The Premier League’s best midfielders have been ranked based on their importance to their clubs, goal contributions, and their overall impact in games.
Rodri’s level of consistency and brilliance for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City makes him the standout midfielder in the league.
Moises Caicedo and Ryan Gravenberch have improved massively after their previous downfalls to march into the rankings after a positive start to the 2024/25 campaign.
The Premier League has been home to some of the best midfielders in the world over the years. Patrick Vieira, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes are just a handful of names that come to mind when discussing those who have patrolled the middle of the park since the league’s inception in 1992. That quintet, of course, have long since retired, and there is now a new batch of star names in England’s top tier.
The Premier League is the top league in the world, and thus, some of the very best talents on the planet tend to flock to the division. There is a vast array of impressive midfield players plying their trade in England’s top flight, and picking the best of the bunch is not an easy task by any means. But who are the current top midfielders in the division?
Below is an attempt to answer that question. Be warned – this list is only our opinion and is not definitive. A whole host of factors have been taken into consideration when formulating the standings below. It also has to be considered that some midfielders are more defensive-minded, while others are tasked with making more telling contributions going the other way. The following factors have been taken into account when making this list.
Ranking Factors
Their current form – how well they are performing throughout the 2024/25 season.
How well they performed throughout the entirety of the 2023/24 season.
Their status compared to other midfielders in the English top flight – where do they stand in the pecking order?
Injuries – any sustained periods on the sidelines were taken into consideration.
Overall importance to their respective teams – how well do their sides perform with/without them?
Success – how successful they have been at their current sides, both collectively and individually.
1 Rodri
Manchester City
One of two Manchester City players towards the top of this list, Rodri has barely been out of the side since his switch to the Etihad Stadium from Atletico Madrid in 2019, and despite an ACL injury curving his progress this season, he’s still perhaps the most influential player in the league right now. Pep Guardiola’s side had long been looking for Fernandinho’s long-term replacement, and they found their man in the Spain international. Playing in a Diego Simeone team was perhaps the perfect preparation for the physicality of the Premier League, and Rodri has seldom, if ever, looked out of place.
Despite being a defensive midfielder, he still managed to contribute eight goals and nine assists for his side in the 2023/24 season and weighed in with the all-crucial winning goal in the Champions League final the campaign before to seal the historic treble. As the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, it’s hard to argue there is anyone that can top him.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
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2 Declan Rice
Arsenal
It is sometimes easy to forget that Declan Rice is just 26 years of age, given the leadership and authority he displays on the field. Without him, West Ham United would probably not have been a European outfit. After making his debut in east London, he became a key player for his side and is unsurprisingly included in their greatest-ever academy XI. He has always been blessed with strength and a strong understanding of the game, but his clear improvement in possession is the result of hard work and dedication.
Having ended his Hammers career with a Europa Conference League win in Prague, Rice decided to join a title-challenging team in the form of Arsenal. The Gunners faced stiff competition to sign the Englishman from other top clubs, but Arteta’s side securing his signature has proven to be one of the best bits of business last term. Exerting his influence in the engine room already, Rice is notable for his absence whenever he is unavailable and is vital to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
25
Goals
1
Assists
5
3 Ryan Gravenberch
Liverpool
After enduring a tricky latter half of the 2023/24 season under old chief Jurgen Klopp, Ryan Gravenberch has been sensational under Arne Slot this term. The Dutchman wasn’t expected to be a regular starter but has slotted into the number six role alongside Alexis Mac Allister perfectly.
Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch celebrates
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The running power of the Netherlands international is incredible, which he’s shown many times with driving runs through the heart of opposing teams. Gravenberch has stepped up to the plate after Slot’s men missed out on top transfer target Martin Zubimendi – now seemingly Arsenal-bound – for the role at the base of the Reds’ midfield. The confidence and calmness of his displays in the engine room have been a breath of fresh air for supporters as he shows signs of turning back the clock to his Ajax heyday.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
28
Goals
0
Assists
2
4 Martin Odegaard
Arsenal
For years, it seemed as if Martin Odegaard would fail to deliver on the early promise that saw him become Real Madrid’s youngest-ever player and a goalscorer in the Norwegian top flight at the age of just 15. However, strong loan spells at Heerenveen and Real Sociedad gave him a platform to showcase his ability, and Arsenal moved to sign him permanently after a short stint on loan for the second part of the 2020/21 season.
