Haaland, Rice, Semenyo: Which player do you consider the Premier League Player of the Year?

The 2025-26 Premier League season is nearing its critical phase, and as we approach March, the competition remains intense. The title contest has narrowed down to a duel between leaders Arsenal and their closest rivals, Manchester City, while the race for Champions League qualification is tightly contested among several teams. Defending champions Liverpool find themselves on the outside, needing to bridge the gap to Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Chelsea.

At the lower end of the standings, Wolves’ situation seems dire (17 points behind safety with only 10 matches remaining), and Burnley is not far behind (eight points adrift with 11 games left). However, the final relegation spot could be claimed by any of Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, or Leeds United.

The contest for the Premier League Player of the Year is equally unpredictable, with no definitive frontrunner emerging yet, and numerous players making compelling cases for the accolade. With 10 matchdays remaining, we consulted our regular Premier League reporters for their selections for the top honor and their justifications.

Erling Haaland, FW, Manchester City

Tom Hamilton: Sometimes, opting for the obvious choice is the best approach. If Manchester City secures the league title, one could argue that their standout player was either Bernardo Silva (for his creativity), Nico O’Reilly (for his versatility and composure), or new signings Gianluigi Donnarumma and Antoine Semenyo. However, if you seek the clear and straightforward selection, it has to be Haaland, the leading scorer.

The Norwegian forward is currently experiencing a relatively subdued phase for his club, yet his 22 league goals have significantly contributed to City’s position. The notable shift for Haaland this season? He is becoming a more well-rounded player, with an impressive work rate that has also led to seven assists, placing him second only to Bruno Fernandes and just one behind his personal best of eight from the 2022-23 season. That totals 29 goal contributions. Quite impressive.

Consider City’s recent 2-1 victory over Newcastle: Haaland recorded more touches than ever before (43), made the third-most clearances for the team (behind Rodri and Marc Guéhi), and won 12 duels, marking his highest tally in a top-flight match. “He’s an incredible, generous player, so today is a performance, and I’ll never forget what Erling has done for us,” manager Pep Guardiola remarked afterward.

So, Premier League, take note: Haaland is transforming into a more versatile player, and his goals and assists should rightfully earn him the title of player of the season.

Declan Rice, MF, Arsenal

James Olley: With so much still at stake in the league, from the title to the top four and relegation, it’s premature to draw conclusions, but Arsenal currently sits atop the table, and Declan Rice has been the driving force of a team competing admirably on multiple fronts.

Only Martín Zubimendi (2,360) has logged more outfield Premier League minutes for the Gunners than Rice’s 2,329, and Rice ranks second in the league for chances created (defined by Opta as key passes and assists) behind Bruno Fernandes. However, his impact extends beyond statistics. Rice propels the Arsenal team forward as he has evolved into a complete midfielder, influencing the game in his box-to-box role while also proving to be an exceptionally effective set-piece taker.

If Arsenal is to maintain their momentum, it will largely depend on Rice sustaining the level of performance and influence he has demonstrated thus far.

Sam Tighe: When there isn’t an “obvious” choice, it can lead one to believe that there haven’t been any remarkable candidates. However, as the group highlights, we are certainly not lacking in extraordinary individual performances, are we?

I support James’ selection of Rice. In a Premier League environment where physicality, agility, and determination are paramount, the 27-year-old stands out as the division’s leading figure. To provide context, among Arsenal players, only Zubimendi (293.57 km) has covered more distance than Rice (285.48 km) this season, while among all Premier League central midfielders, only Sandro Tonali (33.37 km/h) has recorded a higher maximum speed than Rice (33.17 km/h).

Rice is quick and relentless; if the Gunners clinch the title, his energetic, all-action style will epitomize their approach. Yet he also complements those athletic attributes with finesse when necessary. Few players are better corner takers in the sport right now, and it is evident that he is steadily improving at threading passes through the lines.

Dominik Szoboszlai, MF, Liverpool

Beth Lindop: It may seem absurd to nominate a Liverpool player given their inconsistent performances this season, but in terms of sheer individual brilliance, Szoboszlai would be my choice.

