There is more to being an elite playmaker than racking up assists. Sometimes the best pass of a match goes unrewarded because a teammate misses a glorious opportunity. Other times, a seemingly simple ball unlocks an entire defensive structure and creates a chance that should be converted.
That distinction is particularly interesting when looking at the Premier League’s leading creative players in 2026/27.
Some of the division’s most productive creators have not received the statistical recognition their performances deserve, while others have combined consistent chance creation with the finishing quality of their teammates.
From established stars to some increasingly important creative forces, these are the 10 best playmakers in the Premier League this season, ranked.
10. Declan Rice – Arsenal
Statistics: 17 chances created, 3 big chances created, 5 assists.
Declan Rice has developed into considerably more than a defensive midfielder. The Arsenal star remains one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players in controlling matches, but his attacking contributions have become increasingly difficult to overlook.
Rice offers Arsenal an unusual combination of physical authority, defensive intelligence and progressive distribution. He can win possession, carry the ball through midfield and suddenly become an important creative outlet in the final third.
His five assists are an impressive return, particularly for someone whose primary responsibilities extend well beyond creating chances. However, the underlying numbers also demonstrate that his contribution is not simply a product of teammates finishing opportunities.
Rice has created 17 chances and three big chances, giving Arsenal another valuable attacking dimension from midfield.
His ability to arrive in dangerous areas and deliver quality balls into the penalty area makes him an increasingly complete midfielder.
9. John McGinn – Aston Villa
Statistics: 19 chances created, 2 big chances created, 1 assist.
John McGinn has never been the most conventional playmaker, but that is precisely what makes him such an interesting creative presence for Aston Villa.
The Scottish international combines physical strength with an underrated ability to manipulate space. He is comfortable receiving possession under pressure, using his body to protect the ball and finding teammates through tight defensive structures.
Under Unai Emery, McGinn’s importance extends beyond his work rate and leadership. He is also a valuable weapon when Villa encounter opponents who are determined to defend deep.
His 19 chances created demonstrate that he is consistently finding ways to get teammates involved in dangerous positions, even if the return of just one assist does not reflect that productivity.
McGinn might not possess the technical elegance of some of the players higher on this list, but his creativity comes from a different place.
He is an awkward opponent to defend against, and Villa benefit enormously from having someone capable of combining physicality with intelligent distribution.
8. Rayan Cherki – Manchester City
Statistics: 20 chances created, 3 big chances created, 2 assists.
Rayan Cherki has brought a different kind of creativity to Manchester City.
Man City has always valued technically gifted players capable of operating in congested areas, but Cherki offers something particularly unpredictable. His ability to improvise, change direction and produce passes from seemingly impossible angles gives City another way to break down stubborn opponents.
There is an element of risk to his game, but that is also what makes him so entertaining.
Cherki is not simply interested in recycling possession or playing the obvious pass. He wants to eliminate defenders, create separation and find teammates in positions where they can hurt the opposition.
His 20 chances created and three big chances created are an encouraging reflection of that approach.
At Manchester City, where opponents frequently dedicate significant defensive resources to protecting central spaces, having a player who can produce something unexpected is enormously valuable.
Cherki is still establishing himself among the Premier League’s elite creators, but his technical ability makes him one of the most exciting players to watch.
7. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland
Statistics: 20 chances created, 5 big chances created, 0 assists.
Granit Xhaka’s move to Sunderland has given the Black Cats an entirely different level of experience and quality in midfield.
The Swiss international has spent years establishing himself as one of Europe’s most accomplished midfield controllers, and his ability to dictate possession has become an important part of Sunderland’s approach.
Xhaka is particularly effective at finding teammates with progressive passes from deeper positions. He does not need to operate around the penalty area to influence the creation of chances.
Instead, he can break defensive lines from midfield, switch play quickly and move opponents around until spaces begin to emerge.
His five big chances created are particularly impressive, especially considering that he has yet to register an assist.
That discrepancy tells an interesting story about Sunderland’s attacking production. Xhaka is providing the service, but the finishing has not always followed.
There is little doubt that Sunderland have benefited from having such an experienced and technically accomplished midfielder controlling their possession.
6. Maxim De Cuyper – Brighton
Statistics: 22 chances created, 5 big chances created, 3 assists.
Brighton have developed a reputation for identifying technically gifted players, and Maxim De Cuyper is another example of their ability to find quality in less obvious places.
The Belgian offers a modern interpretation of the attacking full-back role. He is comfortable providing width, combining with teammates in tight spaces and making aggressive movements into the channels.
His creativity is particularly valuable because it gives Brighton another route into the final third without relying entirely on their central attacking players.
De Cuyper has created 22 chances and five big chances, while his three assists demonstrate that his delivery is translating into tangible attacking production.
There is also something refreshing about having a full-back feature so prominently among the Premier League’s leading creators.
Brighton have always been willing to use unconventional sources of attacking production, and De Cuyper is becoming an excellent example of that philosophy.
His ability to contribute from wide areas makes him an increasingly important part of their attacking structure.
5. Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Statistics: 22 chances created, 6 big chances created, 3 assists.
Cole Palmer has already demonstrated that he belongs among the Premier League’s most technically gifted attacking players, and his creative numbers provide another reminder of his importance to Chelsea.
The England international possesses an exceptional understanding of space. He is particularly dangerous when receiving possession between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines, where his composure allows him to assess several different options before making a decision.
Palmer is also comfortable creating opportunities without needing much room. His close control and ability to disguise passes make him particularly difficult to defend against in congested areas.
His 22 chances created and six big chances created underline how frequently he is putting teammates into dangerous positions.
Three assists are a respectable return, but his creative contribution extends beyond that number.
Chelsea need Palmer to be involved in their most important attacking sequences, and his ability to create opportunities for others is just as valuable as his own goalscoring threat.
He remains one of the most dangerous attacking players in the division.
4. Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal
Statistics: 22 chances created, 4 big chances created, 0 assists.
Martin Ødegaard has built his reputation around making difficult things look remarkably simple.
The Arsenal captain is one of the Premier League’s most intelligent attacking midfielders, possessing the awareness and technical ability to identify passing opportunities before opposition defenders recognize the danger.
His combination play is particularly effective around the penalty area. Ødegaard constantly looks for opportunities to exchange quick passes, move defenders out of position and create openings for teammates making forward runs.
He is also excellent at controlling the tempo of Arsenal’s attacking play.
Rather than forcing difficult passes, Ødegaard often waits for the right moment to accelerate an attack, using subtle changes in direction and carefully weighted deliveries to dismantle defensive structures.
His 22 chances created are an impressive return, although the absence of an assist is a reminder that chance creation and end product are not always the same thing.
Arsenal have one of the division’s most accomplished playmakers in their captain, and his influence remains enormous even when the final statistical reward is missing.
3. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Everton
Statistics: 22 chances created, 8 big chances created, 1 assist.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has become one of Everton’s most important creative players, providing an attacking dimension that makes him particularly valuable to the team’s overall structure.
His numbers are especially impressive when looking at big chances created.
Dewsbury-Hall has produced eight opportunities classified as big chances, putting him ahead of every other player on this list in that particular category.
That is not an insignificant distinction.
There is a difference between creating opportunities from harmless positions and consistently finding teammates in situations where they should be scoring. Dewsbury-Hall has demonstrated an ability to do the latter.
His movement and willingness to carry possession forward make him an important part of Everton’s transitional play. He can receive the ball under pressure, turn quickly and immediately look for opportunities to exploit spaces behind the opposition’s midfield.
His one assist does not tell the full story of his contribution.
Everton have found a valuable creative outlet in Dewsbury-Hall, and his underlying numbers suggest that his influence could become even more noticeable if his teammates become more clinical.
2. Alex Iwobi – Fulham
Statistics: 24 chances created, 7 big chances created, 0 assists.
Alex Iwobi deserves considerably more recognition for the creative work he has produced at Fulham.
The Nigerian international has developed into a remarkably versatile attacking midfielder, capable of contributing from wide areas, operating centrally and carrying possession through the middle of the pitch.
His ability to progress the ball is particularly important.
Iwobi is not simply a player who waits for possession and attempts difficult passes. He actively moves the ball into dangerous areas himself, using his acceleration and close control to eliminate opponents before looking for teammates.
That combination of ball-carrying and distribution makes him a difficult player to contain.
His 24 chances created rank him second on this list, while seven big chances created demonstrate that his passing is regularly producing genuinely dangerous opportunities.
The absence of an assist is striking, but it should not overshadow the quality of his creative output.
Fulham have an increasingly important attacking weapon in Iwobi, and his performances demonstrate why assessing playmakers solely through their assist totals can be misleading.
1. Pascal Groß – Brighton
Statistics: 29 chances created, 7 big chances created, 4 assists.
There is no debate about the most productive creator on this list.
Pascal Groß has once again demonstrated why he deserves to be considered among the Premier League’s finest playmakers, leading this group with an outstanding 29 chances created.
Even at 35 years old, the German midfielder continues to offer an exceptional level of technical quality and tactical intelligence.
Groß has never relied on extraordinary physical attributes to influence matches. Instead, his game is built around positioning, awareness and the ability to identify passing opportunities before they become obvious.
His delivery from set pieces is particularly dangerous, but his creativity extends well beyond dead-ball situations.
Groß understands how to manipulate defensive structures, find pockets of space and deliver passes that allow Brighton’s attackers to receive possession in advantageous positions.
His seven big chances created and four assists provide further evidence of his importance.
Brighton have consistently benefited from his ability to control attacking sequences, and his experience has become an invaluable asset.
The Premier League has plenty of exciting young creators, but Groß is a reminder that intelligence and technical quality can remain devastatingly effective long after a player’s physical peak.
With 29 chances created, he is comfortably the most productive playmaker in this ranking and deserves the top spot.
Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won’t be able to guess my favorite team.