Ranked! The top 50 Football League players 2023

20. Josh Cullen

Josh Cullen of Burnley applauds fans following their sides victory after the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Burnley at Bet365 Stadium on December 30, 2022 in Stoke on Trent, England.

Josh Cullen of Burnley applauds fans after the win against Stoke City (Image credit: Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

Club: Burnley
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26

Vincent Kompany knew that his Anderlecht midfielder was worth more than £3m. After his debut against Huddersfield in the EFL’s curtain-raiser, so did Sky viewers. Selfless, smart, strong, creative and producing moments of pure brilliance, Cullen’s been integral to Burnley’s style and success.

THEY SAID “He’s the ultimate player” – Kompany in January.

19. Zian Flemming

Zian Flemming celebrates scoring Millwall's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Wigan Athletic at The Den on December 10, 2022 in London, England.

Zian Flemming celebrates scoring Millwall's first goal against Wigan Athletic (Image credit: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Club: Millwall
Position: Midfielder
Age: 24

Gary Rowett knew what he had to do after losing FFT’s No.23 on a free transfer. “Jed is a unique player,” the Lions boss said of the man who scored or assisted 57 goals in Rowett’s near-three seasons at the Den. “We must replace his goals and assists.”

And they did. Millwall spent a club-record £1.7m on Zian Flemming, whose dozen goals in 28 Eredivisie games had saved Fortuna Sittard from relegation by a single point. It was unusual for an outfit synonymous with recruiting domestic players to sign a rangy, technical operator with the close control of one schooled in Ajax’s academy. In October, however, Flemming’s credentials were confirmed at Rotherham by a savage 25-yard rocket using his ‘weaker’ left foot. Three goals in 10 days followed.

Rowett installed Flemming as creator-in-chief for striker Tom Bradshaw, to devastating effect. In February, Rowett said, “The price we paid was a snip... he’s got character, physicality and that game-changing quality.” The dribbling Dutchman’s big impact – earning a Den chant of, “He comes from Amsterdam; he f**king hates West Ham” – is such that he’s also consulted by his manager on tactical matters.

“He’s a very intelligent player – you tell him and he can action those instructions on the pitch,” said Rowett after they discussed changes en route to the dressing room against Stoke. Flemming’s second-half winner was his 12th goal in a great first term. Almost too great. Rowett called him “the sort of player I’d expect to see in the Premier League”. Lions fans can only hope it’s with them.

18. Barry Bannan

Barry Bannan of Sheffield Wednesday during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday at Pride Park, Derby on Saturday 3rd December 2022.

Barry Bannan of Sheffield Wednesday delivers a corner against Derby County (Image credit: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Club: Sheffield Wednesday
Position: Midfielder
Age:
33

HE TOLD FFT It took us a while to get going – we were probably caught by surprise when we didn’t really know what the division was about. It threw many different things at us that we couldn’t deal with. From the second part of last term and most of this one, we’ve learned it’s a demanding league, a physical league, and we need to work extremely hard to pick up results. We’ve added players who know what it takes to get out of this league, which has helped as well.

17. Alex Scott

Alex Scott of Bristol City during the Sky Bet Championship between Bristol City and Preston North End at Ashton Gate on October 12, 2022 in Bristol, England.

Alex Scott of Bristol City in action against Preston (Image credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Club: Bristol City
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder

Pointing Spider-Man memes flooded Twitter as the Guernsey Grealish met the real thing in an FA Cup tie with Manchester City. Scott shares the low-slung socks, sinuous skill and England future.

THEY SAID “The way Alex glides over the pitch, I see why people compare him to Jack,” said the Robins’ Andi Weimann, who was also with Grealish at Aston Villa.

16. Anass Zaroury

Anass Zaroury of Burnley celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship between Burnley and Birmingham City at Turf Moor on December 27, 2022 in Burnley, England.

