Playmakers are essential to a football team’s attack, using their vision and passing skills to set up goals. In the 2024/25 Premier League season, several players have distinguished themselves in this role. This article ranks the top 11 Premier League playmakers based on key statistics that measure creativity and effectiveness.
Ranking Criteria:
- Assists: The primary indicator of a playmaker’s effectiveness, representing the number of goals directly facilitated. The Premier League Playmaker of the Season award is presented to the player with the highest number of assists each season.
- Chances Created: This metric encompasses the total number of goal-scoring opportunities a player generates, reflecting their vision and ability to unlock defenses.
- Key Passes per Game: Evaluates the frequency of passes that lead directly to a shot on goal, highlighting consistency in creating offensive opportunities.
- Expected Assists (xA): Measures the quality of chances created by a player, indicating the likelihood that a given pass will become an assist based on historical data.
- Minutes Played: Provides context to per-game statistics, ensuring that players are evaluated on both their efficiency and their overall contribution throughout the season.
By analyzing these metrics, we aim to present an objective ranking of the Premier League’s top playmakers as of March 31, 2025, highlighting those who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and influence in their teams’ performances.
11. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
Stats: 6 assists, ~2.5 key passes/game, 6 goals, 82% pass accuracy, ~2.5 dribbles/game
Analysis: Eze’s slick dribbling (2.5 per game) and 5-7 assists make him Palace’s creative hub post-Olise.
His 2.5 key passes per game and 82% pass accuracy reflect his growing passing range, while his 6 goals add potency. Eze’s flair—1.9 key passes and 2.5 dribbles last season—shines through, though Palace’s struggles limit his output. At 26, he’s a playmaker on the cusp of elite status, rounding out this list.
10. Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Stats: 9 assists, ~2.2 key passes/game, 6 goals, 85% pass accuracy, ~1.8 dribbles/game
Analysis: Son has thrived as Tottenham’s post-Kane creator, with 9 assists and 6 goals in 29 games. His 2.2 key passes per game (down from 2.5 last season) belie his efficiency, while his 85% pass accuracy and 1.8 dribbles per game showcase his reliability and flair. Son’s transitional play—11 big chances created in 2024—drives Spurs’ attack, and his leadership as captain amplifies his impact. He’s a playmaker with a striker’s edge, though his key-pass volume keeps him below pure creators.
9. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
Stats: 5 assists, ~3.3 key passes/game, 7 goals, 81% pass accuracy, ~2.0 dribbles/game
Analysis: Gibbs-White has been Forest’s breakout star, driving their surprising top-half push. His 5 assists and career-high 3.3 key passes per game (up from 2.1 last season) reflect his growing influence. With 81% pass accuracy and 2.0 dribbles per game, he’s a dynamic No. 10, blending creativity with tenacity.
His 11 big chances created in 2024 rank him among the elite, and his four goals add versatility. Gibbs-White’s flair shines in a less glamorous side, making his playmaking stand out, though his numbers don’t yet match the top tier.
8. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)
Stats: 4 assists, ~2.9 key passes/game, 2 goals, 88% pass accuracy, ~1.5 dribbles/game
Analysis: Ødegaard’s season started late due to injury, but his return has restored Arsenal’s rhythm. His 4 assists and 2.9 key passes per game (matching last season) highlight his orchestration from midfield. With 88% pass accuracy and 1.5 dribbles per game, he’s a technician who rarely wastes possession.
Last season, he led the league in shots created, and his 10 big chances in 2024 suggest he’s trending similarly. Ødegaard’s deft touch and ability to unlock tight defenses—60% through-ball completion rate—make him vital, though his lower assist tally and goal output place him below flashier names.
7. Anthony Elenga (Nottingham Forest)
Stats: 8 Assists, 77.7 pass accuracy , 39 chances created , and over 350 successful passes .
Analysis: Anthony Elanga has been a pivotal playmaker for Nottingham Forest during the 2024/25 Premier League season.
The 22-year-old Swedish international has recorded 8 assists in 29 league appearances, placing him among the top assist providers in the league.
Elanga’s creativity is further highlighted by his 26 big chances created, showcasing his ability to generate significant goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. Additionally, he has delivered 224 crosses, demonstrating his proficiency in delivering the ball into dangerous areas.
These statistics underscore Elanga’s growing influence as a playmaker, contributing significantly to Nottingham Forest’s attacking dynamics throughout the season.
6. Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Stats: 10 assists, ~2.0 key passes/game, 0 goals, 80% pass accuracy, ~1.5 dribbles/game
Analysis: A left-back in a playmaker list? Robinson’s 2024/25 season demands it. His 10 assists tie him for second in the league, a remarkable feat for a defender. Averaging around 2.0 key passes per game, he’s Fulham’s primary attacking outlet, with 13 successful open-play crosses (second in the division).
