15 Best Strikers in the Premier League [Ranked]

Scoring goals is one of the toughest yet most crucial aspects of football. Goals win games, and in the Premier League, finding the back of the net is especially challenging, with strikers often facing some of the world’s best defenders.

Over the years, the league has been graced by legendary centre-forwards like Alan Shearer, Luis Suárez, and Didier Drogba—players who set the standard for greatness in front of goal.

Today, the Premier League boasts an abundance of attacking talent, led by Erling Haaland, arguably the best goalscorer in the world. Strikers like Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak have also proven their lethal finishing ability.

But who stands out among the rest? Betimate has ranked the Premier League's 15 best forwards currently lighting up the division.

Ranking Factors:

• Current Form (2024/25 Season):
  How effectively a striker is performing in the current campaign holds significant weight. Are they delivering when it matters most?
• Previous Season's Form (2023/24):
  Consistency is key. Players who excelled in the prior season are given credit for sustained excellence.
• Status Among Strikers:
  Where does the player rank compared to their peers? Are they considered elite or just below the top tier?
• Team Importance:
  How vital is the player to their squad? Are they the driving force behind their team’s success, and how does the team perform in their absence?
• Success (Team and Individual):
  Achievements matter—both collective (league finishes, trophies) and individual (awards, goal tallies).
• Injury Record:
  Availability is as important as ability. Strikers who have missed significant time through injury see their rankings affected.

15. Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League has been anything but smooth, with the Tractor Boys managing just eight points from their opening 11 games, leaving them in the relegation zone. However, things could have been far worse without Liam Delap leading the attack.

The 21-year-old has adapted to life in the top flight remarkably well, scoring at an impressive rate in what is his first real Premier League campaign. With six league goals to his name already, Delap has been a shining light in a tough season. If Ipswich are to avoid relegation, the young striker will undoubtedly be central to their survival hopes.

14. Yoane Wissa

Brentford

Ivan Toney’s move to the Saudi Pro League left Brentford with a significant void to fill. Despite managing without him for a considerable portion of the 2023/24 season, questions loomed over how Thomas Frank’s side would cope without their talismanic striker.

While Bryan Mbeumo has stepped up admirably from the flanks, Yoane Wissa has taken on the central striking duties this season—and with great success. The 28-year-old has delivered seven goals and an assist in just eight games, proving he might be the ideal candidate to spearhead Brentford's attack in the post-Toney era.

13. Joao Pedro

Brighton

Joao Pedro has been outstanding since joining Brighton in 2023, proving to be a reliable focal point in attack while also excelling in his link-up play. After netting nine Premier League goals in his debut season at the AMEX Stadium, the Brazilian forward has already scored four times in just six appearances during the 2024/25 campaign.

Despite featuring in only half of Brighton’s league matches under Fabian Hurzeler this season, Pedro has consistently delivered when given the opportunity. His goal tally over two seasons slightly limits his ranking compared to more prolific scorers, but there’s plenty to admire about the 23-year-old’s talent. As he continues to mature, he has the potential to become a truly exceptional player.

12. Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been with Crystal Palace since January 2021, but for many outside the club, it might have felt like he only truly arrived last season. In his first two full campaigns, Mateta managed just seven Premier League goals. However, the Frenchman exploded in 2023/24, scoring an impressive 16 league goals and cementing his place as one of the most in-form strikers in the division.

That momentum carried into the early stages of the new season, with Mateta finding the net twice in Palace’s opening four matches. However, his form has dipped since, adding just one more league goal as the team struggles for consistency. Despite this slowdown, Mateta has already proven his quality, and if Oliver Glasner’s side is to turn their fortunes around, his contributions will be crucial.

11. Danny Welbeck

Brighton & Hove Albion

A few years ago, it seemed like Danny Welbeck’s career might fade away quietly. Persistent injuries disrupted his spells at Arsenal and Watford, preventing him from building any consistency. However, a move to Brighton has revitalized the former Manchester United forward, and he's been in excellent goalscoring form recently.

Now 33, Welbeck has rolled back the years during the 2024/25 campaign, netting six goals in 12 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls. Few would have predicted that he’d become the player to lead Brighton’s frontline in 2024, but that’s exactly what he’s done, proving his doubters wrong.

10. Rasmus Hojlund

Manchester United

After a challenging start to his Manchester United career, marked by a lack of creativity from his teammates, Rasmus Hojlund found his stride in 2024, netting all 10 of his Premier League goals after Christmas.

The Danish forward took on much of the goalscoring responsibility at Old Trafford last season, and the addition of Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee was expected to relieve some of the pressure on the young talent. Seen as a long-term solution to the club's striker issues, Hojlund has the potential to lead Manchester United's attack for years to come, although his goal-scoring form has been less prolific so far this season.

9. Darwin Nunez

Liverpool

Darwin Nunez faced plenty of criticism after his £85m move from Benfica to Liverpool, with many pointing to his tendency to squander key chances. His first season saw him score just nine Premier League goals in 29 appearances, far from what was expected after such a hefty transfer fee.

