Europa League Team of the Season: Aubameyang, Lookman and Wirtz star

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 22 May 2024 21:58 BST
• 5 min read

Atalanta are Europa League champions for 2023/24 after beating Bayer Leverkusen in the final in Dublin.

But who were the standout players in what was another thrilling edition of Europe’s second biggest continental cup competition?

Below, FootballTransfers selects the best XI of the Europa League this past season.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Mile Svilar (Roma)

Mile Svilar has been one of the revelations of 2024 ever since Daniele De Rossi replaced Jose Mourinho as manager in January.

Svilar played a key role in Roma’s journey to the semi-finals as they shocked Milan in the quarter-finals and gave Leverkusen a scare in the semis. With three man-of-the-match performances, no goalkeeper performed better, despite an unfortunate mistake in the second leg versus Leverkusen.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2023/24: Who is Europe’s leading striker?

Josip Stanisic (Leverkusen)

Bayern Munich will regret their decision to loan Josip Stanisic to Bayer Leverkusen this season.

While Bayern have endured a disastrous trophyless campaign and struggled in defence badly, Leverkusen have had a historic campaign. Stanisic has impressed massively, and delivered four assists in the Europa League.

Chancel Mbemba (Marseille)

Chancel Mbemba has been one of the surprise success stories of the Europa League this season.

As well as shining in defence, Mbemba has been a huge weapon offensively for Marseille. He scored four goals in the tournament as his team reached the semis, and scored a long-range stunner in that semi-final versus Atalanta.

Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta)

Atalanta continue to punch well over their weight at home and abroad considering their wage bill is the equivalent of 18th place in the Premier League.

While their attacking players get most of the credit, Berat Djimsiti enjoyed a superb Europa League at the back. He was man of the match in two games en route to the final.

Alex Grimaldo (Leverkusen)

Alex Grimaldo has been arguably the best left wing-back in Europe in 2023-24, and he was certainly the best in his position in the Europa League.

An unstoppable force down the left hand side, he chipped in with two goals and three assists. He was especially devastating in the semi final win in Rome over Roma.

Ederson (Atalanta)

Ederson is the latest in a long line of players to develop into stars at Atalanta.

The Brazilian has exploded into one of Europe’s most wanted central midfielders and he has been an indefatigable force in the Europa League for Atalanta.

Ederson has never stopped running, covering every blade of grass, making tackles, breaking up attacks and winning duels. His performance against Leverkusen - who boasted one of the most dominant midfields in European football in 2022/23 - in the final was outrageous.

Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)

West Ham enjoyed another excellent European campaign, reaching the quarter finals where they gave Leverkusen a run for their money.

Lucas Paqueta was their star man, showing all of his class and contributing four goals for the east London team.

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)

Former Premier League youngster Ademola Lookman stole the show in the Europa League final.

A stunning hattrick saw the Nigerian single-handedly end Leverkusen's invincible aspirations and deliver Atalanta's first-ever European trophy and only their second major trophy after the 1963 Coppa Italia.

The winger finished the Europa League campaign with five goals and an assist to his name.

Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen)

Florian Wirtz has been the standout star for the standout team in Europe this season.

The German is now worth well over €100 million and he showed why with a series of magical performances in the Europa League, contributing four goals and four assists for the Bundesliga champions.

Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)

Gianluca Scamacca exploded in the knockout stages of the Europa League, being the key man for Atalanta on their road to the final.

He scored in every round on the way to the final, including a series of stunning strikes. His most memorable performance was at Anfield when he hit a brilliant double as Atalanta beat Liverpool 3-0.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang really has become Mr Europa League in recent years, and this season was no different.

Aubameyang could not stop scoring throughout the tournament, finding the net 12 times in total to be the top scorer for 2023-24.

He also contributed three assists as Marseille reached the semi-finals.