5 Most Underrated Footballers This Season 2024-2025: Based on advanced stats

In a season dominated by big names, several high-performing players across Europe’s top five leagues are flying under the radar.

This post highlights five most underrated footballers – one goalkeeper, one defender, one midfielder, one forward, and one bonus pick – who have been excelling in the 2024–25 season based on advanced metrics. These players might not grab the headlines, but their contributions in expected goals (xG), expected assists (xA), key passes, defensive actions, and other statistics have been outstanding. We’ll break down why each player deserves more recognition, backed by data, and provide context about their team and role.

1. Guglielmo Vicario – Goalkeeper, Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)

Tottenham’s summer signing Guglielmo Vicario has been a revelation in goal. Tasked with replacing a club captain (Hugo Lloris) and adapting to Ange Postecoglou’s attacking system, Vicario has quietly become one of the Premier League’s top shot-stoppers. An advanced metric called post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed (PSxG ±) highlights his impact – Vicario leads the league with +4.6 goals prevented (meaning he has saved about 4.6 more goals than an average keeper would). This reflects his excellent reflexes and positioning.

Tottenham often play a high line and open style, which means Vicario faces plenty of shots. He’s risen to the challenge: in one early match he made six saves to salvage a 2–2 draw. His save percentage and command of the box have been crucial for Spurs, especially during a period when their defense has been leaky. While bigger-name keepers in the league get more media attention, Vicario’s performances – evidenced by his league-best shot-stopping metric – indicate he’s been underrated. Without his heroics, Tottenham’s solid start to the season would have been far more difficult.

2. Alejandro Grimaldo – Defender (Left-Back), Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)

Alejandro “Álex” Grimaldo is redefining the role of a left-back in Germany. In his first season at Bayer Leverkusen (after arriving on a free transfer from Benfica), Grimaldo not only solidified the defense but became a creative engine for the team. He finished the 2023–24 campaign as the Bundesliga’s top assist provider with 13 assists – an astonishing number for a defender. This season, under coach Xabi Alonso’s attacking system, Grimaldo has continued to excel. By March 2025, he had already created 62 chances for teammates, the second-most of any player in the Bundesliga.

These numbers are backed by advanced metrics like key passes (the final pass before a shot) and expected assists. Grimaldo’s key passes per 90 are among the highest for defenders in Europe, and his xA shows he consistently puts the ball in dangerous areas. His role as an attacking wing-back means he also contributes with progressive passes and carries down the left flank. In 2024–25, he remains one of Leverkusen’s most important but underrated players – delivering elite chance creation from defense. Despite not being a household name in mainstream media, his output (as both a creator and even a goal-scorer on free kicks) rivals that of many midfield playmakers. Simply put, Grimaldo has been a key catalyst for Leverkusen’s offense while performing defensive duties solidly, making him arguably Europe’s most underappreciated left-back this season.

3. Téji Savanier – Midfielder (Attacking Mid), Montpellier (Ligue 1)

At 33, Téji Savanier has long been a creative force in Ligue 1, but he continues to perform at an elite level without the fanfare he deserves. Savanier is the midfield mastermind for Montpellier, and the stats underline his influence. So far in 2024–25, he has created 59 chances in 23 league appearances, ranking him among Europe’s top chance creators. That averages to roughly 2.6 key passes per 90 minutes, which is on par with many celebrated playmakers. His expected assists rate (xA) is 0.31 per 90 – placing him in the 93rd percentile of Ligue 1, meaning he generates more quality chances than almost any other midfielder in France.

In other words, Savanier’s vision and passing are consistently setting up teammates with scoring opportunities. He delivers incisive through-balls, clever final passes, and dangerous set-piece deliveries. Unfortunately, Montpellier’s forwards haven’t converted all those chances (he has 5 assists so far, slightly below what his xA would suggest). Even so, Savanier’s advanced metrics shine: he remains “one of the best players in Ligue 1 at getting the ball forward” through progressive passes into the final third. His nearly 6 progressive passes into the final third per game (98th percentile) attest to his role as a midfield engine. While playing for a mid-table side means he doesn’t get international headlines, Savanier’s blend of creativity and technique has been top-class. He is an underrated midfielder who, based on the numbers, has been as influential to his team as many big-name midfield stars in Europe.

4. Bryan Mbeumo – Forward, Brentford (Premier League)

With Ivan Toney suspended for much of the season, Bryan Mbeumo has stepped up as Brentford’s main attacking threat – and he’s done so brilliantly, albeit without widespread acclaim. Mbeumo’s raw numbers are impressive: 16 goals and 5 assists in 30 Premier League games, for a total of 21 goal contributions. That means he has been directly involved in roughly half of Brentford’s goals this season, a huge share. In fact, his 0.70 goals+assists per 90 minutes is among the best in the league, especially notable since he’s not playing for a traditional “big six” club.

