Premier League Player of the Year 2026: Top 10 Candidates Ranked

The 2025-26 Premier League season has kicked off with excitement as players like Erling Haaland, Declan Rice, and others dominate headlines. This article reviews the top 10 contenders for the Premier League Player of the Year (POTY) award.

The season has already offered remarkable results, thrilling goals, and players who have redefined the competition with skill and style. The POTY race is heating up with standout performers leading the charge. These players are pivotal for their clubs whether fighting for the title, Champions League spots, or battling relegation.

After a somewhat disappointing previous season, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has returned stronger than ever, driving Manchester City’s charge for the title once again. Meanwhile, Declan Rice anchors Arsenal’s midfield, playing a vital role in their campaign. Let’s dive into the Premier League 2026 POTY power rankings.

Top 10 Premier League POTY Contenders for 2026

This list includes a mix of attackers, midfielders, and defenders all making huge impacts this season. We rank these players based on their performances, influence on team success, and consistency. The stats used come from Sportsdunia’s Premier League data.

• 10. Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United, 26 years) - 5 goals + 1 assist, Avg. Rating: 7.3
• 9. Jurrien Timber (Arsenal, 24 years) - 2 goals + 1 assist, Avg. Rating: 7.2
• 8. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool, 25 years) - 1 goal + 1 assist, Avg. Rating: 7.2
• 7. Jeremy Doku (Manchester City, 23 years) - 1 goal + 3 assists, Avg. Rating: 7.2
• 6. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland, 33 years) - 1 goal + 3 assists, Avg. Rating: 7.3
• 5. Declan Rice (Arsenal, 26 years) - 2 goals + 2 assists, Avg. Rating: 7.4
• 4. Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth, 25 years) - 6 goals + 3 assists, Avg. Rating: 7.0
• 3. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal, 27 years) - 1 goal + 2 assists, Avg. Rating: 7.3
• 2. Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea, 24 years) - 3 goals + 1 assist, Avg. Rating: 7.3
• 1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, 25 years) - 14 goals + 1 assist, Avg. Rating: 7.7

What Shapes the Premier League POTY Rankings?

Fans and analysts judge these players by three main factors:

• Individual Performance: Basic stats like goals, assists, tackles, and passes play a major role.
• Consistency: A player's overall form through the season counts more than occasional flashes of brilliance.
• Team Impact: How much a player influences his team's results and success shapes their standing in the rankings.

These stats cover only Premier League matches and come from sources such as Sportsdunia, FB Brief, and FotMob.

Player Profiles in the 2026 POTY Race

• Bryan Mbeumo: Signed by Manchester United, Mbeumo offers sharp finishing and creative threat cutting inside from the right wing. He has 5 goals and 1 assist this season, generating nearly 1.8 chances per game with almost 5 touches in the opponent's box per match.
• Jurrien Timber: Arsenal's commanding right-back, Timber combines aggressive defending with effective forward runs. His 2 goals accompany solid defensive stats including 3.47 tackles per game and winning over half his duels.
• Dominik Szoboszlai: The Hungarian midfielder dazzles with an 86.9% pass accuracy and impressive dribbling success of 60%. Despite Liverpool’s struggles, he continues to impress creatively.
• Jeremy Doku: An electrifying winger for Manchester City, Doku contributes 1 goal and 3 assists while averaging nearly 5 successful dribbles per game, unsettling defenses and creating space for teammates like Haaland.
• Granit Xhaka: At Sunderland, Xhaka leads the midfield with 1 goal and 3 assists. His vision and passing helped push Sunderland into a surprising fourth place.
• Declan Rice: Arsenal’s midfield engine, Rice supports both defense and attack, scoring twice and assisting twice with a 70% dribble success rate.
• Antoine Semenyo: Bournemouth’s Ghanaian winger stands out with 6 goals and 3 assists, carrying his side to ninth despite some defensive setbacks.
• Gabriel Magalhães: Arsenal’s rock at center back, Gabriel combines strong aerial ability with accurate passing (90% accuracy), contributing 1 goal and 2 assists.
• Moisés Caicedo: Chelsea’s £115 million signing has bounced back strongly, delivering 3 goals and an assist while excelling in interceptions and tackles, helping Chelsea sit third.
• Erling Haaland: The leading scorer so far with 14 goals and 1 assist. Haaland boasts a 31.8% shot conversion rate and improved link-up play, with over 7 touches inside the box per game, embodying Manchester City’s attacking threat.

FAQs About Premier League POTY 2026

• When is the Premier League POTY awarded? Typically during the second or third week of May.
• How many POTY awards has Haaland won? Just one so far.
• How many times has Mohamed Salah won? Three times: 2018, 2022, and 2025.
• Where does Declan Rice rank? Fifth in the 2026 POTY rankings.
• Is Antoine Semenyo in the top 10? Yes, he holds the fourth spot.
• Does Mohamed Salah appear in the 2026 rankings? No, he does not make the list this year.