He has only been at the Emirates Stadium for four years, yet he is already the club captain and one of the Premier League’s best players. Odegaard has been the orchestrator of many of their attacks during the last two seasons, as the north London outfit have become one of the most dominant sides in the league. He is at home playing under Arteta, and the £30m Arsenal paid for his services looks to have been an absolute bargain.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
19
Goals
2
Assists
3
5 Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
There are few midfielders that have joined the Premier League and made the impact that Bruno Fernandes has at Manchester United. The Portuguese star, who moved to Old Trafford in January 2020, has been a major success for the Red Devils, providing a bucket load of both goals and assists, while remaining their creator-in-chief at all times. His first full season in the Premier League saw the midfielder score 18 goals and bag 11 assists from the middle of the park.
His offensive flair has been crucial for a side that’s lacked a little firepower at times, and it’s hard to imagine where the club would have wound up if it wasn’t for his impact in midfield. Having reached double figures in goals in all four of his seasons at the Theatre of Dreams so far, the 30-year-old’s influence on the team cannot be understated, but he is prone to frustrating displays and silly dismissals when his team desperately need him. Sometimes, wearing your heart on your sleeve can get you in trouble.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
26
Goals
6
Assists
7
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6 Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister has sprung into life and has come into his own on the red half of Merseyside. He has rapidly adapted to Liverpool’s style of play seamlessly after transferring over from Brighton & Hove Albion – despite often being utilised in unfamiliar territory: the number six role. Screening the defence was not part of the Argentine’s duties on the south coast, with him more likened to their creative hub, but that has changed since his well-earned move following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
Having arrived for £35 million during the summer of 2023, Liverpool were keen to revamp their engine room ahead of a title challenge in Jurgen Klopp’s final season as Reds boss. Considered one of the German tactician’s best-ever bargains, the 2022 World Cup champion will be looking to provide a winning mentality in the first campaign under Arne Slot’s fresh stewardship at Anfield, as the Reds sit atop the Premier League table with just under a third of the season remaining.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
3
Assists
3
7 Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne would probably have topped this list at any time across the past decade, such has been his influence and consistency for City, but he settles for a silver medal on this list. The Belgian has a knack for casting a spell on supporters and, indeed, opposition defences when he is in possession. Undoubtedly the best Belgian player in Premier League history, De Bruyne has left City fans with so many memorable moments during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Barring an injury-struck 2023/24, he racked up more than 15 Premier League assists in three different campaigns and has also found the back of the net at a healthy rate. He hasn’t been plagued as much this season, but his fitness has still been called into question, which is why he is still down at third, despite the fact he is perhaps the greatest the Premier League has ever seen.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
18
Goals
2
Assists
6
8 Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle United
Bruno Guimaraes is indispensable to Eddie Howe and his entourage – it’s as simple as that. The Newcastle United midfielder – signed for £33.3m plus around £6.5m in add-ons, per Sky Sports – has been heavily involved in the club’s resurgence. Not only was he integral to their Champions League-securing campaign, but the Brazil international has been worthy of his fee throughout the entirety of his Magpies career.
The fact that the likes of Manchester United were keeping tabs on the former Lyon man before his move to England speaks volumes of his talent – and fans have seen that up close and personal since his move. Guimaraes is arguably the player who kick-started Newcastle’s recent transformation and the Brazilian is, without a doubt, one of the most influential midfielders in the division.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
2
Assists
6
Why-Bruno-Guimarães-wears-the-number-39-shirt-for-Newcastle-United—-image
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9 Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool
Arne Slot challenged Dominik Szoboszlai to chip in with more goals and assists earlier in the season, and that’s exactly what the Reds’ number eight has started to do at a crucial stage of the season. Popping up with vital goals against Tottenham, Man City and Newcastle, the Hungarian has added end product to his incredible work ethic.
