15 Best Strikers in the Premier League Ranked (2026)

Scoring goals is one of the hardest things in football, but it’s also one of the most important. At the end of the day, goals win games, and finding the back of the net in the Premier League is particularly difficult, given strikers are often up against some of the best defenders in the world.

Over the years, though, there have been some brilliant centre-forwards in the English top flight. Alan Shearer, Luis Suarez, and Didier Drogba are just some of the names that come to mind when thinking about the greatest marksmen in the game.

Today, the league is blessed to have arguably the best goalscorer in the world in the form of Erling Haaland playing in the Premier League. But others, such as Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak, have proven that they are clinical in front of goal too. So, who are the 15 finest forwards in the Premier League right now?

Ranking factors

• How well they are performing in the 2025/26 season.
• How well they performed during the 2024/25 season.
• Their status compared to other strikers – where do they stand in the pecking order?
• Overall importance to their respective teams – how well do their sides perform with/without them?
• Success – how successful they have been at their current sides, both collectively and individually.
• Injuries – sustained periods on the sidelines were taken into account.

15

Kai Havertz, Arsenal

Having scored the goal to win Chelsea a second Champions League, Kai Havertz elected to make the switch across London to Arsenal in 2023. And after a slow start, it’s fair to say that the German has found a more settled home at the Emirates.

Despite some claiming that the Gunners need to play a more natural centre-forward (more on him later), they look a much better team whenever they have Havertz leading the line. That was evident last season, when he scored nine times in 23 appearances, and this term too, as Arsenal’s link-up play became more sleek in 2026 with him up top. Having only played limited minutes, though, it’s impossible to rank him any higher.

14

Raul Jimenez, Fulham

Raul Jimenez was a regular goalscorer in the Premier League during his days as a Wolves player. The Mexican was talismanic at Molineux, finding the back of the net 40 times in 135 league matches.

However, a sickening head collision with Arsenal’s David Luiz in 2020 left Jimenez with a fractured skull. After speculation over whether he’d even be able to return to the pitch, he eventually moved to Fulham. The veteran centre-forward gives the Cottagers so much in his intelligent movement and strong hold-up play, and while he’s far from clinical, six goals and three assists is a respectable return.

13

Eli Kroupi Junior, Bournemouth

Signed from Lorient in the summer transfer window, you’d have been forgiven for knowing relatively little about Eli Kroupi Junior. But he looks set to follow in the footsteps of other talented strikers who have also played on the south coast, given what we’ve seen from him so far.

The France U21 star has managed to rack up eight strikes in 21 appearances, with him looking right at home in the Premier League despite only being 19-years-old. It feels like it’s only a matter of time until Kroupi is being linked with a move elsewhere, but he needs to be starting more games if he wants to rise up the rankings here.

12

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds United

Nobody had a Dominic Calvert-Lewin resurgence on their bingo cards in 2025/26. Having departed Everton under a cloud of injury woes, the England international has found excellent form at Leeds United.

The centre-forward netted seven goals in his six Premier League appearances during November and December, with his fine form massively benefitting Daniel Farke’s side. He really is a menace inside the penalty area, using his big frame to hold the ball up and dominate opposition defenders in the air.

11

Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal

Ever since the days of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finding the back of the net with ease, Arsenal have lacked a reliable, out-and-out striker. Gabriel Jesus is among those to have been tried in the solitary centre-forward berth, but the Emirates Stadium faithful really thought they had landed their long-term striker upon signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

A goalscoring revelation in Portugal, having plundered 54 goals across all competitions last season, the Swede joined the Gunners with plenty of promise – but his goal return has proven the chasm in quality between the Primeira Liga and the Premier League. Thus far, Gyokeres has struck eight times in 25 league appearances and his link-up play has left a lot to be desired.

10

Danny Welbeck, Brighton & Hove Albion

It really did look like Danny Welbeck’s career would dwindle with a whimper a few years ago. Injuries had kept him out of action for large portions of time, and he couldn’t put together a consistent run with either Arsenal or Watford. Things have turned around at Brighton & Hove Albion, though, and the former Manchester United man has been in excellent goal-getting form.

The 35-year-old has rolled back the years so far during 2025/26, and he’s scored nine goals in 26 league appearances so far for the Seagulls. It’s hard to imagine anyone thinking Welbeck would be the man capable of leading Brighton’s front line and in with a chance for England’s 2026 World Cup squad, but that’s exactly what he’s done so far. A remontada for ages – long may it continue.

9

Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace

Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s name may not be as sexy as other names on the list, especially given he is Crystal Palace’s chief line-leader. Nobody foresaw the impact he’d have on the Eagles following his move from Mainz, but the 28-year-old has no doubt exceeded all expectations since his 2022 switch.

Sensational in front of goal, the French international plundered 14 goals in 2024/25, and took that form into the early stages of 2025/26. But since grabbing his seventh goal of the season against Manchester United, he’s only scored once since then and has missed recent matches through a knee injury. That’s led to Palace signing Jorgen Stand Larsen, but the Norwegian has big boots to fill at Selhurst Park.

8

Nick Woltemade, Newcastle United

There was a major change in Eddie Howe’s centre-forward department in the summer as Alexander Isak made a record-breaking move to Liverpool. Yoane Wissa was signed by the Magpies, but an injury to the DR Congo man meant that Nick Woltemade was approached. Despite interest from Bayern Munich, the lanky talisman moved to England from VfB Stuttgart.

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Cool, calm and collected, the eight-cap Germany international – alongside his compatriot Malick Thiaw – was seemingly an excellent addition to the St James’ Park fold. But having plundered seven goals by gameweek 17, he’s failed to find the back of the net since scoring twice against Chelsea before Christmas. Nevertheless, at 23-years-old, Woltemade could be the man to lead the line for the northeast outfit for years to come.

7

Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa

Aston Villa went from looking like potential relegation candidates under Steven Gerrard to playing in Europe’s top table under Unai Emery. A sensational turnaround, and one that would probably not have happened were it not for the utter brilliance of Ollie Watkins, who is widely regarded as one of the best frontmen in world football thanks to his goalscoring form over the years.

The English striker, who remains second fiddle to Harry Kane on the international scene, took his game to new heights in 2022/23 and has been serially reliable since. He improved again in 2023/24, scoring 19 Premier League goals as Villa secured qualification for the Champions League. Since then, the striker’s form has become more patchy, highlighted by the fact that half his league goals in 2024/25 came within a span of three games.

6

Matheus Cunha, Manchester United

Last season begged the question of where on earth Wolverhampton Wanderers would be right now without the brilliance of Matheus Cunha? Well, now we know because he’s joined Manchester United and the Molineux outfit are bottom of the table, and the Brazilian has endured a rather decent start to life at Old Trafford. A constant goal threat, Cunha has sometimes lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, but his game is more than just goal-scoring.

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In 2025/26, it was clear the former Atletico Madrid star is playing at a level below what he is currently capable of – and his personality surely means that he will be able to handle the pressure of being under the spotlight at United. Having made a slow start to the season, Cunha has picked up the pace, scoring five goals in 10 matches while also popping up with two assists.