The 10 Best Premier League Centre-Backs 2025/26 Season
- Think Football Ideas
- Oct 15, 2025
- 8 min read
Ranking the Premier League’s Top 10 Centre-Backs for the 2025/26 Season
As the years have gone by, tactical trends have continued to evolve, and the Premier League’s centre-backs are now expected to offer far more than simply stopping attacks.
Modern defenders are tasked with carrying the ball forward, dictating play from deep, and providing composure under pressure as much as defensive resilience.
In a league overflowing with elite talent and world-class managers, centre-back remains one of the most demanding positions in football today. The very best defenders combine physicality with intelligence, aggression with calmness, and structure with instinct.
The following names represent the centre-backs who have set the standard during the 2025/26 season, whether through consistency, leadership, technical quality, or sheer defensive dominance.
Here are The 10 Best Premier League Centre-Backs 2025/26 Season
10. Nathan Collins (Brentford)
Nathan Collins has been one of Brentford’s most important figures in a season where expectations were low following a turbulent summer that saw the departure of Thomas Frank and several key players.
Many expected the Bees to struggle, but instead they managed to battle for a European spot against the odds, with Collins at the heart of everything they did.
The Irish defender has stepped into a clear leadership role, delivering consistent and composed performances throughout the campaign.
His 100th appearance for the club summed up his influence, producing a commanding display in a 0-0 draw against Tottenham where he was named Man of the Match.
Collins has combined physical dominance with impressive technical reliability. He has won 126 duels this season while also contributing heavily in possession with over 1,600 passes completed at an 83% success rate. His ability to play long passes and switch play has helped Brentford remain competitive even against stronger opposition.
Defensively, he has been just as impactful, registering 27 tackles, 34 interceptions, and 36 blocks while consistently positioning himself well to stop danger. His reading of the game and organisation of those around him have been key reasons Brentford have remained competitive despite major structural changes at the club.
9. Jaka Bijol (Leeds United)
For some, it may seem unusual for a defender playing in a side battling in the lower half of the Premier League table to rank among the division’s best centre-backs, but Jaka Bijol has fully earned his place on this list.
The Slovenia international has been one of Leeds United’s standout performers throughout the 2025/26 season, consistently producing composed and physically dominant displays despite the pressure surrounding the club.
Bijol has excelled defensively in one of the league’s busiest backlines, ranking highly for both aerial duels won and ground duel success rate among Premier League centre-backs.
At 27 years old, the right-footed defender has also shown impressive composure in possession, completing 85% of his passes while regularly helping Leeds play out from the back when possible.
Across 22 league appearances, Bijol has won 96 duels, including 59 aerial battles, underlining both his physical presence and consistency.
While Leeds may not be competing near the top end of the table, Bijol’s individual performances have established him as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders this season.
8. Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Harry Maguire has enjoyed a major resurgence in the 2025/26 season, playing a key role in Manchester United’s push to secure a Champions League place after two seasons without European football at the highest level.
After a difficult spell in recent years where his form and place in the side came under heavy scrutiny, the England defender has responded in the best possible way by re-establishing himself as a reliable presence at the heart of United’s defence.
Since becoming a regular starter again, Maguire has brought stability, organisation, and leadership to a backline that had often looked inconsistent.
His aerial dominance has returned to the forefront of his game, while his composure in possession has also improved significantly, completing 86% of his passes across the season.
In 1,475 minutes of league action, he has won 89 duels and 54 aerial battles, underlining his physical importance in both boxes. He has also contributed offensively, scoring once and continuing to pose a threat from set pieces.
Once written off by sections of supporters, Maguire has turned his situation around in impressive fashion, becoming a trusted figure once again and playing a major part in Manchester United’s return to European contention.
7. Dan Ballard (Sunderland)
Dan Ballard has been one of the standout defensive stories of the 2025/26 Premier League season, playing a crucial role in a Sunderland side that were widely tipped for relegation but have managed to secure their top-flight status against the odds.
The Northern Ireland international brought real authority to the back line, combining old-school defensive aggression with the composure required at Premier League level.
His commitment has been a defining feature of Sunderland’s campaign, throwing himself into challenges, blocking shots, and consistently putting his body on the line when it matters most.
Ballard’s influence is also reflected in his numbers, with 168 duels won and 106 aerial duels won highlighting his dominance in both ground and aerial battles.
He has also maintained an 82% pass completion rate from over 1,100 passes, showing he is more than just a physical presence, while his 2,148 minutes played underline just how central he has been to the team’s survival push.
6. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk remains one of the Premier League’s most experienced and accomplished defenders, but the 2025/26 season has not quite matched the exceptionally high standards he previously set at Liverpool.
