Top 10 Best English Players in Football – Currently Ranked

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.

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?

List of Current Best English Footballers

Here are the best English players making their mark in world football right now, ranked by their overall impact and performance levels. We’ve ranked them through 4 major factors mentioned below the table, which made things easier for us to filter out the best English players from the rest.

How We Ranked the Best Current English Football Players?

Performance Stats: The first and most important factor we considered while ranking the best English players was their performance stats, like for midfielders, their progressive passes and carries, for defenders, their defensive metrics (interceptions, blocks, and more), and for forwards, their goal scoring ability.

Consistency: We tried to include players based on their performance and consistency in the recently concluded season, as well as the past season. This helped us in identifying the best English players from the rest.

Impact in Key Matches: The third parameter to rank the best English players was their impact during the key matches, like UEFA Champions League games, key derby or rivalry matches in the domestic leagues.

Trophies/Achievements: The last factor that was considered while compiling this list was the number of trophies and individual achievements won by the players in the 2024/25 season.

Who is the Best English Footballer Right Now?

Harry Kane currently stands as the best English player right now, combining exceptional goal-scoring ability with leadership qualities that make him indispensable for both club and country.

10. Jack Grealish (Man City)

Jack Grealish has found his feet at Manchester City after a tough start to life at the Etihad. He’s still the tricky winger who loves to beat players and win free kicks, but now he’s doing it in Pep’s system, which isn’t always easy for flair players.

What’s impressive about Jack is how he’s learned to play Guardiola’s way without losing what makes him special. He might not always be the first name on the team sheet, but when City need someone to change a game or keep the ball under pressure, he’s their man.

9. 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 12 clean sheets in 38 Premier League outings in the 2024/25 season.

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 76 matches, he has kept an astonishing 38 clean sheets. Therefore, he is present, the best English keeper, and deserves a spot here.

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.

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.

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid)

The poster boy of Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, steadily positioned himself as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and Europe. 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. The 26-year-old made 44 league appearances for the Merseyside club and helped his side to secure the league title in the 2024/25 season. The England defender has racked up 34 caps for the national team since his first appearance in 2018 at the age of 19. He recently secured a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

6. Phil Foden (Man City)

Phil Foden was a leading figure in Manchester City’s league title defence in the 2024/25 season against the challengers Arsenal and Liverpool, which they ultimately fell short in, but made a decent contribution with his 7-goal tally and 2 assists in 28 games. The attacker was a key player for Pep Guardiola, playing over 48 matches across all competitions and bagging 12 goals and 6 assists.

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.

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. 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. Since switching his allegiance to England after representing Ireland at the youth level, he has won 66 International caps for England and cemented his place as an indispensable player and would be an asset to the nation in the long run. Rice has been one of the best English football players right now.

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 2024/25 campaign, the 23-year-old made 25 goal contributions, scoring 25 and assisting 13 in 37 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 44 appearances and netting 12 goals and 8 assists.

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. 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.

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. 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 44 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.

1. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Who else would be the best English footballer if not Harry Edward Kane? 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 73 goals in 107 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 2024/25 season, Kane continued his goalscoring spree for the German club, netting 41 goals and 12 assists in 50 games across all competitions.