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Welcome to ESPN FC's #PremRank.
ESPN FC is counting down the top 50 players in the Premier League right now, as voted for by various columnists, editors and analysts. Who makes the cut? Disagree with our list? Tell us on Twitter using the hashtag #PremRank.
Why Gylfi Sigurdsson makes the list
He's back to his old club but finally starting to hit new levels. A return to Swansea City from Tottenham Hotspur may have seemed something of a regression for Sigurdsson, but given that he turned 25 near the start of the season and is getting closer to the prime of his career, it should be no surprise that he is also more productive than ever.
The Iceland international has enjoyed his best goal-scoring campaign in the Premier League since his debut season in 2011-12 but has complemented that output with by far his highest number of assists. In fact, he is third-highest in the entire Premier League in terms of directly supplying goal scorers, evidently adding a real element of creativity to Garry Monk's side.
That flair was heralded on the opening day, as Sigurdsson was central to Swansea's 2-1 win away to Manchester United, setting up the first goal and scoring the winner. There's a bonus that so many of his strikes are blockbusters, but he is far from just a luxury player.
-- Miguel Delaney
The stats that tell the story
- Tied for third in the Premier League with 10 assists this season. Only Cesc Fàbregas (17) and Santi Cazorla (11) have more.
- Created 72 chances this Premier League season, 10th-most in the league and 42 more than any other teammate.
What the experts say
"A player's performance should be judged on more than simple figures, but Sigurdsson's talent for set-up play is easy to forget when there's no end result." -- Max Hicks, April 2015.
"Sigurdsson is exactly what the Swans' attacking unit needed to bring together all the loose pieces and realise its potential." -- Max Hicks, September 2014.
"The Icelandic midfielder's impressive display wasn't even his first at Old Trafford. He played excellently in this fixture during his first spell at Swansea, prompting rumours that Sir Alex Ferguson was set to turn to him as a solution to his problems in midfield." -- Michael Cox, August 2014.
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