London Team of the Year 2025: Rice, Caicedo and Guehi get the nod as Arsenal dominate | OneFootball

Only one Tottenham players selected by our writers despite Europa League glory

It has been a big year for London’s Premier League clubs.

Tottenham finally ended their trophy drought when they won the Europa League, Chelsea won the Club World Cup and Crystal Palace lifted the FA Cup.

Brentford and Fulham finished 10th and 11th last season, while things have been tougher for West Ham.

And there have been plenty of standout performers in the capital.

Marc Guehi has starred for Palace, Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo have taken their games to new levels and Gabriel has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Europe.

But who makes the team of the year? Here, our writers have chosen their best London-based XIs of 2025…

Dom Smith

3-4-2-1: Henderson; Van de Ven, Gabriel, Guehi; Munoz, Rice, Caicedo, Cucurella; Sarr, Eze; Mateta

My team is spearheaded in attack by Jean-Philippe Mateta. Igor Thiago has finished the year well but across the full 12 months, Mateta was the easiest pick of the lot.

Eberechi Eze won Crystal Palace the FA Cup and then scored a north London derby hat-trick against Spurs. He partners Palace star Ismaila Sarr in attacking midfield.

Crystal Palace won the FA Cup when they beat Manchester City at Wembley

Action Images via Reuters

Honourable mentions go to Alex Iwobi and Enzo Fernandez in central midfielder, but no one was dislodging Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.

Daniel Munoz gets in at right wing-back just ahead of Jurrien Timber; Marc Cucurella on the left was an easy pick. William Saliba and Maxence Lacroix were just pipped by Micky van de Ven into a three-man back-line that simply had to feature Gabriel and Marc Guehi.

Dean Henderson’s FA Cup final penalty-saving heroics and all-round consistency across the calendar year just edges out Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

Matt Verri

4-2-3-1: Raya; Timber, Guehi, Gabriel, Cucurella; Caicedo, Rice; Bowen, Eze, Sarr; Mateta

The only real decision in defence came between Marc Guehi and William Saliba. The Crystal Palace captain gets the nod for leading the Eagles to FA Cup glory and into Europe.

Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice are the best midfielders in the Premier League, never mind London, but it was certainly more difficult in attack.

Declan Rice has become one of the best midfielders in Europe

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Cole Palmer tailed off last season and has barely played this term so misses out. Bukayo Saka hasn't been at his best in 2025 and Jarrod Bowen is therefore preferred for his far more reliable output this year.

Eberechi Eze squeaks in over Martin Odegaard and Mikkel Damsgaard, while Igor Thiago's efforts this term are not quite enough to beat Jean-Philippe Mateta's 17 league goals over the calendar year.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were the only Tottenham players even vaguely considered but their Arsenal and Palace centre-back counterparts have played leading roles in far more impressive defences.

Sam Tabuteau

4-2-3-1: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Guehi, Cucurella; Rice, Caicedo; Mbeumo, Eze, Trossard; Wissa

Despite both having moved outside of the capital over the summer, Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo’s form towards the back end of last season was too good to ignore.

Eberechi Eze’s contributions, besides his hat-trick in the north London derby, have been limited for Arsenal this season but he was monumental as Palace lifted the first major trophy in their history.

Moises Caicedo has starred for Chelsea

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Marc Guehi has to come into the defence after captaining Palace to the FA Cup. He has gone from strength to strength this season, adding goals to his game as Oliver Glasner’s side continue to punch above their weight.

Moises Caicedo are Declan Rice are shoo-ins, it iss tough to argue against the pair being the best two midfielders in the league at the moment.

There’s understandably a strong Arsenal influence, especially in the backline, where Jurrien Timber, in particular, has shone.

Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, who has steadily built a reliable reputation over the last two years, is also worthy of a place in the side.