As football fans know, September is a busy month! Offline, the 2025/26 Premier League season is underway, showcasing the incredible talent and unparalleled passion of legendary players on the pitch. On consoles, we’re also about to welcome the official release of the all-new EA FC 26!
As the pinnacle of football simulation video games, FIFA series has always featured games that allow you to play with the biggest leagues, clubs, and players in world football, all rendered with incredible detail and realism.
While the series has undergone numerous iterations over the years, Premier League has always been a cornerstone for EA Sports FC. FC considers Premier League itself one of its most prestigious licensed leagues, standing alongside other major leagues like La Liga, Bundesliga, and Champions League.
Premier League, the core of the game, features all 20 clubs, including their kits, logos, and broadcast content, providing players with an authentic gaming experience. Therefore, Premier League player ratings are often a key focus when players build their starting lineups.
So, which top-flight English football players will take the top spot in FUT 26? Will it be Arsenal FC’s French center-back William Saliba, or Manchester City’s star left-footed Norway striker Erling Haaland? Here, IGGM.com predicts the top 20 players in Premier League! Get your FC 26 coins ready, these players are expected to be the hottest transfer options!
86 Rated Players
- Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool
- Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United
- Tijjani Reijnders, Manchester City
- Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle United
First, IGGM will take a look at four players with a rating of 86, all of whom are among the best midfielders at their respective clubs.
Alexis Mac Allister held the highest rating last season. Liverpool signed him from Brighton & Hove Albion for a remarkable £35 million transfer fee, completing the first part of their summer midfield rebuild. However, the World Cup winner’s performances were mediocre last year, and as a result, he didn’t receive a significant rating upgrade.
In contrast, Tijjani Reijnders saw his rating rise from 82 to 86. After stints at AZ Alkmaar and AC Milan, he signed with Manchester City in the summer of 2025. Reijnders is known for his versatility and all-around ability in midfield, and was named Serie A’s Best Midfielder for the 2024/25 season. Manchester City’s midfield is more solid with the addition of Reijnders, but whether his rating increase is justified remains to be seen.
Finally, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are Newcastle United’s two star midfielders. They aren’t traditional defensive midfielders. Tonali and Guimaraes’ synergy and ability to switch positions throughout the game, with one defending and the other attacking, often make them the primary drivers of their team’s success.
If you’re looking to build the strongest defensive midfield for your team, it’s best to buy FIFA 26 coins in advance to ensure both of them are included in your squad.
87 Rated Players
- Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United
- Declan Rice, Arsenal
- Martin Odegaard, Arsenal
- Moises Caicedo, Chelsea
- Cole Palmer, Chelsea
- William Saliba, Arsenal
- David Raya, Arsenal
Bruno Fernandes is a versatile attacking midfielder for Manchester United, with an overall rating of 87, highlighting his excellent passing and stamina. Fernandes is known for his consistent goals and assists, as well as his leadership on the pitch. The 2024/25 season, for example, was arguably Fernandes’ best season for Manchester United.
In addition, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer demonstrate exceptional teamwork and precise tackling, with Caicedo’s rating rising from 82 last season to 87. Truthfully, it’s hard to find a more important player for Chelsea than Caicedo, and both fully deserve their ratings.
William Saliba and Declan Rice were both named to the 2024/25 Premier League Team of the Season, so their ratings of 87 for the season are undeniable.
David Raya, Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper, won Premier League Golden Glove for two consecutive years, solidifying his status as one of the best goalkeepers. Consequently, his rating rose by four points.
Conversely, Martin Odegaard, known for his excellent ball control, excellent assists, and ability to instantly tear apart opposing defenses, was criticized for his performance in Arsenal’s loss to PSG in the 2024/25 season, which may have contributed significantly to his overall rating dropping from 89 to 87.
88 Rated Players
- Bukayo Saka, Arsenal
- Alexander Isak, Newcastle United
- Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal
In FIFA 26, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes both have an overall rating of 88. The only difference is that Bukayo Saka scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions in the 2024/25 season, demonstrating his continued importance to Arsenal’s attack and earning a +1 rating.
Teammate Gabriel Magalhaes, meanwhile, scored against both Manchester City and Tottenham and was named to the PFA Team of the Year, demonstrating his dominance among center-backs. Although he suffered an injury against Fulham in April 2025 and missed the final few games of the season, his rating, which rose from 86 to 88 this season, clearly demonstrates his rarity.
Alexander Isak made 34 Premier League appearances in the 2024/25 season, scoring 23 goals and providing 6 assists. However, the Swedish striker no longer wants to play for Newcastle United, and Liverpool’s offer could provide a spark. If your team lacks a strong striker, Alexander Isak is a solid option. However, his transfer fee might be a test for your EA FC 26 coins reserves!
89 Rated Players
- Florian Wirtz, Liverpool
- Alisson, Liverpool
Florian Wirtz is a newcomer to Premier League, but that hasn’t stopped him from performing well in the 2024/25 season. He contributed 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen before moving to Premier League champions Liverpool in the summer of June 2025.
Last season, under new manager Arne Slot, Alisson became Premier League champions’ first-choice goalkeeper for Liverpool, starting 35 games and keeping 13 clean sheets, earning a 9/10 rating for the season. As a result, he’s often considered the best goalkeeper in Premier League history, even though his rating hasn’t improved in FC 26.
90 Rated Players
- Erling Haaland, Manchester City
- Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
Ever since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022, Erling Haaland has consistently delivered a reliable goal-scoring performance. Last season, Haaland made 31 appearances, scoring 22 goals and providing 3 assists, making his player rating of 90 unsurprising.
As for Virgil van Dijk, there’s no doubt he’s one of the best center-backs in world football. You can always count on him for outstanding performances in defense. Furthermore, under the new manager, van Dijk’s powerful passing and decision-making were fully demonstrated, leading Liverpool to Premier League title.
91 Rated Players
- Rodri, Manchester City
- Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Finally, as for the players with an overall rating of 91, their inclusion on this list is unsurprising.
Mohamed Salah, renowned for his precise finishing, dribbling, and playmaking, is Premier League’s all-time leading foreign scorer. In the 2024-25 season, he won his second league title, scoring 34 goals and providing 23 assists across all competitions. Therefore, his rating rise to 91 is entirely justifiable.
Finally, Rodri enjoyed historic success in the previous season. Ballon d’Or winner won numerous trophies with Manchester City. He was a key player in breaking Manchester City’s 74-game unbeaten run, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists in Premier League alone. Although he has been plagued by injuries over the past year, his previous performances clearly confirm his status as one of the best players in the world!
In conclusion, these are IGGM’s predictions for the top 20 rated players in FC 26’s Premier League. Of course, nothing is certain until the official database is released, so let’s wait and see!
