The Premier League is the pinnacle of English football—where the bright lights shine the brightest and the best strikers dream of proving their worth.
Since its inception in 1992, countless forwards have battled through the EFL with one goal in mind: making it to the top flight. From Jamie Vardy to Charlie Austin, the history is littered with EFL strikers who simply kept scoring at all levels.
But for some, that dream never came to pass. Despite scoring goals by the dozen, leading promotion charges, and terrorising defences from League Two to the Championship, some strikers never made the leap to the Premier League. Some came close, some were unlucky, and others simply went under the radar.
Why the Premier League Is a Big Step Up
Even among those who did make the move to the Premier League, success wasn’t guaranteed. The likes of Jordan Rhodes, Michael Chopra, David Nugent, and Danny Graham were all EFL hotshots at their peak—regularly topping scoring charts and leading the line for promotion-chasing sides. But once they reached the top division, their firepower faded.
There are many possible reasons for this. The pace and quality of Premier League defences are an obvious factor—players who found space and time in the Championship often found themselves crowded out in the top tier. Then there’s the psychological pressure, the reduced patience from managers and fans, and the fact that Premier League squads tend to be rotated more often, giving strikers fewer chances to build rhythm.
And yet, some strikers never even got the opportunity to find out if they could make the grade. These are the players who dominated in the EFL, scoring freely and building reputations as elite goal scorers—but who, for one reason or another, never kicked a ball in the Premier League.
Here, we celebrate the top ten legendary EFL strikers who never made it to the Premier League.
Britt Assombalonga
Former EFL Clubs: Watford, Southend United, Peterborough United, Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough
Britt Assombalonga was a dominant force in the Championship during his prime, combining power, pace, and a poacher’s instinct to devastating effect. He announced himself with 23 league goals at Peterborough United before a £5.5m move to Nottingham Forest in 2014—then a club-record fee.
Despite serious injury setbacks, he still managed 30 goals in 65 Championship appearances for Forest, before a £15m switch to Middlesbrough where he netted another 45 league goals. Across more than 250 EFL games, he consistently delivered—but Assombalonga has never featured in the Premier League, making him one of the top-flight’s great omissions.
Dele Adebola
Former EFL Clubs: Crewe Alexandra, Birmingham City, Crystal Palace, Coventry City, Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Rochdale
Dele Adebola was a powerful and imposing forward who enjoyed a long and respected career across the EFL. His blend of strength and mobility made him a handful for defenders, particularly during productive spells at Birmingham City and Coventry City. At Coventry, he scored 31 goals in over 160 appearances, often leading the line with relentless work rate.
Adebola was a key figure in several promotion-chasing teams and provided invaluable experience wherever he played. Despite his vast EFL experience and consistent performances at Championship and League One level, he never appeared in the Premier League, carving out his reputation solely in the lower divisions.
James Collins
Former EFL Clubs: Aston Villa, Burton Albion, Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town, Hibernian, Northampton Town, Crawley Town, Luton Town, Cardiff City, Derby County, Lincoln City (current)
James Collins has quietly built an outstanding EFL career through consistency, determination, and a keen eye for goal. Most prolific at Luton Town, he scored 72 goals in 183 league appearances, helping the Hatters rise from League Two to the Championship.
He also hit 20+ league goals for Crawley Town and Swindon Town, proving himself a reliable scorer across all three EFL divisions. Despite a career total surpassing 200 goals, Collins has never played in the Premier League. Now with Lincoln City, where he scored 10 goals in 20 games, he remains a symbol of lower league excellence, having spent his entire professional journey outside the top flight.
Fernando Forestieri
Former EFL Clubs: Watford, Sheffield Wednesday
Fernando Forestieri was one of the Championship’s most mercurial forwards—blessed with flair, creativity and the ability to score spectacular goals. He truly came into his own during his spell with Sheffield Wednesday, netting 15 times in his debut season as the Owls reached the 2015/16 play-off final.
