Who are the Premier League captains for 2023/24?
- Modern captains have a huge responsibility in the Premier League
- More than half the league have named new captains this summer
A leader on an off the pitch, the person who separates right from wrong and good from bad, the captain is arguably the most important player in a football team. They lead by example, they answer the difficult questions and they're responsible for keeping everyone in line inside the dressing room.
It's a big responsibility and one that is only suitable for a certain kind of player. It used to be whoever shouted the loudest, but modern football is a lot more nuanced, and the decision to give someone the armband could be defining.
This summer has seen some significant changes in the captain department in the Premier League, so don't worry if you haven't been able to keep up. That's what we're here for.
Let's take a look at each club's captain for the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Arsenal - Martin Odegaard
The Arsenal armband has been cursed in recent years. First it was Granit Xhaka, whose public meltdown lost him the captaincy, and then it was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was also stripped of the armband following some disciplinary issues and a general lack of commitment to the club.
Odegaard has managed to reverse this concerning trend, however, proving to be an effective leader on the pitch. His performances set the standard last season for the Gunners and he was able to help create a more harmonious dressing room atmosphere than the Emirates has been used to recently.
The attacking midfielder also captains Norway, receiving the armband at just 22.
Aston Villa - John McGinn
Another high-profile captaincy switch, former Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard opted to give John McGinn the armband.
The awkward bit was that he had to take the captaincy off Tyrone Mings, who is still at the club. Such was Gerrard's lack of faith in Mings, he didn't even name the centre-back vice-captain, instead offering that position to Emiliano Martinez.
Mings probably wasn't too disappointed to see the back of his former coach.
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Bournemouth - Neto
Despite having only landed on the south coast in the summer of 2022, Neto was given the captaincy in February of last season. Then manager Gary O'Neill, who has since been replaced by Andoni Iraola, took the responsibility away from Lloyd Kelly, instead offering it to the Brazilian shot-stopper.
Whether Iraola decides to change the captain again remains to be seen, while the arrival of goalkeeper Andrei Radu from Inter may create competition for Neto's starting berth.
Brentford - Christian Norgaard
With last season's captain Pontus Jansson leaving the club for Malmo this summer, Norgaard is the man Thomas Frank has entrusted with the armband. While no official announcement has been made, Frank reportedly confirmed this decision in a press conference at the end of last season.
The Brentford manager has put his faith in his compatriot, something that will likely be rewarded given the midfielder's work ethic and consistency.
Brighton & Hove Albion - Lewis Dunk
In a summer where Alexis MacAllister has left and Moises Caicedo could be on his way to Chelsea, the good news is that club captain Lewis Dunk has signed a new deal with Brighton.
Dunk's new contract will keep him at the club until 2026 if everything goes to plan and he is readying himself to skipper the Seagulls in their first ever European campaign after an impressive sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last year.
Burnley - Jack Cork
When Vincent Kompany arrived at Turf Moor as Burnley boss, he had a difficult job to do: pick a new captain. The departure of Ben Mee meant there was a vacancy and Kompany decided to fill it with stalwart midfielder Cork.
The 34-year-old had just signed a new two-year deal and managed to get Burnley back into the Premier League during his first season as skipper.
Chelsea - Reece James
Following Cesar Azpilicueta's move to Atletico Madrid this summer, Mauricio Pochettino surprisingly made Reece James club captain.
Thiago Silva was perhaps the obvious choice given as last season's vice-captain with a strong history of leadership skills. Silva - 15 years James' senior - is even called 'Capita' by friends in everyday life. However, Pochettino has plumped for James as the club's new leader.
Crystal Palace - Joel Ward
One of the few survivors from the cull of experienced heads at Crystal Palace in recent years, Joel Ward has been on the books of the south London outfit since 2012.
The industrious full-back only had his name sung by Palace's fans for the first time in May 2023 but was made club captain over the summer following the departure of the long-serving skipper Luka Milivojevic.
Everton - Seamus Coleman
Captain of Everton and Ireland, Coleman is what comes to mind when thinking of an old-school skipper. Not glamorous, not awe-inspiring, but certainly a hell of a leader.
Having just signed a one-year contract extension with the Toffees, Coleman will be hoping some other leaders emerge at the club to ease the burden on his ageing shoulders. Everton will need his commitment, focus and drive if they are to improve on last season's dismal showing.
