While the Premier League is full of superstar names that fans love and know, there is a whole section of players that are, in fact, underrated.
Given the depth of quality in the league, there is a case for saying, in general, that this is the best depth of quality we've seen in Premier League history. We've seen the likes of Ipswich Town arrive in the top flight and spend nearly £150million on players, which is one example of how the league has transformed through money, bringing more quality.
In terms of the idea of what underrated means in this context, we've selected these players due to their overall ability, their form displayed, their importance to their team and how the wider football masses in the media and how fans view them, hoping to give them some much-needed praise that could help change the minds of those who may have already formed opinions on them.
With that in mind, we've decided to embark on the difficult task of picking the 10 most underrated players in the Premier League.
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10 Lucas Bergvall
Notable Clubs: Tottenham, Djurgarden
Lucas Bergvall
Signed for just £8.5million, the 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed perhaps far more football than he first expected due to the incredible list of injuries that Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou have had to contend with this season. Having started the majority of their Europa League games, he has been thrust into the limelight and impressed the home fans.
Given his versatile quality and all-around midfield ability, Bergvall has become this box-to-box figure for Postecoglou, capable of breaking up play, pressing high, driving his team forward, creating goals and even getting on the end of opportunities. What makes it all the more impressive is that he had less than 40 games in Sweden's top flight before arriving in England, and now he looks set to be a key figure over the next few years.
9 Lewis Cook
Notable Clubs: Leeds United and Bournemouth
Lewis Cook
If there's any team that possesses underrated players, it's Bournemouth. Their flying run this season under Andoni Iraola has been a revelation and while their frontline has all been transformed this season, we've decided to pick out Lewis Cook, who has been a versatile, consistent and quality operator this season.
Having been at the club since 2016, Cook has become a fan favourite and the love for him has only grown deeper this season following his performances in defensive midfield and even right-back, on the odd occasion. Since Boxing Day, he's taken the armband for every league game and, given he has been one of the best performers in one of the league's most entertaining and solid sides, he deserves his place here.
8 Mikkel Damsgaard
Notable Clubs: Sampdoria, Nordsjælland, Brentford
Mikkel Damsgaard
While fans will remember Mikkel Damsgaard for his incredible free-kick against England at Euro 2020, his form for Denmark and his previous performances at FC Nordsjaelland, he struggled to make an impact last season under Thomas Frank. A knee injury didn't help, but he managed less than 1000 minutes throughout the season. However, this campaign has been a complete contrast.
Enjoying a more free attacking midfield role, he has shone with 10 assists and two goals and his form saw him awarded Brentford's Player of the Month for the fourth month in a row in February 2025. Blessed with skill, an eye for a pass and a silky style of play, he has transformed his fortunes and he's still only 24, which suggests the best is still yet to come.
7 Illia Zabarnyi
Notable Clubs: Dynamo Kiev, Bournemouth
The rise of youngster Dean Huijsen has been one of the major talking points for Bournemouth this season, but we can't overlook the quality performances that fellow centre-back Illia Zabarnyi has displayed. Zabarnyi, 22, is a key figure for club and country, and he has impressed with his all-round game, which has helped Bournemouth become a far tougher team to beat.
Despite his red card against Wolves, ahead of his return to action, Iraola hailed his starting defender. He claimed 'his performance levels have been very high' and that the team had 'missed him' in his absence. And having conceded four goals in two games and blowing a two-goal lead against Tottenham, that point certainly rings true.
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6 Iliman Ndiaye
Notable Clubs: Sheffield United, Lyon, Everton
Iliman Ndiaye
Recent years for Everton fans have been very dark and full of uncertainty and there has been a real lack of quality in attack, which has left fans to criticise the poor football. However, with some money being freed up last summer, the club was able to invest less than £20million to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille. His previous spell in the Championship with Sheffield United saw him earn the club Player of the Year as well as feature in the Team of the Season.
