The Premier League has long had a strange obsession with strikers—the players who make headlines because they are the last to touch the ball before it enters the net. But come on, football isn’t simply about who scores anymore. It’s about the build-up, the drama, and the chess movements that lead up to the knockout punch. The actual magic? That is conjured up by the playmakers—the puppeteers, rebels, and those who create the script before the goal is even achieved.
And, honestly, the concept of playmaking has been turned on its head.
Remember when the classic No.10 would simply hang out behind the striker, twiddling his thumbs, looking for an opportunity to drop a lethal pass? Yeah, those days are over. You now have a wide range of people running the show. Guys like Declan Rice and Adam Wharton are not even in the final third.
They’re deep, pulling strings, and turning the game on its head with a single pass out of nowhere. Then you have chaos agents like Jérémy Doku, who doesn’t even seek for a pass and instead ruins defensive preparations with his maze runs. Bukayo Saka and João Pedro have taken on traditional winger roles, cutting inside and slipping passes like clandestine No.10s. And, of course, the traditional risk-takers, such as Bruno Fernandes, are all about gambling, living for that one killer ball that may not come off nine times out of ten, but when it does? Boom.
Oh, and don’t assume this list is only about assist stats. It’s all about control. It’s about the players that grab a contest by the scruff of the neck and can propel their team forward even when things are going wrong. The actual architects, not merely those with numbers next to their names.
10. David Brooks, Bournemouth
Look, Bournemouth isn’t exactly a highlight reel favorite, but Brooks? He’s got vision for days. He isn’t just inserting himself into their attack; he is the attack most weeks.
He’s threading passes where most players wouldn’t notice a space. Sure, it’s a smaller club, but that only amplifies his influence—he’s the one everyone goes to when something needs to happen.
9. Bruno Fernandes— Manchester United.
Despite Manchester United’s inconsistency, Bruno Fernandes remains one of the league’s most prolific creators. He makes more risky passes than any other midfielder in England, and while not all of them succeed, he is the type of player who drives breakthroughs rather than waiting for them.
8. Mohamed Salah — Liverpool.
Salah is most recognized as a goal scorer, but during the last two seasons, he has developed into a dual creator-finisher. His partnership with Trent Alexander-Arnold has transformed Liverpool’s right flank into a source of opportunities.
Even when he isn’t scoring, he’s attracting defenders, freeing overlapping runners, or allowing teammates past. He is Liverpool’s most constant source of goal involvement—not just goals.
7. Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers is one of the Premier League’s most understated innovators. Instead of threading lethal passes, he manipulates defenders through movement. He receives between the lines, moves ahead, and causes shape alterations that provide room for others. Under Unai Emery, he functions as a hybrid No.8/10.
6. Adam Wharton – Crystal Palace
Wharton is what, twenty-one? Plays with the calm of someone who has been around since the Stone Age. He’s constantly there for the ball, never panics, and actively seeks hazardous passes. He’s beginning Palace’s moves from deep, and you can already see he’ll be one of the midfielders everyone talks about in a few years. Not your typical “young talent” narrative.
5. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland
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