The Premier League’s new era of strikers is taking shape — and after seven games, the numbers already tell us who’s settling in best. Hugo Ekitike leads the pack, ahead of Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško, based on performance data from FBref and Squawka.

Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79 million; Manchester United’s Benjamin Šeško, who arrived from RB Leipzig for £74 million; and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres, the £63.8 million signing from Sporting Lisbon, all made high-profile moves to England this summer.

Through their first seven league games, Ekitike has emerged as the most complete of the three: sharper in front of goal, more efficient in possession, and more influential in Liverpool’s attacking patterns.

Gyökeres and Šeško have both shown flashes of potential, yet remain a step behind in consistency and adaptability.

1. Availability and Game Time

Minutes Played

Viktor Gyökeres – Arsenal – 2025–26: 578
Hugo Ekitike – Liverpool – 2025–26: 386
Benjamin Šeško – Manchester United – 2025–26: 385

In the Premier League 2025–26 striker comparison, Viktor Gyökeres stands out as the most active and available among the three high-profile forwards.

The Arsenal striker has played 578 minutes, comfortably ahead of Hugo Ekitike’s 386 and Benjamin Šeško’s 385.

This gap in playing time highlights Gyökeres’ early integration into Arsenal’s system and his ability to meet the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League more quickly than his rivals.

Verdict: With more minutes under his belt, Gyökeres has had greater opportunity to build chemistry with his teammates and influence matches — an edge that could prove decisive as the season progresses, but it also means the pressure to deliver will weigh heavier on him than on the other two.

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2. Goal Output and Final Product

Goals Scored

Goals remain the ultimate measure of a striker’s impact — especially for players signed for big money. So, who among the Premier League’s newest forwards has been the most clinical so far in both the EPL and Champions League?

Viktor Gyökeres – Arsenal – 2025–2026: 3 goals
Hugo Ekitike – Liverpool – 2025–2026: 3 goals
Benjamin Šeško – Manchester United – 2025–2026: 2 goals

Gyökeres has found the net three times this season — all at the Emirates Stadium. Two came in Arsenal’s 5–0 win over Leeds United, and the third in a 3–0 victory against Nottingham Forest.

Ekitike has also registered three goals, scoring twice in the opening two game weeks — against Bournemouth and Newcastle — and once more at Anfield in a key fixture against Everton.

Šeško, meanwhile, has scored twice in the league: once in a 3–1 defeat away to Brentford and another in a 2–0 home win against Sunderland on game week seven.

Verdict: Based purely on goals scored, Viktor Gyökeres and Hugo Ekitike share the lead — both delivering early signs of why their clubs invested so heavily in them.

Assists

The modern striker is no longer just a finisher. Increasingly, top forwards are expected to drop deeper, link up with midfielders and wingers, and help create chances — a role often associated with the false nine.

So, which of these three new signings has been the most creative for his teammates this season?

Viktor Gyökeres – Arsenal – 2025–2026: 0 assists
Hugo Ekitike – Liverpool – 2025–2026: 1 assist
Benjamin Šeško – Manchester United – 2025–2026: 0 assists

Only Hugo Ekitike has demonstrated an ability to both score and create, registering an assist when he set up Cody Gakpo’s goal against Bournemouth earlier in the campaign. It was a moment that underlined his intelligence and willingness to combine with teammates rather than act purely as a poacher.

Verdict: Hugo Ekitike takes this one, standing out as the only forward of the three to have created a goal for a teammate so far.

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3. Shooting Efficiency and Finishing Quality

Shot Accuracy– Who’s the Most Clinical?

For any striker, few metrics are more revealing than shot accuracy — how often and how effectively they test the goalkeeper when they pull the trigger.

It’s not just about taking a high number of shots; it’s about turning those efforts into real scoring threats. A forward who consistently hits the target forces mistakes, creates rebounds, and keeps defenders under pressure — all hallmarks of a clinical finisher.

