Most Disappointing Premier League Players of 2024/25 [Ranked]
Daniel Hepburn
23 – 29 minutes
Summary
A handful of Premier League stars have underwhelmed since the 2024/25 season got underway.
Manchester United trio Fernandes, Zirkzee and De Ligt have left fans wanting more as the Red Devils flatter to deceive.
The aforementioned names aside, here is a list of the 12 most disappointing Premier League players this term.
As a result, here are the 12 most disappointing players this season so far. Taking the following ranking factors into careful consideration, the top-tier stars have been ranked.
Ranking factors
Goals
Assists
Clean Sheets
Expectations at the start of the season
Individual performances
Contributions as part of the team
1 Kyle Walker
Manchester City
Inarguably one of the best right-backs in Premier League history, Kyle Walker’s legs are no longer as mobile as they used to be due to him now being the ripe old age of 34 – and, as a result, Pep Guardiola has often relied on the youth of his compatriot, Rico Lewis, who is 14 years his junior.
Kyle Walker – 24/25 Premier League Stats
Appearances
13
Minutes
918
Goals
0
Assists
0
Yellow/Red Cards
2/0
Manchester United
Over the summer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ first at the club, Manchester United were determined to add another centre-forward to their squad. Proven goalscorers – most notably, Ivan Toney – were simply ignored in favour of a £36.5million-worth move for former Bayern Munich youth prospect, Joshua Zirkzee.
Joshua Zirkzee – 24/25 Premier League Stats
Appearances
18
Minutes
665
Goals
3
Assists
1
Yellow/Red Cards
1/0
3 Phil Foden
Manchester City
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Phil Foden – 24/25 Premier League Stats
Appearances
20
Minutes
900
Goals
1
Assists
1
Yellow/Red Cards
2/1
4 Jack Grealish
Manchester City
His off-the-ball work has been praised by the Etihad Stadium faithful – but for a £100 million-worth winger who arrived to fanfare aplenty, you’d certainly expect more bang for your buck. While in the Midlands, the 29-year-old was highly sought-after – but there would perhaps be a shortage of suitors now if his employers decided to sell up.
5 Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
From a Manchester United supporters’ perspective, no other post-Sir Alex Ferguson signing has been more influential than Bruno Fernandes – that’s a well-renowned opinion. But this season, from their 1-0 win over Fulham to the turn of the year, the Portuguese talisman has flattered to deceive more often than not.
6 Marcus Rashford
Manchester United
An academy graduate who burst onto the scene in quite tremendous fashion in 2016, Marcus Rashford’s current state of affairs at Old Trafford is not at its purest. Left out of Amorim’s four consecutive matchday squads in recent weeks, the winger’s days at the club seem numbered.
Marcus Rashford – 24/25 Premier League Stats
Appearances
15
Minutes
982
Goals
4
Assists
1
Yellow/Red Cards
2/0
7 Ederson
Manchester City
Replaced by Guardiola’s trusty back-up choice in Stefan Ortega more often than expected, whether the former Benfica man is past his best remains to be seen, but it’s important to reflect on the fact that he has conceded 19 goals and kept just two clean sheets in 13 league games. That said, his employers’ defensive structure all around has been more than ponderous, always leaving the one-time Champions League winner exposed.
8 Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal
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He’s lost a twinkle in his eye and is less inclined to use his twinkle toes to evade opposition pressure. So much so that Mikel Arteta and his entourage have often preferred the likes of Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling over the glittering Brazilian, who has scored four goals and two assists in 16 outings this term.
9 Andrew Robertson
Liverpool
Usually a much-beloved figure among the Anfield faithful for being a cross-delivering demon, Andrew Robertson in Arne Slot’s system is not a match made in heaven. While the likes of Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch have thrived in the post-Jurgen Klopp era, Slot has not been able to get the best out of his left-back.
Andrew Robertson – 24/25 Premier League Stats
Appearances
16
Minutes
1,223
Goals
0
Assists
0
Yellow/Red Cards
2/0
10 Matthijs de Ligt
Manchester United
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His Man of the Match performance against Southampton aside, the issues of adapting to the thrills and spills of English football have been evident from the 25-year-old. Trusted by Amorim when he’s fit and raring to go, De Ligt is a serial winner, as evidenced by his previous stints across Europe, and will want to silence the early doubters.
11 Alejandro Garnacho
Manchester United
A lack of potency and dedication to mastering his craft has seen the young Argentine in and out of Amorim’s thinking. Evidently talented, his lack of application could be the difference to whether he is able to thrive under the new regime. Thus far in 2024/25, he’s notched eight goals and four assists across all competitions – but just three and one, respectively, in the league.
12 Son Heung-min
Tottenham Hotspur
One of the more senior members of Tottenham Hotspur’s squad, Son Heung-min took on the role of captain after Harry Kane’s departure in the summer of 2023. The goalscoring burden on his shoulders has also stepped up, but he often goes missing in games which requires someone to take it by the scruff of the neck – as evidenced by his side’s bottom-half position.
Son Heung-min – 24/25 Premier League Stats
Appearances
21
Minutes
1,150
Goals
5
Assists
6
Yellow/Red Cards
0/0
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 28/12/24.
