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The Football Faithful

·26 May 2026

Each Premier League season tends to see the Team of the Season dominated by stars from the traditional Big Six clubs. To balance things out, we’ve continued our tradition of selecting an XI made up entirely of players from teams outside that elite circle.

The so-called smaller clubs often produce exceptional performers who deserve recognition. Therefore, this lineup excludes players from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

It might seem humorous to still count Spurs among the ‘Big Six’ following back-to-back 17th-place finishes, but their financial strength places them among the richest football clubs globally. In any case, none of their players were close to breaking into our chosen XI.

Our selected side lines up in a 4-3-3 formation. Here’s our pick for the best non-Big Six Premier League XI of the 2025/26 season.

Sunderland deserve huge credit for their smart transfer moves last summer. Not only did they survive their first Premier League season back, but they also thrived, sealing a UEFA Europa League spot on the final day.

Among their standout signings, Robin Roefs, who cost just £9.5 million, proved a revelation. The goalkeeper delivered consistently excellent performances, ending the campaign with 109 saves—the third-highest in the Premier League—and 10 clean sheets.

Brentford’s weapon from the touchline, Michael Kayode, caused constant problems for opposing defences with his long, powerful throw-ins. The Italian right-back combined strength, pace, and defensive solidity, earning attention from larger clubs heading into the transfer window.

Following the departures of Dean Huijsen and Ilya Zabarnyi, Bournemouth relied heavily on Marcos Senesi to marshal their defence. The Argentine may lack the composure of his former teammates, but his work rate was unmatched. He made an impressive 419 defensive actions—clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles—43 more than any other defender in the league.

Another clever Sunderland addition, Nordi Mukiele joined for £9.5 million. Expectations were modest given his mixed spells at PSG and Bayer Leverkusen, but the 28-year-old adapted superbly to the intensity of English football, becoming a defensive mainstay.

In an era that values full-backs who drift inside to control possession, Adrien Truffert’s direct attacking runs down the left wing were a refreshing sight. He made more than 50 overlapping runs—more than anyone else—and ranked among the top five for underlapping movements as well.

The Frenchman might even be an upgrade on Milos Kerkez, whom he replaced after Kerkez’s move to Liverpool. Truffert started all 38 league matches and provided five assists in his debut Premier League season.

Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall was particularly unlucky to miss out after an excellent year on Tyneside.

It’s somewhat unjust that Adam Wharton won’t be part of England’s FIFA World Cup squad next month. Instead, Jordan Henderson—who had a decent but unspectacular season at Brentford—was selected, though he doesn’t make our alternative team of the season either.

Wharton has been far more than just a tidy passer for Crystal Palace. His vision for threading line-breaking passes and his defensive work rate in midfield make him one of the Premier League’s most complete young midfielders. A big-money move away from Selhurst Park seems inevitable.

Elliot Anderson, on the other hand, did enough to earn a call-up for England’s summer tournament after a breakthrough season at Nottingham Forest. A tireless worker, Anderson recorded 515 defensive contributions—the most by any player in the league—while also adding four goals and four assists to his tally.

Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki also deserve honourable mentions for building a strong midfield partnership so quickly after joining the club last year.

Harry Wilson enjoyed his finest top-flight campaign, scoring 10 goals and registering seven assists—his best-ever Premier League return. The Welsh winger showcased clinical finishing from distance, with his remarkable outside-of-the-boot strike against Crystal Palace earning him the BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Season award.

West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen narrowly missed out after scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists.

Nottingham Forest’s turbulent season highlights the club’s internal struggles—despite boasting two English talents in career-best form, they still found themselves battling relegation.

Had Morgan Gibbs-White pushed for a move to Tottenham last summer, Forest’s situation might have been worse. Instead, he stayed loyal and delivered 15 goals, finishing fifth in the Premier League scoring charts, along with four assists.

Golden Boot – Premier League Top Scorers 2025/26

For much of the season, it seemed every long-range effort Morgan Rogers took would find the net. Although his scoring rate cooled later, the Aston Villa forward still ended with 10 goals and six assists, playing a key role in the club’s fourth-place finish.

Despite being a natural No.10, manager Unai Emery frequently used Rogers on the left wing as an inverted attacker—a move that paid off handsomely.

Brentford may have lost Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa over the past two years, but in Igor Thiago, they’ve found a worthy successor. The Brazilian striker scored 22 goals—eight from the penalty spot—earning a World Cup call-up from Carlo Ancelotti. His penalty expertise could prove invaluable on the international stage.

Substitutes Bench: Caoimhín Kelleher, Lewis Hall, Malick Thiaw, Granit Xhaka, Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Do you think any other player deserved a spot in our alternative Premier League Team of the Season? Share your thoughts below!