Who are the leaders at every Premier League club?

There is no ‘I’ in “team” but there is one in ‘leadership’.

What good is a talented Premier League side if it does not have the right standard-bearers in situ, the players who lead by example and keep their team-mates sharp on and off the pitch?

The summer transfer window is not just about signing a flashy winger or an effective defender — player movement (and retirement) results in the hierarchy of captains, vice-captains and other role models changing.

Here, writers from The Athletic reveal the main leaders at every Premier League club less than a week before the season begins.

Arsenal

Arsenal have clear figureheads but employ a leadership group which formalises those who are seen as integral.

Martin Odegaard has been club captain since 2022, and while there has often been external debate over his suitability compared to others, there is no indication of that changing. The midfielder is more vocal than he appears, has the respect of players and staff, but arguably showed those leadership qualities for Norway during the World Cup.

When Odegaard is absent, Bukayo Saka often steps up as vice-captain. The 24-year-old first wore the armband in 2024, leads by example on the pitch and is symbolic of the journey Arsenal have undergone with Mikel Arteta.

Gabriel and Declan Rice are next in the leadership group, with each of them captaining the team last season. Both provide a more typical view of a leader with how vocal they are, as well as possessing fairly aggressive playing styles. Rice has captained England, with his personality a key driver in both dressing rooms whether he has the armband or not.

Arsenal have many leaders, but Martin Odegaard is their captain (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Mikel Merino, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus have worn the armband too. In Merino’s case, he is viewed as one of the most intelligent players in the squad, able to transfer Arteta’s demands onto the pitch. White and Jesus are two of the longest-serving players, with the latter’s previous experience at Manchester City particularly useful in shifting the mindset of his team-mates from title challengers to champions.

The signing of Bruno Guimaraes will only add to the leadership credentials within Arteta’s squad. Arriving as Newcastle United’s captain, his influence on Eddie Howe’s side was so strong that they only won two matches in which he didn’t start for them during his time at the club. Alongside his quality on the ball, the addition of another big character to the midfield should benefit them domestically and in Europe.

Art de Roché

Aston Villa

Villa’s core leadership team remains the same as it has in recent seasons. John McGinn is Villa’s captain and often the team’s talisman. Behind him in the 2025-26 season, the leadership dynamic shifted, with Tyrone Mings, the captain before Steven Gerrard stripped him of it three years earlier, and Ezri Konsa as the vice-captains.

Emiliano Martinez had been part of this leadership group but, having tried and failed to secure a move away last season, was pushed down the pecking order. The goalkeeper is now being linked with another move — although that will not be to Juventus.

After those three, Youri Tielemans wore the armband, as he does for Belgium, but he has departed for Manchester United.

John McGinn is Villa’s captain, but Tyrone Mings still has a presence (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Depending on Konsa’s future, with Arsenal and Villa apart on valuation, the leadership group will remain the same, even if core players, including Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne, have left. McGinn and Mings are obvious and influential leaders, on the pitch and setting standards in the dressing room.

It is why they are the first point of contact for Unai Emery, who allows the changing room to police itself. While Villa’s squad is evolving, its nucleus has been together for several years, with leadership, experience and general nous the traits that have underpinned their success. Bringing youth in this summer was necessary to reduce the squad’s average age — it was the league’s second-oldest.

Jacob Tanswell

Bournemouth

Long-serving right-back Adam Smith, the 35-year-old who joined Bournemouth in 2014, is expected to lead the team as captain in 2026-27. Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie and David Brooks, three of the six oldest players in the squad, are believed to hold leadership positions too. Fraser Forster, 38, arrived as the backup goalkeeper this summer to bolster the average age of the squad.

Summer arrival Antonio Silva, signed from Benfica to fill the void left by the departure of Marcos Senesi on a free transfer, adds leadership too. Silva captained Benfica in both legs of their Europa League qualifying play-off against St Gallen in July.

Adam Smith has been at the club since 2014 (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Midfielder Tyler Adams led the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup, while Marcus Tavernier has worn the captain’s armband for Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola, too.

While a largely young squad, leadership should not be an issue for Marco Rose in his first Premier League campaign, which will involve a Europa League sojourn.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

Brentford

Nathan Collins was appointed as Brentford’s captain in August 2025 following Christian Norgaard’s departure to Arsenal. In the middle of last season, Collins briefly lost his place in the starting XI to Kristoffer Ajer and midfielder Mathias Jensen took over the armband for those five games.

