Ranking the 10 Best Defenders in the Premier League Right Now

Defenders have always been the backbone of great teams that have won the Premier League in the past. In fact, Sir Alex Ferguson famously said that while attack can win matches, strong defenses win titles. Defenders in the bygone era were primarily asked to just that – defend. They were more like traditional stoppers, while the modern game demands players to have a more well-rounded game.

Now, ball-playing defenders have become the norm, with players comfortable with building up play after receiving the ball from the goalkeeper. They are also expected to find outlets on the wings with long balls from time to time. The best defenders in the Premier League possess most of these qualities if not all. Their presence in their teams has led to positive results, with some playing key roles in the transformation of the club they are at.

Having said that, let’s take a look at the 10 best active Premier League defenders:-

Ranking Factor

Current Form: We have carefully picked the top defenders who have been carrying their last season’s form and still performing exceptionally this season.

Success: How well did they perform and how instrumental they were for their respective teams.

List of Best Defenders in the English Premier League 2024

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM
1	William Saliba	Arsenal
2	Virgil van Dijk	Liverpool
3	John Stones	Manchester City
4	Ruben Dias	Manchester City
5	Gabriel Magalhaes	Arsenal
6	Marc Guehi	Crystal Palace
7	Ibrahima Konate	Liverpool
8	Josko Gvardiol	Manchester City
9	Cristian Romero	Tottenham Hotspur
10	Micky van de Ven	Tottenham Hotspur

10. Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)

Mickey van de Ven signed for Spurs from VfL Wolfsburg on a mega six-year deal in August 2023 and came to the English Premier League and is one of the quickest defenders. Adept with playing as the last man and making last-ditch tackles and blocks, van de Ven’s style perfectly suits a high-line adopted by Ange Postecoglou.

He made 27 league appearances last season, helping Spurs keep six clean sheets. He also scored three goals in that time as he continues to establish himself as one of the best defenders in Premier League.

Appearances	11
Pass completion rate (%)	91.40%
Aerials won per game	1.8
Tackles per game	1.4
Interceptions per game	1.01

9. Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)

Romero signed for Spurs from Atalanta on an initial season-long loan in August 2021 and the club activated the option to make his deal permanent the following year. Since joining, the hard-tackling Argentine has established himself as a key member of a new-look Tottenham side. Romero also has the knack for scoring the odd goal and making some crucial clearances.

The 26-year-old has made 93 appearances for Tottenham since joining and has scored seven goals and provided an assist. He has helped keep 20 clean sheets, making him one of the key components of manager Ange Postecoglou’s plans.

Appearances	12
Pass completion rate (%)	90.36%
Aerials won per game	2.3
Tackles per game	2.8
Interceptions per game	1.1

8. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)

The highly-rated Croatian signed for Manchester City for a whopping £77 million in August 2023, making him the second most expensive defender in the Premier League as well as in the world. Aged just 21 at the time, Gvardiol was slowly and steadily integrated into the first team and did not start straight away.

Since then, he has made 40 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team and has chipped in with seven goals and an assist. He also helped them keep 11 clean sheets and is slowly establishing himself as an irreplaceable piece in the first team.

Appearances	14
Pass completion rate (%)	92.3%
Aerials won per game	1.5
Tackles per game	2.1
Interceptions per game	1.1

ALSO READ: Ranking Top 10 Best Defenders in the World 2024

7. Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)

The Reds signed Konate from RB Leipzig in May 2021 as they looked to secure their backline for the future, with the Frenchman aged 23 at the time. He made a name for himself with his impressive performances with the German side and was snapped up by Liverpool.

The French defender has made 63 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and providing two assists, and has helped his team keep 21 clean sheets. With age on his side, Konate will be among the best defenders in the Premier League for the foreseeable future.

Appearances	12
Pass completion rate (%)	90.88%
Aerials won per game	2.3
Tackles per game	1.4
Interceptions per game	0.3

6. Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

The towering English defender signed for Crystal Palace from Chelsea in June 2021 and has become an integral part of their defensive line since then. Aged just 24 at the time, he was quickly integrated into the starting XI by Patrick Vieira (then). Marc has made 129 appearances for Crystal Palace since 2021 and has scored 16 goals while assisting 8 times.

