The top five Premier League players of 2024 | OneFootball

We’re approaching the end of the year and it’s time to take stock and reflect on the events of 2024.

The Premier League has been engrossing once again, as breakthrough stars and familiar favourites have continued to elevate English football.

As 2024 draws to a close, we’ve picked out the five best Premier League players of the year.

Rodri

Could we possibly leave out the Ballon d’Or winner?

Rodri became the first Premier League player in over a decade to claim football’s most prestigious individual award, following his success with club and country in 2024. An integral part of Manchester City’s title success last season, the Spaniard did not lose a single one of his 24 appearances in the Premier League during the calendar year.

After starring during Spain’s success at Euro 2024, he was named winner of the Ballon d’Or. An ACL injury means we won’t see the best of Rodri again until well into 2025, but Manchester City’s collapse in his absence has only emphasised his importance.

Mohamed Salah

There’s an argument that, right now, Mohamed Salah is better than ever before.

It’s a big statement given Salah’s incredible consistency in a Liverpool shirt but the Egyptian has been near unstoppable as 2024 comes to a close. After 28 goals and assists in 28 league starts last season, Salah has set the bar even higher this time around.

He’s one off last season’s tally in just 17 games, three goals clear of Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, and top of the Playmaker Standings. Currently, he’s averaging a Premier League goal or assist every 55 minutes for a Liverpool team comfortably clear at the summit.

Salah might be 32, but there’s no sign he’s slowing down.

Cole Palmer

Just over 18 months ago, Cole Palmer was a frustrated figure on the fringes at Manchester City.

Fast forward to the end of 2024 and a transfer to Chelsea has helped transform Palmer into a poster boy for the entire Premier League. A wonderful left foot, nonconformist playing style and authentic personality have made Palmer a fans’ favourite far further than Stamford Bridge.

He has been directly involved in 39 league goals during the calendar year – more than Erling Haaland managed in 2023 (38).

Phil Foden

A dismal start to the current campaign should not detract from the brilliance of Phil Foden in the early part of the year.

The shining light of Manchester City’s title success, he was deservedly named PFA Player of the Year for his role in the club’s record-breaking fourth consecutive championship.

Across the run-in he delivered in big moments, including a Manchester Derby brace and hat-tricks in wins over Brentford and Aston Villa. On the final day, with the Citizens needing to win, he scored twice against West Ham.

The Etihad wonder-kid became a man in 2024. How the Blues badly need him back to that level right now.

Bukayo Saka

If you’re averaging almost a goal involvement a game across an entire calendar year, it’s fair to say you’re among the Premier League’s top performers.

Bukayo Saka’s end product has become so consistent that it’s easy to forget that he only celebrated his 23rd birthday in September. A talisman for Arsenal, he’s had a huge role in the development of Mikel Arteta’s team into title challengers.

He has already reached 96 goal involvements (52 goals and 47 assists) in the Premier League and, provided he reaches 100 before April (dependent on the extent of his recent hamstring injury), he’ll become the fourth youngest to reach that milestone, behind Michael Owen (22y 57d), Wayne Rooney (22y 122d) and Robbie Fowler (22y 166d).

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