Collins and Sepp van den Berg are the first-choice centre-back partnership, but Ajer will be pushing for a bigger role, especially after impressing during Norway’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Central defenders, like Brentford’s Nathan Collins, are traditionally popular picks for the captain’s armband (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Collins and Jensen will be supported by Vitaly Janelt, one of the club’s longest-serving players, but Jordan Henderson has departed after only a year to join Chelsea.

Brentford have made a couple of attacking signings this summer, including Callum Wilson following the expiration of his contract with West Ham United. The 34-year-old, who has signed a one-year deal, is a useful alternative to last season’s top goalscorer Igor Thiago. Hopefully, as a bonus, Wilson can impart some wisdom and use his experience to guide his new team-mates.

Jay Harris

Brighton & Hove Albion

The leadership group of experienced campaigners that Fabian Hurzeler relied upon to guide the younger members of his Brighton squad and to set standards on and off the pitch has undergone significant change.

James Milner retired at the end of the season, Adam Webster and Solly March were released, Danny Welbeck moved to Chelsea, and Joel Veltman has joined West Ham. In addition to this, Jan Paul van Hecke was regarded as a future skipper to succeed centre-back partner Lewis Dunk before the Dutchman’s departure to Tottenham.

That leaves Dunk, Pascal Gross and Jason Steele as the survivors of the group.

Lewis Dunk has long been Brighton’s captain (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The shortfall has been addressed to a large extent by the signings of Pascal Struijk from Leeds United and Michael Svoboda from Venezia as part of the rebuild in the centre of defence. The Dutchman and Austrian are 27 years old (which Hurzeler describes as “the best football age”). They each captained their former clubs.

Andy Naylor

Chelsea

Reece James is Chelsea’s captain whenever he is on the pitch but the need to manage the Cobham graduate’s minutes frequently left Enzo Fernandez wearing the armband last season. It will be interesting to see if the Argentine retains this status if he remains at Stamford Bridge after a summer of uncertainty about his future — and he was booed on to the pitch for the friendly on Saturday.

Moises Caicedo and fit-again Levi Colwill are next in line, though Cole Palmer surprisingly captained Chelsea for the first time in an FA Cup match against Port Vale in April, describing the honour after the match as a “proud moment” and a “long time coming”.

New manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that James will remain Chelsea captain and most of the above names will be in the mix for the armband again if he does not play.

Reece James has retained the captaincy for this season (Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)

So too, perhaps, may Henderson and Welbeck, the two high-character veterans brought to Stamford Bridge at low cost this summer in a bid to solve the long-standing issues with leadership in the face of adversity, emotional stability and general maturity in what has been, for much of the BlueCo era, the Premier League’s youngest squad.

Liam Twomey

Coventry City

Central midfielder Matt Grimes, an ever-present in Coventry’s title-winning side last season, is club captain.

Grimes took over the armband in September last year from fellow midfielder Ben Sheaf, who left to join Wrexham in a reported £6.5million deal.

Central defender Liam Kitching, who has been at the club since 2023, having worked his way up the English football pyramid, is vice-captain.

Matt Grimes became Coventry City captain last season (David Rogers/Getty Images)

Coventry have a strong camaraderie within their squad, with many players having been there for several years. A sizeable cohort joined during the summer window in 2023.

After winning promotion to the Premier League in April, Lampard paid reference to long-serving players Jake Bidwell and Jamie Allen in his pitchside Sky Sports interview. The latter left the club this summer, after making 200 appearances for Coventry, but Bidwell is still there.

Another important voice in the dressing room is Ben Wilson, the backup goalkeeper: a popular and fun character around the club, he is credited with driving standards.

Defender Joel Latibeaudiere, who spent much of last season on the bench, is another influential figure in the camp and a strong communicator.

Tom Burrows

Crystal Palace

When Palace won the FA Cup in 2025, Joel Ward and Marc Guehi shared the privilege of lifting the trophy as co-captains. Neither player remains, with Ward bowing out after 12 years at the end of that season and Guehi joining Manchester City in January.

