Matt Crooks

Crooks was a reliable presence in Hull's midfield throughout their Championship campaign, starting 31 of his 34 appearances in 2025/26 and logging 2,779 minutes with four goals and five assists. That kind of combined contribution from a central midfielder is solid at Championship level, but the Premier League will demand considerably more from players in his position, and his output is likely to dip as he faces higher-quality opposition on a weekly basis. Hull's system gave him license to get forward, yet replicating even that modest return in the Premier League would represent a strong season for a midfielder of his profile. His value will hinge more on his defensive work and ability to help Hull stay competitive than on his attacking numbers, and whether he can carve out a consistent starting role will be the key factor in determining how much he contributes going forward.