One of the most underappreciated designers of team stability is the holding midfielder. These players’ ability to stop opponent assaults and defend their backline is what keeps their teams going, even though they don’t often make headlines with spectacular goals or brilliant dribbles.
The top ten holding midfielders are ranked in this article solely on the basis of their defensive contributions, including tackles, recoveries, duels, won aerial duels, and blocks. We’ve focused on the most important metrics, sifting through the clutter to reveal the real fighters of the midfield battlefield, using only FotMob’s comprehensive statistics.
These are the notable players who, as of the time of writing, have demonstrated their value not with flash but with unwavering perseverance and strategic acumen. Whether it’s preventing harm or gaining possession in a pinch.
10. Manchester City’s Mateo Kovačić
32 won tackles (60%)
98 duels (52.6%) were won.
Nine won aerial duels (60%)
87 Recuperations
Thirteen Blocks
Since Rodri’s severe knee injury in September 2024, Kovačić has taken a significant step forward. Kovačić has frequently been used as a center midfielder, offering stability and control in the engine room, as Rodri has been out for a large portion of the season.
His capacity to set the pace, hold onto the ball, and make accurate passes has been essential to preserving City’s possession-based approach.
9. Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi
36 won tackles (56%)
133 duels were won (51%).
41 victories in aerial duels
Nineteen Interceptions
95 Recuperations
As Leicester’s linchpin in the holding midfield position, Wilfred Ndidi has been responsible for protecting the backline, stopping opponent plays, and starting transitions.
Despite Leicester’s more general difficulties in their return to the Premier League, he has performed admirably in his primary duty of anchoring the midfield.
8. Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana
22 won tackles (56%)
91 duels were won (59%)
21 winning aerial duels (60 percent)
60 Recuperations
Forty Interceptions
In the summer of 2024, the 23-year-old Belgian midfielder signed a five-year contract with Aston Villa after leaving Everton for £50 million. He replaced the late Douglas Luiz and brought a combination of strength, defensive prowess, and surprising attacking contributions to Villa’s midfield, making his arrival a declaration of purpose from Unai Emery.
In the Premier League and Champions League, Onana has had a significant influence, especially as a defensive midfielder.
7. Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte
38 won tackles (60%)
Duels won: 114 (51.8%)
Winning 14 aerial duels (46%)
22 Receptions
94 Recuperations
In the 2024–25 Premier League season, Manuel Ugarte has had a major defensive impact for Manchester United, especially in addressing the team’s long-standing midfield weaknesses.
The 23-year-old Uruguayan was brought in to strengthen a midfield that was frequently exposed last season, giving up the second-most shots in the league (667), and having trouble with 620 transitions to the final third. He was signed from Paris Saint-Germain on August 30, 2024, for €50 million (£42.3m) plus €10 million in add-ons.
The necessity for a committed ball-winner to go with rising star Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro’s waning physicality were perceived as the main reasons for Ugarte’s arrival.
6. The Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma
43 won tackles (61.1%)
121 duels (53.5%) were won.
16 won aerial duels (52 percent).
29 Receptions
108 Recuperations
This season, Bissouma has quietly become one of Tottenham’s most reliable players. The stability of Spurs’ defense is largely dependent on his ability to stop opponent assaults with timely tackles and interceptions. He is a tremendous value to the squad because of his high work rate and tactical knowledge, which also enable him to perform exceptionally well during transitions. His defensive efforts have been essential to the Premier League team’s overall success.
Bruno Guimarães, who plays for Newcastle United
35 won tackles (58%)
193 duels were won (52%).
15 victories in aerial duels
139 Recuperations
Seven Blocks
25 Receptions
Guimarães has a strong but not very good defense. Instead of reflecting the profile of a specialized destroyer, his numbers show a good work rate. His physicality enables him to compete in midfield skirmishes and his 6’0″ frame helps him win about 1-1.5 each game in aerial duels. But he is more concerned with regaining possession through positioning and anticipation than he is with stopping play.
4. Arsenal’s Declan Rice
19 won tackles (41.3%)
99 duels were won (51%).
Winning 28 aerial duels (56%)
22 Receptions
118 Recuperations
Fourteen Blocks
Declan Rice from Arsenal is the best £100 million trade the Premier League has seen in recent years, especially considering it was a Premier League transaction. He has been essential to Arteta’s team in both offensive and defensive phases, constantly putting up strong performances. Rice has shown to be a vital member of Arsenal’s midfield despite all of his contributions and his lack of injuries.
3. Arsenal’s Thomas Partey
48 won tackles (60.8%)
114 duels (59.9%) were won.
23 winning aerial duels (54 percent)
112 Get Well
29 Receptions
7.4 Mean Rating for Matches
It would be impossible to discuss box-to-box, holding, or defensive midfielders without bringing up the Ghanaian international. In addition to scoring three goals and dishing out two assists in the Premier League this season, he has only been dispossessed eleven times.
2. Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo
54 won tackles (61.4%)
179 duels were won (57%)
27 victories in aerial duels
41 Receptions
175 Recuperations
Caicedo is a dynamic midfield player who is excellent at stopping opposing plays. His 175 Premier League recoveries demonstrate his ability to neutralize attackers at the right moment.
Because of his enthusiasm and ability to win the ball, he is frequently compared to N’Golo Kanté. However, he has superior technical poise; imagine a contemporary Claude Makélélé with a hint of Fernandinho’s passing. His approach, which combines European discipline with South American flare, fits the intensity of the Premier League.
1. Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Winning tackles (51%)
143 duels (57.7%) were won.
Winning 20 aerial duels (71.4%)
52 Receptions
159 recovery of balls
7.4 Mean Rating for Matches
Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation in Liverpool’s midfield since they acquired him from Bayern Munich. He does box-to-box duties and keeps the defense secure. Given that his team leads the Premier League by a wide margin and has given up fewer goals, he is now the greatest player in the league.
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