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 Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor as the new manager of Three Lions, the English football team and players have become a hot discussion topic among the fans. Despite, the world-class pool of players they have struggled to taste success on the global stage as the England men’s football team lately, come close to lifting the FIFA World Cup and reached the semi-finals in 2018 and Quarter-finals in 2022. While in the European Championship, they reached the finale 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 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 World Cup glory entire nations have coveted to taste glory now with Thomas Tuchel in charge leading one of the best teams in the world, would they be able to finally get some triumph?
Following that, we have compiled a detailed list of the top 15 best English footballers in the world currently in this article. The rankings are ensured on various factors such as players’ impact on the club’s performance and their role in the national team and individual statistics from the 2023/24 and current season will be taken into account to assemble the names on the list.
Ranking Factors
- England Caps
- Club Performence
- Individual stats
- Significance for their respective teams
List of top 15 best English Footballers in 2024 (Ranked)
| 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 | Ollie Watkins | 18 | Aston Villa |
| 9 | John Stones | 83 | Man City |
| 10 | Kyle Walker | 93 | Man City |
| 11 | Jordon Pickford | 73 | Everton |
| 12 | Anthony Gordon | 9 | Newcastle United |
| 13 | Jarrod Bowen | 14 | West Ham United |
| 14 | Marc Guehi | 22 | Crystal Palace |
| 15 | Dominic Solanke | 3 | Tottenham Hotspurs |
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 playing 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 68 goals in 100 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 the Premier League history only behind Alan Shearer boasting 213 totals in the league. In the 2023/24 season, which was his debut campaign with Bayern Munich Kane smashed uncountable records netting record 44 goals and 12 assists in 45 games.
Harry Kane’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 19 |
| Goals | 20 |
| Assists | 9 |
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.
Ever since, moving to Santiago Bernabeu last summer, when 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 Ancelloti and proved his worth. The midfielder has been a regular for the England national team earning 36 caps, following his debut in 2020 at the age of 17 speaks volumes of his stature and the immense potential he needs to unlock in future.
Jude Bellingham’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 20 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 6 |
Also Read: Last 10 Everton Managers in the past 20 years
3. Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Cole Jermaine Palmer nicknamed ‘Cold Palmer‘ for his famous goal-scoring celebration is third best English footballer 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 6th place.
On the International level, he made his England debut in 2023 and was part of Gareth Southgate’s Euro contingent however 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.
Cole Palmer’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 17 |
| Goals | 11 |
| 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 attack by considering delivering through his performance. He is known for his pace, creativity exceptional finishing and with his skills, he has become a pivotal cog in Mikel Arteta’s set-up 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.
Bukayo Saka’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 22 |
| Goals | 9 |
| Assists | 12 |
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 fee 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.
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 alliance to England after representing Ireland at the youth level, he has won 60 International caps for England and cemented his place as an indispensable player and would be an asset to the nation in the long haul.
Declan Rice’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 20 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 4 |
6. Phil Foden (Man City)
Phil Foden was a leading figure in Manchester City’s league title defence in the 2023/24 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 assisting plays. 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 41 times for three Lions including World Cup, Euro and Nations League.
Phil Foden’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 17 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
7. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
The poster boy of Liverpool, Trent Alexander Arnold steadily positioned himself as one the best Right back 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 peak. Recently, Arnold has garnered keen interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid as a transfer target in the summer. During the Euro, he was utilized by Southgate as a central midfielder where showcased his dynamism by taking up the midfield role.
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 31 caps for the national team since his first appearances in 2018 at the age of 19.
Trent Alexander Arnold’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 19 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 4 |
Also Read: Ranking the top 10 South Korean footballers | All Time
8. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
The Aston Villa striker rose to prominence courtesy of his standout 2023/24 season, as he bagged 19 goals and with his playmaking skills provided 13 assists in a total of 37 Premier League matches. His heroics fired The Villians to reserve a fourth-place finish to earn Champions League football last season for the first time since the competition’s rebranding as the UEFA Champions League. Watkins has been a pivotal player since he arrived at Villa Park from Brentford in 2020 recording double figures in goals.
Thanks to his club campaign opened the door of the England men’s national team set-up for Aston Villa ace forward. He is striving to steadily position himself as the successor of Harry Kane, as he is only 28 years old and has so much to offer and maintain his place in the National team for the foreseeable future. So far, he has played 17 times for England and scored 4 goals.
Ollie Watkins’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 22 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 5 |
9. 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 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, Nicholas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias most recently. For England, Stones is a senior figure in the squad with 81 caps for the country since his first-ever appearance during an International friendly against Peru.
John Stone’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 11 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 0 |
10. Kyle Walker (Man City)
Another Manchester City star who has made it to the list is Kyle Walker, the former Tottenham Hotspurs defender is an internal 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 90 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 to not include Kyle Walker in this list of top English footballers currently.