This summer, there were suggestions that the Hungary international could lose his spot in the lineup following the acquisition of the £116 million playmaker, Florian Wirtz, from Bayer Leverkusen. However, Szoboszlai has established himself as a key figure in Arne Slot’s squad, with his tireless running, tactical adaptability, and, of course, his knack for scoring spectacular goals preventing the Reds’ campaign from spiraling into complete failure.

With 10 goals already this season, Szoboszlai is on track to exceed his career-best goal tally. He has also stepped in admirably at right back amid Liverpool’s ongoing injury challenges, while his increasing willingness to engage with the media reflects a player eager to take on more responsibility within the team and position himself as a potential future captain.

Despite Liverpool’s disappointing overall form, Szoboszlai should certainly be considered in discussions for individual honors.

Antoine Semenyo, FW, Manchester City (formerly at Bournemouth)

Mark Ogden: This is a challenging choice as there hasn’t been a standout candidate this season, but my current selection would be Semenyo. He was exceptional for Bournemouth during the first half of the season—his 10 Premier League goals kept Andoni Iraola’s side in contention for the top six for a while—but his performances made it inevitable that he would transfer in January, with several top clubs vying for his signature before he opted for Manchester City.

Even though a deal was finalized and his release clause was activated, Semenyo agreed to remain at Bournemouth for two additional matches in January before making his transfer. No fuss, no drama: just a professional demeanor and a fitting farewell with a stoppage-time winner against Spurs in his last game.

His form at City has been equally impressive, and he played a crucial role in keeping them in the title race during a midseason slump with three goals in his first five appearances. Therefore, for performing at a high level for two clubs and demonstrating professionalism throughout, I am selecting Semenyo.

Igor Thiago, FW, Brentford

Rob Dawson: There were genuine worries about Brentford’s ability to avoid relegation this season after losing manager Thomas Frank—along with key players Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Christian Nørgaard, and Mark Flekken—in one summer. Goals were anticipated to be a significant issue after both Mbeumo and Wissa, who combined for 39 in the Premier League last season, departed.

Frank’s successor, Keith Andrews, deserves considerable credit for transforming this season into a push for European qualification rather than a struggle against relegation. But Igor Thiago also deserves recognition. His 17 league goals have mitigated the impact of losing Mbeumo and Wissa. This is an impressive return for a 24-year-old striker in his first full season in England after last year’s campaign was marred by injury.

Scoring in the most challenging league in the world is a significant challenge, and Thiago has done so consistently. Unfortunately for Brentford, his success raises the inevitable question: How long can they retain him before he follows Mbeumo and Wissa out the door?

Morgan Rogers, MF, Aston Villa

Gab Marcotti: To me, the situation is quite straightforward. Aston Villa may be experiencing a downturn, but they remain third, well ahead of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea. This is notable considering they did not significantly strengthen their squad over the summer and lost their sporting director, Monchi. Much of this success can be attributed to Rogers: He has started every match and has consistently been a game-changer.

Rogers may not have the strongest supporting cast—certainly not compared to other candidates likely to be mentioned—and it is fair to assert that, without him, Villa would be midtable at best. Only four players have more open play goal involvements (non-penalty goals and assists) than he does this season, and all of them are from larger and better-resourced clubs: Haaland, Fernandes, Semenyo, and João Pedro.

Additionally, he is credited with creating Cole Palmer’s goal celebration—having been teammates at City, Palmer “borrowed” it from him—and I believe he is the clear choice.

Martín Zubimendi, MF, Arsenal

Julien Laurens: When Arsenal invested €60 million last summer to activate his release clause and sign him from Real Sociedad, many were skeptical about his adaptation to the Premier League, his potential, and even his talent, but there were also concerns regarding his ability to elevate the Gunners to the next level. Yet, I believe he has already silenced the doubters.

It hasn’t been flawless, of course—recall his error against Manchester United—but overall, he has been impressive. His capacity to control the pace of a match, his intelligence, and his understanding of the game have been remarkable. He has also netted five Premier League goals already, surpassing Szoboszlai, Rice, and only trailing Rogers, who plays in a more advanced role. Some of his goals have been crucial, such as the openers against Forest, Leeds, and Sunderland, helping Arsenal stay on track for a potential first league title in over 20 years.

Zubimendi enhances the performances of Rice and Jurriën Timber, and there is still ample room for his development. His significant impact on the team merits recognition.