Premier League Player of the Year: Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes and GOAL’s top 50 for the 2025-26 season – ranked

This was almost certainly Elliot Anderson’s final season as a Nottingham Forest player as the Premier League’s elite continue to circle one of the most in-demand midfielders on the planet. Anderson showed just he is so sought after despite Forest’s struggles, too, with another all-action campaign at the City Ground.

Among defensive midfielders in the top-flight, Anderson ranked first for successful passes (2,038), successful dribbles (50), duels won (297) and defensive contributions (516), while he was also the most fouled player (80) in the entire division, highlighting his press resistant qualities. Throw in his four goals and four assists, and Anderson is clearly in the form of his life heading into his first World Cup with England.