With the 2025/26 Premier League season behind us, it is time to take a look at The Hard Tackle’s Team of the Season.
The 2025/26 Premier League season will be remembered as one of the most dramatic and unpredictable campaigns in recent memory. Arsenal’s clinical push finally crowned them champions, ending a 22-year drought with one match to spare after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on 19 May. The Gunners led the table for 238 days throughout the season, accumulating 85 points from 26 wins, 7 draws, and only 5 losses.
What made this season truly special was the sheer volume of storylines that unfolded. Manchester City showed brief resurgence under Pep Guardiola, flirting with the title before falling short. The legendary manager also called time on his illustrious stint at the Etihad. The end of the season saw other farewells, including Mohamed Salah, Casemiro, and Bernardo Silva.
Meanhwile, Aston Villa briefly looked like contenders for the title before a poor run dropped them into a battle for UEFA Champions League qualification, ultimately finishing fourth with 65 points. The race for European spots stretched until the final day, with Chelsea and Newcastle United shockingly missing out despite their resources.
The relegation battle remarkably included Tottenham Hotspur, before West Ham United became the first club since 2010/11 to be relegated with 39 points. Meanwhile, unheralded teams like Sunderland, Brentford, Bournemouth, and Leeds United delivered impressive campaigns that captured hearts across the league and yielded European qualification for the Cherries and the Black Cats.
But beyond all the narratives, 11 players captured the imagination and earned their rightful spots in the Team of the Season. Here is our lineup, which will shape up in a 4-1-3-2 formation.
David Raya
David Raya secured another Golden Glove award, ranking in the all-time top for most clean sheets in a single Premier League season with an impressive 19 shut-outs. The Arsenal stopper’s consistency between the posts was instrumental in his team’s title triumph, providing the defensive stability that allowed the Gunners to maintain their lead throughout the campaign. His shot-stopping ability and command of the penalty area made him virtually untouchable during crucial moments.
Raya’s 19 clean sheets placed him atop the Premier League clean sheets chart, significantly ahead of Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma (15). The Spaniard’s performances were so reliable that Arsenal conceded only 27 goals all season, the best defensive record in the league.
Honourable Mentions: Senne Lammens and Robin Roefs.
Jurrien Timber
The Dutch defender underwent a remarkable evolution in his style of play this season. While initially a defensive-minded starter, Timber racked up nine goal contributions in 30 appearances, showcasing his growing comfort in advanced positions. His ability to push forward while maintaining defensive solidity made him an ideal modern full-back for Arsenal’s system.
The Dutchman’s versatility allowed Mikel Arteta to deploy him in multiple positions, and his attacking contributions became increasingly important as the season progressed. His crossing ability and timing of runs into the box added a new dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
Honourable Mention: Matheus Nunes.
William Saliba
Saliba was part of the meanest defence in the Premier League. The Frenchman was dribbled past only seven times all season, and his composure on the ball was equally impressive, completing 92.9% of his passes, the third-best accuracy of any player to attempt at least 2,000 passes. This combination of defensive solidity and ball-playing ability made him indispensable to Arsenal’s title challenge.
The French centre-back’s positioning and reading of the game prevented numerous opposition attacks before they could develop. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes formed the backbone of Arsenal’s defensive success.
Honourable Mentions: Marc Guehi and Nordi Mukiele.
Gabriel Magalhaes
While similar to Saliba in defensive prowess, Gabriel brought an astonishing seven goal contributions that made him a lethal threat during set-piece situations. Arsenal conceded only 20 goals when he was on the pitch—one every 138 minutes—demonstrating his immense defensive value.
The Brazilian’s aerial dominance in both boxes made him a unique weapon for the Gunners. Gabriel’s ability to score crucial goals from corners and free-kicks added a vital dimension to Arsenal’s attack, particularly in tight matches where a single goal could decide the outcome. His physical presence and leadership at the back were evident throughout the title-winning campaign.
Honourable Mention: Marcos Senesi.
