Belgium's top 20 greatest-ever Premier League footballers — ranked

Big impact

Despite not winning major trophies on the world stage, Belgium's most talented crop of players made a huge impression in England. The Premier League has been a showcase for some of the nation's greatest ever footballers; in this ranking, we look back at the 20 who stood out most over the years.

Belgium's best

From dominant defenders to dazzling attackers, Belgian players have lit up the Premier League era. This list highlights the very best to have played in England's top flight. Here are the top 20!

19. Amadou Onana

Onana arrived at Everton from Lille in 2022 before moving to Aston Villa in 2024, where he established himself as one of the Premier League's most athletic central midfielders. His combination of physicality, aerial prowess and surprising technical ability has made him a vital cog in both clubs' systems. At just 23, Onana represents the new generation of Belgian talent ready to carry the torch.

18. Nacer Chadli

The winger spent five productive years in the Premier League between Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion from 2013 to 2018. Chadli was a consistent performer for Spurs, contributing 25 goals and 14 assists across three seasons (per Transfermarkt) while offering tactical flexibility across multiple positions. His ability to drift between the lines and create chances made him a valuable squad player during Tottenham's transition under Mauricio Pochettino.

17. Philippe Albert

The elegant defender was a cult hero at Newcastle United during the club's entertaining mid-1990s era under Kevin Keegan. Albert arrived from Anderlecht in 1994 and became renowned for his ability to step out of defence and create chances, memorably scoring a brilliant chip against Manchester United. His five-year stint on Tyneside coincided with some of Newcastle's most exciting football.

16. Simon Mignolet

Mignolet spent eight years in the Premier League with Sunderland and Liverpool, developing a reputation as a reliable shot-stopper despite criticism for some high-profile errors and occasional lapses in concentration. The keeper arrived from Sint-Truiden in 2010 and quickly adapted to English football, earning a move to Liverpool in 2013, where he won the Champions League in 2019. However, he was ultimately replaced at Anfield by Alisson Becker.

15. Leandro Trossard

With an uncanny knack for crucial goals and assists, Trossard has proven himself one of the Premier League's most versatile forwards since joining Brighton from Genk in 2019. Trossard's ability to play across the front line, combined with his technical skills and work rate, made him a key player in Brighton's rise up the table before his 2023 move to Arsenal, where he has already played over 120 games, per Transfermarkt.

14. Kevin Mirallas

Mirallas was a consistent threat down Everton's right flank during six productive seasons at Goodison Park from 2012 to 2018. He arrived from Olympiacos with a reputation as a pacey, direct winger and largely lived up to that billing, contributing 38 goals and 31 assists in 186 appearances, according to Transfermarkt. His pace and crossing ability made him a valuable asset for the Toffees, particularly during Roberto Martínez's tenure, when Everton played some of their most attacking football in recent memory.

13. Divock Origi

Although Origi was rarely a regular starter, he will always be remembered at Anfield as the ultimate big-game player under Jürgen Klopp. During the 2018–19 season in particular, he delivered when it mattered most, scoring dramatic late winners against Everton and Newcastle, and playing a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph. He netted the iconic "corner taken quickly" goal in the epic comeback win against Barcelona in the semis, then sealed the win with the second goal in the final against Tottenham.

11. Christian Benteke

The powerful striker enjoyed a remarkable debut Premier League season with Aston Villa in 2012-13, scoring 19 goals after arriving from Genk (per Transfermarkt). Benteke's combination of physicality, aerial ability and clinical finishing made him one of the league's most feared centre-forwards, earning him a big move to Liverpool in 2015. Though his time at Anfield proved challenging, he rediscovered his form at Crystal Palace and cemented his legacy as one of the Premier League's most effective target men.

10. Youri Tielemans

Tielemans has been one of the Premier League's most technically gifted players since joining Leicester City from Monaco in 2019. The deep-sitting midfielder quickly established himself as the Foxes' creative heartbeat, playing a crucial role in their FA Cup triumph and producing moments of genuine quality, including his stunning winner in the final against Chelsea. His move to Aston Villa in 2023 has seen him continue to demonstrate the passing range and composure that mark him out as one of the continent's finest midfield talents.

