Premier League: The best streets will never forget players

• Over the years, we have seen plenty of streets will never forget players grace the English Premier League
• Moroccan star Adel Taarabt is miles clear when ranking the best streets won’t never forget players of the Premier League era
• Dimitri Payet was out of reach during the 2015-16 season but opted to return to France at a time when many fans believed he was destined to be the next big thing in the Premier League

Over the years, we have seen plenty of streets will never forget players grace the English Premier League. For starters, the phrase streets will never forget simply recognizes an elite group of players who fall under the category of crowd pleasers. These players often play under the radar but when they are at their best, fans stand to applaud them.

Without further ado, here are seven street will never forget players that awed Premier League fans with their individual brilliance.

1. Adel Taarabt

Adel Taarbt. Photo/ Planet Football.

Adel Taarabt is miles clear when ranking the best streets will never forget players of the Premier League era. The talented winger played in England for clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers, but his time with QPR will never be forgotten.

The undisputed king of the streets brought an unapologetic level of skill to the Premier League and often found way through defenses leaving those watching the match from the stands or on TV stunned. Taarabt’s former teammate at Spurs Peter Crouch named him as the most talented yet inconsistent player he played with.

Taarabt spent his last years in Morocco playing for Benfica and also had a spell at AC Milan before moving to the UAE where he joined Al-Nasr.

2. Hatem Ben Arfa 

Hatem Ben Arfa was one point one of the top rated talents in Europe. During his early career days, he played alongside Karim Benzema and was considered more talented than the future Ballon d’Or winner. When having a good day, the Frenchman would dribble past defenders like they are just cones on his way.

When he first arrived at Newcastle United, he suffered a broken leg that would keep him out for a long time. However, he stunned the football world the following season after recovering and would go on to produce some of the best individual performances we’ve ever seen from streets will never forget players.

Hatem Ben Arfa. Photo/ Transfermarkt.

Ben Arfa’s form faded in 2014 and he would later return to France where he played for several clubs, including Nice and Paris Saint-Germain before becoming a free agent.

3. Jay-Jay Okocha 

At the peak of his career, Jay-Jay Okocha was a menace on the pitch. Similar to the aforementioned Adel Taarabt, Okocha was pure joy to watch. It seemed there was nothing that the Nigerian enjoyed during matches than making fun of defenses. Week after week he impressed the football world with his dribbling skills that left opposition players in dismay.

Okocha played in the English Premier League for Bolton between 2002 and 2006. He returned to England in 2007 and signed with Hull City but they were at the time playing for in the EFL Championship.

4. Michu 

When Michu arrived at Swansea City in the summer of 2012 from Real Oviedo, he was an unknown player. However, he quickly established himself as one of the top strikers and lead would Swansea to triumph in the Football League Cup. He was just unstoppable and converted almost every chance he had in front of goal. His goal tally in the Premier League at the end of the season was 18.

Unfortunately, Mich turned out to be a one season wonder and despite being loaned out to Serie A side Napoli, he never regained his form. The Spaniard retired at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Michu. Photo/ beIN SPORTS.

5. Dimitri Payet 

You can’t talk about the best streets will never forget players without mentioning Dimitri Payet. The Frenchman, who plays as a midfielder, was out of reach during the 2015-16 season while playing for West Ham. He was just pure tekkers in England.

Many fans believed that Payet was destined to become the next big thing in the English Premier League but he instead opted to return to France where he joined Marseille. The 34-year-old joined Brazilian club Vasco da Gama in the summer of 2023.