Ever since joining Everton, he has brought excitement back to their attack. He is a skillful and brilliant dribbler who commits and beats defenders consistently, giving the Toffees a real threat. Plus, he has found his goalscoring touch again after a mixed spell in France. The Everton fans already have a brilliant song to serenade him with and if they can support him with some strong signings this summer, he could rise to another level under David Moyes.
5 Lewis Hall
Notable Clubs: Chelsea, Newcastle United
Lewis Hall
Lewis Hall's inclusion on this list is important because the youngster has gone slightly unnoticed in his ascension to becoming Newcastle United's starting left-back, despite his limited experience. One of the biggest compliments that can be paid to the flying defender is that Chelsea fans were extremely upset at the club's hierarchy for allowing him to exit.
He showed plenty of promise at Stamford Bridge, and he has quickly settled in the North East, and it looks like he gets better with every passing game. Not only is he strong, a powerful runner and good on the ball, he's a smart player who was brought up in the academy as a central midfielder, and now he has brought such skills to full-back and stands a high chance of becoming the starting figure in Thomas Tuchel's England side.
4 Carlos Baleba
Notable Clubs: Brighton, Lille
Carlos Baleba
Outside the casual fans, the name Carlos Baleba holds terrific weight to those in the know. The Brighton midfielder was brought in from Lille to replace the brilliant Moises Caicedo, and he has proven to be another masterstroke of a signing. He now looks set to be the next mega-money sale for the club. While Caicedo was signed for £5 million and shipped on for £115 million, Brighton could earn a huge profit on their initial £23 million deal.
Not only is he tall, powerful and strong, but he can read the game, carry the ball forward, score from distance and his midfield presence is very impressive. Only 21, Baleba has an incredibly bright future, and he has already been linked with multiple moves to top clubs in England, and he has been key to their late-season form.
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3 Jan Paul Van Hecke
Notable Clubs: NAC Breda, Brighton
Jan Paul Van Hecke
Whereas Baleba was more well-known, another Brighton star who deserves more praise is Jan Paul Van Hecke. The Dutch defender plied his trade at Blackburn and NAC Breda before earning his move to the AMEX, and he has been key to Brighton's resurgence this season, leading from the back and often being a reliable figure.
In the Seagulls' way under Fabian Hurzeler, he has been the epitome of a ball-playing centre-back, ranking extremely high for progressive passes throughout the season. The best part is that he can defend strongly as well; he is brave, leads by example and will happily commit to a challenge or block and is another player who is getting better and better.
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2 Morgan Gibbs-White
Notable Clubs: Wolves, Nottingham Forest
Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest's brilliant season has had many performing stars and while either one of the centre-backs could be included here, Morgan Gibbs-White looks like a class above leading the team. In what is a free role, he is the glue between the midfield and attack, and he helps to drive his team forward, finish attacks and set away whoever plays on the wing with efficiency and quality.
Fans believe he should be nailed on to feature in Tuchel's England squad, but he has to bide his time to become a regular, especially when he plays in a position with such intense competition. Overall, Gibbs-White has been slowly building for years, developing into a fine player and with Forest gaining all sorts of plaudits for their season, he deserves to be right at the centre of those compliments.
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1 Jurrien Timber
Notable Clubs: Ajax, Arsenal
Jurrien Timber Arsenal
While we have avoided the use of the top clubs in the Premier League, we simply had to include Jurrien Timber, who has gone under the radar for Arsenal for multiple reasons. Their defensive set-up is incredible and Mikel Arteta has worked wonders with his side in that regard, but Timber has played in both full-back roles and even as a centre-back occasionally and never looked out of place.
His initial career at Arsenal was delayed by a nasty long-term injury, but he has since recovered and come back better than ever, and he has been brilliant in whatever role he is asked to play. Plus, he's quick, blessed with great feet and dogged, which are all three things that Arteta likes in his defenders. He faces competition with Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White to start, but all three rotate consistently and Timber is certainly a player with plenty of quality who is adored by the home fans.
Statistics are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 18-03-25.