Best Premier League Defenders

The Premier League has witnessed among the hardest tackling, hardest and most technically gifted defenders in historical past.

On this weblog we take a look at the very best defenders at the moment taking part in within the Premier League.

What’s a soccer defender?

A defender is a soccer participant whose important responsibility is to cease the opposition crew from scoring. This implies a defender spends most of their time marking opposition forwards, placing in tackles, successful the ball within the air and clearing crosses.

There are sometimes three important positions a defender can play – centre again, left again and proper again. Our listing contains the very best Premier League centre backs, Premier League left backs and Premier League proper backs.

Defenders may show very important in assault too, whether or not it’s as an aerial risk within the opposition field, on the overlap down the wings or as the place to begin for launching counter assaults.

Who’s the very best defender within the Premier League?

10 – Reece James

Membership: Chelsea

Seasons in Premier League: 4

Appearances: 86

Clear sheets: 19

Yellow playing cards: 10

Crimson playing cards: 1

The youngest participant on this listing, James got here by way of Chelsea’s youth system and burst into the primary crew in 2019. A pacey proper again, he has already scored seven objectives and contributed 14 assists in his 86 appearances, exhibiting his prowess in supporting the Blues’ assaults down the flank.

9 – Cesar Azpilicueta

Membership: Chelsea

Seasons in Premier League: 11

Appearances: 329

Clear sheets: 113

Yellow playing cards: 31

Crimson playing cards: 2

The longest serving defender on the listing and Chelsea’s proper again since 2012. The 33-year-old has received two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup throughout his time in London and is a key a part of the Chelsea defence.

8 – Cristian Romero

Membership: Tottenham Hotspur

Seasons in Premier League: 2

Appearances: 24

Clear sheets: 5

Yellow playing cards: 8

Crimson playing cards: 0

After final season’s good mortgage spell, Romero was snapped up by Tottenham within the latest switch window. The Argentine centre again appears to be like skilled past his years and whereas he has solely performed one full season in England, he has the potential to turn into one of many Premier League’s finest centre backs.

7 – Thiago Silva

Membership: Chelsea

Seasons in Premier League: 3

Appearances: 60

Clear sheets: 21

Yellow playing cards: 5

Crimson playing cards: 1

A veteran defender, with over 100 caps for Brazil. Silva performed for 2 of the most important golf equipment in Europe in AC Milan and PSG earlier than his arrival at Chelsea, the place he instantly helped to shore up the defence and was a giant a part of their Champions League successful facet in 2021.

6 – Aymeric Laporte

Membership: Manchester Metropolis

Seasons in Premier League: 6

Appearances: 108

Clear sheets: 47

Yellow playing cards: 11

Crimson playing cards: 1

Given their dominance of the Premier League in latest seasons it’s little marvel three of Manchester Metropolis’s defenders make the highest 10. Laporte has had 5 full seasons in Manchester and whereas a number of of these have been stricken by damage, when match the Spaniard is a match for any opposition ahead.

5 – Andrew Robertson

Membership: Liverpool

Seasons in Premier League: 8

Appearances: 223

Clear sheets: 69

Yellow playing cards: 27

Crimson playing cards: 1

Scottish left-back that has been an enormous a part of Liverpool’s success in the previous couple of years. He’s typically seen on the overlap down the left wing, offering whipped crosses into the opposition field. One of many hardest working gamers on the sector, Robertson is rarely afraid of operating the size of the pitch to place in an important sort out.

4 – Joao Cancelo

Membership: Manchester Metropolis

Seasons in Premier League: 4

Appearances: 86

Clear sheets: 39

Yellow playing cards: 18

Crimson playing cards: 1

Portuguese defender who’s Pep Guardiola’s go-to left again. Blessed with tempo and talent, Cancelo presents a critical problem for any opposition ahead trying to break down the Metropolis left. He has rapidly developed into maybe the Premier League’s finest left again and at solely 28-year-old, he has a few years nonetheless forward of him.

3 – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Membership: Liverpool

Seasons in Premier League: 8

Appearances: 166

Clear sheets: 57

Yellow playing cards: 16

Crimson playing cards: 0

A very full defender. Alexander-Arnold has been constantly among the best gamers within the Premier League in the previous couple of seasons. Defensively strong, he additionally affords loads of attacking choices down the Liverpool proper, and as proven by his superb contribution of 45 assists in 166 begins, he is an important supplier for the Reds.

2 – Ruben Dias

Membership: Manchester Metropolis

Seasons in Premier League: 3

Appearances: 66

Clear sheets: 29

Yellow playing cards: 9

Crimson playing cards: 0

A giant presence within the air and a born chief in defence, Diaz is already among the best centre backs within the Premier League. In his two full seasons on the coronary heart of the Metropolis defence he has helped his facet to the title on each events and can be hoping to make it an ideal three from three this season.

1 – Virgil van Dijk

Membership: Liverpool

Seasons in Premier League: 9

Appearances: 201

Clear sheets: 83

Yellow playing cards: 12

Crimson playing cards: 1

A supremo on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s defence since making the change from Southampton in 2018. The Dutchman is thought for his commanding presence, energy within the air and combative tackling. His capacity to seemingly comfortably nullify the very best strikers within the league make him the Premier League’s primary centre again.