The top 10 chance creators in Europe’s five major leagues in 2024-25: Raphinha, Salah, Palmer…
Players from Barcelona, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United feature among the most creative players across Europe’s major leagues in the 2024-25 season so far.
Having a player able to consistently create chances for their team-mates can be worth its weight in gold – and some of the superstar names in this top 10 prove this particular stat is a mark of quality.
Here are the 10 players who have registered the most ‘key passes’ (the final pass before a team-mate shoots at goal) in Europe’s five major leagues – La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League and Ligue 1 – in 2024-25. Where two players are tied, we’ve put them in order of the superior per-minute ratio.
10. Teji Savanier – 59
The Montpellier creative midfielder has been performing at a consistent level in Ligue 1 for over half a decade now.
As is usually the case, Savanier has been the chief chance creator at Montpellier this season, having created 59 chances in 23 appearances so far.
9. Alex Grimaldo – 62
Grimaldo has been thriving under Xabi Alonso as the attacking wing-back now regularly ranks among the most creative players in Europe.
In the Bundesliga alone last season he racked up 13 assists for Bayer Leverkusen and his creative instincts have been just as sharp this time around.
He’s already created 62 chances for his teammates during 2024-25, making him the second-most creative player in the Bundesliga in 2024-25 so far.
8. Dejan Kulusevski – 63
While Spurs have endured an underwhelming campaign, Ange Postecoglou’s side still tend to create plenty of chances per game.
Whether he plays on the wing or through the middle, the Swedish international regularly ranks among the most creative players in the Premier League.
Unbelievably, eight of Kulusevski’s 63 chances created in the league so far this season came in Tottenham’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford back in September. Christian Eriksen is the only player on record to have ever created more chances for Spurs in a league game.
7. Joshua Kimmich – 65
Despite the plethora of creative playmakers on the books at Bayern Munich, Kimmich surprisingly ranks as their top chance-creator of 2024-25 so far.
Largely thanks to his set-piece responsibilities, the German midfielder is currently creating a chance every 34.9 minutes.
Good job they’ve recently tied down his future until 2029.
6. Bruno Fernandes – 66
While Manchester United have endured a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, Fernandes still ranks among the top playmakers in Europe.
He’s created 66 chances that he’s created for his team-mates, while in recent weeks those have increasingly been converted to become assists. Are they finally turning a corner under Ruben Amorim?
Roy Keane may not be entirely convinced in the Red Devils captain, but we are.
5. Mohamed Salah – 69
While Salah is predominantly known for his goalscoring exploits, his creative instincts have been just as sharp during 2024-25.
Along with scoring 27 goals, the Egyptian forward has also produced an impressive 17 assists in the Premier League, averaging a goal contribution every 58.5 minutes.
His Ballon d’Or chances have taken a hit after the blows Liverpool have suffered in other fronts, but his exceptional Premier League output keeps Liverpool’s talisman in the Ballon d’Or conversation for now.
READ: 2025 Ballon d’Or power rankings: Salah drops after nightmare week
4. Cole Palmer – 71
Despite not registering an assist since December, Palmer still ranks among the best creative players in Europe.
Since his last assist against Aston Villa, the 22-year-old has created over 35 chances for 12 different teammates, but none of them have been converted.
3. Junya Ito – 74
The Japanese winger has enjoyed an excellent season as he’s currently outperforming everyone else in Ligue 1 when it comes to chance creation.
The 32-year-old Reims star has been producing the best football of his career to date. Were he five or 10 years younger, you’d imagine there’d be clubs queuing up for his signature.
2. Raphinha – 75
After moving from Leeds United in the summer of 2022, Brazil international Raphinha was by no means bad in his first couple of years at Barcelona but nor was he a revelation.
But during 2024-25 so far, he’s blossomed into a world-class superstar for Hansi Flick’s newly-reinvigorated Barca.
There had been whisperings of a move away in the summer but he’s immediately made himself an indispensable leading man of this project.
Raphinha was named La Liga’s Player of the Month for August and hasn’t let up since, having notched 13 goals and eight assists in the league.
1. Alex Baena – 80
Marcelino’s Villarreal have been going strong in La Liga this season, with ex-Newcastle man Ayoze Perez – with 11 goals – and left winger Alex Baena particularly decent.
Given his impressive form, it’s no wonder that the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and Newcastle have reportedly been chasing the 23-year-old Spain international.
Baena looks an absolutely immense prospect.
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