The 2025-26 Premier League season continues to showcase a fascinating evolution in how teams utilize the through ball. Despite perceptions that the league has become more physical and direct this year, stats reveal that the creative use of incisive passes remains a critical component of the attacking repertoire. With an average of 3.5 through balls per 90 minutes over the first 200 matches—matching the high point of the previous seasons—teams are still prioritizing splitting defenses with precise, vision-driven passes. This deep dive examines which clubs are leading in attempt and success rates, highlighting standout players and tactical trends shaping the league’s approach to one of football’s most aesthetically pleasing forms of passing.
Overall Trends in Through Balls for 2025-26
In the current campaign, the Premier League appears to maintain its obsession with the through ball, confirming that creative ingenuity persists even amid a seemingly more physical and direct style of play. With the league averaging 3.5 attempts per 90 minutes in the first 200 matches—a rate that places it joint atop the past eight seasons—it indicates an enduring value placed on threading passes that unlock tight defenses. However, success varies widely among teams, illustrating different tactical philosophies and player talents. The focus this season has been on the attempts’ efficiency: which teams are not just creating chances with these passes but converting them into meaningful opportunities and goals.
Club-by-Club Analysis of Through Balls
Everton: Improving Creativity Amidst Traditional Style
Everton’s approach relies heavily on long balls—averaging about 54.3 per 90 minutes—leaving less room for intricate through passes. Nonetheless, recent additions such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have introduced a more nuanced element to their attack. This season, Everton has attempted a career-high 1.9 through balls per 90, a notable increase from the 1.4 they recorded in 2019-20. Players like Dewsbury-Hall have led the charge with seven attempts, with Grealish and James Tarkowski also contributing.
Grealish has been notably effective, with two goal-ending through balls—one assisting Dewsbury-Hall and another culminating in a goal scored by him. Such moments highlight Everton’s potential to convert these passes into goals, with five successful through balls this season—joint second in the league behind Manchester City. This suggests that the Toffees are increasingly adding incision to their traditional direct style, leveraging new personnel to threaten defenses with precise, penetrating passes.
Tottenham Hotspur: Struggling for Creativity
Tottenham’s season has been marked by limited creativity, especially in terms of through balls. They rank third from bottom for big chances created and key passes per 90 minutes, with just 1.2 shots and 6.0 key passes on average. The team’s difficulties are compounded by the absence of their key creative duo—James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski—who have yet to feature this season. Last season, these two contributed 23 attempted through balls and 10 successful ones.
Current leaders for through balls are Rodrigo Bentancur and Pedro Porro, with two attempts each, while new signing Xavi Simons has yet to settle in fully. This underlines Tottenham’s persistent struggle to unlock defenses through intricate passing, relying more on direct play and individual talent rather than creative threading.
Manchester City: Masters of Efficiency and Volume
Manchester City stands out as the league’s most effective team in utilizing through balls, averaging 3.7 attempts and completing 2.1 per 90—both figures the highest since 2018-19. Their success rate—about 57%—is unmatched, largely thanks to the innovative work of Jeremy Doku, who has elevated his role as a creative catalyst. Doku, after attempting 10 through balls in 58 matches over two seasons, has already matched that total in just 16 appearances this campaign, completing a league-high seven.
This efficiency translates into tangible results—City has scored nine goals from through balls, the most of any team this season, with players like Haaland, Foden, and Cherki regularly involved in threading passes that carve open defenses. Their mastery lies not just in volume but in the precision and timing of these deliveries, making City a benchmark for effective through-ball usage.
Arsenal: Attempting but Struggling with Connection
Arsenal has committed the second-highest number of through balls—3.6 per 90—aiming to penetrate teams that sit deep and defend with low blocks. However, the conversion rate remains an issue; they rank just 16th in successful through balls at 1.1 per 90. Part of this stems from the heightened rigidity of opponents, who compact their defensive shape. Despite this, Arsenal’s attempts are often generated when winning high up the field, as exemplified by Odegaard’s assist to Martin Zubimendi against Aston Villa, showcasing the potential of well-timed through passes.
Chances created from these passes are vital for Arsenal’s title ambitions, and increasing their success rate could be key to unlocking tighter defenses in upcoming fixtures.
Thematic Breakdown: Tactical and Player Insights
Teams Leveraging Through Balls: Notable Examples
- Everton: Recent acquisitions like Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have improved their creative output, with Grealish’s two goal-ending passes demonstrating direct threat.
- Manchester City: Jeremy Doku’s evolution into an incisive playmaker, combined with Haaland’s finishing, makes City’s through ball game highly dangerous and productive.
- Brighton: A significant decline from last season—particularly after the departure of key attackers—has seen their attempts halve, reflecting a more conservative approach with fewer incisive passes.
- Fulham: Specializing in dangerous passes into the penalty area’s corridor, their attempts often end with shots or near-misses, exemplified by Kevin’s setup against Manchester City that nearly produced an iconic pass of the season.
Player Contributions and Success Stories
In terms of individual impact, certain players stand out for their creative prowess and efficiency:
- Bruno Fernandes: Leading all players this season with 16 attempts, six successful, Fernandes remains Manchester United’s primary creative outlet, capable across varied passing scenarios.
- Jack Grealish: His increased involvement has resulted in goals and assists, with his passes often setting up decisive strikes, especially from central positions.
- Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard: Recent examples of decisive through passes that have led directly to goals, highlighting the importance of intelligence and timing in these situations.
Presumed Trends and Future Outlook
While the season’s stat sheet suggests that the Premier League continues to cherish the through ball—perhaps more than ever—it is clear that success hinges on execution. Teams like Manchester City exemplify efficiency, while others such as Arsenal and Tottenham are still finding ways to connect their attempts meaningfully. The rise of individual creators like Doku and Fernandes demonstrates the importance of versatile, creative players in unlocking defenses that are becoming more tactically disciplined. Moving forward, the challenge for many clubs will be improving success rates and converting attempts into goals, ensuring that the art of threading passes remains a vital element of top-flight football.
