The Premier League has more attention on it than any other footballing league, yet there are still many players who fly under the radar and don’t get as much praise as they deserve – including those at Big Six giants.
In the spirit of giving players their just due, whether they’ve been in the Premier League for years or just arrived in the summer 2025 transfer window, let’s place a spotlight on 10 highly underrated footballers in the English top flight for the 2025/26 season.
Crystal Palace CB Maxence Lacroix
The 25-year-old Maxence Lacroix is a bad, bad man in central defense, and he and Marc Guehi are quietly forming one of the best center back partnership in the entire continent, even if your average fan barely knows how good they both are together.
At least the transfer links and England national team experience have given Guehi some mainstream cred. Lacroix is another great French center back but is overshadowed by the others, so people don’t realize how solid he’s been over the years for both Wolfsburg and Crystal Palace, including starting the 2025/26 season with two tackles and two interceptions per game.
Arsenal RB Jurrien Timber
The 24-year-old Jurrien Timber is in just his second season as an Arsenal player, but he’s pretty well-established as a regular starter for the Gunners, making the right back position his own.
Versatile enough to play anywhere across the back line, Timber has been one of the best players in the Premier League to start the 2025/26 season, dominating defensively and even carrying a significant goal threat as a secret weapon on set pieces. He’s been just as good for Arsenal as he was at Ajax.
Bournemouth CB Marco Senesi
Bournemouth have a stacked roster, but because so much attention is placed on exciting attacking outlets like Evanilson and Antoine Semenyo, the defensive players behind them tend to fly under the radar.
And there’s nobody more underrated than Marco Senesi, though the veteran center back is starting to get some whispers of credit to start 2025/26 with 2.0 tackles, 2.3 interceptions, and a ridiculous 10 clearances per game.
Sunderland CB Omar Alderete
A centerpiece player on a rugged Getafe side, Omar Alderete was one of the best defensive players in European football for one of the most notorious defensive teams, but because most people don’t pay attention to La Liga beyond the big three, Alderete was a virtual unknown.
But the smart scouts at Sunderland certainly knew him, and in continuing what was a brilliant summer transfer window, the Black Cats plucked Alderete, and he has immediately been one of the best center backs to start the 2025/26 campaign.
Tottenham CM Pape Matar Sarr
Tottenham box-to-box midfielder Pape Matar Sarr looks like a new man under Thomas Frank, standing out for both club and country with his work rate, ball-winning, improved progression and creativity, and even a glimmer of world-class goal-scoring for Senegal.
If you want to keep an eye out for the next breakout star in the Premier League, then look no further than Sarr, because, in truth, he’s been so good for Spurs, including against PSG, that he’s already been their story of the season.
Chelsea RW Estevao Willian
Although Estevao Willian is a phenom who cost Chelsea a fair bit of money, he’s always been overshadowed in the hype. First, he was not getting the attention Endrick did at Palmeiras, and, now, it still feels like he’s not getting as much praise as he should for his start to the season because of the attention Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and, now, Joao Pedro are getting at Stamford Bridge.
All those guys deserve their praise, no doubt, but so does Estevao. He makes things happen and plays the game at such a high level with his explosiveness, skill on the ball, and powerful ball-striking that you can already tell he’s different. Estevao could be the Premier League’s counter to the young star power of La Liga’s Lamine Yamal, Arda Guler, and Franco Mastantuono.
Brighton DM Mats Wieffer
Everyone seems to have forgotten that Mats Wieffer was one of the most highly regarded young defensive midfield talents in the Dutch top flight, and while his adjustment period to Brighton was rough last season, he’s showing signs of real stardom in 2025/26.
Wieffer has 12 tackles in two games this season for Brighton and has been a menace, setting the tone for the Seagulls. He has all the tools to be an ideal No. 6, and a breakout season from him could be a catalyst to Brighton making a strong push for the top five.
Bournemouth LB Adrien Truffert
Fans who watched Adrien Truffert on the pitch against Liverpool and Tottenham, two Premier League powerhouses, could plainly see that Truffert was one of the best bargain signings of the summer transfer window in any league.
Truffert was a silky two-way player in Ligue 1, but he looks even better defensively than advertised and is perfect for the Premier League with his delicious deliveries that practically put chances on a silver platter for the talented Bournemouth attackers.
Fulham CB Joachim Andersen
Joachim Andersen has been a top-class Premier League center back for years, whether at Crystal Palace or Fulham, and it’s quite astounding how few fans around the world know who he is despite years of excellence.
The Danish international has been rock solid for Fulham to start the 2025/26 season, averaging 3.3 combined tackles and interceptions per game with just 0.3 dribbles completed allowed.
Tottenham RB Pedro Porro
Even though Pedro Porro was getting looks from clubs as big as Manchester City and Real Madrid, Tottenham didn’t get nearly enough praise for signing the star right back from Sporting CP, nor has Porro gotten his just due as one of the world’s best right backs, fulfilling the potential he showed in Portugal.
The Spanish international is an athletic workhorse with great crossing, chance creation, and even some decent shooting from range. Porro has no real weaknesses to his game and is going to be a huge factor for Thomas Frank for years to come.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.