Few sights in football are more exciting than a player running directly at a defender.

A successful dribble can break a defensive line, create a shooting opportunity or force an opponent into committing a foul. The Premier League contains many outstanding ball carriers, but the best dribblers do more than simply complete take-ons. They combine close control, balance, acceleration and decision-making to turn an individual skill into a meaningful attacking contribution.

The 2026/27 season is still in its early stages, so the current totals are based on a relatively small sample. This ranking consequently combines performances from the opening weeks of the new campaign with evidence from the completed 2025/26 season.

Successful dribbles, success rate and output per 90 minutes have all been considered. The ranking also accounts for the difficulty and value of each player’s carries, rather than relying on one statistic alone.

Statistics are correct as of 19 September 2026 and will change as the season develops.

The Best Premier League Dribblers in 2026/27

1. Sávio, Tottenham Hotspur
2. Abdul Fatawu, Ipswich Town
3. Mathys Tel, Tottenham Hotspur
4. Tyrique George, Everton
5. Omar Marmoush, Tottenham Hotspur
6. Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United
7. Pedro Neto, Chelsea
8. João Pedro, Chelsea
9. Rayan Cherki, Manchester City
10. Noah Okafor, Leeds United

1. Sávio, Tottenham Hotspur

Sávio has made the most explosive dribbling start to the 2026/27 Premier League season.

The Brazilian is averaging approximately 5.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, the highest rate in the competition. He has completed nine take-ons despite making only two league appearances during the opening weeks of the campaign. His early success rate stands at just over 56 per cent.

Sávio’s greatest strength is his ability to accelerate while maintaining control of the ball. He can receive possession near the touchline, draw a defender towards him and then change direction before the opponent can adjust.

His dribbling is not restricted to one method. He can attack the outside using pace, move infield through quick touches or stop suddenly before accelerating again. That variety makes it difficult for defenders to predict his next action.

The major question is whether he can maintain his current production over a larger sample. His present rate is considerably higher than the 1.9 successful dribbles per 90 attributed to him last season. Even if his figures decline as he plays more minutes, his early performances demonstrate why he belongs near the top of the ranking.

2. Abdul Fatawu, Ipswich Town

Abdul Fatawu is joint-top of the Premier League for successful dribbles in the opening weeks of 2026/27.

The Ipswich winger completed 10 take-ons across his first four league appearances, averaging approximately 3.1 successful dribbles per 90 minutes. His success rate of around 56 per cent indicates that he is combining a high number of attempts with reasonable efficiency.

Fatawu is a direct winger who is prepared to confront defenders repeatedly. This willingness is important because successful dribbling depends partly on confidence. A winger who becomes reluctant after losing possession once or twice will find it difficult to stretch a defence consistently.

His dribbling also gives Ipswich a valuable route up the pitch. Carrying possession beyond an opponent can move the team from a defensive position into the attacking third without requiring a complicated passing sequence.

Fatawu still needs to convert more of those take-ons into goals and assists. Nevertheless, his early numbers establish him as one of the most active and productive dribblers in the division.

3. Mathys Tel, Tottenham Hotspur

Mathys Tel has completed eight dribbles during the opening four matches of the season and is averaging approximately 3.5 successful take-ons per 90 minutes.

That places him second in the current per-90 standings behind Sávio. It also continues a pattern from 2025/26, when Tel produced approximately 2.6 successful dribbles per 90.

Tel combines acceleration with a powerful running style. He can beat opponents in wide areas, but he is equally capable of carrying possession through central spaces when a defence begins to retreat.

Unlike a traditional touchline winger, he frequently drives towards goal. His dribbles are therefore intended not just to retain possession but to create shooting opportunities or force central defenders out of position.

His success rate is currently just above 52 per cent. That leaves room for improvement, but his volume and willingness to attack defenders make him one of the Premier League’s most dangerous individual runners.

4. Tyrique George, Everton

Tyrique George has made an immediate impact at Everton, completing 10 dribbles across his first four league appearances.

That puts him level with Fatawu for the highest total in the competition at this early stage. George has also contributed a goal, demonstrating some ability to translate his direct running into attacking output.

George’s dribbling is based on quick feet, close control and the confidence to attack opponents from a standing start. He does not always need a large amount of space in which to build speed.

