Premier League fans are looking at the top scoring charts and wondering where the quality at the No. 9 went over the past decade in English football. These five strikers have not exactly helped change that narrative in the 2025/26 season.
Jorgen Strand Larsen, Wolves
Jorgen Strand Larsen has looked significantly better for Crystal Palace with three goals in six games, clearly benefiting from a move to a club that is not dead last in the Premier League right now.
But Larsen still deserves a mention on this list for just how horrendous he was at Wolves. They are, in no small part, in last with some “thanks” to Larsen, who scored just once in 22 appearances with some of the most inept all around play at the position in the division.
Hwang Hee-Chan, Wolves
With Wolves staring down relegation, Hwang Hee-Chan’s days at the club are numbered, and he hasn’t exactly helped the worsst team in the Premier League avoid the fate of relegation.
Hwang has scored just one goal since the start of September, and while his creative work and all around play have actually been strong – and underappeciated on a team as bad as Wolves – he is being paid to score goals. And he simply isn’t doing that.
Igor Jesus, Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood’s return from injury could not come sooner for Nottingham Forest, because the club have gone from having one of the best strikers in the Premier League and arguably the biggest surprise of the 2024/25 season en route to Forest shockingly qualifying for European football.
Now, Forest are one of the worst teams in the Premier League, and new striker Igor Jesus has been a big part of that. He has really struggled to carve out his own chances and has wasted a pretty great midfield behind him. He has less than a handful of goals, and while there are flashes of positive all around play, he is clearly not ready to be a starting striker in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa
When bringing up the most disappointing players in the Premier League, Ollie Watkins has to be near the top of the list. It was not long ago when he was so brilliant for Aston Villa in firing them to the top five that only Harry Kane was outplaying him among English and Premier League strikers.
Now, Watkins suddenly looks slow and wasteful, offering no goal threat while leaving his teammates with all the work to do. It is a miracle Villa are in the top four, because their starting striker has been a disaster this season.
Thierno Barry, Everton
Beto and Thierno Barry both have six goals this season, but Beto’s done it in 12 starts and 19 bench appearances while Barry has started 19 games with 12 appearances off the bench.
At this point, Everton are going to have to phase Barry out of the lineup. He just isn’t at the level of a Premier League striker. Barry does not make the most of his chances, his all around play is much worse than advertised at Villarreal, and he plays with a lack of ball progression and physicality that mean he won’t last very long in this league.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.