Dean Henderson inherited the armband permanently — something he clearly cherishes, often leading chants after games and giving brutally honest interviews.

Dean Henderson clearly thrives being captain (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Maxence Lacroix grew into a vocal leader and enjoyed a post-match ritual of performing three fist pumps in front of the Holmesdale end after a win. But the France international has since moved to Chelsea for £52m.

The onus will now fall upon the likes of centre-back Chris Richards, academy graduate Tyrick Mitchell and somewhat divisive striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to support Henderson in his leadership duties as Palace embark on another European journey under new manager Pierre Sage.

Reuben Pinder

Everton

David Moyes is on the lookout for a new captain after Everton stalwart Seamus Coleman brought his 17-year stint on Merseyside to an end this summer. The Irishman’s exit leaves a big leadership vacuum that needs to be filled.

James Tarkowski, last season’s vice-captain, and Jordan Pickford are part of the senior group, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Michael Keane have been credited with an influence behind the scenes. Tarkowski remains the favourite to assume the role permanently.

James Tarkowski has been the on-pitch captain in recent seasons, but Jordan Pickford is a clear leader too (Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images)

New £7m signing Norgaard, meanwhile, was signed in part due to his leadership credentials.

Patrick Boyland

Fulham

For nearly 10 years, the answer has remained the same: Tom Cairney.

Fulham fans have seen different versions of the midfielder — talented playmaker, central lynchpin and, in recent years, classy super-sub — but since he was made captain in 2017, Cairney’s role off the pitch has remained consistent.

Popular among fans and players, the 35-year-old signed a one-year extension in January, keeping him at the club until 2027. Cairney only made 10 starts in all competitions last season but under a new head coach, his skills as a self-effacing leader will be more valuable than ever.

Tom Cairney first became Fulham captain in the 2017-18 season (George Wood/Getty Images)

In Cairney’s absence, Joachim Andersen regularly takes the armband, with Antonee Robinson and goalkeeper Bernd Leno filling in, despite each of them hitting rough patches of form. If Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced long-serving coach Marco Silva in July, continues to add to his squad, those regulars could come under pressure for their starting roles.

Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez had developed into senior figures in the dressing room and their leadership qualities will be missed after they left on free transfers. In their place, homegrown Ryan Sessegnon and 19-year-old Josh King will need to step up.

Justin Guthrie

Hull City

Lewie Coyle had the distinction of captaining Hull City to promotion last season, an achievement made all the sweeter by doing so with his hometown club. It was a triumph for longevity. The full-back has worn the armband for the last four years and remained one of the few constants of Acun Ilicali’s era as owner.

Lewie Coyle has been a long-serving captain at Hull (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Coyle’s role this season will depend on Hull’s recruitment over the coming weeks, but it is likely he will continue to stand as the team’s most prominent leader in a group short of Premier League experience.

Others in the Hull ranks play their part. A senior core of John Egan (33), Oli McBurnie (30) and Matt Crooks (32) bring leadership qualities in a tight-knit squad, while summer signing Jack Butland ought to be another. The experienced goalkeeper, who misses the opening months through injury, is one of the few to have played at this level.

Phil Buckingham

Ipswich Town

Dara O’Shea was appointed Ipswich captain by former head coach Kieran McKenna in the summer of 2025 following the departure of Sam Morsy.

Regular centre-back partner Jacob Greaves described O’Shea, 27, as a “natural-born leader”, citing his ability to motivate his team-mates. The Republic of Ireland international’s words in the pre-match huddle before Ipswich’s win over Norwich City in October, where he referred to the fixture being “about us and our people”, struck a chord with supporters.

After Ipswich secured a first win over their East Anglian rivals in 15 years, it became a tagline adopted by the club and fans.

Dara O’Shea after promotion in May (Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images)

O’Shea’s predecessor Morsy is one of several leadership figures from McKenna’s back-to-back promotion-winning side to have departed over the past two years. Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess left in 2025, while Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns exited this summer. Former England international Ashley Young, whose experience and leadership were described as “valuable” after he signed in July 2025, retired at the end of last season.

But many leaders remain. Right-back Darnell Furlong, 30, has captained Gary O’Neil’s team during pre-season when O’Shea has been off the pitch, while Greaves, 25, told reporters last August that he had been part of McKenna’s leadership team in 2024-25. Left-back Leif Davis, 26, explained he had stepped into a leadership role after Morsy’s departure by setting standards in training, and has spoken of his ambition to one day captain Ipswich.