His 80% pass accuracy and 1.5 dribbles per game reflect his dual role: solid defensively, electric going forward. Robinson’s overlapping runs and pinpoint deliveries have fueled Fulham’s push for Europe, making him a unique playmaker. His lack of goals and lower key-pass volume compared to midfielders keep him at No. 5, but his impact from an unconventional position is undeniable
5. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Stats: 9 assists, ~2.9 key passes/game, 8 goals, 82% pass accuracy, ~1.2 dribbles/game
Analysis: Fernandes remains United’s creative heartbeat despite managerial turmoil. His 9 assists (9 reported in some sources by late March) and 2.9 key passes per game (matching last season’s rate) show his consistency.
With 13 big chances created in 2024 alone, he’s a volume creator, though his 82% pass accuracy and 1.2 dribbles per game suggest room for refinement. Fernandes’ 8 goals add a scoring edge, and his 72 shots (eighth in the league) reflect his ambition.
His progressive passing—most in the league per some metrics—breaks lines, but United’s dysfunction caps his output. At 30, he’s still a top playmaker, though his ceiling is limited by context.
4. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Stats: 6 assists, ~2.5 key passes/game, 14 goals, 83% pass accuracy, ~1.8 dribbles/game
Analysis: Palmer’s meteoric rise continues in 2024/25, with 6 assists and 14 goals in 27 games cementing him as Chelsea’s talisman. His four-goal, one-assist haul against Brighton in September 2024 was a statement of his playmaking ability, and his 11 goal involvements by October made him an early Player of the Season contender. Averaging around 2.5 key passes per game (down slightly from 2.2 last season but still elite), Palmer ranks second in chances created (23 by October) and through balls (6).
His 83% pass accuracy and 1.8 dribbles per game reflect a player who combines composure with creativity, while his two goals from outside the box showcase his range. Palmer’s “cold” demeanor belies his hot form, elevating a chaotic Chelsea side into European contention. At 22, he’s already a top-tier playmaker, though his assist tally trails Salah and Saka.
3. Mikkel Damsgaard
Stats: 10 Assists, 2 goals, 77% pass accuracy , 51 chances created and 825 successful passes.
Analysis:
Mikkel Damsgaard has emerged as a key playmaker for Brentford during the 2024/25 Premier League season. Over 29 league appearances, he has recorded 2 goals and 10 assists, placing him among the team’s top contributors. His vision and technical skills have been instrumental in creating goal-scoring opportunities, as evidenced by his 33 key passes—second only to Bryan Mbeumo within the squad.
Beyond his offensive contributions, Damsgaard has demonstrated resilience by overcoming previous health challenges, including injuries and rheumatoid arthritis, to become a standout performer in the Premier League. His successful integration into Brentford’s dynamic playing style underscores his adaptability and the club’s supportive environment, which has enabled him to regain confidence and thrive on the field.
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Stats: 10 assists, ~3.2 key passes/game, 5 goals, 85% pass accuracy, ~2.5 dribbles/game
Analysis: Saka’s season was cut short by a hamstring injury in December 2024, but his 10 assists in 16 games (0.63 per game) underline his status as Arsenal’s creative linchpin. Before the injury, he was on pace to challenge Thierry Henry’s single-season assist record (20).
His key passes average (around 3.2, up from 2.8 last season) reflects his growing influence, with 42 chances created and 12 big chances (both league highs at the time). Saka’s 85% pass accuracy and 2.5 dribbles per game highlight his blend of reliability and flair, while his 51 shot-creating actions (tops in the league pre-injury) show how he drives Arsenal’s attack. Even with fewer games, his per-game impact rivals Salah’s, and his set-piece delivery—16 successful crosses—adds another layer.
1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Stats: 17 assists, ~3.0 key passes/game, 27 goals, 87% pass accuracy, ~2.0 dribbles/game
Analysis: Salah tops this list not just for his jaw-dropping assist tally—seven more than his nearest rival—but for his all-encompassing creative dominance. At 32, he’s evolved from a prolific winger into a hybrid playmaker-striker under Arne Slot, dictating Liverpool’s attack with surgical precision.
His 17 assists in 29 matchdays reflect a player at the peak of his powers, averaging over 0.5 assists per game. Add in his 27 goals, and he’s the league’s most complete attacking force. Salah’s key passes (around 3.0 per game, based on last season’s 2.7) consistently carve open defenses, while his dribbling (around 2.0 per game) keeps opponents guessing.
NOTABLE MENTIONS
- Jacob Murphy
- Kelvin De BRUYNE
- Savinho
- Alexander Trent
