Premier League 2024/25: Top 10 strikers
Strikers are some of the most closely watched and crucial players on a football pitch, primarily because of their role. However, in modern football, the traditional concept of a striker has evolved. Rather than relying solely on an out-and-out goal poacher, many teams now prefer centre-forwards who offer more than just finishing ability. These modern forwards are expected to contribute to ball carrying, retention, and link-up play, effectively becoming a key part of the team’s overall build-up.
Tactical systems also vary: while some teams allow their strikers to stay high up the pitch, others demand that they track back and support defensively. Despite these evolving responsibilities, strikers are still largely evaluated by their direct goal contributions, making end product a decisive metric.
The rankings below are based on following criteria:
- Performances, potential, and consistency
- Player’s importance and relevance to his team
- Success relative to the team’s targets
Let’s take a look at the best strikers of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Note: All stats mentioned below have been taken from PremierLeague.com and FBref.com.
Top 10 strikers from the 2024/25 Premier League season
10. Liam Delap | Ipswich Town
Liam Delap joined Ipswich Town from Manchester City last summer and had a more than satisfactory debut season up front, even though the Tractor Boys struggled and ended up getting relegated.
Delap is a strong centre-forward armed with good finishing skills along with decent ball carrying, ball retention, and link-up abilities. He is effective in aerial duels and is rather agile for his height. This season, he scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 37 league games. He took a total of 69 shots with a shooting accuracy of 46%, while having 3.19 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area.
For a debut season, Delap did reasonably well even with limited support and service. His impressive performances have led to Chelsea beating other suitors to his signature.
9. Raúl Jiménez | Fulham
Raúl Jiménez’s campaign could be considered the most heart-warming story of this Premier League season, for the Mexican forward looked to have put his serious head injury from a few seasons ago firmly behind him to once again become one of the most consistent forwards in the league.
Jiménez has strong aerial ability, a great first touch, effective link-up play, and clinical finishing. He is also a massive threat from set pieces and crosses. This season, Jiménez showed remarkable consistency — like he used to at Wolves — scoring 12 goals and providing three assists in 38 games. He took a total of 96 shots with a shot accuracy of 34% and had 5.95 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area.
In this Marco Silva side that likes to play attacking football, with wingers who like to provide crosses and passes into the box, Jiménez has been able to thrive and produce strong attacking output.
8. Jørgen Strand Larsen | Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton had a dismal start to the season, yet they managed to escape relegation during the business end of the season, thanks in no small part to contributions from Matheus Cunha and Jørgen Strand Larsen, both of whom arguably overachieved in this dismal Wolves side.
Strand Larsen arrived on loan at Wolves last summer from Celta Vigo. At Molineux, the Norwegian has looked like a complete forward. His physical strength complements his excellent ball retention and link-up play well. His 18 goals and four assists in 35 league games — coming from a total of 54 shots with a shot accuracy of 63% and 3.76 touches per 90 in the opposition box — saved Wolves from going down.
Even with his team underperforming, Strand Larsen registered decent returns in terms of goal contributions. Wolves could benefit from his services even more next season if they make a few decent attacking signings to help the 25-year-old.
7. Kai Havertz | Arsenal
Even though the Gunners’ forward line wasn’t impressive this season, Kai Havertz still produced decent numbers. Also, these stats could have been even better had it not been for a long-term injury sustained in mid-February, which made the 26-year-old unavailable for the rest of the season.
Primarily an attacking midfielder early in his career, Havertz is now deployed as a centre-forward by Mikel Arteta. What he may lack in finishing, he makes up for with his intelligent link-up play, vision, dribbling skills, passing, and aerial ability. This season, he scored nine goals and provided three assists in 23 league appearances. The Germany international had a total of 53 shots with 40% shooting accuracy and 5.47 touches per 90 in the opposition box.
Havertz’s injury hurt Arsenal’s chances in both the Premier League and the Champions League. While he may not be a prolific forward who consistently delivers 20+ goals season in, season out, he remains vital to the way Arsenal play — and a major threat on crosses and set pieces.