Digging into advanced metrics, Mbeumo’s season is even more remarkable. His expected goals (xG) tally is lower than his actual goals, indicating he’s finishing chances at a high level. By late October, for instance, he had scored 8 league goals from just 3.8 xG – the biggest overperformance in the league at that stage . While some of that was boosted by a fluky long-range goal, it highlighted his clinical finishing (especially from the penalty spot, where he’s been perfect). On the creative side, Mbeumo’s xA has been higher than his actual assists, suggesting he might have even more assists with better finishing from teammates. Early in the season he was “still waiting for his first assist” despite carving out chances, due to others missing opportunities. Now with 5 assists, he’s showing his playmaking ability as well – often dropping wide or deep to deliver key passes and crosses.

Beyond the numbers, Mbeumo’s work rate in pressing and his versatility (playing as a winger, second striker, and even lone forward at times) have been vital for Brentford. He doesn’t get the media hype of bigger-name Premier League forwards, but the stats underscore that Mbeumo has been one of the most impactful forwards in the league this season. His combination of goal threat (both in open play and set-pieces) and chance creation makes him a clear choice for an underrated forward pick.

5. João Palhinha – Defensive Midfielder, Fulham (Premier League) – Bonus Pick

Our bonus pick is a nod to defensive midfield excellence. João Palhinha has been a one-man wall in Fulham’s midfield, and while his game isn’t glamorous, it’s hugely effective. Palhinha’s defensive numbers from last season were staggering: he led the entire Premier League with 154 tackles in 2023–24 (nearly 5 tackles per game) and also topped the interception charts with 48 interceptions (joint-most). This season, he continues to dominate the center of the park with a high volume of tackles + interceptions per 90, consistently ranking among the league leaders in ball recoveries and challenges won.

What do these metrics mean? Essentially, Palhinha breaks up opposition play more than almost anyone. He has a knack for reading the game, stepping into passing lanes, and timing his tackles to disrupt opponents. Fulham’s respectable defensive record owes a lot to his work shielding the back line. He averages well over 6 defensive actions (tackles + intercepts) per 90 minutes, a figure on par with – or better than – many celebrated defensive mids in bigger clubs. His impact is such that when Palhinha doesn’t play, Fulham noticeably suffer in midfield solidity. It’s no surprise Bayern Munich tried to sign him last summer – an acknowledgment of his quality, even if media headlines don’t always follow players at Fulham.

Palhinha is not just a destroyer; he can also pass effectively. While his primary job is defensive, he helps transition play with simple but progressive passes once he wins possession. He even chipped in a few goals (4 in the league last year) with the occasional long-range shot or set-piece header. Still, it’s his defensive acumen that stands out. In a league full of superstar midfielders, Palhinha’s consistently high defensive metrics underscore him as vastly underrated. He might not make highlight reels, but the numbers show that he’s as important to his team as any holding midfielder in Europe.

Conclusion: These five players – Vicario, Grimaldo, Savanier, Mbeumo, and Palhinha – exemplify how advanced metrics can uncover outstanding performances that mainstream coverage may overlook. Whether it’s xG prevented by a goalkeeper, chances created by a fullback, progressive passing and xA from a playmaker, efficient goal contribution by a forward, or tackles and interceptions by a defensive mid, each is excelling in their role this season. Their teams in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 (and beyond) have benefited greatly from their contributions. It’s time these unsung heroes get its due recognition. The beauty of modern football analysis is that we can appreciate such players not just with our eyes, but with data that highlights their impact. Underrated no more – these five are among the season’s best performers in their positions, and the stats back it up.

Sources:

• Premier League & FBRef advanced stats (PSxG, xG, xA, etc.) ( Who is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League in 24/25? ) (Bryan Mbeumo: The Vastly Underrated Forward Firing Brentford Up the Table | Opta Analyst) (Téji Savanier Stats – Goals, xG, Assists, xA & Career Stats | FootyStats)
• Bundesliga stats via PlanetFootball and official records ( The top 10 chance creators in Europe’s five major leagues in 2024-25: Raphinha, Salah, Palmer.. ) (Álex Grimaldo – Wikipedia)
• StatMuse and official Premier League data for tackles and goals (Most Tackles Premier League 2024 | StatMuse) (Bryan Mbeumo Career Stats – Premier League – ESPN)
• Driblab and analytics sites for progressive passing and chance creation insights (Expansive midfielders: measuring central progression in Europe’s top five leagues · Driblab) ( The top 10 chance creators in Europe’s five major leagues in 2024-25: Raphinha, Salah, Palmer.. )
• Season performance reports and news analyses highlighting these players’ impacts ( Who is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League in 24/25? ) (Bryan Mbeumo: The Vastly Underrated Forward Firing Brentford Up the Table | Opta Analyst).