After captaining the Reds to the league title under Arne Slot last season, Van Dijk entered the campaign expected to once again lead Liverpool’s push for major honours. Instead, both his performances and Liverpool’s overall level have dipped noticeably.
Defensive mistakes and moments of uncharacteristic vulnerability have crept into his game throughout the season, mirroring Liverpool’s inconsistency as they scrambled to secure a Champions League qualification place rather than challenge for another title.
Despite the drop-off, Van Dijk’s aerial dominance, leadership qualities, and composure in possession still make him one of the division’s standout centre-backs. However, compared to previous campaigns, this season has felt below par both individually and collectively for Liverpool’s captain.
5. Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Brighton’s recruitment model continues to uncover outstanding talent, and Jan Paul van Hecke has developed into one of the league’s most impressive defenders under Fabian Hurzeler.
The Dutchman combines composure on the ball with aggression out of possession, while his confidence stepping into midfield has become an important part of Brighton’s build-up play.
Van Hecke has been a major reason why Brighton remain firmly in the hunt for European qualification this season, producing consistently solid performances against some of the league’s strongest attacks.
His passing ability, defensive awareness, and willingness to play progressively have elevated his reputation significantly over the last year, attracting interest from several top European clubs. Despite Brighton losing key players in recent seasons, Van Hecke has emerged as one of the leaders of their new era.
4. Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City)
Abdukodir Khusanov’s rise at Manchester City has been one of the standout turnaround stories of the 2025/26 Premier League season. After a difficult introduction to English football, the Uzbekistan international has developed into one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted defensive options.
With Rúben Dias sidelined through injury for large parts of the campaign, Khusanov stepped into the starting XI and quickly formed a strong partnership alongside Marc Guéhi.
Together, the pair helped restore stability to City’s backline and reignite their Premier League title challenge after an inconsistent start to the season.
Khusanov’s athleticism, recovery speed, and aggressive defending have made him a constant presence in duels, while his calmness in possession has suited Guardiola’s build-up system perfectly. Across 1,249 minutes played, he has completed 92% of his passes while also winning 53 duels.
From early struggles to becoming a key figure in City’s defensive resurgence, Khusanov’s progression has been rapid. His partnership with Guéhi has turned what once looked like a fragile defence into one of the league’s most in-form units.
3. Marc Guéhi (Manchester City)
Marc Guéhi’s rise over the last few years has been hugely impressive, and his January move to Manchester City elevated his reputation even further.
The England international walked straight into Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up and quickly formed a strong partnership with Abdukodir Khusanov at the heart of City’s defence.
His calmness in possession, positional intelligence, and ability to remain composed under pressure have made him an ideal fit for Guardiola’s system.
With City battling to reclaim the Premier League title, Guéhi has become a key figure during the second half of the campaign, bringing stability and leadership to the backline during crucial moments.
Still entering the peak years of his career, Guéhi looks ready to establish himself as one of the defining Premier League defenders of this era.
2. William Saliba (Arsenal)
At just 24 years old, William Saliba already plays with the composure and maturity of a veteran defender. His reading of the game, positional awareness, and calmness in possession make him one of the most complete centre-backs in world football.
The Frenchman has been instrumental in Arsenal’s push for silverware this season, helping keep the Gunners top of the league while also playing a major role in their unbeaten run to the Champions League final.
Saliba’s consistency has been reflected in his outstanding numbers throughout the campaign. He has completed 1,961 passes at a superb 93% success rate while also winning 122 duels, underlining both his composure in possession and his authority in defensive situations.
Saliba rarely looks rushed even under pressure, and his ability to recover danger before it fully develops separates him from many defenders of his generation.
His elegance on the ball and defensive awareness continue to make him one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet, and looks set to remain the cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence for many years to come.
1. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
Strong in the air, aggressive in challenges, and consistently reliable, Gabriel Magalhães has firmly established himself as one of the Premier League’s elite defenders.
Alongside William Saliba, the Brazilian has played a huge role in keeping Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table while also helping them remain unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League on their way to the final.
Gabriel’s influence has stretched far beyond pure defending this season, having won 161 duels, including a remarkable 94 aerial duels, while also contributing heavily in possession with 1,603 completed passes at an 88% success rate.
In attacking situations, he has remained a major threat from set pieces too, registering 42 touches in the opposition box alongside an xG of 2.62 and an xA of 1.77.
His physicality perfectly complements Saliba’s composure, forming one of the strongest centre-back partnerships in European football today.
Should Arsenal finally secure another league title and European glory, Gabriel and Saliba’s partnership will undoubtedly be remembered among the greatest centre-back partnerships the Premier League has ever seen.
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