6. Jean-Phillipe Mateta | Crystal Palace
The Eagles’ main man showed great form this season. Even though Crystal Palace finished outside the top ten, the Frenchman was vital to their attack and acted as a catalyst in winning them the FA Cup trophy.
Mateta is an all-round forward — two-footed, capable of holding the ball up, contributing to build-up play, and making intelligent movements in the box. He is a natural striker and strong in the air as well. This season, he scored 14 goals and registered two assists. He had a total of 70 shots with a 47% shooting accuracy and averaged 3.23 touches per 90 in the opposition box.
Mateta, alongside Eberechi Eze, was one of the standout players for Palace this season, providing solid attacking output up front.
5. Nicolas Jackson | Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson led the line for Chelsea this season ably and helped them secure Champions League qualification for next season.
Jackson has explosive pace, agility, and good technical skills. He can accelerate with the ball on his feet and make precise passes as well as smart movements in the box. His finishing isn’t exceptional, though, but he has produced sufficient attacking output this season. The Senegal international registered 12 goals and five assists in 30 league appearances, having taken a total of 76 shots with 46% shot accuracy and 5.72 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area.
4. Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins has been a mainstay in the Aston Villa front line for many seasons now. The English forward didn’t disappoint this season either.
Watkins is a dynamic player who can play on the wing or as a centre-forward. He is an intelligent forward who is great off the ball, making smart movements in and around the box, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Watkins was in sensational form for Villa this season, with 16 goals and eight assists in 38 league appearances, having taken a total of 84 shots with a 48% shot accuracy and 5.63 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area.
The English forward was vital to Villa staying in the top five until the last game of the season and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals as well.
3. Chris Wood | Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood was one of the major causes for Nottingham Forest punching above their weight this season. The lanky New Zealander proved why he is one of the most prolific forwards in the league despite his age.
Wood is a physically strong player with exceptional aerial ability. A poacher in the box, he engages in aerial duels to create space for others. This season, he scored 20 goals and provided three assists in 36 league games. He took a total of 68 shots with a 51% shot accuracy and had 3.19 touches in the attacking penalty area.
Consistent over the past two seasons, Wood has been Forest’s go-to man whenever they are in dire need of goals. Though Forest would be disappointed after missing out on Champions League qualification, Wood certainly deserves a mention for his impressive numbers this season.
2. Erling Haaland | Manchester City
Erling Haaland remained Manchester City’s shining light in an otherwise abysmal season. Even with the team and the Norwegian not in form — by their lofty standards — he still managed to produce impressive numbers. Haaland carried the burden of providing goals, with the likes of Phil Foden and Savinho not chipping in.
Haaland is in the mould of a traditional striker, with exceptional finishing skills both aerially and on the ground. The 6’5″ Norwegian is a nightmare for opposition defenders in the box. He can make runs in behind the defence and rarely misses from one-on-one opportunities. Even in an underwhelming season by his standards, Haaland scored 22 goals and provided three assists in 31 league games. He had a total of 108 shots with a 56% shot accuracy and 6.37 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area.
Despite an injury lay-off that saw him miss seven league games, the Norwegian striker still proved his world-class stature by performing even when the rest of his team massively underperformed, almost single-handedly guiding them to a third-place finish.
1. Alexander Isak | Newcastle United
Alexander Isak is the most sought-after striker in the Premier League right now. The lanky Swedish forward has shown sensational form in the last two seasons, proving that he isn’t a one-season wonder but a consistent performer.
Isak is an all-round centre-forward who is exceptional in the air as well as on the ground. He is a natural finisher and a poacher in the box, though he can also unleash long-rangers. Adept at link-up play and ball retention, he contributes to the build-up play as well. He is two-footed and possesses great technical ability and tactical intelligence.
This season, the Swedish marksman scored 23 goals and bagged six assists in the league. He had a total of 228 shots with a 50% shot accuracy and had 6.17 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area.
Isak is the top of our list. He was the most lethal striker in the league. With Newcastle securing Champions League football for next season, it will be really difficult to prise the 25-year-old away from Tyneside.
