Best Crystal Palace Players: 2025/2026 Season

Crystal Palace’s season is being shaped not just by one or two stars, but by a core group whose performances are lifting the whole team. Below are six players whose form, leadership or moments of magic make them essential to Palace’s hopes this year.

Marc Guéhi: The Iron Captain

As club captain and central defensive bedrock, Marc Guéhi embodies leadership through composure and consistency. He played 44 times in 2024/25, kept 14 clean sheets, and even contributed goals and assists.

With strong interest from Liverpool (a £35 million deal briefly appeared imminent) thwarted by Palace backing out at the last minute however, Guéhi’s commitment is under spotlight. His defensive stats and influence make him the spine of this Palace side, a figure teammates look to in tense moments.

Dean Henderson: The Shot-Stopper with Big Moments

No one remembers how many routine saves you make, they remember the ones that change games. Dean Henderson already earned those in 2025: he was pivotal in the FA Cup Final, helping Palace lift their first major trophy.

He’s also rated highly in the EA Sports FC 26 player ratings (81 overall), signalling respect for his reflexes and presence between the posts. When the pressure mounts, in European ties or tight Premier League games, Henderson is often the safety net Palace trust.

Adam Wharton: Youth, Intelligence & Rising Influence

Still in his early 20s, Adam Wharton is one of Palace’s most exciting midfield prospects. His reading of space and passing game mark him out as a next-generation engine. In the 2025/26 scoring stats, Wharton is already on the board for Palace, showing he doesn’t shy from responsibility.

His ability to combine defensive work with forward thinking gives the team balance, he’s becoming a midfield fulcrum and will probably go to a bigger club for a huge sum at some point.

Jean-Philippe Mateta: The Threat in Front of Goal

Forwards live and die by goals, and Jean-Philippe Mateta is delivering. He’s Palace’s top scorer in many competitions and continues to demand attention from defenses. Mateta offers size, movement and finishing. In tight games, his presence gives Palace a fighting chance of breaking the deadlock.

Daniel Muñoz: The Unassuming Dynamo

Often overshadowed, fullback Daniel Muñoz has quietly contributed in big moments. He scored in the FA Cup Final, earning Player of the Match honours. In European play against Dynamo Kyiv, his goal put Palace in control in their first ever European group game. But beyond goals, his overlapping runs, defensive solidity, and willingness to support attack make him an undervalued but essential cogs in Palace’s tactics.

Ismaïla Sarr: Pace, Spark & Decisive Moments

Speed is one of those rare football commodities, and Ismaïla Sarr has it in spades. His pace (EA rating pace 91) and ability to stretch defenses give Palace a dimension. When defences sit deep, Sarr is the kind of player capable of opening doors with a burst or clever move.

Crystal Palace 2025/26 First-Team Squad (as of latest data)