Football leagues across Europe are currently in the midst of intense preseason preparations, with training camps and friendly matches in full flow as teams calibrate for the upcoming campaign. All eyes will be on the transfer window as clubs scramble to find the missing pieces, either in the starting lineup or to complete the squad. The mega signings of the European summer saw England international Elliot Anderson switch Nottingham Forest for Manchester City and Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande swap RB Leipzig for Real Madrid. Rumours are rife that Rodri may be heading out of City with Barcelona poised. It seems, however, as though it has been a quieter period on the transfer front, with perhaps one of the more settled summer squads across the continent than in previous years. So, Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at which players are most crucial to their teams’ success in the leagues across Europe – and why statistics back that up.
After an underwhelming World Cup, Declan Rice will be desperate to renew his importance to Arsenal. The 27-year-old, who arrived in North London from West Ham, was central to the Gunners’ defensive set up, ball retention and, crucially, their extraordinary set-piece threat last season. The Gunners scored a league-high 24 goals from set-pieces, with eight coming from Rice deliveries and three producing direct assists. His ability to anchor the midfield while contributing significantly to attacking dead-ball situations makes him an indispensable asset for Mikel Arteta’s side as they look to challenge for the title once more.
The heartbeat of Manchester United since he joined the club, Bruno Fernandes may perhaps be the player hardest for any of the clubs on this list to replace should he sustain a long-term injury. The attacking midfielder was arguably the best player in his position in the world last season, as he produced a remarkable 21 Premier League assists – a single-season record – while also ranking first for chances created and through balls. His 45 chances created were also the most in the division, while his expected assists ranked second, cementing his status as the primary creative engine for the Red Devils.
Cole Palmer’s importance to Chelsea is ultimately about attacking output and he will be boosted by the arrival of Morgan Rogers to help him in that department. Palmer’s breakthrough 2024/25 campaign produced extraordinary numbers, with the attacking midfielder directly involved in 29 Premier League goals. After a less productive 2025/26 season, the statistical challenge is clear: Chelsea need Palmer back closer to his elite production levels if they are to compete with England’s best. His versatility in the final third remains the key to unlocking stubborn defenses.
Erling Haaland’s importance to Manchester City can be reduced to one extraordinary statistic: 27 Premier League goals in 2025/26, enough to win his third Golden Boot. That means City possess a striker capable of converting their possession and territorial dominance into points. Haaland’s numbers are particularly important because they represent a consistent output that few other strikers in world football can match, ensuring that City remain the team to beat in domestic competition.
Dominik Szoboszlai was a key part of Liverpool’s title winning side in 2024/25 and his contributions helped lift a woeful 2025/26 campaign. The Hungarian was among Liverpool’s leading creators last season, producing seven assists while recording 78 chances created and 68 key passes, according to the Reds’ season statistical breakdown. His ability to transition the ball from midfield to attack at pace is vital for Liverpool’s high-pressing system, and his continued fitness will be a major factor in their pursuit of silverware this year.
Kylian Mbappe’s performance this season is likely to set the tone for whether Real Madrid can stop Barcelona from winning a third successive La Liga title. The French forward finished the 2025/26 season with 25 goals and five assists in 31 appearances, winning the Pichichi Trophy – for the league’s top scorer – for the second consecutive season. Across all competitions, he scored 42 goals in 44 matches and finished as the Champions League’s leading scorer with 15, proving he is the ultimate difference-maker on the biggest stages.
With each season the importance of Lamine Yamal to Barcelona continues to grow, mostly because time has been against their previous talisman, Robert Lewandowski for a number of seasons. Yamal finished the last campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists, meaning he directly contributed to 27 league goals despite making just 28 appearances. In his 32 La Liga appearances at Barcelona last season he scored eight goals, but his play was clearly approaching its levels of years past, signaling a potential breakout year for the young star.
As the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembele needs little introduction nor explanation as to why he would be crucial to any side in the world. The French forward’s combination of goals, creativity and involvement across the attacking structure gives PSG great versatility. In the 2024/25 season, Dembele scored 35 goals with 51 goal involvements in total. In the last campaign he had a more interrupted time, with 10 goal involvements in eight Champions League matches and 17 in 22 Ligue 1 games, yet his capacity to change a game remains unmatched in France.
Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich has transformed the Bundesliga landscape. In the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, he scored 36 goals in 31 appearances and added five assists, averaging a goal every 66 minutes. His 36 goals were also the highest league tally by any player in Europe during 2025/26, and in the Champions League, he netted 14 times. As Bayern looks to reclaim total dominance, Kane’s clinical finishing remains the most reliable metric for their success.
The 19-year-old’s ability to create chances and beat defenders forces opponents to alter their defensive structure accordingly.
His workload in midfield may be affected by the departure of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro – how United fill that void is likely to influence the performance of Fernandes.
Chelsea’s structure has increasingly been built around his creativity and ability to operate between the lines.
His influence is particularly significant because he can contribute both as a scorer and creator rather than relying exclusively on one dimension of his game.
His presence also forces defenders to remain deep and devote multiple players to control him, creating space elsewhere.
Creating goals off his own back is the one criticism levelled at the Norwegian and with the likely loss of the midfield maestro, Rodri, that may come into sharper focus this season.
If anyone can solve that problem, it will be the new manager, Jose Mourinho.
When it comes to breaking down well structured opposition defences, see Arsenal’s woes in last season’s Champions League final, despite their formidable back line.
For the German champions, Kane provides something almost priceless: virtually guaranteed goals every season.
Marcus Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona, where he instantly returned to form after a downturn to his Manchester United career.
Seemingly out of favour under Ruben Amorim, Rashford was reduced to a bit-part role at his childhood club.
All was forgotten once he linked up with Barca’s esteemed attack.
It could be back at Old Trafford should the now permanent replacement for Amorim, Michael Carrick, try to resurrect the forward’s career.
Wherever Rashford goes next year, if he returns to the peak of his powers, his teammates will look on in awe at his pace and skill, while opposing defences will once again be fearful of his threat
