Best Europa League players to watch right now | OneFootball

Don’t sleep on the Europa League.

It may be second to the Champions League in stature for European competition, but the Europa League can often be better to watch. There’s an air of unpredictability in the Europa League, and a chance to see more unknown talent take centre stage.

It was in the 2012-13 Europa League that English audiences will have got their first glimpse of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian scored against both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea as Basel reached the semi-finals.

This season there are more teams involved in the Europa League, with 36 now making the group stage. So, who are the players to watch?

We’ve picked out our favourite eight, using the Squawka Score, with a mixture of established names and some under-the-radar picks you might not have heard too much about.

Omar Marmoush

You don’t have to be plugged into the Comparison Matrix to know who Omar Marmoush is. But his start to the Bundesliga season with Eintracht Frankfurt may still have eluded some.

The 25-year-old is in his second season at Eintracht, having initially moved to Germany with Wolfsburg in 2017. Marmoush hadn’t really pulled up any trees during his time in the Bundesliga, with his 12-goal haul in 2023-24 his best single-season return. After seven games in 2024-25, Marmoush has nine goals.

Marmoush’s goals have come at a rate of 1.37 per 90 minutes, the second-best record among strikers in Europe’s top seven leagues with a least 450 minutes played. Marmoush also has 0.61 intentional assists. While all assists do count, intentional assists goes some way to showing a player’s creativity — as they mean to set up a goal. He’s created 0.91 big chances per 90, and has an xG overperformance of 0.59 per 90.

Martin Zubimendi

This may be a scouting call for some fans. Martin Zubimendi looked set to join Liverpool in the summer, before the move fell through. But he’s kept his high levels going at Real Sociedad — even though they’ve not have the best start to the campaign.

In La Liga, Real Sociedad are 11th after 10 games, with 12 points. But they boast the third-best defence with just eight goals conceded, at a rate of 0.84 per game. Zubimendi has been on the pitch for 855 of the available 900 minutes, averaging 1.26 tackles won and 1.79 aerial duels won per 90. He has also lost just 0.21 challenges per 90, while helping to keep 0.53 clean sheets.

On the ball, Zubimendi has completed 86.87% of his passes while averaging 74.21 touches per 90 minutes. He’ll be hoping to gain some control of the Real Sociedad midfield to turn their Europa League season form around.

Devyne Rensch

The Netherlands have been producing a good selection of full-backs in recent years, and Devyne Rensch looks to be the next big thing. Still only 21, Rensch has been part of Ajax’s first team for four years, making his debut under Erik ten Hag in November 2020.

Since then, Rensch has played 143 times for Ajax but has just one cap for the Netherlands national team. In the summer, he was reportedly subject to interest from Inter Milan as they started looking for a Denzel Dumfries replacement.

Although he has a goal this season, 0.26 xA, 0.4 big chances created and 3.8 touches in the opposition box per 90 in the Eredivisie, Rensch is more of a defensive full-back. He’s averaged 2 tackles won and just 0.2 challenges lost per 90 in the league, and he’s yet to be dispossessed in his own half.

James Maddison

James Maddison is enjoying himself under Ange Postecoglou this season. The Englishman has been pulled slightly further back on the pitch to a more central midfield position. But this hasn’t impacted his creativity.

The Englishman has averaged 2.93 successful passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. Only three players have managed more across Europe’s top seven leagues, with at least 450 minutes played. Maddison is always looking forward, with 51.53% of his passes going into the final third, and 6.15 passes into the final third completed.

In terms of goal threats, Maddison has averaged 0.44 big chances created per 90 in the league, with 0.29 goals and 0.29 intentional assists. He has only played 24 minutes in the Europa League this season, recording one assist. But as the level of opposition grows, Maddison will be required.

Baris Alper Yimaz

Baris Alper Yimaz is a very exciting forward. He’s played across the front line for Galatasaray, and has also popped up with a few appearances at full-back. This season, Yilmaz has mostly played on the right wing of Galatasaray’s attack, with the Turkish side now boasting competent strikers.

Despite playing out on the wing, Yilmaz hasn’t lost his eye for goal, averaging 0.54 goals per 90 minutes in the Turkish Super Lig this season. This comes with an xG overperformance per 90 of 0.3. He has also averaged 0.14 intentional assists with an xA of 0.24 per 90.

Yilmaz does also contribute to winning the ball back with 0.95 possessions won in the final third per 90 for Galatasaray. This could be his season.

Ibrahim Sadiq

Ibrahim Sadiq has been suffering with a slight injury of late, but when he’s on the pitch the Ghanaian is a menace on opposition defences. Now in his second season with AZ Alkmaar, Sadiq has already bettered his debut campaign for Eredivisie goals.

Last season he scored two goals in 16 games as a bit-part player. This year, the 24-year-old has four goals in seven games, starting seven of AZ’s nine league games so far. Those goals have come at an average of 0.68 per 90 minutes, with an xG overperformance per 90 of 0.43.

Sadiq is also creative. The Ghanaian has averaged 0.38 xA per 90 and 0.51 intentional assists, racking up three in total. He also also created 1.02 big chances per 90, more than any other forward in the Eredivisie with at least 450 minutes played.

Evann Guessand

Evann Guessand scored six goals for Nice in Ligue 1 last season, across 34 games mainly played as a striker. This season, the Ivorian has scored four goals in eight league matches. His time has been spread a little more evenly between the wing and centre forward, but Guessand is very much a goalscorer.

He has averaged 0.54 goals and 0.13 intentional assists per 90 in Ligue 1 this season, with an xG overperformance of 0.17 per 90. Guessand leads Nice for goals, shots and shots on target, as well as possessions won in the attacking third.

Nico Gonzalez

One of the top-ranking central midfielders per the Squawka Score this season is Nico Gonzalez. He’s split his time at Porto so far this season between playing in central midfield and slightly further up the pitch. And it’s been an interesting campaign.

When he plays in an attacking role, Gonzalez has been assisting. When he plays in a more central midfield role, Gonzalez has been scoring. He’s averaged 0.27 goals and 0.27 intentional assists per 90 minutes in the Primeira Liga this season, with Porto winning seven of their eight games so far.

He’s also won 100% of his take-ons, won possession 0.93 times in the attacking third and won a penalty. It’s been a good period for the La Masia graduate.