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 defences 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.
10. Sven Botman (Newcastle United)
The towering Dutchman signed for Newcastle United from Lille in June 2022 and has become an integral part of their defence since. Aged just 22 at the time, he was quickly integrated into the starting XI by Eddie Howe and has been a mainstay since, barring the knee injury he suffered last season.
Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Botman has made 68 appearances for the Magpies and has helped them keep 25 clean sheets in those games. Of those 18 clean sheets have come in 53 Premier League appearances as Botman continues to develop from strength to strength.
9. Cristian Romero (Tottenham)
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 98 appearances for Tottenham since joining and has scored six goals and provided an assist. He has made 82 Premier League appearances for Spurs and has helped keep 22 clean sheets, making him one of the key components of manager Ange Postecoglou’s plans.
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 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 42 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team and has chipped in with five goals and three assists. He also helped them keep 14 clean sheets and is slowly establishing himself as an irreplaceable piece in the first team.
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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.
Konate has made 90 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Of those, 51 appearances have come in the Premier League, where he has helped his team keep 17 clean sheets. With age on his side, Konate will be among the best defenders in the Premier League for the foreseeable future.
6. Micky van de Ven (Tottenham)
Van de Ven signed for Spurs from VfL Wolfsburg on a mega six-year deal in August 2023 and came to the Premier League as 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.
Van de Ven 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 active Premier League defenders.
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 in 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 168 appearances for the Gunners since arriving and has scored 15 goals and provided one assist as well. Of those, 132 games have been in the Premier League and the Brazilian has helped his team keep 50 clean sheets in that time.
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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 defence as they have won several trophies.
Ruben Dias has made 178 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 54 of the 117 Premier League appearances he has made so far.
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, 160 appearances have come in the Premier League where Stones has helped his side keep an impressive 72 clean sheets as he continues to be one of the best active Premier League defenders.
2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
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 270 appearances for the Reds and has scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists as well. He has made a total of 264 league appearances for Liverpool and Southampton and has kept 102 clean sheets overall, making him one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
1. William Saliba (Arsenal)
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 83 appearances for the club, scoring five goals and providing two assists. Of those, 65 appearances have been in the Premier League, where he has helped Arsenal keep 29 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.