Here’s how the Premier League’s newest forwards are shaping up in front of goal this season, according to FBref data:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 2025–26)
  • Shots: 21
  • On Target: 6
  • Shot Accuracy: 28.6%
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool, 2025–26)
  • Shots: 15
  • On Target: 5
  • Shot Accuracy: 33.3%
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United, 2025–26)
  • Shots: 12
  • On Target: 6
  • Shot Accuracy: 50.0%

Šeško stands out as the most efficient and composed finisher of the trio, hitting the target with half of his attempts — a sign of measured decision-making and precision.
Ekitike follows with a respectable 33.3%, while Gyökeres, despite being the most active shooter, lags slightly behind on efficiency.

Data from Squawka paints a similar picture, though with slightly higher figures: Gyökeres – 45.45%, Ekitike – 57.14%, and Šeško – 60%.

Verdict: Benjamin Šeško takes this one for his sharp finishing and elite shot precision — a key indicator of natural goal-scoring instinct.

Conversion Rate (%)– Turning Chances into Goals

Conversion rate reveals how clinical a striker truly is — it measures the percentage of shots that end up in the back of the net. High conversion means a forward not only gets into scoring positions but also knows when and how to pull the trigger effectively.

Here’s how the Premier League’s newest strikers compare so far, according to Squawka data:

• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool, 2025–26) – 42.86%
• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 2025–26) – 27.27%
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United, 2025–26) – 20%

Ekitike leads the pack comfortably, showcasing the kind of ruthless finishing Liverpool will be hoping defines his time at Anfield. Gyökeres follows with a solid 27.27%, reflecting consistency if not yet elite sharpness, while Šeško rounds out the trio with 20%, indicating there’s still room for refinement in front of goal.

Verdict: Hugo Ekitike wins this category hands down — the most clinical of the three, making nearly half of his shots count.

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4. Involvement in Build-Up and Creativity

Touches– Involvement and Influence in Play

Ball touches reveal how actively a striker participates in their team’s overall build-up play. Forwards who consistently get on the ball are usually those who seek involvement, drop deep to link play, and take responsibility in possession — traits that often separate well-rounded forwards from pure poachers.

Here’s how the three new Premier League strikers compare this season:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 2025–26) – 151 touches
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool, 2025–26) – 135 touches
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United, 2025–26) – 116 touches

Gyökeres leads the way here, showing a greater willingness to get involved in Arsenal’s attacking structure. His 151 touches suggest a forward who not only finishes moves but helps create them. Ekitike follows closely with 135, indicating strong link-up play potential and a growing understanding of Liverpool’s attacking system.

Since Hugo Ekitike has missed one Premier League game through suspension, it’s easy to see why his number of touches might have been slightly lower than expected — with more minutes, he could easily have matched or surpassed Gyökeres in overall involvement.

Meanwhile, Šeško, on 116 touches, appears to have had less service and involvement — perhaps a reflection of Manchester United’s ongoing adjustments in attack.

Verdict: Viktor Gyökeres tops this metric, proving to be the most engaged striker in open play, while Šeško’s numbers show he’s still finding consistent integration into United’s attacking system.

Shot-Creating Actions– Measuring Attacking Impact

Shot-creating actions (SCAs) measure the two attacking contributions that directly lead to a shot — such as a key pass, successful dribble, or foul drawn. This statistic goes beyond goals and assists, showing how often a striker actively creates danger and unlocks defenses.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season, the three new forwards rank as follows:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 13 SCAs
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 12 SCAs
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 11 SCAs

Viktor Gyökeres leads this metric with 13 shot-creating actions, reflecting his strong involvement in Arsenal’s attacking play and his ability to generate opportunities for teammates.

Hugo Ekitike, close behind on 12, continues to show his creative side — particularly impressive given he has already missed one league game through suspension. Benjamin Šeško, on 11, isn’t far off either, showing steady improvement in his link-up and combination play at Manchester United.

Verdict: Viktor Gyökeres edges this category, reaffirming his role as the most dynamic and influential striker in creating chances among the three.

Crosses Completed– Measuring Positional Versatility

While strikers are primarily judged by their goal-scoring, the ability to deliver effective crosses adds a valuable layer of versatility. It shows a player’s willingness to drift wide, adapt to tactical needs, and contribute creatively from the flanks.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 2 completed crosses (3 attempted)
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 0 completed crosses
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 0 completed crosses

Only Viktor Gyökeres has registered any crossing activity this season, completing 2 of his 3 attempts. Ekitike and Šeško, meanwhile, have not attempted any.