Before that, he had already shown flashes of brilliance at Watford, where he scored 21 goals across three seasons. Despite his obvious talent and consistent contributions at second-tier level, Forestieri never made the step up to the Premier League – he was sold by Watford after their promotion. His entire English career was spent outside the top flight, making him a cult figure of the EFL.
Will Grigg
Former EFL Clubs: Walsall, Brentford, MK Dons, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland, Rotherham United, Milton Keynes Dons (current)
Will Grigg became a household name for his goals—and a viral chant—but his on-field exploits in the EFL were equally worthy of acclaim. The Northern Ireland international scored prolifically at League One level, particularly with Wigan Athletic, where he netted 25 times in their 2015–16 promotion-winning campaign.
He repeated the feat in 2017–18 with another 19 goals to help the Latics return to the Championship. Grigg also starred for MK Dons and Sunderland, building a reputation as one of the EFL’s most reliable finishers. Despite his consistent scoring record, Grigg never played a minute of Premier League football.
Viktor Gyökeres
Former EFL Clubs: Swansea City, Coventry City
Viktor Gyökeres left a lasting impression on the Championship, particularly during his time at Coventry City. The Swedish striker hit 17 goals in the 2021–22 season and bettered that with 21 the following campaign, playing a central role as the Sky Blues reached the 2023 play-off final.
Previously on loan at Swansea City, Gyökeres showed early promise, but it was under Mark Robins where he truly flourished. His pace, power, and composed finishing drew widespread acclaim. Remarkably, he departed English football for Sporting CP in Portugal without ever featuring in the Premier League—a level he now seems destined to reach via other means.
Billy Paynter
Former EFL Clubs: Port Vale, Hull City, Southend United, Bradford City, Swindon Town, Leeds United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Sheffield United, Carlisle United, Doncaster Rovers
Billy Paynter enjoyed a solid EFL career, with his most prolific spell coming at Swindon Town, where he scored 26 goals in the 2009–10 season alone. That form earned him a move to Leeds United, though he struggled to replicate his goal tally at Elland Road.
Paynter had previously hit double figures at Port Vale and Southend and later found the net regularly for Doncaster Rovers and Carlisle United. Despite nearly 500 EFL appearances and over 100 goals, Paynter never made it to the Premier League, with all his football played across the Championship, League One and League Two.
Joël Piroe
Former EFL Clubs: Swansea City, Leeds United (current)
Joël Piroe quickly made his mark on the Championship after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in 2021. At Swansea City, he hit 22 goals in his debut campaign, following that up with 19 more the next season—cementing his status as one of the division’s deadliest finishers.
His move to Leeds United in 2023 was seen as a coup, and he continued to contribute goals in their promotion-chasing side. With Leeds now set for a top-flight return, Piroe is expected to finally make his Premier League bow. But up to this point, all of his impressive form has come outside the top flight.
Brett Pitman
Former EFL Clubs: AFC Bournemouth, Bristol City, Portsmouth, Ipswich Town, Swindon Town
Brett Pitman was a classic EFL marksman—sharp in the box, aerially strong, and a reliable source of goals wherever he went. He first made a name for himself with AFC Bournemouth, helping them climb through the leagues and scoring over 100 goals in two spells with the Cherries.
His finishing prowess also made him a key figure at Bristol City, Ipswich Town, and Portsmouth, where he netted 25 times in the 2017–18 season alone. Despite his eye-catching tallies and longevity, Pitman never featured in a Premier League fixture, making him one of the division’s most prolific strikers never to reach the top.
Lee Trundle
Former EFL Clubs: Wrexham, Swansea City, Bristol City
Lee Trundle became an EFL icon thanks to his flair, trickery, and knack for the spectacular. Best known for his time at Swansea City, Trundle scored 78 goals across two spells with the Swans, dazzling fans with his outrageous skill and audacious finishes during their rise through the lower leagues.
He hit double figures for goals in five consecutive seasons from 2002 to 2007, earning a £1m move to Bristol City in 2007. Despite his cult status and highlight-reel moments, Trundle never played in the Premier League—a fact that only adds to his legend as one of the Football League’s most charismatic entertainers.
