Premier League Hitmen: Ranking the 15 Sharpest No.9s (15–6)

Goals change matches, seasons and legacies. In the Premier League, where centre-halves are built like brick walls and managers drill every passing lane, a proper No.9 remains priceless. So here’s my live ranking of the division’s most effective out-and-out strikers right now — from 15 to 6 — weighing recent form, reliability and how they fit their side’s scheme.

Before we dive in, a quick word: these picks focus on players listed with centre-forward as their primary role on Transfermarkt. That means some hybrid forwards miss out, and it’s all about what they’re doing now rather than medals from years gone by. If you fancy a flutter while you read, have a look at the best betting sites — and remember, this list reflects the here-and-now, not just reputations.

How we ranked them

Eligibility: primary position “centre-forward” (Transfermarkt). We’ve prioritised current-season impact, underlying importance to the team, availability, and recent trajectory. Right, onto the countdown.

15) Kai Havertz — Arsenal

Yes, he’s a flexible footballer, but last term he spent long stretches leading the line and did it to good effect as Arsenal pushed the title to the wire. The power in the air and the intricate link play suit Mikel Arteta’s patterns, even if the finishing can blow hot and cold. The big question is post-injury: does Viktor Gyökeres keep him out, or is Havertz still the smarter fit for the Gunners’ fluid front? 2025/26 so far: 1 appearance, 0 goals.

14) Chris Wood — Nottingham Forest

A manager’s dream: you know exactly what you’ll get. Wood’s a classic Premier League target man who’s produced across multiple clubs. This season began with a brace on opening day against Brentford, but a barren run and injury halted the momentum. Even at 33, pace was never his tool — positioning and timing were — and Forest’s ceiling looks higher when he’s on the pitch. 2025/26: 8 appearances, 2 goals.

13) Evanilson — Bournemouth

Tasked with following Dominic Solanke’s act on the south coast, the Brazilian posted a tidy first campaign (12 goals, 10 in the league). The new season’s sputtered a bit — no goal contributions since mid-September and a calf issue interrupting rhythm — but the movement’s there and the finishing touch tends to follow once he strings games together. 2025/26: 11 appearances, 1 goal.

12) Omar Marmoush — Manchester City

City needed punch behind Erling Haaland after Julián Álvarez left, and Marmoush arrived hot from Frankfurt with a monster return in the Bundesliga. A hat-trick three games into Premier League life showed the ceiling, seven league goals by season’s end confirmed there’s substance, too. This term he hasn’t caught fire yet, but Pep trusts profiles that stretch and combine — expect minutes and chances to come. 2025/26: 8 appearances, 0 goals.

11) Matheus Cunha — Manchester United

At Wolves he was the glue and the spark; now at Old Trafford he looks a menace between the lines, even if the numbers haven’t exploded. He presses, carries, links — and you feel the goals will tick up as United settle under Ruben Amorim. Wolves’ slide post-exit underlines his value. 2025/26: 10 appearances, 1 goal.

10) Ollie Watkins — Aston Villa

Under Unai Emery he reinvented himself as an elite channel runner and provider of big moments, spearheading Villa’s charge into the Champions League after a 19-goal 2023/24. The current return is quieter, but the work-rate, clever runs and selfless combinations still bend defences out of shape. You’d back the finishing to normalize. 2025/26: 13 appearances, 1 goal.

9) Danny Welbeck — Brighton & Hove Albion

What a renaissance. Written off by many, Welbeck’s turned back the clock with sharp movement and crisp finishing, knitting Brighton’s front line together and popping up with key goals. At 35 he’s leading by example and making a cheeky push for England talk if this continues. 2025/26: 13 appearances, 7 goals.

8) Viktor Gyökeres — Arsenal

The numbers from Portugal were video-game stuff and the raw tools are obvious: power, persistence, penalty-box presence. The Premier League asks tougher questions in tight spaces, and his link play is still bedding in, but four in 11 is a solid foothold and the duel with Havertz for the No.9 shirt should sharpen both. 2025/26: 11 appearances, 4 goals.

7) Nick Woltemade — Newcastle United

Isak departed, Wissa’s injury opened a door, and Woltemade has walked straight through it. At 23, he looks a complete focal point — calm touch, clean finishes, and smart hold-up to get runners playing off him. There’s talk he dreams of Bayern down the line, but right now he’s exactly what Eddie Howe needed. 2025/26: 10 appearances, 5 goals.

6) João Pedro — Chelsea

Settled in quickly at Stamford Bridge, marrying penalty-box instincts with slick combinations in Enzo Maresca’s structure. Goals at the Club World Cup hinted at a big year and his league output is steady as the chemistry builds. There’s plenty of headroom in this profile. 2025/26: 13 appearances, 4 goals.

The state of the No.9

From Welbeck’s resurgence to Gyökeres vs. Havertz at Arsenal, the landscape is fluid. Form, fitness and fit are everything — and as the fixtures pile up, expect this order to shuffle fast. We’ll revisit the top five when the picture settles, but for now, these are your in-form hitmen, 15 through 6.