Summary
- The role of a defensive midfielder in the Premier League has become increasingly important, with more value placed on the position than ever before.
- Bruno Guimaraes and Amadou Onana are among the top defensive midfielders in England based on their strong performances last season.
- Declan Rice and Rodri are considered two of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, with Rice’s move to Arsenal adding strength to their team and Rodri’s consistency setting him apart as one of the best in the world.
Over the years, as tactics have continued to evolve in the Premier League, the role of a defensive midfielder has increased in importance and there’s a lot more value placed on the position right now than ever before.
A strong enforcer sitting just in front of the defensive line can be the difference between a solid team and a successful one. There have been numerous instances in the past where the introduction of a strong defensive midfielder acts as the missing piece of a side and sees them reach previously unseen heights.
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With the game’s recent emphasis on defensive midfielders seeing major money being spent on the position, the number of elite players occupying the role has continued to grow and here are the 10 very best in the Premier League right now.
Ranking Factors
- Overall ability (injuries are not taken into account)
- Importance and impact on team
- Team/individual achievements
| 10 Best Defensive Midfielders in Premier League | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | Player | Team |
| 1. | Rodri | Manchester City |
| 2. | Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| 3. | Bruno Guimaraes | Newcastle United |
| 4. | Ryan Gravenberch | Liverpool |
| 5. | Moises Caicedo | Chelsea |
| 6. | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 7. | Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United |
| 8. | Enzo Fernandez | Chelsea |
| 9. | Amadou Onana | Aston Villa |
| 10. | Sandro Tonali | Newcastle United |
| 11. | Adam Wharton | Crystal Palace |
| 12. | Boubacar Kamara | Aston Villa |
| 13. | Tyler Adams | Bournemouth |
| 14. | Idrissa Gueye | Everton |
| 15. | Carlos Baleba | Brighton |
15 Carlos Baleba
Brighton
One of the fastest rising stars in Premier League football right now, Carlos Baleba is yet another product of the much-vaunted Brighton scouting network that seems to pluck out new stars from all corners of the globe. Having lost Moises Caicedo to a money-spinning move to fellow top-flight side Chelsea, the Seagulls needed to replace their main midfield man, and boy have they seemingly done that.
Able to break up play but also drive forward with real power and pace, Baleba has added a new dimension to the Brighton midfield under Fabian Hurzeler, and he has been a big reason as to why the side are pushing for a European spot in the closing stages of the 2024/2025 Premier League season.
14 Idrissa Gueye
Everton
A veteran of the Premier League, Idrissa Gueye is of course playing in his second spell with Everton, and his importance to the side is just as big as it was before. The Senegal international has arguably picked things up in terms of his form now that David Moyes is back as manager, and has played in every Premier League game this season apart from one in the early weeks of the campaign against Leicester.
Gueye has been outstanding in the Toffees’ recent nine-game unbeaten run in the top-flight, including picking up a couple of assists in the impressive 3-2 victory over Tottenham at home. The midfielder was also at his feisty and tough-tackling best in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the final Merseyside derby at Everton’s ground of Goodison Park.
13 Tyler Adams
Bournemouth
Having struggled to make an impact whilst at Leeds United, Tyler Adams has quickly established himself as one of the best in the business in the 2024/2025 season. The USA international is on his best run of form in the top-flight, and was even awarded Bournemouth’s player of the month award for February 2025.
Combative in the tackle but able to spring things forward with a quick pass, Adams’ outstanding average of 4.51 tackles per game in the Premier League is the highest of any player in European football’s top five leagues. Meanwhile, his interceptions rate of 2.01 per match puts him in the 98th percentile of any midfielder.
12 Boubacar Kamara
Aston Villa
One of the most underrated players in Aston Villa’s impressive team built by Unai Emery, Boubacar Kamara is arguably the glue that holds it all together. The Frenchman has got to be in contention for one of the shrewdest signings in recent Premier League history, having arrived at Villa Park from Ligue 1 club Marseille on a free transfer.