The former RB Leipzig man came under fire for some below-par performances at the start of the campaign, but now that he’s adapted to a more advanced and central role in the team, the 24-year-old looks well worth the £60 million the Merseysiders spent to snatch him away from the Bundesliga.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
26
Goals
5
Assists
4
10 Moises Caicedo
Chelsea
Moises Caicedo was on the receiving end of plenty of criticism during his debut season in Chelsea colours. As the most expensive signing in the league’s history, there were huge expectations placed on his young shoulders to tighten up a leaky Blues midfield instantly.
Despite a tricky start to life at Stamford Bridge, the Ecuadorian destroyer picked up his performances immensely towards the end of last season. Caicedo has been a regular fixture of Enzo Maresca’s new regime at the club and has gone from strength to strength in west London, with one of his most impressive performances seeing him lock down the midfield and grab a goal against Manchester United.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
1
Assists
2
11 Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers has been the standout performer at Aston Villa this term, and it’s not even close. The originator of the ‘Ice Cold’ celebration Cole Palmer regularly displays, the former Man City academy prospect is as powerful as he is technically astute.
Unai Emery has a wealth of talent at his disposal at Villa Park, yet it’s no surprise that the English youngster is one of the first names on the teamsheet each week. The sky is the limit for the 22-year-old, who looks set to be a Champions League-level player for many years to come.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
7
Assists
4
12 Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
morgan gibbs-white
Much of the talk about Nottingham Forest’s incredible season that sees them sitting inside the top four has been centred around Chris Wood, who has certainly been one of the most surprising players of the season thus far. However, he wouldn’t be in the position to be so potent if it wasn’t for Morgan Gibbs-White.
The midfielder made his England debut towards the start of the 2024/25 season and has continued the same form that saw him be crucial to Forest’s efforts to stay in the Premier League over the last couple of campaigns. Rumours of a bigger move are only going to persist, but the dream of Champions League football at the City Ground could be crucial in securing his future.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
23
Goals
5
Assists
5
Statistics provided by Transfermarkt. Correct as of 27/02/2025.
12 Best Midfielders in the Premier League Right Now (2025)
Daniel Hepburn, Calum Ritchie, Callum Bishop
37 – 48 minutes
Summary
The Premier League’s best midfielders have been ranked based on their importance to their clubs, goal contributions, and their overall impact in games.
Rodri’s level of consistency and brilliance for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City makes him the standout midfielder in the league.
Moises Caicedo and Ryan Gravenberch have improved massively after their previous downfalls to march into the rankings after a positive start to the 2024/25 campaign.
The Premier League has been home to some of the best midfielders in the world over the years. Patrick Vieira, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes are just a handful of names that come to mind when discussing those who have patrolled the middle of the park since the league’s inception in 1992. That quintet, of course, have long since retired, and there is now a new batch of star names in England’s top tier.
The Premier League is the top league in the world, and thus, some of the very best talents on the planet tend to flock to the division. There is a vast array of impressive midfield players plying their trade in England’s top flight, and picking the best of the bunch is not an easy task by any means. But who are the current top midfielders in the division?
Below is an attempt to answer that question. Be warned – this list is only our opinion and is not definitive. A whole host of factors have been taken into consideration when formulating the standings below. It also has to be considered that some midfielders are more defensive-minded, while others are tasked with making more telling contributions going the other way. The following factors have been taken into account when making this list.
Ranking Factors
Their current form – how well they are performing throughout the 2024/25 season.
How well they performed throughout the entirety of the 2023/24 season.
Their status compared to other midfielders in the English top flight – where do they stand in the pecking order?
Injuries – any sustained periods on the sidelines were taken into consideration.
Overall importance to their respective teams – how well do their sides perform with/without them?
Success – how successful they have been at their current sides, both collectively and individually.
1 Rodri
Manchester City
One of two Manchester City players towards the top of this list, Rodri has barely been out of the side since his switch to the Etihad Stadium from Atletico Madrid in 2019, and despite an ACL injury curving his progress this season, he’s still perhaps the most influential player in the league right now. Pep Guardiola’s side had long been looking for Fernandinho’s long-term replacement, and they found their man in the Spain international. Playing in a Diego Simeone team was perhaps the perfect preparation for the physicality of the Premier League, and Rodri has seldom, if ever, looked out of place.