Verdict: Viktor Gyökeres takes this category, standing out as the only one among the three capable of providing wide attacking support and crossing efficiency when required.

Key Passes– Creativity and Vision in Attack

Key passes measure how effectively a striker helps create scoring chances by playing incisive balls that lead directly to shots. It’s a strong indicator of vision, creativity, and understanding of attacking movement.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 5 key passes
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 4 key passes
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 5 key passes

Viktor Gyökeres has made 5 key passes this season — including 2 against Liverpool and 2 against Newcastle, both strong defensive sides, plus 1 against Nottingham Forest.
Hugo Ekitike has contributed 4 key passes, split evenly across his opening two games against Bournemouth and Newcastle.

Benjamin Šeško, despite having the fewest touches overall, has also managed 5 key passes — 2 against Arsenal, 1 versus Brentford, and 2 against Sunderland, showing he can still be productive even with limited service.

Verdict: Viktor Gyökeres and Benjamin Šeško share this one, both showing creativity and awareness to carve out goal-scoring chances for teammates.

Goal-Creating Actions– Turning Involvement into End Product

Goal-creating actions track the two offensive moves directly leading to a goal — including passes, take-ons, or fouls drawn. It’s a measure of how effectively a striker contributes to the final moment before a goal is scored.

In the 2025–26 Premier League season:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 1 goal-creating action
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 2 goal-creating actions
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 1 goal-creating action

Viktor Gyökeres registered his single goal-creating action in Arsenal’s 5–0 win over Leeds at the Emirates.

Hugo Ekitike leads with 2 goal-creating actions, both coming in Liverpool’s 4–2 victory against Bournemouth at Anfield.

Benjamin Šeško has 1, recorded in Manchester United’s 3–1 loss away to Brentford.

Verdict: Hugo Ekitike wins this metric, showing he’s been the most decisive link between buildup play and goals among the three new Premier League forwards.

Pass Completion (%)– Measuring Link-Up and Build-Up Quality

Beyond scoring goals, modern strikers are also judged by how effectively they connect play and retain possession. A forward who can combine smoothly with midfielders, recycle possession under pressure, and make accurate passes in attacking transitions adds tremendous tactical value to a team.

Here’s how the Premier League’s newest forwards have performed so far this season:

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – Attempted Passes: 74 | Completed: 41 | Pass Completion: 55.4%
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – Attempted Passes: 82 | Completed: 55 | Pass Completion: 67.1%
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – Attempted Passes: 74 | Completed: 49 | Pass Completion: 66.2%

Among the three, Hugo Ekitike leads with a 67.1% completion rate, reflecting his composure and growing influence in Liverpool’s attacking buildup.

Šeško follows closely on 66.2%, showing promising adaptation to Manchester United’s evolving system. Gyökeres, however, lags behind on 55.4%, a figure that highlights where Arsenal may expect improvement as he settles into their possession-based style.

According to Squawka data, the trend remains consistent — Gyökeres (57.7%), Ekitike (67.07%), and Šeško (67.12%).

Verdict: Hugo Ekitike takes this one, standing out as the most reliable link-up forward among the Premier League’s new big-money strikers.

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5. Ball Progression and Attacking Initiative

Progressive Passing Distance– Driving the Attack Forward

Progressive Passing Distance measures how far a player’s passes move the ball toward the opponent’s goal — a key indicator of how much a striker contributes to advancing play and initiating attacks. For modern forwards, this metric highlights their involvement not just in finishing moves, but in building them.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 108 yards
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 192 yards
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 107 yards

In this category, Hugo Ekitike leads convincingly, with 192 yards of progressive passing distance, showing his willingness to move play forward and connect attacks from deeper positions. Gyökeres follows with 108 yards, while Šeško sits just behind on 107 — suggesting a more direct, less playmaking role so far this season.

Verdict: Hugo Ekitike wins this metric, proving to be the most progressive passer among the trio.

