Five Premier League players with a point to prove in 2025/26 | OneFootball

Ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season, which is set to kick off later this month, we profile five players who enter the campaign with a point to prove.

Premier League players with a point to prove in 2025/26

Martin Odegaard – Arsenal

Martin Odegaard might be Arsenal captain and one of the Premier League’s most talented midfielders, but the Norwegian faced plenty of question marks last season.

For the second straight season, Odegaard’s goal numbers dropped. He managed just three in the Premier League in 2024/25, down from eight the season prior and 15 in 2022/23.

There has also been criticism over a tendency to take too many touches and slow down Arsenal attacks.

It has perhaps contributed to Gabriel Martinelli’s own downturn, with the latter most threatening when attacking at speed on the counter. With Viktor Gyokeres having arrived from Sporting and a forward who makes relentless runs, the onus will be on Odegaard to eradicate an occasionally over-patient approach.

Donyell Malen – Aston Villa

When Donyell Malen signed for Aston Villa in January, the Dutchman discussed his excitement at joining the club’s Champions League challenge. Just weeks later, he was snubbed from the Champions League squad, with later loan arrivals Marcus Rashford and Marcos Asensio selected ahead of him.

Malen managed just two league starts after his mid-season move from Borussia Dortmund, but showed flashes of quality with three Premier League goals. Asensio and Rashford have now departed, while Jacob Ramsey also looks set for the exit door. Malen has impressed in pre-season and will hope to earn a regular role in Unai Emery’s side. However, the signing of Evann Guessand has added another threat to his place.

Jack Grealish – Everton

A new season and a new challenge for Jack Grealish. After exploring his options this summer, Grealish has joined Everton on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City.

The winger is aiming to rebuild after a frustrating period at the Etihad, which saw the 29-year-old lose favour across the last two seasons.

Grealish started just seven games in the Premier League last season and wanted minutes as he looks to regain his England place ahead of next summer’s World Cup. A move to Merseyside might just be the ideal tonic, where he’s likely to be handed greater freedom than he enjoyed under Pep Guardiola.

Phil Foden – Manchester City

From the best campaign of his career to arguably the worst of his career as a regular at Manchester City, 2024/25 was a tough time for Phil Foden. Issues on and off the pitch impacted Foden’s campaign, as he dipped from his PFA Player of the Year heights a season earlier.

Foden scored a respectable seven goals in 20 league starts last season, but it was a notable drop from a campaign in which he was the Premier League’s standout talent.

With Kevin De Bruyne departed, City need their homegrown hero to step up. The 25-year-old will also be keen to rediscover his best form this time around, with competition fierce for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England side ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Manuel Ugarte – Manchester United

There’s undoubtedly a level of scrutiny on Manchester United players that is not endured elsewhere in the division.

At Old Trafford, the glare of the spotlight is bright, and Manuel Ugarte was one of several signings who struggled last season. The Uruguayan is a combative presence, but limitations in his game on the ball have led to some questioning his role.

Paris Saint-Germain decided to cut their losses on Ugarte after one season, and there are fears the midfielder may not be suited to a side that aims to dominate possession. Ruben Amorim has worked with Ugarte previously and will be optimistic that the 24-year-old can adapt. Energy is required in a midfield too often exposed last season, though Ugarte will need to improve.

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