Despite being a defensive midfielder, he still managed to contribute eight goals and nine assists for his side in the 2023/24 season and weighed in with the all-crucial winning goal in the Champions League final the campaign before to seal the historic treble. As the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, it’s hard to argue there is anyone that can top him.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
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2 Declan Rice
Arsenal
It is sometimes easy to forget that Declan Rice is just 26 years of age, given the leadership and authority he displays on the field. Without him, West Ham United would probably not have been a European outfit. After making his debut in east London, he became a key player for his side and is unsurprisingly included in their greatest-ever academy XI. He has always been blessed with strength and a strong understanding of the game, but his clear improvement in possession is the result of hard work and dedication.
Having ended his Hammers career with a Europa Conference League win in Prague, Rice decided to join a title-challenging team in the form of Arsenal. The Gunners faced stiff competition to sign the Englishman from other top clubs, but Arteta’s side securing his signature has proven to be one of the best bits of business last term. Exerting his influence in the engine room already, Rice is notable for his absence whenever he is unavailable and is vital to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
25
Goals
1
Assists
5
3 Ryan Gravenberch
Liverpool
After enduring a tricky latter half of the 2023/24 season under old chief Jurgen Klopp, Ryan Gravenberch has been sensational under Arne Slot this term. The Dutchman wasn’t expected to be a regular starter but has slotted into the number six role alongside Alexis Mac Allister perfectly.
Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch celebrates
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Gravenberch has been excellent for Liverpool so far, but has he been performing better than the man the Reds targeted in the summer?
The running power of the Netherlands international is incredible, which he’s shown many times with driving runs through the heart of opposing teams. Gravenberch has stepped up to the plate after Slot’s men missed out on top transfer target Martin Zubimendi – now seemingly Arsenal-bound – for the role at the base of the Reds’ midfield. The confidence and calmness of his displays in the engine room have been a breath of fresh air for supporters as he shows signs of turning back the clock to his Ajax heyday.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
28
Goals
0
Assists
2
4 Martin Odegaard
Arsenal
For years, it seemed as if Martin Odegaard would fail to deliver on the early promise that saw him become Real Madrid’s youngest-ever player and a goalscorer in the Norwegian top flight at the age of just 15. However, strong loan spells at Heerenveen and Real Sociedad gave him a platform to showcase his ability, and Arsenal moved to sign him permanently after a short stint on loan for the second part of the 2020/21 season.
He has only been at the Emirates Stadium for four years, yet he is already the club captain and one of the Premier League’s best players. Odegaard has been the orchestrator of many of their attacks during the last two seasons, as the north London outfit have become one of the most dominant sides in the league. He is at home playing under Arteta, and the £30m Arsenal paid for his services looks to have been an absolute bargain.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
19
Goals
2
Assists
3
5 Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
There are few midfielders that have joined the Premier League and made the impact that Bruno Fernandes has at Manchester United. The Portuguese star, who moved to Old Trafford in January 2020, has been a major success for the Red Devils, providing a bucket load of both goals and assists, while remaining their creator-in-chief at all times. His first full season in the Premier League saw the midfielder score 18 goals and bag 11 assists from the middle of the park.
