Most Creative Premier League Players 2026/27: Bruno Fernandes Leads

Bruno Fernandes named Premier League's most creative player for 2026/27

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes leads the ranking of the most creative players in the Premier League for 2026/27, combining data from the opening weeks of the season with the completed 2025/26 campaign. The list, correct as of 19 September 2026, places Rayan Cherki second and Martin Ødegaard third.

Ranking: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) is No.1, followed by Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) and Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal).
Early leader: Pascal Groß (Brighton) created 13 chances in the opening four matches — the highest total.
Data period: Combines 2025/26 full-season stats with opening weeks of 2026/27.
Stats correct as of: 19 September 2026.
Top 10: Fernandes, Cherki, Ødegaard, Szoboszlai, Groß, Palmer, Rogers, McAtee, Xhaka, Saka.

The numbers

Bruno Fernandes: Over 130 chances created in 2025/26, 21 assists.
Rayan Cherki: Around 60 chances created and 12 assists in 2025/26, starting only 19 league matches; 10 chances created in the opening four matches of 2026/27.
Martin Ødegaard: 12 chances created in his first four league appearances of 2026/27.
Dominik Szoboszlai: Close to 80 chances created in 2025/26 with seven assists; 11 chances created in the opening four matches of 2026/27; leads early rankings for long key passes.
Pascal Groß: 13 chances created in the opening four matches of 2026/27, plus two assists and two goals; created 39 chances during 2025/26.
Cole Palmer: Nine chances created during the opening four matches of 2026/27; part of a formidable front three.

Why Bruno Fernandes still sets the standard

Bruno Fernandes remains the strongest candidate to be considered the Premier League’s most creative player. His 2025/26 campaign produced more than 130 chances created — comfortably ahead of every other player — alongside 21 assists, proving his chances were regularly converted. He has continued to create opportunities in the opening weeks of 2026/27, even if his current numbers are not yet as dominant.

Fernandes’ creativity stems from his range: through-balls from central midfield, crosses from wider positions and switches of play towards an isolated teammate. He is also willing to attempt passes many players would reject as too risky, which can make his possession statistics appear untidy but is central to his value. His set-piece delivery — corners, wide free-kicks and direct attempts — allows him to influence matches even when United struggle to create from open play.

No other current Premier League player combines his creative volume, positional freedom and proven end product quite as consistently. The data supports the eye test: Fernandes is the league’s most productive chance generator.

Cherki and Ødegaard: imagination and awareness

Rayan Cherki is arguably the most naturally imaginative player in the Premier League. The Manchester City playmaker created around 60 chances and registered 12 assists in 2025/26 despite starting only 19 league matches, giving him one of the best creativity-per-minute rates in the competition. He has made another productive start in 2026/27, creating 10 chances across the opening four matches while playing fewer minutes than many above him in the early totals. His rate of more than four chances created per 90 minutes underlines how frequently he opens defences.

Cherki’s two-footed ability makes him especially unpredictable — he can play a through-ball, cross or shoot from several angles without moving the ball onto a preferred foot. He also uses disguise exceptionally well, shaping his body to suggest a conventional pass before attempting a reverse ball, backheel or outside-of-the-foot delivery. Some decisions carry high risk, but that ambition is central to his value. Manchester City already have numerous players capable of retaining possession; Cherki offers the imagination to break a defensive pattern.

Martin Ødegaard has been one of the leading creators during the opening weeks of 2026/27, creating 12 chances across his first four league appearances. His production is particularly impressive given he played fewer minutes than several other leading creators. Ødegaard’s creativity is based on awareness, technique and an exceptional understanding of space. He is most influential in the right half-space, where he can combine with Bukayo Saka, release an overlapping defender or play a disguised pass into the penalty area.

His body positioning is a major advantage: he regularly scans before receiving possession and opens his body to see several attacking options at once. He is also excellent at manipulating defenders — a small touch or delayed pass can draw an opponent out of position, creating a route that did not exist a moment earlier. His 2025/26 chance-creation total was lower than several players in this ranking, partly because he played fewer minutes, but his current output suggests he is ready to re-establish himself among the league’s most productive playmakers.

Szoboszlai and Groß: range and early-season impact

Dominik Szoboszlai combines creative passing with one of the broadest delivery ranges in the Premier League. The Liverpool midfielder created close to 80 chances during 2025/26 — second only to Fernandes — and recorded seven assists. He has continued that form into 2026/27 with 11 chances created across the opening four matches, leading the early rankings for long key passes. His ability to switch play is an important part of Liverpool’s attacking structure; a powerful diagonal pass can move the ball away from pressure and give a winger the opportunity to attack an isolated full-back.

Szoboszlai also creates from set pieces, with corners and free-kicks giving Liverpool another route to goal, particularly against opponents defending in a compact shape. His physical attributes complement his technical quality — he can carry the ball away from pressure, advance into a more threatening position and then produce the final pass while the defence is retreating. He may not possess Cherki’s improvisation or Fernandes’ extraordinary creative volume, but his range and versatility make him one of the league’s most complete creators.

Pascal Groß has made the most productive creative start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, creating 13 chances across the opening four matches — the highest total in the division at that stage — and contributing two assists and two goals. Groß rarely relies on pace or individual dribbling; instead, his influence comes from awareness, movement and the quality of his delivery. He constantly looks for spaces from which he can cross or play forward, often knowing his next pass before an opponent can close him down.

His set-piece delivery is another important source of creativity, varying the speed, height and direction of his crosses to make it difficult for defenders to anticipate the intended target. He created 39 chances during 2025/26, a lower total than many players in the top 10, but his current rate represents a significant increase and reflects his importance within Brighton’s attacking structure. The main question is whether he can sustain his outstanding opening production over a full campaign.

The rest of the top 10: Palmer, Rogers, McAtee, Xhaka and Saka

Cole Palmer, part of a formidable Chelsea front three, remains one of the Premier League’s most dangerous creators around the penalty area. He created nine chances during the opening four matches of 2026/27, and his influence extends beyond those opportunities through his movement, shooting threat and technical control. Morgan Rogers also features for Chelsea, while James McAtee (Nottingham Forest), Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) complete the top 10. This ranking combines evidence from the opening weeks of 2026/27 with data from the completed 2025/26 campaign, preventing a small number of early matches from determining the entire order.

Talking points

Bruno Fernandes’ 21 assists and 130+ chances created make him the clear No.1, but his high-risk passing can frustrate — is his end product worth the turnovers?
Rayan Cherki’s per-90 creativity is arguably the best in the league, yet he started only 19 matches last season. Should Manchester City build their attack around him?
Pascal Groß leads the early chances-created table with 13, but his 39 chances in 2025/26 were far fewer than the elite creators. Is this a genuine breakout or a short-term spike?
Cole Palmer’s nine chances in four games put him in the top 10, but Chelsea’s attacking struggles raise questions about whether he is being used optimally.

What happens next

The ranking will evolve as the 2026/27 season progresses. With statistics correct as of 19 September 2026, the coming weeks will show whether early-season leaders like Pascal Groß and Martin Ødegaard can sustain their output, and whether Bruno Fernandes can maintain his creative volume. Cherki’s per-minute numbers will be closely watched if he earns more starts.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the most creative player in the Premier League in 2026/27?

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United tops the ranking, having created more than 130 chances and registered 21 assists in 2025/26, and continuing to create in 2026/27.