-old swiftly established himself as one of the key players in the team under the supervision of the most decorated manager, Carlo Ancelotti, and proved his worth. The midfielder has been a regular for the England national team, earning 42 caps, following his debut in 2020 at the age of 17, which speaks volumes of his stature and the immense potential he has to unlock in the future.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	25
Goals	8
Assists	7

1. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

The England captain and Bayern Munich talisman Harry Kane is currently the most prolific goal scorer in world football for both club and country. He is widely acclaimed as the best modern-day forward equipped with versatility who has proven his skills in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspurs and now plays in the German top-tier, the Bundesliga, donning the Bavarian kit following his departure from London after nearly a decade-long spell in search of accolades.

The dynamic striker holds the title of England’s all-time top scorer with 71 goals in 105 appearances, while also being the highest goal scorer for Spurs with 280 in 435 appearances in all competitions. In addition, he also has the second-most goals in Premier League history, only behind Alan Shearer, boasting 213 goals in the league. In the 2023/24 season, which was his debut campaign with Bayern Munich, Kane smashed countless records, netting a record 44 goals and 12 assists in 45 games.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	27
Goals	23
Assists	7

List of 10 Best English Players in Trend

Rank	Player	England Caps	Club
1	Harry Kane	103	Bayern Munich
2	Jude Bellingham	40	Real Madrid
3	Cole Palmer	11	Chelsea
4	Bukayo Saka	43	Arsenal
5	Declan Rice	62	Arsenal
6	Phil Foden	43	Man City
7	Trent Alexander-Arnold	33	Liverpool
8	John Stones	83	Man City
9	Kyle Walker	93	AC Milan (loan)
10	Jordon Pickford	73	Everton

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