The 10 Best Premier League Centre-Backs 2025/26 Season
- Think Football Ideas
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Ranking the Premier League’s Top 10 Centre-Backs for the 2025/26 Season
As the years have gone by, tactical trends continue to shift, and the Premier League’s centre-backs have evolved into far more than pure stoppers. They are now tasked with carrying the ball out, dictating tempo from deep, and offering the first line of creativity as much as defence.
In a league overflowing with high earners and elite talent, the position remains one of the most demanding roles in football today.
The following names showcase the centre-backs who balance artistry with grit and durability, as well as structure with instinct, setting the standard for the 2025/26 campaign.
Here are The 10 Best Premier League Centre-Backs 2025/26 Season
10. Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Brighton's model for recruiting the right fit continues to shine with Van Hecke. Under Hurzeler, who is one of the best young football managers in the game today, van Hecke has matured into a composed and technically adept defender.
The Dutchman is capable of stepping into midfield with precision. His statistical profile with 87% completed passes, 38 duels won, and a knack for scoring goals has drawn the attention of Europe’s top clubs.
Still, for now, the Seagulls are benefiting from his presence as both a defensive rock and a vital cog who helps them build up play from the back.
9. John Stones (Manchester City)
England defender John Stones reinvented himself in recent years by thriving as a hybrid midfielder-defender, but the 2025/26 season sees him back in his original centre-back role.
Despite injuries impacting his consistency, Pep Guardiola continues to rely on him in crucial matches when he is fit, as the City manager values his experience and calmness under pressure.
Since City's initial home loss to Spurs, in which he did not perform well, he has improved with each game and is demonstrating why he remains a vital player at this stage of his career.
England coach Thomas Tuchel also places huge trust in him, with Stones expected to play a central role at the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
8. Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
Few players bring the authority Rúben Dias provides when donning the Citizens' shirt. Though his levels dipped slightly in the 2024-25 season, mainly due to injuries, his leadership remains integral to City’s defensive unit.
Organising the backline alongside John Stones, winning aerial battles, and bringing composure during tense moments continue to make him indispensable. For Guardiola, Dias remains the defensive heartbeat even when City rotate heavily across competitions.
7. Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)
Micky Van de Ven’s recovery pace, as one of the fastest players in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign, is among the most valuable assets in Spurs’ backline.
After missing much of last season through injury, he returned at the right time to play a pivotal role in Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph.
Now fully fit, his strength and ability to recover ground have stood out under Thomas Frank, whose system demands athletic, intelligent defenders.
Spurs supporters know he is central to their hopes of building on last season’s Europa League triumph. So far, in the 2025-26 season, he continues to show why he is capable of becoming one of Spurs' greatest defenders in Premier League history.
6. Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
Romero has always been high impact but also highly combustible. Under Frank, his rashness has been curbed, and he looks a steadier, more composed leader.
With Son Heung-min’s departure, the Argentine player has been given the captain's armband, and this added responsibility, following his brief role as vice-captain, seems to have sharpened his focus.
Romero seems to be combining aggression with improved decision-making, which is crucial for Spurs' stability this season. His statistics indicate he has completed 89% of his passes and won 37 duels.
5. Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)
Ibrahima Konaté continues to live somewhat in Van Dijk’s shadow, but his influence cannot be understated.
Although he has occasional lapses, his power, pace, and ball-carrying ability establish him as one of Europe's top defenders
Liverpool's ambitions across multiple competitions this season heavily depend on the partnership between him and Van Dijk, which is considered one of the strongest in the league.
His performances last term led many to suggest that he has the potential to become Liverpool’s defensive leader of the future, especially if Virgil van Dijk leaves after his current contract ends.
However, his start to the 2025-26 season has been underwhelming and not up to the expectations of Liverpool fans. Nonetheless, he remains one of the best centre-backs on English soil.
4. Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
Marc Guehi’s rise has been both rapid and symbolic of Palace’s transformation in recent seasons. After impressing at Euro 2024, he returned to lead his club to a historic FA Cup triumph under Oliver Glasner in 2025.
Months later, he was again central to the team’s Community Shield victory over Liverpool. Organised, composed, and now experienced in pressure moments, Guehi is now one of the most sought-after central defenders in Europe.
In his first seven matches, he scored a goal and recorded an assist, winning 42 duels. Liverpool will be ruing not going for him early in the summer transfer window.
3. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
Strong in the air, aggressive in challenges, and consistently available, Gabriel Magalhães has re-established himself as a cornerstone in Arsenal’s title-chasing squads. He is the kind of centre-half most coaches would love to have in their squad.
Links with a move abroad in 2024 never materialised, and since then, his commitment and outstanding performances have silenced doubts.
Arsenal’s defensive success relies on his physicality complementing Saliba’s elegance, forming one of the league’s most formidable defensive partnerships. A title should secure him and Saliba's affiliation as one of the greatest centre-back partnerships the Premier League has ever seen.
2. William Saliba (Arsenal)
At just 24, Saliba already plays with the maturity of a veteran. His timing, reading of play, and composure make him one of the most complete defenders of his generation.
Recognition has come in the form of PFA Team of the Year selections, but his consistency and influence extend beyond individual awards.
Arsenal’s defensive record and their ability to compete toe-to-toe with Liverpool and City are rooted in Saliba’s excellence. Having signed a new contract, he is solely focused on Arsenal.
1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Even after so many years at the top, Van Dijk remains the benchmark. Returning to peak levels, he led Liverpool to the title under Arne Slot, reaffirming his status as one of the Premier League’s greatest defenders.
His dominance in the air, calmness on the ball, and leadership qualities continue to set him apart. In his first seven matches of the campaign, he had already won 41 duels, with 32 of them being aerial duels. As Liverpool look to secure more silverware, Van Dijk’s fitness and form will be the foundations of their challenge.
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