Top 5 most improved players across Europe this season

The new season has been an exciting journey across Europe’s top five leagues, with some players having improved with outstanding performances.

For some footballers, last season was a struggle, with limited playing time or inconsistent performances. This season, however, they’ve found a renewed sense of purpose and are proving their worth to their teams.

With enough matches played to make fair assessments, here are the standout players who have shown the most improvement so far.

Raphinha

Raphinha tops our list of the most improved players of the season. After struggling with injuries and adjusting to life at Barcelona since joining from Leeds in 2022, he has found new momentum under coach Hansi Flick. With 20 goal contributions in just 15 matches, he’s only three short of matching last season’s stats.

Nicolas Jackson

Last season, Nicolas Jackson was among  the Premier League‘s most wasteful forwards, missing 23 big chances. This season, however, he’s shown considerable improvement, converting opportunities with greater accuracy. He has scored six goals and provided three assists for Chelsea in just 11 appearances, making fewer mistakes and proving more clinical in front of goal.

Samuel Omorodion

Samuel Omorodion, a summer target for Chelsea, ended up with Porto after a last-minute change in transfer conditions. Moving from Atletico Madrid for €15 million, he’s already making his mark. While he scored nine goals and one assist in 35 appearances last season across Deportivo Alaves and Granada, he’s outdone himself at Porto, hitting 11 goals in just 11 matches.

Brennan Johnson

The Welsh international Brennan Johnson has seen a resurgence in his goal-scoring form, with seven goals in 15 appearances so far. Last season, he finished with five goals and ten assists, but this year he’s become even more lethal up front. Earlier in the year, he faced online criticism, prompting him to step away from social media and focus on his game-a decision that has clearly paid off.

Matheus Nunes

Matheus Nunes was nearly forgotten in the Manchester City squad last season due to limited game time. This season, however, he’s taken advantage of Rodri’s absence in midfield and showcased his abilities, recording three goals and four assists in 12 appearances so far. His development has been a valuable asset to City’s squad depth.