Alex Scott

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

At the epicenter of AFC Bournemouth's remarkable assault on European qualification stands Alex Scott, the 22-year-old English midfield dynamo who has become the beating heart of Andoni Iraola's revolution. The Cherries sit sixth in the Premier League—a position that defied all preseason predictions—with their DDWWD form signaling a side peaking precisely when it matters most. Scott has been the ever-present engine, clocking 2,432 minutes across 32 appearances while wearing the number 8 shirt with distinction. Though his modest return of 3 goals and 1 assist barely scratches the surface of his influence, it's his relentless box-to-box surges, 73-rated passing vision, and tireless physicality that make him irreplaceable. Remarkably, despite anchoring midfield in England's most combative league, he's accumulated just a single yellow card—a testament to his tactical intelligence and composure under pressure. Valued at €50 million, the England youth international is fast becoming one of Europe's most coveted young midfielders. As Bournemouth chase an improbable European berth, Scott's stamina and transitional excellence will prove decisive in their stretch run. Few players embody their club's unexpected rise quite like this.