Some of the greatest defenders in football history have graced the Premier League; their exceptional skill sets, leadership, and services to their clubs have permanently altered the English top division.
The Premier League will continue to feature outstanding defenders who play with zeal and defend with unflinching commitment until 2024.
Generally speaking, center-backs fall into one of two categories: those who actively attempt to defend and those who wait for play to come to them.
The ten best defenders in Premier League history are ranked in this article based on longevity, club trophies, and team relevance.
10. Ligt Matthijs
This season, Matthijs de Ligt has been a reliable addition to Manchester United’s defense. He has proven his ability to analyze the game and make pivotal interventions in 13 outings.
De Ligt has also demonstrated his comfort level with the ball, frequently assisting in the efficient distribution of possession from the back with a 93% pass completion rate. De Ligt has contributed to Manchester United’s defensive stability with an outstanding overall performance, even though precise defensive metrics like tackles won, interceptions, and blocks are not easily accessible.
9. Man City by Ruben Diaz
Dias, who is currently in his five season with Manchester City, has been one of Pep Guardiola’s most reliable players since joining from Benfica in 2020 for £60 million.
Dias, a 27-year-old who excels for both club and country, is the closest thing Pep has had to Vincent Kompany since the Belgian retired. His physical attributes and game reading have made him one of Europe’s best defenders.
8. Man City by John Stones
Dias, who is currently in his five season with Manchester City, has been one of Pep Guardiola’s most reliable players since joining from Benfica in 2020 for £60 million.
Dias, a 27-year-old who excels for both club and country, is the closest thing Pep has had to Vincent Kompany since the Belgian retired. His physical attributes and game reading have made him one of Europe’s best defenders.
8. Man City by John Stones
Stones served as the model for Pep Guardiola’s habit of “building the entire plane out of center-backs!” whether you like it or not. In Guardiola’s tactical history, his debut as a defensive midfielder (in a sense) during City’s 2022–2023 treble season was revolutionary.
Stone has a 73% aerial success percentage in all 2023–24 events, is a confident interventionist, and especially more confident in buildup play (94% completion rate) when healthy. His chances this season were limited by early-season injuries, but he is now a reliable commodity.
7. Van de Ven, Micky
When Micky van de Ven transferred from Wolfsburg to Spurs last summer, there was a lot of enthusiasm. Tottenham fans and Premier League watchers have taken notice of the young Dutch center defense due to his remarkable quickness in the Bundesliga.
Many questioned if Van de Ven, who was regarded as the fastest player in the Bundesliga, would continue to have that distinction in the English Premier League.He did, as it happens, but van de Ven is more than just his speed.
Under Ange Postecoglou, he has advanced significantly, showcasing both his aggressive defensive qualities and his ability to play with the ball. He won 65.5% of his ground duels, had a 72.7% true tackle success rate, and was only dribbled past nine times in his debut season with Spurs.He has a lot of potential and might compete not just to be the fastest central defense in the league but also to be the greatest.
6. Tottenham’s Cristian Romero
Following the record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s description of Cristian Romero as the best defender in the world, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou responded, “I wouldn’t argue with Messi.” The majority of the boys dislike training against him. I like that he is a fierce competitor. “What you see is what you get with Romero, whether it’s training or a game,” the Australian continued.
The Argentine, who is currently in the Tottenham leadership group, appears to have calmed down a little this season and is establishing a strong defensive alliance with Micky van de Ven, who joined the Spurs in the summer and is listed here as well. When available, his ability to bring the ball forward and his remarkable passing range and accuracy have made him an essential part of Tottenham’s setup under Ange Postecoglou. However, his aggressive nature always forces him to play within the strict bounds of the game’s laws at times as he intimidates opposition forwards.
5. Martinez, Lisandro
Given his skill with the ball at his feet, Lisandro Martinez is undoubtedly among the Premier League’s top passers.Martinez has the aggression to match his on-the-ball skills, which are essential for any modern center-back, especially at the highest level.
Lisandro, who never backs down from a tackle despite his height, helped make Man United so difficult to score against the previous season.
Martinez might develop into a very good goalie for The Red Devils, especially with Andre Onana, who is even better than Martinez this season.
4. The Liverpool player Ibrahim Konate
The genius of Van Dijk’s co-conspirator, Ibrahima Konate, is frequently disregarded due to his haughty demeanor. The Frenchman, who is regarded as one of the finest deals of the Klopp era, is both imperious and at ease with the ball.
At a striking 194 cm, Konate is capable of challenging anyone off the ground, and no assailant has the courage to challenge him.He is a fantastic all-around player for the Merseyside team and is definitely a presence both on and off the field, which is why his significance is incalculable. At 25, Konate is expected to play a significant role for the team in the years to come. That’s his level of skill.
3. Arsenal’s William Saliba
William Saliba, a defender for Arsenal, thinks he is among the Premier League’s top three defenders.
After initially spending three years on loan in France after joining from St Etienne, the 23-year-old has made a name for himself at the core of an Arsenal defense that is well-organized and has fought Manchester City hard for the Premier League this season.
Saliba, who is 6′ 3″, is suited for a center-back position. Although his size is obviously helpful for a young defender making his debut at the top level of European football, he has to enhance his aerial presence and stand out more for his ability to read the game.
Saliba is an aggressive defender who prefers to move out of defense and seize the ball from a forward (see below) as opposed to trying to control play from a distance. He is shrewd in how he positions himself to move opponents away from play with his body and take the ball.
2. The Liverpool player Van Dijk
Van Dijk’s debut on Merseyside in January 2018 coincided with Liverpool’s comeback to the top, and he might finish his career higher than number two on our list.
The Dutch superstar was unfortunate not to win the Ballon d’Or in 2019 but has won Player of the Match in three major finals for the Reds, including the Champions League.
Van Dijk has been receiving the credit he merits since winning the league for the first time in thirty years, and he will be eager to take home more trophies before his contract expires.
1. Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães
Gabriel is capable of playing in a back three. Gabriel is renowned for his speed despite his height. Regarding Gabriel, Christophe Galtier remarked, “For a 22-year-old boy, he has a lot of character.” He is 190 cm tall, yet he covers his side well and is incredibly quick.
In the early going of the season, he is the player with the most victories in aerial duels.Gabriel is renowned for his ability to distribute the ball; he typically aims to play it to the left-back or forward. Gabriel made more passes into the opposition half than any other player in Ligue 1 during the 2019–20 season. Gabriel “has to keep defending well by being aggressive, being well positioned, and not taking risks,” according to José Fonte, his Lille colleague and mentor.
