EPL: Rice Tops FotMob Ratings as Arsenal, Chelsea Stars Dominate

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has emerged as the highest-rated player in the English Premier League this season, according to the latest performance rankings published by football statistics platform FotMob. Rice leads the chart with an average rating of 7.76, narrowly ahead of Chelsea forward João Pedro, who occupies second position with 7.74, while Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka completes the top three with 7.72. This ranking offers an interesting picture of individual performers making an impact in the 2026/2027 campaign.

Rice's position at the summit is particularly notable given the competition from some of the league's most influential attacking players. His rating of 7.76 puts him 0.02 points ahead of João Pedro and 0.04 above his Arsenal teammate Saka. Beyond leading the overall ratings, the England international has also registered three Player of the Match awards on FotMob's platform, an indication of how frequently his performances have stood out in individual match assessments.

The rankings also highlight the importance of midfield contributions in the ratings system. While goals and assists often attract the greatest attention, midfielders are assessed on their broader influence, including their involvement in possession, chance creation, defensive contributions and overall impact on matches. Saka's third-place position further strengthens Arsenal's representation among the league's leading performers, with an average rating of 7.72 and one Player of the Match award.

Chelsea forward João Pedro is the highest-ranked player from Stamford Bridge, sitting second overall with a rating of 7.74. His position places him ahead of several established Premier League stars, including Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Saka and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Although he is yet to register a Player of the Match award on FotMob's current ranking, his average rating reflects the consistency of his performances across the matches assessed by the platform.

Manchester City striker Haaland occupies fourth position with a rating of 7.70, making him the highest-ranked centre-forward among the top four. His position is followed closely by Bournemouth forward Evanilson, who has been one of Bournemouth's standout performers, with a rating of 7.69. Evanilson's fifth-place position is particularly significant because he is ahead of several players from clubs traditionally associated with competing for major honours.

The rankings feature several prominent Premier League players beyond the leading performers. Chelsea's Cole Palmer occupies 26th position with 7.43, the same rating recorded by Liverpool forward Alexander Isak, who shares that position. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is 25th with 7.44, while Bayer Leverkusen's former midfielder Florian Wirtz, now at Liverpool, is 28th with 7.43.

FotMob's ratings are statistical assessments of individual performances in matches, providing a numerical indication of how players perform across different aspects of the game rather than relying exclusively on goals, assists or the final outcome of a match. Consequently, a midfielder or defender can rank above a striker even without scoring, provided the overall statistical assessment of his performance is sufficiently strong.

Key points

• Declan Rice leads the FotMob ratings with an average rating of 7.76.
• Chelsea's João Pedro and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka occupy the second and third positions, respectively.
• The rankings highlight the importance of midfield contributions and individual performances beyond goals and assists.