New promotions from the Championship mean new Irish players alongside old, to challenge across England. Here are the top five best Irish players in the Premier League in 2023.
The Premier League is back upon us for the 2023/24 season. It is perhaps world football’s most followed league, and numerous Irish people across the Emerald Isle will be keeping a keen eye as the campaign progresses.
Another element that Irish people will follow closely across 2023 and 2024 will be the Irish contingent of players who will play across England this season. We are with them, and so here is our attempt at naming the top five best Irish players in the Premier League in 2023.
5. Chiedozie Ogbene – new signing for Luton Town
With Luton Town newly promoted to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season, Cheidozie Ogbene was one of the signings they have made to help bolster their survival hopes in what will be a difficult campaign.
Ogbene signed on a free transfer when his contract at Rotherham expired. The tricky winger scored 12 times for Rotherham and will hope to make an immediate impact at Luton.
Ogbene has played 15 times so far for Ireland, scoring four goals and has made a name for himself as one of our most exciting players. He had previously played GAA as a youngster for Cork and Munster club kingpins Nemo Rangers, scoring 1-2 in an under-21 final in his last appearance for the club.
4. Michael Obafemi – looking to make a mark with Burnley
Obafemi has made a name for himself in the front line for Ireland in recent times, most notably his outrageous long-range goal against Scotland to earn Ireland a first Nation League win in 13 games.
One of the best Irish players in the Premier League in 2023, Obafemi plays for Burnley, who have been promoted for the new season following a flawless Championship campaign under former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
Obafemi was born in Dublin in 2000, meaning the 23-year-old is another young prospect with a promising future that can hopefully help Ireland a lot. Burnley will be hoping so, too, after making an initial loan deal permanent.
3. Nathan Collins – one of the best Irish players in the Premier League in 2023
Collins signed for Premier League side Brentford for a club record fee of £23 million. He is now Ireland’s most expensive footballer, having previously signed for Wolves last year for a fee of around £20 million. He will expect big things from himself in this upcoming season.
Collins is an extremely solid, talented, and reliable centre-back who is only 22 years of age and most certainly has a promising career ahead of him. For Ireland, he has already made 14 appearances, with many, many more caps ahead of him.
2. Seamus Coleman – an Everton and Irish legend
Undoubtedly one of the best Irish players of all time who has played in the Premier League, Donegal man Coleman recently signed a new contract with Everton, making him a shoo-in for our list of the best Irish players in the Premier League.
The 34-year-old is still captain of both Everton and Ireland and despite his age, he has so much to offer to his club and country in this upcoming season and hopefully beyond too.
Coleman has amassed 352 appearances for the Toffees, and manager Sean Dyche will be hoping to rely on his guile and experience as Everton seek a more secure Premier League campaign than last year. For Ireland, Coleman has made 68 caps in a 12-year career.
1. Evan Ferguson – a future star in the making
If there is one Irish player right now who you would put your house on being the next big thing, it would be Brighton forward Evan Ferguson, who has reportedly attracted interest from Manchester United.
There is no denying his place on our list of the best Irish players in the Premier League in 2023. Ferguson has already got off the mark this year, with a goal in Brighton’s 4-1 opening day victory against Luton Town.
Ferguson is a fantastic striker who is only 18 years old. With such quality and skill already on display, Irish football fans have a lot to look forward to as he develops under Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton.