9. Jan Vertonghen

Vertonghen was a model of consistency during eight excellent seasons with Tottenham from 2012 to 2020. Forming a formidable partnership for club and country with Toby Alderweireld (more on him later), Vertonghen delivered on the reputation he earned while at Ajax as one of Europe's most promising centre-backs. His ability to play left-back when required, combined with his leadership qualities and technical ability, made him integral to Tottenham's rise under Mauricio Pochettino and their run to the Champions League final in 2019.

8. Marouane Fellaini

The towering midfielder was a unique presence in Premier League football across 11 seasons with Everton and Manchester United from 2008 to 2019. Fellaini arrived from Standard Liège as a relative unknown but quickly became one of the league's most distinctive players, not only for his hairstyle, but also for his aerial dominance and chest control. His ability to change games both as a creator and destroyer made him invaluable to David Moyes at Everton and later to José Mourinho at United.

7. Toby Alderweireld

During his peak years, Alderweireld was arguably the Premier League's best defender, splitting his seven-season career between Southampton (a one-year loan) and Tottenham from 2014 to 2021. His partnership with the aforementioned Jan Vertonghen at Spurs was one of the most effective defensive partnerships in Premier League history, combining pace, aerial ability and exceptional passing range from deep positions.

6. Thibaut Courtois

Following a hugely successful loan at Atlético Madrid, Courtois inherited the Chelsea goalkeeping position from the legendary Petr Čech, establishing himself as one of the world's best during his side's Premier League triumphs in 2015 and 2017. Winning two Golden Glove awards for most clean sheets, his commanding presence, distribution and ability to make crucial saves in big moments ultimately earned him a move to Real Madrid.

5. Mousa Dembélé

Perhaps one of the most underrated footballers in Premier League history, Dembélé was one of the league's most press-resistant and technically gifted players across nine seasons with Fulham and Tottenham from 2010 to 2019. Evolving into one of the world's most complete central midfielders under Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, his ability to retain possession under pressure, combined with his physical strength and dribbling skills, made him virtually impossible to dispossess and a key component in Tottenham's most successful period in recent memory.

4. Romelu Lukaku

With a Premier League career spanning four clubs, Lukaku has been one of the Premier League's most prolific goalscorers ever. Arriving at Chelsea from Anderlecht as a teenager with enormous potential, he developed into a clinical finisher, scoring 121 goals in 278 Premier League appearances (per Transfermarkt). His physical presence, pace, and finishing ability made him a constant threat, with his most productive spell coming at Everton, where he scored 87 goals in 166 appearances before moving to Manchester United and later returning to Chelsea.

3. Vincent Kompany

The commanding centre-back was the defensive cornerstone of Manchester City's transformation from also-rans to Premier League champions during 11 magnificent seasons from 2008 to 2019. His combination of pace, aerial ability and leadership made him the perfect captain for City's rise under multiple managers, lifting four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.

Generational leader

Kompany's most memorable moment came with a thunderous long-range strike against Leicester City in the 2018-19 title run-in, a goal that epitomised his ability to deliver in the biggest moments. Despite battling injuries throughout his career, Kompany's influence on City's golden era cannot be overstated, and his transition from player to successful manager at Burnley and Bayern Munich has only enhanced his reputation as one of football's finest leaders.

2. Eden Hazard

The Belgian wing wizard was arguably the Premier League's most entertaining and effective player during seven spectacular seasons at Chelsea from 2012 to 2019. Having arrived from Lille as one of Europe's most coveted young talents, he immediately justified the hype, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his debut campaign. His low centre of gravity, close control and ability to beat multiple defenders made him virtually unstoppable in full flow.

Individual brilliance

Hazard's trophy cabinet at Chelsea speaks to his individual brilliance and team success: two Premier League titles, two Europa League triumphs, one FA Cup and one League Cup. His performances in Chelsea's 2016-17 title-winning campaign under Antonio Conte were particularly exceptional, as he drove the team to the championship with a series of virtuoso displays. His departure to Real Madrid in 2019 marked the end of an era at Stamford Bridge.

1. Kevin De Bruyne

The soon-to-be-former Manchester City playmaker is without doubt the finest Belgian to grace the Premier League, combining exceptional technical ability with remarkable consistency across more than a decade in English football. De Bruyne's journey began with a disappointing spell at Chelsea from 2013-14, where he was given limited opportunities under José Mourinho, before his return to England with Manchester City in 2015 transformed him into one of the world's elite midfielders.