That ability is particularly useful against organised defensive blocks. When passing routes are limited, a winger who can eliminate an opponent individually can change the entire structure of an attack.

His place this high in the ranking remains provisional because he has limited Premier League experience. However, his opening performances suggest Everton possess one of the division’s most exciting young one-on-one attackers.

5. Omar Marmoush, Tottenham Hotspur

Omar Marmoush completed eight dribbles during his first three appearances of the campaign, producing an early rate of approximately 3.2 successful take-ons per 90 minutes.

His success rate of around 64 per cent is particularly impressive. It places him among the most efficient high-volume dribblers in the division during the opening weeks.

Marmoush is dangerous because he can begin his runs from several different positions. He can carry the ball in from the flank, accelerate through an inside channel or receive possession centrally before turning towards goal.

His dribbling style is more direct than decorative. Rather than attempting skills for their own sake, Marmoush usually carries the ball with the intention of moving closer to goal.

He recorded a much lower rate of approximately 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 during 2025/26. His substantial early improvement could reflect a new role, increased confidence or simply the volatility of a small sample.

6. Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United

Kobbie Mainoo offers a very different form of dribbling from the wingers dominating the leading positions.

The Manchester United midfielder completed five take-ons across his first three appearances and is averaging around 2.9 successful dribbles per 90. More impressively, he has succeeded with approximately 75 per cent of his attempts.

Mainoo does not normally dribble along the touchline. He uses close control and body movement to escape pressure in central areas, where losing possession can be far more dangerous.

His balance allows him to receive the ball with an opponent nearby, protect it through contact and turn into available space. A single successful movement can remove an opposing midfielder from the game and create a numerical advantage further forward.

The quality and location of his dribbles make his numbers especially notable. Although his total is lower than those of Fatawu and George, his efficiency and ability to operate in crowded areas earn him a prominent position.

7. Pedro Neto, Chelsea

Pedro Neto remains one of the Premier League’s most established and dangerous dribblers.

The Chelsea winger completed seven take-ons during the opening four matches, averaging approximately 2.2 per 90 with a success rate of close to 67 per cent. That represents a strong start following a 2025/26 campaign in which he completed more than 40 league dribbles.

Neto combines close control with genuine top-end speed. He can beat a defender from a slow starting position, but he is at his most dangerous when carrying possession into an open channel.

His ability to use either direction also makes him difficult to predict. Neto can attack the outside and cross, or move towards the centre before passing or shooting.

The winger’s statistics may not be as spectacular as some of the early leaders, but his longer-term record provides greater confidence that his production can be sustained across the full season.

8. João Pedro, Chelsea

João Pedro has opened the season with seven completed dribbles and an excellent success rate of around 70 per cent.

He has also produced three goals and three assists in his first four league appearances. That output demonstrates the potential value of his ball carrying. His dribbles are contributing to a broader attacking impact rather than existing in isolation.

João Pedro can receive possession in several areas. He may drop between the lines, move towards the flank or carry the ball directly into the penalty area.

His balance is one of his most valuable qualities. He can absorb contact, adjust his stride and retain enough control to make a productive decision at the end of the run.

João Pedro completed 36 dribbles during 2025/26, offering full-season evidence that his early numbers are not simply a temporary surge.

9. Rayan Cherki, Manchester City

Rayan Cherki is one of the Premier League’s most creative and technically ambitious dribblers.

The Manchester City attacker has completed five take-ons in limited playing time, producing approximately two successful dribbles per 90 at a success rate above 62 per cent.

Cherki’s value lies in his unpredictability. He can manipulate the ball with either foot, change direction in narrow spaces and use small body movements to create separation from an opponent.

His dribbling is often closely connected to chance creation. Rather than carrying possession over large distances, he may beat one player near the penalty area and immediately attempt a through-ball or shot.

Cherki was also among the leading dribblers during 2025/26, completing close to 50 take-ons and averaging approximately 2.5 per 90. That previous-season evidence strengthens his claim despite his relatively modest total in the opening weeks of the new campaign.

10. Noah Okafor, Leeds United

Noah Okafor completes the ranking after making another direct start to a Premier League campaign.

The Leeds attacker completed six dribbles in his first three appearances and is averaging approximately 2.4 successful take-ons per 90. His early success rate of around 43 per cent is lower than those of most players above him.