What makes Kamara’s form this season even more admirable is the fact he has returned from a lengthy knee injury that kept him out for months, and has seamlessly fit into things at Villa. The club’s foray into the Champions League quarter-finals and performances in the Premier League where they are once again in the hunt for European football for the 2025/2026 season has been based around the form and quality of Kamara at the base of their midfield.
11 Adam Wharton
One of the best young English talents in football right now, Adam Wharton is quite rightly getting the kind of praise and recognition that comes from playing at the top of his game in a league as competitive as the Premier League. The midfielder has fit like a glove in Oliver Glasner’s system, and when fit, has been crucial in the Eagles’ performances in the 2024/2025 season.
A groin injury that kept him out for months coincided with a mixed run of form for Palace in the middle half of the season, whereby they won just five Premier League games out of the 14 that he missed. In the five that he played just before the March international break, Glasner’s side won four of them, including a victory at home to an impressive Aston Villa side.
10 Sandro Tonali
Newcastle United
He might have missed most of his debut season in England with suspension, but there’s no doubt that Sandro Tonali is still one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League and he’ll remind everyone of that once he is back on the pitch with Newcastle United. The Italian shone for Brescia and AC Milan before moving to St. James’ Park and showed glimpses of what he could do for the Magpies before he was suspended.
Last season was a disappointing one for Newcastle in comparison to the previous campaign, but with Tonali back in the lineup for the 2024/25, things have picked up for Eddie Howe’s men, including a triumph over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
9 Amadou Onana
Aston Villa
After a very impressive run with Everton, one which saw him become one of the Toffees’ most important players, Amadou Onana has been snapped up by Aston Villa and things should only get better for the midfielder from this point on. With the Villans competing in the Champions League this time around, Onana will fit right in and thrive on the big stage.
With Everton’s struggles over the last couple of years, it’s hard to imagine they’d have survived the drop to the Championship if they hadn’t had the defensive midfielder in the side. At 22 years old, he’s already one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, but should only get better and rise up these ranks if he keeps playing at the level in which he is.
8 Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea
It might not have always been smooth sailing since his move to Chelsea, but Enzo Fernandez has shown us more than enough to suggest he’s one of the brightest and most impressive defensive midfielders in England. At the time of his signing, he was the most expensive Premier League purchase of all time. He hasn’t quite lived up to that hype just yet, but he’s still been a solid player for the Blues.
The last couple of seasons have been a disaster for Chelsea, but Fernandez has been a promising spark for the club and quickly established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in England. He may not be the most expensive Premier League transfer of all time anymore, but he’s still got an incredible future ahead of him. Known for his creative flair as well as his solid defensive capabilities, he may skyrocket up this list as the years go by and he continues to grow at Stamford Bridge.
7 Kobbie Mainoo
Manchester United
Seemingly out of nowhere, Kobbie Mainoo burst onto the scene during the 2023/24 season and he hasn’t looked back since. The Englishman has instantly become one of the best players at Old Trafford and considering he’s still just 19 years old, it’s scary to imagine just how much better he might become as his career progresses.
Comfortable on the ball, Mainoo is effective driving forward and dancing past his opponents, but he thrives sitting in front of the defence and causing problems for the opposition whenever they try to approach his own penalty area. Euro 2024 saw the midfielder become one of his country’s brightest talents and he’s become one of the best defensive midfielders along the way too.
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6 Pape Matar Sarr
Tottenham Hotspur
For many observers, the step up from modest French club FC Metz to English giants Tottenham Hotspur was perhaps too big for Pape Matar Sarr. However, three years on from his arrival, the Senegalese midfielder has proved that he has what it takes.
An essential part of Ange Postecoglou’s system (he is Spurs’ third most-used player since the start of the season), the – only – 22-year-old is now a benchmark not only in the Premier League, but also in European football in general. Quick, technical and powerful, he also has an invaluable ability to project himself. A leader that any club would dream of having in its squad.