Nico O’Reilly
The young Manchester City prodigy delivered eight goal contributions, similar to Timber, which made him a threat in the final third while being solid at the back. The Englishman’s breakthrough season earned him the prestigious Premier League Young Player of the Season award, marking him as one of the most promising talents in English football.
O’Reilly’s ability to contribute both defensively and offensively showcased his complete understanding of the game. His composure beyond his years and tactical intelligence made him a valuable asset for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Honourable Mentions: Adrien Truffert and Lewis Hall.
Declan Rice
Rice established himself as one of the best players in the world this season, controlling games efficiently from the middle of the park with phenomenal work on and off the ball. He ranked top among Arsenal players for chances created (63) and possessions regained per 90 minutes (5.2) while maintaining a high passing rate. His box-to-box prowess was essential to Arsenal’s title charge.
The English midfielder’s ability to break up opposition attacks and launch counter-attacks made him the perfect anchor for Arsenal’s system. His leadership qualities and consistency throughout the season were evident in every match. Elliot Anderson, Casemiro, Bernardo Silva, and Granit Xhaka earn honourable mentions for their midfield contributions.
Rayan Cherki
The French playmaker slowly grew into the season but finished with 12 assists, second only to Bruno Fernandes (21) this season. This marked the most assists by a player in a debut Premier League season since Dimitri Payet (12). Cherki’s creativity was off the charts, as only Bruno Fernandes (4.0) created more chances per 90 minutes than Cherki (3.0).
Cherki topped the Premier League rankings for expected assists per 90 (0.44), demonstrating his ability to create dangerous situations consistently. His vision and passing range made him Manchester City’s creative heartbeat.
Honourable Mentions: Dominik Szoboszlai and Harry Wilson.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes was conferred all the Player of the Season awards—Manchester United’s, FWA, and Premier League Player of the Season. He created history by providing the most assists in a Premier League season (21), breaking the record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne (20). He topped the Premier League charts for chances created (136), open-play chances created (98), and expected assists (12.3).
The Portuguese captain equalled Steven Gerrard’s record for most assists from set-pieces in a Premier League campaign (11). His 136 chances created were 58 more than any other player, and only Mesut Ozil in 2015-16 (146) has created more in one season. Fernandes’ record-breaking season was unprecedented in modern Premier League history.
Honourable Mentions: Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Eli Junior Kroupi.
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo excelled for two clubs, often scoring for fun for Bournemouth and Manchester City. He contributed to 21 goals overall and looked at home at Manchester City by scoring five goals in his first eight games for them. His transition between clubs was seamless, playing his part during City’s resurgence and brief flirtation with the Premier League title.
The versatile forward’s adaptability and goal-scoring instinct made him one of the season’s most surprising standouts. His ability to perform at the highest level for both Bournemouth and City demonstrated his exceptional quality.
Honourable Mentions: Kevin Schade, Matheus Cunha, and Jeremy Doku.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian striker claimed another Premier League Golden Boot, scoring 27 goals despite periods when he looked well off his best. He scored five more goals than any other player, finishing well ahead of the competition. Haaland became just the fifth player to win the Premier League Golden Boot at least three times, alongside Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah (4 each) and Alan Shearer and Harry Kane (3).
Beyond his goals, Haaland added to his game and equalled his best tally of assists in a Premier League campaign (8). His evolution as a complete forward was evident throughout the season, though Manchester City ultimately fell short in their title challenge.
Igor Thiago
One of the stories of the season, Igor Thiago came back from an injury-riddled season to become the player responsible for dragging Brentford into European qualification contention with 22 goals. He was the best striker in the Premier League by far after Haaland, finishing second in the scoring charts. His exploits have attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich.
The Brazilian striker’s remarkable comeback narrative captivated football fans across England. His clinical finishing and ability to score crucial goals kept Brentford’s European dreams alive until the final days of the season. His performances proved he belongs among the elite strikers in world football.
Honourable Mentions: Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro.