The 10 Best Premier League Midfielders (2025/26 Season)
- Think Football Ideas
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
The 10 Best Premier League Midfielders 2025/26 Ranked
The engine room of the Premier League never fails to set the tone of a match. It does not deter resilience nor diminish imagination, and in many ways, it remains the most demanding department of the modern game.
As the 2025-26 campaign continues to unfold, midfielders across the division are stepping forward to define contests with poise, energy, and intelligence. These players are not only keeping their sides competitive but also shaping the tactical identity of their teams.
The 10 Best Premier League Midfielders of the 2025/26 Season
10. Bruno Guimaraes – Newcastle United
Bruno Guimaraes has become indispensable at St. James’ Park. A player who combines intelligence, physicality, and technique, he is the glue that binds Newcastle’s midfield together.
Operating as both destroyer and distributor, he shields the defence while launching forward surges that spark attacks. His reading of the game and ability to dictate the rhythm under pressure highlight why he is central to Howe’s tactical blueprint.
Guimaraes doesn’t simply fit into Newcastle’s system—he elevates it, making him one of the league’s most complete midfielders.
9. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea
Caicedo has grown into the player Chelsea hoped for when breaking records to secure his signature. After a difficult debut campaign, he now commands midfield with a balance of defensive aggression and calm on the ball.
His tackling and recovery work are unmatched, but his improvement in possession, progressing play with smart passes and driving runs has been the real transformation.
In a Chelsea side still finding its identity, Caicedo has provided stability and drive, becoming the cornerstone of their midfield rebuild.
8. Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Odegaard embodies Arsenal’s tactical evolution under Mikel Arteta. As captain, his influence stretches beyond technical precision. He sets the emotional and strategic tempo for the team, even though many reckon he will have to step up a notch if the Gunners are to land their long-awaited title.
Odegaard’s ability to orchestrate play with incisive passing ensures Arsenal retain control in high-pressure games. He remains the link between the midfield and the frontline, consistently dictating attacking phases while pressing relentlessly out of possession.
A shoulder injury sustained against Leeds at the Emirates initially cast doubt over his early-season impact, but he made a triumphant return against Liverpool at Anfield, much to the relief of Arsenal supporters.
With over 12,000 Premier League minutes under his belt, he boasts an impressive 4.95 expected goals (xG) average, completes 86% of his passes, and maintains a dribble success rate of approximately 55%, highlighting his consistent influence on the pitch.
Though not always prolific in front of goal, his vision and leadership ensure Arsenal’s attacking structure maintains its fluidity.
7. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes remains Manchester United’s most decisive creative force. Despite the turbulence surrounding the team, his productivity continues to define their attacking identity.
Despite being early days of the new campaign, he has registered an xG of 1.9, completing 84% of his passes, 55% of his long passes, and 75% of his dribbles. His capacity to deliver goals from midfield, often at decisive moments, makes him an ever-present threat.
Fernandes thrives on responsibility, dropping deep to dictate tempo or advancing into spaces to unlock defences with a single pass.
While prone to frustration when the collective falters, his ability to alter the course of matches keeps him among the league’s elite midfielders.
6. Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool
Szoboszlai has adapted seamlessly to Arne Slot’s high-intensity style, offering both creativity and a relentless work rate.
His precision in delivering passes through compact defences makes him invaluable in the final third.
Moreover, Szoboszlai’s versatility has allowed him to thrive in different roles, from advanced playmaker to deeper ball-progressor, even filling in wide when necessary.
His developing consistency in front of goal has added another layer to Liverpool’s attack, confirming his growth into one of the most rounded midfielders in the division.
5. Eberechi Eze – Arsenal
After flourishing at Crystal Palace, Eze has started to show signs of what he can do at Arsenal since his move to the Emirates, bringing flair and unpredictability to a team already stacked with attacking quality.
What sets him apart is his ability to shift momentum instantly with sharp dribbles, quick turns, and decisive contributions in the final third.
His versatility, playing either centrally or off the flank, allows Arsenal to stretch opponents and find new avenues of attack.
Eze is evolving from a promising talent at Crystal Palace to a key cog at a title-challenging club, placing him firmly among the division’s finest midfielders.
4. Alexis Mac Allister – Liverpool
Mac Allister has emerged as Liverpool’s metronome, balancing defensive responsibility with calm orchestration in possession.
Often deployed deeper than his natural role, he has embraced the challenge with intelligence and composure.
His ability to read the flow of a match, combined with clean distribution and positional awareness, has cemented him as the stabilising influence in Slot’s midfield.
Mac Allister is rarely the loudest presence, but his reliability allows Liverpool’s more attacking players to thrive, underlining his quiet but critical importance.
3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch has hit the ground running in the 2025-26 season, returning from a one-game ban to score a stunning goal against Newcastle at St James’ Park, helping anchor Liverpool’s midfield.
Under Arne Slot, he has rediscovered the dynamism that once marked him as one of Ajax’s brightest talents. His ability to drive the ball through congested areas adds a directness to Liverpool’s play that few opponents can neutralise.
Blending height, physicality, and composure on the ball, Gravenberch now epitomises the modern all-round midfielder.
No longer merely a rotation option, the Dutchman has become a pivotal figure, seamlessly balancing defensive responsibility with attacking intent.
2. Rodri – Manchester City
Rodri returned from injury after missing the majority of the 2024-25 campaign and has already shown he is regaining his rhythm as he catches up with fitness. As a Ballon d’Or-calibre talent, it’s hard not to appreciate his influence.
Rodri remains Manchester City’s benchmark for control in midfield, reading the game with impeccable intelligence, dictating tempo, shielding the defence, and launching attacks with precise distribution.
Even under Pep Guardiola’s demanding system, his return has highlighted exactly why the team missed him so acutely.
Beyond his defensive duties, he also contributes crucial goals in key moments, and City’s performances often dip in his absence, which in itself is a testament to his status as one of the most indispensable players in world football.
1. Declan Rice – Arsenal
Declan Rice has cemented himself as the Premier League’s leading midfielder. His presence brings both physical dominance and tactical clarity to Arsenal’s midfield.
Rice’s defensive intelligence ensures solidity, while his improved passing range allows Arsenal to break lines and sustain attacks.
As of writing, he already averages dribbles completed (67%), passes completed (90%), and long passes completed (50%).
More than any single skill, it is his leadership and consistency that elevate him above his peers. Whether intercepting, dictating, or driving forward, Rice embodies the complete midfielder and remains the central figure in Arsenal’s pursuit of glory this season.
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