4,120 tackles have been made throughout the 2023/24 Premier League season so far and, as you'd guess, not all of them have been legal.
While some players have excelled off the ball, others have been a bit too prone to giving away needless free-kicks and penalties too.
Today, we're going to focus on the latter. Here's the ten Premier League players who've committed the most fouls per 90 minutes throughout the season so far:
10. Ian Maatsen (Chelsea)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.5
Minutes played: 107
Yellow cards: 1
Ian Maatsen has seemingly kicked opposition players more than he's kicked a football since his return to Chelsea.
9. Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.5
Minutes played: 788
Yellow cards: 3
Destiny Udogie has been fantastic since being integrated into the Tottenham Hotspur first-team, becoming a positive influence particularly in the offensive third of the pitch.
But with three yellow cards, a sending off and 2.5 fouls per game to his name, he perhaps needs to refine his game in the defensive third.
8. Joao Gomes (Wolves)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.6
Minutes played: 768
Yellow cards: 4
Sitting at the heart of Wolves' midfield is probably isn't the easiest job in the world. Joao Gomes is just one yellow card off receiving a suspension, and probably a well deserved break from playing in that busy role.
7. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.7
Minutes played: 364
Yellow cards: 2
The man who leads Arsenal's offensive press has given away quite a few fouls this season. It comes with the territory, we guess.
6. Sasa Kalajdzic (Wolves)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.8
Minutes played: 129
Yellow cards: 1
Note for all the managers out there: gigantic target men will give away a lot of free kicks when winning aerial duals.
5. Nicolo Zaniolo (Aston Villa)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.8
Minutes played: 427
Yellow cards: 2
Here's a not very fun fact for Aston Villa fans: Nicolo Zaniolo has accumulated two more yellow cards than goals this season.
They're lucky everyone else on their team is so bloody good.
4. Fabio Silva (Wolves)
Fouls committed per 90: 2.8
Minutes played: 261
Yellow cards: 2
Yep, another Wolves player. Do they just not know the rules or something?
3. Wataru Endo (Liverpool)
Fouls committed per 90: 3
Minutes played: 208
Yellow cards: 0
Managing three fouls per 90 and yet not receiving a single yellow card might be the single greatest achievement of the 2023/24 season so far.
Nice one, Endo.
2. Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest)
Fouls committed per 90: 3.3
Minutes played: 360
Yellow cards: 2
Considering Ryan Yates has only made 13 tackles all season, it's almost impressive that he fouls opposition at the rate that he does.
1. Boubacar Traore (Wolves)
Fouls committed per 90: 4.2
Minutes played: 256
Yellow cards: 1
Yep, another Wolves player.
Traore commits fouls better than Erling Haaland scores goals. Top class.
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This article was originally published on 90min as 10 prolific Premier League foulers revealed by new data.