And crucially, Ipswich have brought in Premier League experience this summer — something that was lacking last time out in the top flight — in midfielder Sasa Lukic, 30, and Isa Diop, 29, from Fulham.

Ali Rampling

Leeds United

Ethan Ampadu was Leeds’ captain last season. When he was absent through injury or suspension, Struijk stepped into the breach. This season, Ampadu will continue with the armband; however, Struijk has now departed for Brighton & Hove Albion.

No announcement has been made on Ampadu’s new deputy, but Joe Rodon, who combines age, experience, character, time at the club and regular starts, seems the obvious choice. Rodon was captain in Ampadu’s absence during pre-season.

Leeds United’s Ethan Ampadu signed a new contract in June (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ampadu leads the dressing room. He has developed a reputation as a selfless voice behind the scenes, someone who represents the rest of the team and puts them before himself. His development into a formidable footballer has helped cement his status among the squad.

Leadership is generally a strength for Leeds. Last summer, all 10 new signings were aged between 25 and 28. They have made a point of crafting a squad of good characters, who have enough miles on the clock to ride out the lows of a season.

Beyond Ampadu and Rodon, there are the popular reserve goalkeeper Alex Cairns, England’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, level-headed James Justin and stoic Jaka Bijol, who are all known for being influential points of reference behind the scenes.

Beren Cross

Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk became the Liverpool captain in August 2023 when Henderson left the club. He has since worn the armband with pride and is not only an inspirational leader on the pitch, but off it too.

Van Dijk, 35, is vocal and encouraging, and often speaks on behalf of the team during interviews.

Van Dijk has proved an inspired choice as captain (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to be the vice-captain this season in what is turning into a transformative period following the absence of key figures in recent years. Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate all left, and those gaps still need to be filled by other personalities.

Ronald Araujo’s arrival helps as he was the captain at Barcelona, while Alisson is expected to have more responsibility as a mature member of the squad.

Gregg Evans

Manchester City

City’s captain last season was Bernardo Silva, backed up by Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland. For the first time in his 10 years at City, Pep Guardiola chose the group rather than asking the squad to vote.

With Bernardo gone and Rodri soon to leave after Barcelona reached a transfer agreement in principle to sign him, City will need a couple of appointments this summer. Dias appears to be the favourite to take the armband, while Enzo Maresca wants an English player in the group, meaning Phil Foden or Guehi could be in line to bring the numbers back to four. When Rodri goes, an extra player will join the group.

City have definitely lost a lot of experience in the squad following the departures of Bernardo, John Stones and Nathan Ake, and Rodri (when he leaves). Dias appears to be the natural successor in terms of the main captaincy, while Haaland’s leadership qualities are blossoming.

Ruben Dias could be City’s next captain (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

The fact that Guehi could be the English representative, having only arrived in January, shows his skills but the lack of obvious leaders in other departments.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been good for morale, encouraging the celebration of good defensive work, and his experience could make him a candidate.

Sam Lee

Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes has been Manchester United’s club captain since July 2023 after Erik ten Hag decided to take the armband from Harry Maguire. Fernandes is the beating heart of the club, serving as the team’s best player, most trusted spokesperson and a valued figure behind the scenes, watching academy games and women’s matches where possible.

The 31-year-old is backed up by a leadership group first decided upon by Ruben Amorim in summer 2025. Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Tom Heaton and Maguire all work to help run the dressing room, and keep team-mates on task.

Amorim explained his reasoning for the six-person group during the pre-season tour last summer, noting that “small issues” were now run by the collective, and that Mazraoui was included “because he’s a character that I like”.

Bruno Fernandes remains an influential figure on and off the pitch (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Matthijs de Ligt and new signing Tielemans are among those within the United dressing room with experience captaining a previous club. United’s 2026 pre-season tour has seen Mason Mount emerge as a helpful guide and sounding board for some of the club’s younger players.

Carl Anka

Newcastle United

Bruno Guimaraes was on-field captain for 2025-26 and has joined Arsenal, with Jamaal Lascelles the club captain until his exit in January (while Kieran Trippier, the third of the trio of players to lift the Carabao Cup in March 2025, a former captain and vice-captain, left in June).

