Premier League Players' Match Minutes: Freshest and Most Exhausted Squads
Football has never been more prevalent.
Since the Champions League final, many players have participated in two international matches, engaged in up to seven FIFA Club World Cup fixtures, and played in various pre-season friendlies across the globe.
This follows a season marked by the most extensive European club campaigns, and this trend is set to continue.
Additionally, the Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled for the middle of the season, culminating in a 48-team World Cup in North America at the end of the year.
So, which clubs have players who have participated in the most matches over the past year, and which teams might have the freshest squads on paper?
Conversely, which individual players may find themselves fatigued before the season even begins?
BBC Sport, in collaboration with Opta, examines the competitive football played by current Premier League players—including new signings—since the start of last summer, covering an impressive 104 competitions.
Which Teams Have the Freshest Squads?
We analyzed 20 outfield players from each club who participated in the most league matches last season, substituting those who have departed or played the least with new signings.
We assessed their total minutes played for both club and country since June 1, 2024.
The findings are as follows:
This season, Everton emerges as the freshest team in the Premier League.
Players in Everton's current squad averaged just 1,847 minutes of football last season, equating to approximately 21 full matches.
The only player to exceed 4,000 minutes was 35-year-old Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who logged 44 full games.
Among current Premier League clubs, only West Ham played fewer matches than Everton last season, as both teams exited both domestic cups early.
Bournemouth's squad ranks as the second freshest in terms of minutes played. However, given their high number of sprints last season under Andoni Iraola's intense pressing strategy, they may not feel as rested.
Which Teams Are the Least Fresh?
According to our data, Manchester City possesses the least fresh squad in the Premier League.
While City exited the Champions League early, they reached the FA Cup final and participated in the Club World Cup in June and July.
Most of City’s players are established internationals, averaging 3,780 minutes over the past 14 months—equivalent to exactly 42 full games of football. This is double Everton's total.
Some of City’s summer signings further increased this average. Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who played for Guardiola’s side in the Club World Cup, has accumulated an astounding 6,032 minutes for AC Milan, the Netherlands, and City since last summer—equivalent to 67 full matches.
Our data indicates that Arsenal has the second-least fresh squad, averaging 3,552 minutes played.
The seven teams that participated in European competitions topped the list for most games played, along with Championship play-off winners Sunderland.
Chelsea actually played more matches than any other team last season, including their path to winning the Club World Cup. However, they rotated their squad in the Conference League and exited both domestic cups at the fourth-round stage, resulting in their first-team players being more rested than City’s—at least on paper.
Is Age a Factor?
Youth may work to Chelsea’s advantage as well.
Enzo Maresca’s side boasts the youngest squad in the Premier League, with no player over the age of 27 participating in the league last season. They also had the youngest squad at the Club World Cup.
Their oldest summer signing is 23-year-old Joao Pedro. Does this youth mean they may feel the burden of their minutes less?
In contrast, Chelsea’s west London rivals Fulham have the oldest playing squad in the top flight, with an average age of 27—matching Chelsea’s oldest player, Tosin Adarabioyo, who joined last summer from the Cottagers.
Which Players Have Played the Most Football?
New Wolves signing Jhon Arias leads the list for the most minutes played in the 2024-25 season.
The 27-year-old winger logged an impressive 6,577 minutes for Brazilian club Fluminense and the Colombian national team—equating to 73 full matches.
Brazilian clubs participate in their national leagues, state competitions, and various cups and continental tournaments.
Arias, who joined Wolves for £15 million, also competed in the Club World Cup with Fluminense, reaching the semi-finals.
The only other Premier League players to surpass 6,000 minutes are Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and City’s new signing Reijnders.
Fifteen other players have played over 5,000 minutes, including Leeds and Wales defender Joe Rodon.
Additional writing by Emlyn Begley