While Nunez showed improvement in his second season, reaching double figures for goals, doubts remain over his consistency. He missed several opportunities during Liverpool’s final stretch last season as they fell out of title contention. As a result, he has found himself on the bench under new manager Arne Slot. However, with his dynamic style of play, Nunez still has the potential to prove his worth.

8. Diogo Jota

Liverpool

Although Diogo Jota is capable of playing on the wing for Liverpool, Arne Slot has deployed the Portuguese forward in a central role. This position has allowed him to exploit spaces behind opposition defences, while also dropping deeper to link up play with his teammates.

Jota has embraced this role with confidence, scoring two goals and providing two assists in his first seven Premier League appearances of the season. Given the packed schedule Liverpool faces, he will likely rotate with Darwin Nunez, but based on the early games, it's clear that Jota is Slot's preferred option for the central striker role.

7. Chris Wood

Nottingham Forest

Chris Wood may not be the most high-profile name on this list, but he has proven to be a dependable Premier League striker over the years. Having played for West Brom, Leicester, Burnley, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest, Wood has just enjoyed his joint-best season for goals in the top flight.

The 32-year-old netted 14 goals for Forest during the 2023-24 Premier League season, matching the tally he recorded with Burnley in the 2019-20 campaign. Wood may not rely on pace, but his consistency and sharpness in front of goal have been key to Forest's impressive start this season. With eight goals in just 12 appearances, he is in the form of his life, and his contributions have been crucial to the team's success.

6. Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson faced heavy criticism for his finishing during his debut season at Chelsea, but many fans may not realize just how many goals he actually scored. Jackson netted 17 goals in the 2023-24 season, including a solid 14 in the Premier League.

Now, with a full season behind him, the Senegalese striker has already caught the eye of new manager Enzo Maresca, who continues to start him despite Christopher Nkunku's return to full fitness. Jackson has repaid that faith with seven goals and three assists in the 2024-25 campaign. With a good first touch and quick feet, his only real limitations are his occasional wastefulness in front of goal and struggles with timing the offside line.

5. Dominic Solanke

Tottenham

After years of underperforming in the top flight, Dominic Solanke finally tapped into his potential and thrived with Bournemouth in the Premier League. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged a goal a game, a record that caught the attention of Tottenham as they sought to replace Harry Kane.

Though he hasn't maintained that same goal-scoring pace since his move to north London, Solanke has still managed to score four goals in his first nine league appearances. It's a strong start, and his performance should only improve as the season progresses.

4. Kai Havertz

Arsenal

Kai Havertz may be a controversial pick as a striker, but for much of 2024, he has played in that role and excelled for Arsenal, contributing to their near-miss in the 2023-24 Premier League title race.

At the start of last season, many believed Arsenal would need to sign a high-profile striker to improve their title chances in 2024-25. However, Havertz's performances in that position have led the Gunners to shelve plans for a new signing. While his finishing can be inconsistent, the German’s link-up play and aerial presence make him a constant threat. If he continues to build on his form, he could challenge higher-ranked players on this list.

3. Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Aston Villa's transformation from relegation contenders under Steven Gerrard to European participants under Unai Emery has been nothing short of remarkable, and much of that success can be attributed to the brilliance of Ollie Watkins, who is now considered one of the top forwards in world football.

The English striker elevated his game in 2022-23, scoring 15 goals and surpassing his previous league-best tally. He continued to improve in 2023-24, netting 19 Premier League goals as Villa secured a spot in the Champions League. If they are to maintain their top-four status, much of the responsibility will fall on Watkins' shoulders.

2. Alexander Isak

Newcastle United

When Newcastle splashed out £63m for Alexander Isak, some questioned the fee, but few are doubting his quality now. The Swedish striker enjoyed a strong debut season in the Premier League, scoring 10 goals and impressing with his finishing and technical ability, a form he maintained into the following season.

Although injuries hindered him during his first year at St James' Park, Isak was fit for most of the 2023-24 campaign and delivered with 21 Premier League goals, showcasing his talent. While his 2024-25 season hasn't started with the same explosive pace, there's no reason to doubt the 25-year-old can have another outstanding year for Eddie Howe's side as the season progresses.

1. Erling Haaland

Manchester City

Erling Haaland arrived, made his mark, and dominated. After setting records at Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 86 goals in 89 appearances, the Norwegian continued his record-breaking form at Manchester City. He obliterated Alan Shearer and Andy Cole's long-standing record for most goals in a single Premier League season, finishing the 2022/23 campaign with an incredible 36 goals.

While Haaland's second season in Manchester wasn't as prolific, he still finished as the Golden Boot winner for the second consecutive year with 27 goals. He has started the 2024/25 season in terrifying form, already netting 12 goals in just 11 Premier League games, further solidifying his status as the gold standard for strikers today.