Guimaraes’s successor has only just been determined, after Matthias Jaissle spent his first couple of weeks assessing the senior figures with the squad he inherited, with Dan Burn named as club captain on Saturday.

Jaissle selected Malick Thiaw, his fellow German, to lead Newcastle in his opening friendly against Valencia and Joelinton at Murrayfield against Everton, but Jacob Murphy wore the armband during the latter stages of both.

Burn is a strong voice within the dressing room and has been since he joined in January 2022. The defender was part of the ‘leadership group’ under Howe, just as Murphy was, and the pair will be influential moving forwards, too. Jaissle has used leadership groups before and is set to implement one at Newcastle.

Dan Burn has become a respected figure at Newcastle and is the new captain after Bruno Guimaraes’ exit (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Those inside the club are conscious that significant know-how has been lost this summer, with Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon joining Guimaraes in leaving. Four of Newcastle’s five signings have been aged 20 or under, but greater experience is being sought during the final weeks of the window.

Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha are on a shortlist of midfielders Newcastle are looking to bring in, with on-field game-management required.

As excited as the hierarchy are about what they describe as “Newcastle United 2.0”, the young, fresh side being built needs directing and acquiring a veteran or two feels necessary.

Chris Waugh

Nottingham Forest

Ryan Yates was Nottingham Forest’s club captain last season but Morgan Gibbs-White more regularly had the armband when Yates was not in the starting XI.

There has been no suggestion that the situation will change, with midfielder Yates likely to retain his role, although Gibbs-White will probably again be skipper more regularly. Gibbs-White was a huge influence, well beyond the 15 goals he contributed — and will be again.

Forest lost Elliot Anderson, who had grown into a leadership figure, when he moved to Manchester City, but newly appointed head coach Oliver Glasner is not short of influential figures to call upon.

Morgan Gibbs-White excelled when captain (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The summer signing of RB Leipzig vice-captain Xaver Schlager will add to a leadership group that includes players like Nikola Milenkovic, Neco Williams, Ola Aina and Chris Wood.

The strong character of those was vital to Forest last season amid a chaotic campaign that saw four different managers take charge, with Vitor Pereira eventually leading Forest to safety after Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche had all departed.

Paul Taylor

Sunderland

It was a ruthless move to take the captaincy away from Dan Neil in the summer that followed Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League but his direct replacement last season was fundamental to the continued development.

Granit Xhaka was given Sunderland’s captaincy before he had kicked a ball in anger, with the intention to let his experience drive standards and consistency. It proved a shrewd move from Regis Le Bris, and Xhaka, now 33, remains the most influential player at the Stadium of Light after Chelsea’s interest was successfully fended off this summer.

Granit Xhaka’s signing and appointment as captain was a masterstroke (George Wood/Getty Images)

There are others in the group blessed with leadership qualities. Trai Hume, captain of Northern Ireland, deputised in Xhaka’s absence when injured last season, while the long-serving Luke O’Nien is another strong voice in the dressing room.

Sunderland’s recruitment strategy has typically revolved around the pursuit of younger players in the last five years but this summer’s capture of Thomas Meunier, the veteran Belgium international defender, has added further experience to a squad that will have to cope with Europa League football.

Phil Buckingham

Tottenham Hotspur

Cristian Romero was appointed as Tottenham’s captain last summer by former head coach Thomas Frank. That decision did not work. Romero produced a couple of heroic performances but was sent off twice and publicly criticised the club’s senior figures via social media on multiple occasions.

Now a Tottenham captain has left for the second year in a row, following Son Heung-min’s departure to LAFC in August 2025, after Atletico Madrid signed him for a fee in the region of €40million (£34.1m; $46m).

Guglielmo Vicario was a member of Spurs’ leadership group and appears to be heading towards the exit as well after Antonin Kinsky was promoted to first-choice goalkeeper.

Romero, left, has departed for Atletico Madrid, and Van de Ven, 25, is a candidate to replace him as captain (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

The good news is that Micky van de Ven has signed a new long-term contract. If Vicario does end up leaving, Van de Ven’s biggest rival for the armband will be James Maddison, who had a galvanising impact on the squad and fanbase when he returned from a long-term knee injury towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Jay Harris