The top 10 chance creators in Europe’s five major leagues in 2024-25: Raphinha, Salah, Palmer…
Players from Barcelona, Chelsea, 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. Rayan Cherki – 75
Cherki has enjoyed yet another eye-catching season with Lyon in Ligue 1, where he’s created 75 chances for his teammates throughout the campaign.
There’s definitely going to be interest in the 21-year-old this summer.
9. Enzo Fernandez – 79
The 24-year-old keeps things ticking over in midfield for Chelsea and he’s also been one of their top chance creators.
With 79 key passes in the Premier League, it’s no wonder that Real Madrid have been sniffing around him of late.
8. Junya Ito – 83
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.
7. Joshua Kimmich – 83
Despite the plethora of creative playmakers on the books at Bayern Munich, Kimmich surprisingly ranks as their second most creative player.
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. Mohamed Salah – 89
While Salah is predominantly known for his goalscoring exploits, his creative instincts have been just as sharp during 2024-25.
Along with scoring 29 goals, the Egyptian forward has also produced an impressive 18 assists in the Premier League, averaging a goal contribution every 71.9 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
5. Cole Palmer – 89
Despite only registering two assists since the start of 2025, Palmer still ranks among the best creative players in Europe.
His form might have dipped during the season half of the campaign, but class is permanent. We’re in no doubt he’ll be among the top chance creators again next season.
4. Raphinha – 91
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 18 goals and nine assists in the league.
3. Bruno Fernandes – 91
While Manchester United have endured a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, Fernandes still ranks among the top playmakers in Europe.
He’s created 91 chances for his teammates, although only 10 of them have been converted into assists, perhaps highlighting United’s finishing problems.
Roy Keane may not be entirely convinced in the Red Devils captain, but we are.
2. Michael Olise – 91
It’s been quite the debut season for Olise at Bayern Munich.
He’s managed to win the Bundesliga title at the first time of asking and he’s been Bayern’s main creative outlet throughout the campaign with a staggering 91 chances created.
1. Alex Baena – 95
Marcelino’s Villarreal have been going strong in La Liga this season, with ex-Newcastle man Ayoze Perez 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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