The Defenders Who Shined Bright in the Premier League 2025
It appears as though when the 2024–25 Premier League season moves into its final matchday, defensive solidity is the game-changer. Forwards always take all the headlines, but defenders are the ones who bring order, stifle threat and provide the platform on which sides have constructed their victory. Below are the six finest defenders present in the Premier League, considering form, intelligence and influence in their position.
6. Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)
Despite injuries taking their toll, Martínez’s presence when fit has been domineering. His pass completion on forward passes (77.62 per cent) and a rate of almost five passes per 90 minutes that carry him up the pitch in advance of his team show just how crucial he is to United build-up. His attacking vigor makes him a torment for strikers facing him. And the defensive upheaval of the Red Devils in his absence, only serves to emphasize his value.
5. Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Robinson has been one of the most unobtrusively effective league full-backs. His attacking statistics – over 10 assists – outweigh a lot of midfielders. Breaking up plays or curving balls into the box, he’s everywhere. Robinson’s pace and stamina let him patrol the flank all game long, making him a nightmare for wingers to beat. Defensively solid and offensively creative, he’s quickly become a key part of Fulham’s tactical setup. Him and Masuaku are standout in-form EPL squad defenders that also possess stamina well.
4. Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest)
Season’s surprise package Milenković has brought steel and aerial threat to a Forest side that was struggling. Given a performance rating of 73%, his presence has already made a significant difference to Forest’s defensive statistics. He has an average of 6.3 clearances per game, and he is in the top five in blocked shots, as well. For a team battling to stay up, that is invaluable.
3. Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City)
One jack of all trades in Guardiola’s team, Joško Gvardiol has since impressed by performing the double duty—defending energetically and scoring goals. He’s top among all defenders in the Premier League this season, with five goals, a gauge of just how offensive threat is now an integral part of a modern defender’s skillset. Moreover, defensively, he’s closed the gap and brought some much-needed traction from the back to make him a good foil for City’s high line.
2. William Saliba (Arsenal)
Saliba’s arrival has been crucial to Arsenal’s defensive rebuild. Having featured in every minute of the campaign to date, his reading of the game, pace and positioning has neutered some of the opposition’s most potent counter attacks. In fact, Arsenal’s bid for the title is founded on his steadiness and reliability at the back.
William Saliba is the archetypal example of what a defender should be – calm, assured, and present. He does not dive into tackles. That is a risky approach. He delays, remains calm, uses his physicality, and plucks the ball away with ease.
It's like poetry in motion, & he's 21. pic.twitter.com/86bq5YzY11
— EBL (@EBL2017) October 1, 2022
1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s fidget spinner in defence is the world’s best defender. Virgil van Dijk’s defence is the best at winning the ball up in the air. His understanding of the game, ice cool head and leadership have seen Liverpool concede just 29 goals so far. He also steadies a backline that leans towards the younger side with presence and authority.
Author’s Opinion
Contemporary football demands far more in defence than headers and tackles. Top defenders of the present are drivers of attacks, the heartbeat of pressing setups and composed when making decisions. Van Dijk is also another player that balances exceptional defensive IQ with athleticism, so also Saliba, and Gvardiol’s goal-scoring ability is altering the game of centre-backing.
What Milenković has done at lowly Fiorentina is a testament to his quality as a player, rather than his suitability to a system. Robinson’s attacking statistics are on a par with those of a wing, and Martínez plays the ball out to him as necessary.
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