His offensive flair has been crucial for a side that’s lacked a little firepower at times, and it’s hard to imagine where the club would have wound up if it wasn’t for his impact in midfield. Having reached double figures in goals in all four of his seasons at the Theatre of Dreams so far, the 30-year-old’s influence on the team cannot be understated, but he is prone to frustrating displays and silly dismissals when his team desperately need him. Sometimes, wearing your heart on your sleeve can get you in trouble.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
26
Goals
6
Assists
7
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6 Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister has sprung into life and has come into his own on the red half of Merseyside. He has rapidly adapted to Liverpool’s style of play seamlessly after transferring over from Brighton & Hove Albion – despite often being utilised in unfamiliar territory: the number six role. Screening the defence was not part of the Argentine’s duties on the south coast, with him more likened to their creative hub, but that has changed since his well-earned move following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
Having arrived for £35 million during the summer of 2023, Liverpool were keen to revamp their engine room ahead of a title challenge in Jurgen Klopp’s final season as Reds boss. Considered one of the German tactician’s best-ever bargains, the 2022 World Cup champion will be looking to provide a winning mentality in the first campaign under Arne Slot’s fresh stewardship at Anfield, as the Reds sit atop the Premier League table with just under a third of the season remaining.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
3
Assists
3
7 Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne would probably have topped this list at any time across the past decade, such has been his influence and consistency for City, but he settles for a silver medal on this list. The Belgian has a knack for casting a spell on supporters and, indeed, opposition defences when he is in possession. Undoubtedly the best Belgian player in Premier League history, De Bruyne has left City fans with so many memorable moments during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Barring an injury-struck 2023/24, he racked up more than 15 Premier League assists in three different campaigns and has also found the back of the net at a healthy rate. He hasn’t been plagued as much this season, but his fitness has still been called into question, which is why he is still down at third, despite the fact he is perhaps the greatest the Premier League has ever seen.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
18
Goals
2
Assists
6
8 Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle United
Bruno Guimaraes is indispensable to Eddie Howe and his entourage – it’s as simple as that. The Newcastle United midfielder – signed for £33.3m plus around £6.5m in add-ons, per Sky Sports – has been heavily involved in the club’s resurgence. Not only was he integral to their Champions League-securing campaign, but the Brazil international has been worthy of his fee throughout the entirety of his Magpies career.
The fact that the likes of Manchester United were keeping tabs on the former Lyon man before his move to England speaks volumes of his talent – and fans have seen that up close and personal since his move. Guimaraes is arguably the player who kick-started Newcastle’s recent transformation and the Brazilian is, without a doubt, one of the most influential midfielders in the division.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
2
Assists
6
Why-Bruno-Guimarães-wears-the-number-39-shirt-for-Newcastle-United—-image
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Why Bruno Guimarães wears the number 39 shirt
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9 Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool
Arne Slot challenged Dominik Szoboszlai to chip in with more goals and assists earlier in the season, and that’s exactly what the Reds’ number eight has started to do at a crucial stage of the season. Popping up with vital goals against Tottenham, Man City and Newcastle, the Hungarian has added end product to his incredible work ethic.
The former RB Leipzig man came under fire for some below-par performances at the start of the campaign, but now that he’s adapted to a more advanced and central role in the team, the 24-year-old looks well worth the £60 million the Merseysiders spent to snatch him away from the Bundesliga.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
26
Goals
5
Assists
4
10 Moises Caicedo
Chelsea
Moises Caicedo was on the receiving end of plenty of criticism during his debut season in Chelsea colours. As the most expensive signing in the league’s history, there were huge expectations placed on his young shoulders to tighten up a leaky Blues midfield instantly.
Despite a tricky start to life at Stamford Bridge, the Ecuadorian destroyer picked up his performances immensely towards the end of last season. Caicedo has been a regular fixture of Enzo Maresca’s new regime at the club and has gone from strength to strength in west London, with one of his most impressive performances seeing him lock down the midfield and grab a goal against Manchester United.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
1
Assists
2
11 Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers has been the standout performer at Aston Villa this term, and it’s not even close. The originator of the ‘Ice Cold’ celebration Cole Palmer regularly displays, the former Man City academy prospect is as powerful as he is technically astute.
Unai Emery has a wealth of talent at his disposal at Villa Park, yet it’s no surprise that the English youngster is one of the first names on the teamsheet each week. The sky is the limit for the 22-year-old, who looks set to be a Champions League-level player for many years to come.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
27
Goals
7
Assists
4
12 Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
morgan gibbs-white
Much of the talk about Nottingham Forest’s incredible season that sees them sitting inside the top four has been centred around Chris Wood, who has certainly been one of the most surprising players of the season thus far. However, he wouldn’t be in the position to be so potent if it wasn’t for Morgan Gibbs-White.
The midfielder made his England debut towards the start of the 2024/25 season and has continued the same form that saw him be crucial to Forest’s efforts to stay in the Premier League over the last couple of campaigns. Rumours of a bigger move are only going to persist, but the dream of Champions League football at the City Ground could be crucial in securing his future.
2024/25 Premier League Performance
Appearances
23
Goals
5
Assists
5
Statistics provided by Transfermarkt. Correct as of 27/02/2025.