Kyle Walker’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 14 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
11. 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 most under scrutiny for performance on the club level with Everton, the Goalkeeper quashed the accusations keeping 13 league clean sheets in 38 Premier League outings in the 2023/24 season. Pickoford’s performance was instrumental for Sean Dyches toffees to secure a mid-table finish and stay clear of the relegation threat.
The 30-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 total of 71 matches he has kept an astonishing 33 clean sheets therefore, he is present, the best English keeper and deservedly earns a spot here.
Jordon Pickford’s stats 2024/25
| Appearences | 16 |
| Clean Sheets | 7 |
| Goals Conceded | 21 |
12. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
In January 2023, Anthony Gordon left his boyhood club Everton FC to join Newcastle United on a £45 million deal it was a highly promising move for both club and player, but the forward initially struggled to settle at St James Park leading to questions on his arrival. However, gradually Gordon Integrated into Eddie Howe’s first eleven and never looked back again evolving into the club’s standout performer racking up 23 goals and contributions that include 12 goals and 11 assists in 48 outings across all competition.
His heroics came to light when Gareth Southgate handed him his England debut earlier this year in March against Brazil in a friendly clash at Wembley Stadium. Later in the summer, he was included in the Three Lions Euro 2024 squad in Germany though he spent the entire tournament on the bench with single appearances as a substitute. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old has an eventful future ahead.
Anthony Gordon’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 18 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 2 |
13. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
Jarrod is undoubtedly one of the best players in the Premier League right now. ever since the forward moved to the English capital to join West Ham United from Hull City in 2020. Following his last season’s brilliant performance scoring 20 goals and 10 assists while making 44 appearances for the Hammers in all competition. He has developed into a prominent figure at his club and was part of the club’s first-ever major European triumph in claiming the UEFA Europa Conference League in the 2022/23 season.
The 27-year-old has made 211 appearances for West Ham United, accumulating 63 goals and 41 assists and under Julien Lopetegui he has been tasked with skipper responsibility. Bowen’s career has quickly ascended in recent times and his development under David Moyes has been crucial due to which he earned his England debut at the age of 25 in 2022. The forward has played 12 matches for his country though still in search of his first-ever goal for the Three Lions.
Jarrod Bowen’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 17 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 4 |
14. Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
The Crystal Palace defender enjoyed a breakout 2023/24 campaign under Oliver Glasner, the former Chelsea player had joined the Eagles back in 2021 from Stamford Bridge. This move presented, Marx Guehi with the opportunity to embark fresh journey after a successful loan spell at Swansea. The Cobham graduate unhurriedly slotted himself into the Crytal Palace backline over the seasons. But, his best was put on display last season, when he helped the London outfit to achieve one of the best league finishes at 10th position.
Following the impressive season, he was soon on the wishlist of many top Premier League transfer targets this summer, however, the centre-back opted to stay at Selhurst Park and continue being the key player. The 24-year-old is now a guaranteed starter in the England national team’s backline teaming up with John Stones, also he was a first-choice centre-back in the Euro 2024 making six appearances for the Three Lions.
Marc Guehi’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 18 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 1 |
15. Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspurs)
Dominic Solanke’s rise to fame is remarkable as he has earned the reputation of a prolific striker in the Premier League, he has long been forecasted for success since his Chelsea days. Solanke is a Chelsea academy graduate who left the Blues to play for Liverpool following a brief spell at Anfield and then moved to AFC Bournemouth in 2019. Solanke’s amazing 19 goals 2023/24 campaign for the Cherries helped the club to finish at the 12th position in the league’s table and clinch a high-profile move to North London.
This summer, Tottenham Hotspurs paid a club-record transfer fee of £65 million to acquire the services of the 27-year-old to solve their goal-scoring problems of Ange Postecoglou. Solanke is off to a decent start as well already netting 3 goals and 2 assists in 8 games for Spurs and eventually received his first England national team call-up since 2017 under Lee Carsley for the October international break earlier this month.
Dominic Solanke’s stats 2024/25
| Appearances | 20 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 4 |
Also Read: Ranking the top 15 Argentine footballers | All Time
FAQs
Q. Who is the best England football player?
A. Harry Kane of Bayern Munich is the best English player in the world.
Q. Who is England’s best centre-back currently?
A. John Stones of Man City is England’s best centre-back currently.
Q. Who are England’s football legends?
A. David Beckham, Stevan Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton are a few English football legends.
Q. Who is England’s all-time top scorer?
A. Harry Kane is England’s all-time top scorer with 68 goals in 100 appearances for England.
Q. Which English player plays for La Liga club Real Madrid?
A. Jude Bellingham is an English player who plays for Real Madrid.