12 Most Disappointing Premier League Players of 2024/25 [Ranked]

What makes the Premier League, one of the toughest leagues in world football, so special is its unpredictability. For every player that has set the division alight, there is another – often devoid of any sort of confidence – that has struggled to hit the ground running.

Whether it’s a new signing, who is still settling into proceedings at their respective club, or a long-serving player, who knows their club inside out, there are always a handful of players – even those who ply their trade for the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool – who have flattered to deceive.

As a result: here are, seven games into the 2024/25 Premier League campaign as we enter the October international break, the 12 most disappointing players this far. Taking the following ranking factors into careful consideration, the collection of top tier stars have been ranked.

Ranking factors

• Goals
• Assists
• Clean Sheets
• Expectations at the start of the season
• Individual performances
• Contributions as part of the team

1 Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United

From a Manchester United supporters’ perspective, no other post-Sir Alex Ferguson signing has been more influential than Bruno Fernandes – that’s a well-renowned opinion. But this season, from their 1-0 win over Fulham to the October international break, the Portuguese talisman has flattered to deceive.

Over the years, the 1994-born star – still widely admired as one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the world – has become a reliable source of goals for the Old Trafford-based outfit, but this season is much different. A petulant skipper whose hero-ball tactics rarely come off; he’s starting to lose the faith of his club’s fanbase.

2 Joshua Zirkzee

Manchester United

Over the summer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ first at the club, Manchester United were determined to add another centre forward to their squad. Proven goalscorers – most notably, Ivan Toney – were simply ignored in favour of a £36.5million-worth move for former Bayern Munich youth prospect, Joshua Zirkzee.

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Not secured with the view that he’d bag in excess of 20 goals a season, the Dutchman was acquired to act as the glue which, in turn, would help the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford. But, despite scoring on his Premier League debut, the ex-Bologna man has not hit the ground running at Old Trafford and has plenty more to prove in the fabled red of Manchester United.

3 Alexander Isak

Newcastle United

Widely recognised as one of the English top division’s best strikers, perhaps just behind none other than Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak’s goalscoring threat has taken a dent this term – evidenced by his return of the solitary strike in 405 minutes of league action.

Eddie Howe and his entourage should count themselves lucky to have someone so talismanic as the enigmatic Swede in their ranks, but it’s clear that he needs to find a layer of consistency. Seven games into 24/25, his return of a goal and assist apiece is by no means a bad return – but fans have come to expect much more from the ex-Real Sociedad marksman.

4 Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool

Liverpool fans were more than excited about Dominik Szoboszlai arrival in the summer of 2023 – and rightfully so, the ex-RB Leipzig scored 10 goals and added 13 assists in his final season in the Bundesliga, packing a serious abundance of sheer power behind his right foot. But the Anfield faithful have only witnessed his brilliance in drips and drabs.

Overshadowed by fellow midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch thus far in 2024/25, the Hungary captain – despite notching two assists in his side’s opening seven outings – has struggled to be the creative genius that Arne Slot and his entourage have hoped he’d be. Luckily for the 23-year-old, his boss continues to give him the chance to shine.

5 Crysencio Summerville

West Ham United

Once Leeds United failed to secure promotion to the Premier League at the end of last term, winger Crysencio Summerville’s move to a bigger club – one competing in the top tier – seemed inevitable. Capital club West Ham United won the race for his signature, shelling out a fee north of £25 million plus add-ons.

The Dutchman, who plundered 21 goals and 10 assists in his 49-game stint with Leeds in 2023/24, has somewhat underwhelmed following his jump up to top flight life and is struggling, under boss Julen Lopetegui’s watch, to earn himself a starting spot in east London. His talent is undeniable, but his confidence – or lack thereof – has shone through since the campaign got underway.

6 Cristian Romero

Tottenham Hotspur

In Ange Postecoglou’s second season at the Tottenham Hotspur helm, the north Londoners – despite being a fun team to watch – have their evident frailties – and that perhaps stems from Cristian Romero’s deficiencies. By no means a terrible player, the feisty Argentine’s season has been short of what he is capable of.

Micky van de Ven’s sheer pace allows him to worm the Tottenham back line out of trouble on occasion, but the one-time World Cup winner’s rashness, especially when going to ground to tackle, has highlighted his – and his fellow defenders’ – weak point. And teams, as evidenced by Brighton & Hove Albion’s recent 3-2 win, have worked him out.

7 Matthijs de Ligt

Manchester United

Similarly to Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt’s signature was secured by the Red Devils over the summer months as a means of strengthening their squad – this time, however, at the other end of the pitch. Having formerly worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, many were under the assumption that he’d be accustomed to playing under his compatriot.

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8 Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal

Although Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are not struggling from a goalscoring perspective, what they have lacked in their title-chasing seasons has been a reliable source of goals in the centre forward berth. Gabriel Jesus, formerly of Manchester City, was added to the squad in an attempt to instill a winning mentality.

Goals for the north Londoners have been hard to come by for the Brazilian, however, and the off-the-ball work witnessed in his maiden season has also worn off. Now, despite him being given just 79 minutes to impress the Spanish tactician, he’s fallen down the pecking order – behind the likes of Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.

9 Phil Foden

Manchester City

From being voted as the Premier League’s 2023/24 Player of the Season to falling down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order is not the trajectory of Phil Foden’s career that many fans expected. Granted, the Stockport-born wizard has had to deal with an injury problem but has still been named in five of Manchester City’s seven Premier League squads.

Named as England’s best player by Wayne Rooney, Foden’s talent is unrivalled. A player able to weave in and out of opponents, his output – and more of a concern, performances – has seen a drop-off since the new campaign kicked off, failing to record a goal or assist. He did manage to score and assist in the Champions League – but can he re-gain a spot in the starting line-up?

10 James Ward-Prowse

Nottingham Forest

James Ward-Prowse’s move to Nottingham Forest may have shocked a few, especially given how well he had settled in the east of the capital with West Ham. But, as a means of earning more game time, the set-piece specialist moved to the City Ground but has failed to set his new club alight.

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What the ex-Southampton man offers is much beyond his know-how from a dead ball situation but, in 304 minutes of Premier League action, he has failed to register a goal nor an assist – but has instead racked up one red card in a moment of madness against Chelsea. He still has time to turn his loan stay around, mind, but the fans will be expecting much more from him.

11 Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle United

Despite being 26 years of age, Bruno Guimaraes is viewed as one of Newcastle’s more senior players – especially with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall looking to improve their game. That said, this season has been far from exemplary from the Rio de Janeiro-born ace, who is one of the most valuable players in the Premier League.

Admired by an array of top sides across the continent, the Magpies have relied on his engine room brilliance since his arrival in the summer of 2022 – but what he has lacked this season has dampened their chances of success in 2024/25. It wouldn’t come as a surprise, given his talent, if he came out roaring post-international break.

12 Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

Jean-Philippe Mateta enjoyed a fruitful second half of the season for Crystal Palace in 2023/24, and netted 14 strikes as he emerged as one of Oliver Glasner’s most pivotal pieces of the puzzle. Without creator-in-chief Michael Olise providing the goods, however, the Frenchman has struggled to reach similar heights.

The addition of Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal may have also cast doubt over his position in the squad and failing to contribute to his team’s performances has hampered his chances – with his brace against Leicester City not enough to paper over the obvious cracks. From being a fan favourite over a six-month period last season, Mateta is now an unreliable asset in south London.

All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 09/10/24