Appearances	15
Pass success rate (%)	85.4
Aerials won per game	2.5
Tackles per game	1.7
Interceptions per game	0.6

5. Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)

Gabriel joined Arsenal from Lille in September 2020 on a long-term deal and instantly became one of the main pieces on the roster. A naturally left-footed defender, he fit Mikel Arteta’s plans perfectly and has asserted himself as one of the best Premier League defenders with his aggressive style. Gabriel is known for being solid in aerial duels and is also deceptively quick despite being 6’ 3″.

The 26-year-old has made 144 appearances for the Gunners since arriving and has scored 16 goals and provided one assist as well. The Brazilian has helped his team keep 51 clean sheets.

Appearances	13
Pass completion rate (%)	89.4%
Aerials won per game	1.8
Tackles per game	0.8
Interceptions per game	0.5

ALSO READ: Top 10 Greatest Defenders of All Time: Legends of the game

4. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

The Portuguese defender has been regarded as one of the best defenders in the world for the better part of the last decade. He joined Manchester City from Benfica in September 2020 and signed a six-year contract, with Nicolas Otamendi going the other way. Since then, he has been the heart of the team’s defense as they have won several trophies.

Ruben Dias has made 187 appearances for the Cityzens, scoring four goals and providing five assists. Such has been his impact on his team that he has helped them keep clean sheets in 45 of the 126 Premier League appearances he has made so far.

Appearances	12
Pass completion rate (%)	94.2%
Aerials won per game	1.4
Tackles per game	0.8
Interceptions per game	0.9

3. John Stones (Manchester City)

Regarded as one of the best ball-playing defenders of his generation, John Stones joined City from Everton in a £47.5 million deal in August 2016, making him the second-most expensive defender in the world at the time. Since then, he has been the backbone of Pep Guardiola’s teams, barring some spells on the sidelines due to injuries.

The 30-year-old has made 257 appearances for the Cityzens and has also scored 16 goals and provided seven assists. Of those, 244 appearances have come in the Premier League where Stones has helped his side keep an impressive 74 clean sheets as he continues to be the best defender in soccer.

Appearances	7
Pass completion rate (%)	87.3%
Aerials won per game	0.9
Tackles per game	0.8
Interceptions per game	0.4

ALSO READ: Ranking the 10 Best Chelsea Defenders of All-Time

2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in a deal worth £75 million in January 2018, making him the most expensive defender of all time. His impact at the club was instant and evident as helped the club win their fifth UEFA Champions League title as well as the Premier League title after a 30-year-long wait.

The Dutchman has made 274 appearances for the Reds and has scored 25 goals and provided 13 assists as well. He has kept 108 clean sheets overall, making him one of the best central defenders not just in the Premier League but in the world as well.

Appearances	12
Pass completion rate (%)	91.75%
Aerials won per game	2.91
Tackles per game	0.64
Interceptions per game	1.36

1. William Saliba (Arsenal)

William Saliba’s rise to becoming one of the best defenders in the world has been phenomenal to say the least. The Frenchman joined Arsenal from AS Saint-Etienne in July 2019 and was loaned straight back to his parent club. He spent another short loan spell at Nice the following season, followed by a season loan at Marseille in the 2021/22 season, where he truly developed himself.

A mainstay in the Gunners’ backline since the 2022/23 season, Saliba has made 94 appearances for the club, scoring five goals and providing two assists. Of those, 76 appearances have been in the Premier League, where he has helped Arsenal keep 33 clean sheets so far. Aged just 23, Saliba has a major chunk of his career in front of him and is likely to remain one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Appearances	11
Pass completion rate (%)	95.03%
Aerials won per game	1.55
Tackles per game	2.71
Interceptions per game	0.68

ALSO READ: Ranking the 10 Best Real Madrid Defenders of All time

FAQs