Who Is the Best Defender in the Premier League? Ranking the Top 10 in 2025

Defenders have always been the backbone of great teams that have won the Premier League in the past. Sir Alex Ferguson famously said that while attack can win matches, strong defense win titles. Defenders in the bygone era were primarily asked to do just one thing – 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 players on both the wings with long balls from time to time.

The best defenders in the Premier League possess most of the below listed 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 currently associated with. Having said that, let’s take a look at the 10 best defender in premier league 2025:-

Ranking factor for determining the top 10 defenders in EPL

Current Form: We have carefully picked the top defenders who have been carrying their last season’s form and still performing exceptionally this season.
Impact on Team Success: How well did they perform and how impactful they were for their respective teams.
Performance in Big Games: How did the player perform during a crucial game or against top teams in the English Premier League.
Consistency: If we are talking about defenders, we have to see how consistently the player has been performing for his team, which includes his tackles, foul commitments and clean sheets.

10. 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 odd goals and making some crucial clearances.

The 26-year-old has made 115 appearances for Tottenham since joining and has scored seven goals and provided an assist. He has helped his team in keeping more than 20 clean sheets, making him one of the key components of manager Ange Postecoglou’s plans.

9. Joško 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 of signing, Gvardiol was slowly and steadily integrated into the first team and did not start straight away.

Since then, he has made 83 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team and has chipped in 10 goals and 4 assists. He has slowly established himself as an irreplaceable piece of the first team. Gvardiol has the potential to climb higher in the list o best defender in premier league.

8. Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)

The Reds signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig in May 202, as they looked to secure their backline for the future, with the Frenchman aged 25 at the time of signing. He made a name for himself with his impressive performances with the German side RB Leipzig and was snapped up by Liverpool.

The French defender has made 124 appearances for the club, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists. With age on his side, Konate will be among the best defenders in the Premier League for the foreseeable future.

7. 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 (Coach of Crystal Palace at the time Marc Guehi signing).

Marc has made 145 appearances for Crystal Palace since 2021 and has scored 8 goals while assisting 4 times. He is captaining the Eagles this season while playing a leadership role.

6. Gabriel Magalhães (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 fits in 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 27-year-old has made 209 appearances for the Gunners since arriving and has scored 20 goals and provided 2 assists as well. The Brazilian has helped his team keep more than 50 clean sheets.

5. Rúben 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 207 appearances for the Blues, scoring four goals and providing five assists. Such has been his impact on his team that he has helped them keep clean sheets plenty of times in the 135 Premier League appearances he has made so far.

4. Antonee Robinson (Fulham)

Antonee Robinson one of the most underrated defenders this season. Robinson plays for Fulham, who currently sit at 8th position in Premier League. Fulham have been quite delightful to watch this season with their left wing being dangerous for opponent this whole season, guess whose work rate is more on the left side ? Yes, its Antonee Robinson with his assists already in double digits, showcasing great defensive work at back.

Antonee Robinson has made 184 appearances for Fulham and has also scored 3 goals and provided 21 assists. Of those, 184 appearances majority have come in the Premier League where he has helped his team throughout, maintaining a good defensive record. Helping his team upfront and at the back make him stand at number 4 in our list.

3. Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest)

The Serbian International has been solid at the back in the defense pairing with Murillo, leading Nottingham Forest to the top of the table in the 2024/25 season. The 27-year-old defender joined the English club from Fiorentina in 2024 and has been a standout figure in the defense in the Premier League making him one of the best defender in premier league.

This season, Milenković has made 29 appearances for the Tricky Tees scored 4 times and assisted 1 goal in the league, while helping Forest to remain among the top three sides. Thanks to his form, the club is on the verge of securing the UEFA Champions League qualification.

2. William Saliba (Arsenal)

William Saliba’s rise to becoming one of the best defenders in the world has been phenomenal and can not be compared. 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 OGC 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 122 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals and providing 2 assists. Out of those, 92 appearances have been in the Premier League. Aged just 23, Saliba has a major chunk of his career left in front of him and he will be there in our list of best defender in premier league for a long long time.

1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

At number 1 on our list is none other than, Virgil van Dijk, who 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 he 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 311 appearances for the Reds and has scored 26 goals and provided 13 assists as well. He helped his team in keeping 96 clean sheets overall, making him one of the best defender in premier league.

List of Best Defenders in the English Premier League 2025