Okafor’s inclusion is supported by his previous-season production. He averaged approximately 2.2 successful dribbles per 90 in 2025/26, putting him among the Premier League’s more productive regular ball carriers.

He is most effective when he can receive possession in space and accelerate towards the defensive line. His pace forces opponents to retreat, while his ability to move infield creates opportunities to shoot or combine with a centre-forward.

Improving his efficiency would help Okafor move higher in the ranking. Nevertheless, his combination of current production and previous-season evidence earns him a place in the top 10.

Honourable Mentions

Jérémy Doku

Jérémy Doku was arguably the Premier League’s leading dribbler in 2025/26. He completed more dribbles than any other player and averaged approximately 4.2 successful take-ons per 90 minutes. However, his current circumstances mean he is not included in this ranking of active 2026/27 Premier League performers.

Iliman Ndiaye

Iliman Ndiaye finished second for total successful dribbles in 2025/26, completing 70 take-ons. He has made a quieter start to the new campaign, but his previous production means he remains a player capable of entering the top 10 as the sample grows.

Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford completed six dribbles during his first three appearances of 2026/27 and is averaging around 2.3 per 90. His direct running and acceleration continue to make him a threat when he receives possession in space.

Rayan Cherki’s Manchester City Teammates

Phil Foden and other technically gifted Manchester City attackers are excellent at carrying possession through tight spaces. However, the early statistical evidence currently favours Cherki when assessing successful dribbling specifically.

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka remains one of the league’s most dangerous wide players, but his early dribbling figures are more modest than those of the current leaders. He completed four take-ons across the opening four matches after averaging around two successful dribbles per 90 during 2025/26.

What Makes a Great Dribbler?

Successful dribbling involves more than performing tricks or running quickly with the ball.

The best dribblers combine several qualities:

• Close control: Keeping the ball within playing distance while moving at speed.
• Balance: Remaining upright and in possession after contact.
• Acceleration: Escaping an opponent after creating a small advantage.
• Changes of direction: Forcing defenders to adjust their feet.
• Body manipulation: Using feints and movements to disguise the intended route.
• Awareness: Recognising where space will appear after beating an opponent.
• Decision-making: Knowing when to dribble and when to release the ball.
• End product: Turning a successful take-on into a chance, shot or valuable progression.

A player who completes numerous dribbles near the halfway line may be less dangerous than someone who beats fewer opponents inside or around the penalty area.

This is why totals, per-90 rates and success percentages must be considered alongside tactical context.

Why Per-90 Figures Can Be Misleading

Per-90 statistics allow players with different amounts of playing time to be compared, but they can exaggerate small samples.

Sávio’s current rate of 5.4 successful dribbles per 90 is outstanding, but it is based on only 150 league minutes. A single match containing several completed take-ons can significantly affect the average.

Total dribbles create the opposite problem. A player who starts every match has more opportunities to build a high total than a substitute who produces take-ons at a much faster rate.

The most reliable assessment therefore combines totals, per-90 production, success rate, minutes played and previous-season evidence.

Who Is the Best Dribbler in the Premier League in 2026/27?

Sávio is the best dribbler in the Premier League based on the opening weeks of the 2026/27 season.

His average of approximately 5.4 successful dribbles per 90 is comfortably the highest in the division. However, Fatawu and George currently lead for total completed take-ons, while Mainoo and João Pedro have been more efficient with their attempts.

The small sample means the answer remains provisional. Players such as Neto, Cherki, Ndiaye and Saka have more extensive Premier League records, while Tel has combined strong current production with impressive figures from last season.

Sávio leads for now, but the identity of the Premier League’s most productive dribbler is likely to change as the season progresses.

Final Thoughts

The early 2026/27 rankings feature several different types of dribbler.

Sávio and Fatawu attack from wide positions, Tel and Marmoush carry the ball directly towards goal, and Mainoo uses close control to escape pressure in central midfield. Neto and Cherki offer more established Premier League evidence, while George has emerged as one of the most exciting young dribblers in the competition.

The contrast between these players shows that there is no single method of beating an opponent. Some rely on speed, others use balance and several create an advantage through small technical movements.

What unites the best dribblers is their willingness to take risks. Losing possession is an unavoidable part of the role, but one successful take-on can break a defensive structure and alter the direction of a match.