Progressive Carrying Distance – Driving Forward with the Ball

Progressive Carrying Distance measures how far a player moves the ball toward the opponent’s goal while keeping it under control — a sign of confidence, technical skill, and attacking intent. For strikers, it shows how often they take initiative to advance play themselves rather than relying solely on passes.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 138 yards
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 187 yards
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 65 yards

Hugo Ekitike leads again, carrying the ball a total of 187 yards toward goal this season — evidence of his ability to drive forward and engage defenders directly. Gyökeres follows with 138 yards, showing decent involvement in buildup phases, while Šeško, at 65 yards, ranks third, suggesting a more stationary or final-third role.

Verdict: Hugo Ekitike dominates this category with his direct running and confidence in possession.

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6. Defensive Contribution and Work Rate

Tackles Won– Defensive Work from the Front

Modern football demands that strikers contribute defensively, pressing high and recovering possession to initiate quick transitions. Winning tackles is now a key part of a forward’s all-round game.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 2 tackles won
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 2 tackles won
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 1 tackle won

Both Gyökeres and Ekitike have shown solid defensive commitment, each winning 2 tackles this season. Šeško, meanwhile, has managed 1, suggesting his focus has been more on offensive positioning than defensive pressing.

Verdict: Gyökeres and Ekitike share this category, showing a willingness to track back and press when their teams lose possession.

Tackles in the Attacking Third– Pressing from the Front

Tackles in the attacking third highlight a striker’s defensive contribution high up the pitch. Winning the ball close to the opponent’s goal is one of the most effective defensive actions in modern football — it disrupts buildup play and often leads to instant scoring opportunities.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 1 tackle in attacking third
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 1 tackle in attacking third
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 0 tackles in attacking third

Both Gyökeres and Ekitike have shown strong pressing instincts, each winning a tackle in advanced areas. Šeško, meanwhile, has yet to register one, suggesting he may still be adjusting to the Premier League’s high-pressing tempo.

Verdict: Gyökeres and Ekitike share this category once again, demonstrating greater defensive intent and willingness to press from the front.

Clearances– Defensive Awareness and Work Rate

Clearances show how often a striker helps his team defensively by clearing the ball from dangerous areas — often during set pieces or defensive transitions. In modern football, this demonstrates not only work rate but also positional discipline and awareness during defensive phases.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 6 clearances
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 9 clearances
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 5 clearances

Hugo Ekitike leads this category with 9 clearances, showing that he tracks back effectively and contributes when Liverpool are defending set plays or under pressure. Gyökeres follows with 6, while Šeško, with 5, shows a willingness to help out but is less involved defensively compared to the other two.

Verdict: Ekitike takes this one for his impressive defensive work rate and commitment to helping Liverpool out of possession.

Ball Recoveries– Work Rate and Defensive Contribution

Ball recoveries measure how often a player wins back possession for his team — either by intercepting loose balls or reacting quickly to second balls in contested situations. For strikers, it reflects defensive work rate, awareness, and willingness to press intelligently.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 14 recoveries
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 11 recoveries
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 7 recoveries

Viktor Gyökeres leads this category with 14 ball recoveries, showing his strong work ethic and commitment to regaining possession high up the pitch.

Hugo Ekitike follows with 11, continuing to show his blend of attacking energy and defensive support. Benjamin Šeško, with 7, ranks third, suggesting he’s less active in pressing situations compared to the others.

Verdict: Gyökeres takes this one for his relentless pressing and superior defensive awareness in recovering the ball.

Aerial Duels Won– Dominance in the Air

Aerial duels are a key measure of a striker’s physical presence and usefulness during set pieces — both in attack and defense. With around 20% of Premier League goals coming from set pieces, being strong in the air is a valuable trait for any forward.

• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 16 duels won
• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 12 duels won
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 6 duels won

Benjamin Šeško leads the way with 16 aerial duels won, underlining his height advantage, timing, and power in the air.

Viktor Gyökeres follows with 12, showing his ability to compete physically and offer Arsenal a target option when needed. Hugo Ekitike, with 6, trails the pair, suggesting that aerial play isn’t yet a major part of his attacking profile.

Verdict: Šeško is the clear winner here, proving to be the most dominant striker aerially among the three.

Ground Duels Won– Strength and Grit on the Deck

Not every striker dominates in the air, and that’s where ground duels come into play. They reveal a player’s balance, physicality, and ability to win possession in tight spaces — key traits in high-intensity Premier League football.

• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 16 duels won
• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 13 duels won
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 5 duels won

Hugo Ekitike tops this metric with 16 ground duels won, showing his sharp instincts, strength, and willingness to fight for every loose ball.

Viktor Gyökeres follows closely with 13, demonstrating his work rate and determination to battle defenders. Benjamin Šeško, despite excelling aerially, lags behind here with just 5, highlighting a gap in his ground play.

Verdict: Ekitike comes out on top for his competitiveness and aggression in ground duels, proving he’s not afraid to mix it up in the physical demands of English football.

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7. Mistakes and Discipline

Possession Lost– Retention and Decision-Making Under Pressure

In modern football, how well a striker keeps possession determines how often their team stays on the front foot. Possession lost reflects decision-making, ball control, and composure under pressure — crucial for sustaining attacks and maintaining rhythm.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 74
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 51
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 39

Viktor Gyökeres has been the most wasteful in possession, losing the ball 74 times in just 7 games — over 10 turnovers per match. This could be a byproduct of his aggressive, high-involvement style in Arsenal’s attack.

Hugo Ekitike follows with 51, suggesting a fair balance between involvement and control. Benjamin Šeško, meanwhile, has the best ball retention of the trio, losing possession only 39 times, a reflection of his composure and cleaner decision-making in forward areas.

Verdict: Šeško stands out for his efficiency and tidiness in possession, while Gyökeres needs to refine his hold-up play and passing decisions to reduce unnecessary turnovers.

Times Tackled– Ability to Evade Pressure and Retain Possession

The number of times a striker is tackled reflects how effectively they protect the ball, read pressure, and release it at the right time. Players who are tackled less often tend to be more decisive and aware in possession.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 15
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 16
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 8

Benjamin Šeško leads in this category, having been tackled only 8 times — showing strong awareness and a quick decision-making instinct.

Viktor Gyökeres has been tackled 15 times, slightly better than Hugo Ekitike, who has been tackled 16 times so far.

Verdict: Šeško demonstrates superior control under pressure, making him the hardest of the three to dispossess, while Ekitike and Gyökeres could improve their timing in releasing the ball.

Fouls from Tackle Attempts– Discipline and Timing in Defensive Duels

This metric reveals how disciplined and well-timed a striker’s tackles are when attempting to win the ball. Clean tackling indicates composure and precision — qualities increasingly valued in modern pressing systems.

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) – 0
• Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) – 0
• Benjamin Šeško (Manchester United) – 3

Both Viktor Gyökeres and Hugo Ekitike stand out as the cleanest tacklers, having committed no fouls when attempting to win the ball back. This suggests they apply pressure intelligently and recover possession without unnecessary risk.

Benjamin Šeško, meanwhile, has committed 3 fouls from tackle attempts — indicating that while he contributes defensively, his timing and control when challenging for the ball could still improve.

Verdict: Gyökeres and Ekitike are equally composed and clean in their defensive work, whereas Šeško’s tackling remains a bit rash.

Conclusion – Who Has Been the Most Complete Striker So Far?

Based on the 2025–2026 Premier League data, Hugo Ekitike emerges as the most complete striker among the three. He leads in crucial attacking and defensive metrics, including progressive passing distance (192 yards), progressive carrying distance (187 yards), ground duels won (16), and clearances (9) — showing his all-round contribution to Liverpool’s system.

Viktor Gyökeres, on the other hand, has shown a strong balance between work rate and discipline. His ball recoveries (14) and aerial duels (12) highlight a physically commanding forward who is also among the cleanest tacklers (0 fouls). However, his high possession losses (74) slightly reduce his efficiency compared to Ekitike.

Benjamin Šeško stands out in one specific area — aerial dominance, with 16 aerial duels won, more than any other player in this comparison. Yet, his lower impact in ground duels (5) and progressive contributions means he remains more of a traditional target man than a complete modern striker.

Overall, while Šeško is the best aerially and Gyökeres shows great discipline and strength, Hugo Ekitike currently offers the most balanced mix of creativity, defensive effort, and attacking progression, making him the most complete striker so far in the 2025–2026 Premier League season.