Fulham - Tom Cairney
Although he rarely started last season, meaning Tim Ream took the armband in his absence, Cairney is still the Cottagers' official club captain. He's worn the armband since the 2017/18 season and showed his loyalty to Fulham by sticking with the club when they were relegated to the Championship.
There have been a few links touting him with a move away from the club this summer, but if he is at Craven Cottage next season, he will certainly be the club captain.
Liverpool - Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool lost both their captain and vice-captain earlier this summer when Jordan Henderson and James Milner's exits were confirmed.
Jurgen Klopp waited for a few games in pre-season before announcing Virgil van Dijk as Henderson's successor as skipper. The defender was a natural choice having performed the role with the Netherlands permanently since 2018.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the new VC as he closes in on 300 Reds appearances.
Luton Town - Tom Lockyer
Lockyer's end to last season was quite astonishing. While he did captain Luton to the Premier League for the first time, the centre-back collapsed in the Championship play-off final against Coventry and was rushed to hospital.
Undergoing heart surgery, Lockyer has now wonderfully made a full recovery, even signing a new deal with the Hatters. He will be the first captain to ever lead Luton out in the Premier League and has provided one of the good news stories of the summer.
Manchester City - Kevin De Bruyne
After becoming the first player to captain an English club to a European Treble since Roy Keane, Ilkay Gundogan left Manchester City to join Barcelona in the summer.
Kevin De Bruyne was promoted from a vice-captain group containing Rodri, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker but lasted just 23 minutes of the new Premier League season before limping off with his first injury of the campaign.
Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes
In yet another devastating blow to Harry Maguire's self-confidence, Erik ten Hag stripped the centre-back of the Manchester United captaincy this summer. While an understandable move given Maguire's waning influence, it still has the potential to create some upset in the dressing room.
Bruno Fernandes will be his successor, someone who simultaneously looks like perfect captain material and the last person you would want to give the armband to. Perhaps the weight of being captain will help the midfielder be a little more measured in his conduct on the pitch.
Newcastle United - Jamaal Lascelles
Despite his diminished game time since the Saudi revolution on Tyneside, Lascelles remains the club captain for the time being. Lascelles looked like an obvious captaincy choice during Newcastle's years of struggle, but now rarely plays enough to wear the armband.
Kieran Trippier ends up skippering the side on most weekends but Lascelles is an eager spectator from the sidelines; on two occasions last season, the centre-back got booked for time-wasting while warming up as a substitute.
Nottingham Forest - Joe Worrall
Steve Cooper announced that Worrall would be Forest captain at the beginning of last season, a decision that was justified throughout the remainder of the campaign.
Worrall played 30 times for the club last term and was one of the more consistent faces in an ever-changing starting lineup. His leadership proved key to Forest's survival.
Sheffield United - John Egan
Following Billy Sharp's emotional Sheffield United exit, the Blades are yet another club to change captains.
Republic of Ireland centre-back John Egan took over from Sharp after deputising for the forward when was been absent from the team. The centre-back was with United last time they were in the Premier League and offers some much-needed experience and leadership to the starting lineup.
Tottenham Hotspur - Son Heung-min
Last season's skipper Hugo Lloris publicly declared his desire to try something new in the summer, while former vice-captain Harry Kane actually followed through with his move to Bayern Munich.
In the absence of the dressing room's two most senior figures, Ange Postecoglou surprised many by making Son Heung-min skipper. The Premier League's first Asian captain wasn't expecting it himself. "It was a big surprise and a very proud moment," Son admitted. "I've already said to the players that everyone should feel like a captain, on and off the pitch."
West Ham United - TBD
Declan Rice's inevitable departure this summer means that David Moyes should have been planning for a new captain for some time. Now the £105m midfielder has joined Arsenal, it's time for Moyes to put plans into action.
But the veteran Scot would not be rushed. Kurt Zouma wore the armband for the club's Premier League opener against Bournemouth but was not confirmed as the official skipper for the season. Angelo Ogbonna, Tomas Soucek, Lukasz Fabianski and Aaron Cresswell are alternative options - although, the latter has been the subject of interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Max Kilman
Only taking the armband from Conor Coady last summer, Ruben Neves has already vacated it at Molineux. His move to Al Hilal, as well as Coady's to Leicester, left a void which Max Kilman has filled.
The 26-year-old former futsal player was also the subject of interest from Serie A champions Napoli but stuck around at Molineux to lead the team - something that could not be said of manager Julen Lopetegui.