Anass Zaroury of Burnley celebrates after scoring against Birmingham City (Image credit: Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Club: Burnley
Position: Forward
Age: 22

Kompany paid fees to bring nine players from Belgium to Burnley – and who can blame him? £3.5m Zaroury is developing as rapidly as he dribbles: he got called up for Belgium U21s in September, earned his first Clarets start in October and went to the World Cup with Morocco in November.

DID YOU KNOW? He first played 11-a-side at 16, due to Brussels’ technique-focused academies.

15. Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Burnley celebrates following his team's victory in the Sky Bet Championship between Swansea City and Burnley at Liberty Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Swansea, Wales.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Burnley celebrates victory over Swansea City (Image credit: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Club: Burnley
Position: Defender
Age: 21

HE TOLD FFT "You always hope that a loan spell turns out like this one! But having worked before with the manager, Vincent Kompany, I didn’t doubt that we’d have a good season.

I’d never have dreamed of playing under him when I was younger. It’s fantastic to know that I could go to him with anything, football-related, and he’d have an answer. He’s made it clear what he wants from me, how he wants me to do it and how I can get better at it. And you’ll be on the training pitch until you’ve perfected it – that’s just how he is. It’s a massive help to know you’ve got that as a player."

14. Anel Ahmedhodzic

Anel Ahmedhodzic of Sheffield United during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Sheffield United and Wrexham at Bramall Lane on February 07, 2023 in Sheffield, England.

Anel Ahmedhodzic of Sheffield United in action in the FA Cup (Image credit: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Club: Sheffield United
Position: Defender
Age: 24

A tall, Bosnian-Swede from Malmo, just like Zlatan Ibrahimovic but representing the Balkan nation, the centre-back combines strong tackling and smooth technique. He scored twice against Reading in August with a perfect volley and a tricky, twisting header.

HE SAID “If we don’t win, I feel depressed until the next game.”

13. Ben Brereton Diaz

Ben Brereton Diaz of Blackburn Rovers celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship between West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on February 15, 2023 in West Bromwich, England

Ben Brereton Diaz of Blackburn Rovers celebrates scoring against West Bromwich Albion (Image credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Club: Blackburn Rovers
Position: Forward
Age: 23

The Stoke-born Chilean couldn’t top a 2021/22 campaign that began with a South American Pepsi ad and ended with 22 league goals – especially now defenders know his in-to-out runs, er, inside-out – but he’s still a deadly finisher.

HIGHLIGHT An unstoppable hit against Sunderland, struck from 20 yards with his weaker foot.

12. Sander Berge

Sander Berge of Sheffield United celebrates scoring during the Sky Bet Championship between Hull City and Sheffield United at MKM Stadium on September 4, 2022 in Hull, United Kingdom.

Sander Berge of Sheffield United scores against Hull City (Image credit: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Club: Sheffield United
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25

Half of the Premier League were sniffing around the Norwegian midfielder in January, hoping to take advantage of the Blades’ financial woes. Berge, now given more attacking freedom, stayed put and had posted five goals and three assists before March, with his powerful runs standing out following a patchy 2021/22.

11. Ian Maatsen

Burnley's Ian Maatsen battles with Manchester City's Ruben Dias during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final match between Manchester City and Burnley at Etihad Stadium on March 18, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Burnley's Ian Maatsen in action in the FA Cup (Image credit: Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Club: Burnley
Position: Defender
Age: 21

After catching the eye at Coventry, Chelsea’s rampaging wing-back being loaned to rampant Burnley was a recipe for fun. Playing in a back four without the ball, he has preserved his threat with it, offering nine goal contributions.

HE SAID “These video reveals are getting worse”, as Burnley’s socials had Minions unveil him.

Huw was on the FourFourTwo staff from 2009 to 2015, ultimately as the magazine's Managing Editor, before becoming a freelancer and moving to Wales. As a writer, editor and tragic statto, he still contributes regularly to FFT in print and online, though as a match-going #WalesAway fan, he left a small chunk of his brain on one of many bus journeys across France in 2016.