The role of a defensive midfielder has evolved so much over the years. From breaking up play, winning the ball back and protecting their defensive lines, to setting up attacks, making clever forward runs and impacting play in the opposition end of the pitch — they’re asked to do it all.
But who of these midfield generals are the best? In this article you’ll find some familiar faces like N’Golo Kanté, Joshua Kimmich, Casemiro and Rodri, but there are some fresh faces too who are quickly making a name for themselves after showcasing their incredible talent over the last 12 months or so.
So, without further ado, I present to you my top 20 defensive midfielders in men’s football right now:
Also read: Top 10 attacking midfielders in Premier League right now
Ibrahim Sangaré is a 25-year-old Ivorian defensive midfielder who has recently moved to Nottingham Forest from Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven. A physical and athletic player known for his tackling, passing and ball-carrying ability, Sangaré has the potential to be a top-class player.
During the 2022/23 season, Sangaré made 45 appearances for PSV across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing three assists. He averaged 2.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game and had a high pass completion rate of 88.6%.
Besides being a good tackler and an able passer, Sangaré also has a good work rate and positional sense. However, he can be a bit rash in challenges and get caught out of position.
Youssouf Fofana is a French defensive midfielder who plays for Ligue 1 club AS Monaco. Known for his all-round abilities, combining a strong defensive presence with good passing and dribbling skills, Fofana is strong both in the air and on the ground, while his good passing range allows him to start attacks from deep.
During the 2022/23 season, Fofana played 47 games for the Monégasque side, scoring two and providing two assists. Given his ability to break up play and start attacks, he averaged 2.3 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per 90′ while keeping an 83% pass completion rate and 2.1 successful dribbles per 90′ in the French Ligue 1.
Still a promising young midfielder, and given his growth over recent years, Fofana will soon be on the wishlist of some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
The Austria international had another excellent season for RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga last season as he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league and earned himself a move to Bayern Munich on the back of it.
Laimer made 29 appearances for Leipzig in all competitions last season, scoring four goals and providing one assist. He averaged 3.5 tackles per game, 1.1 interceptions per game, and 1.3 successful dribbles per 90′. He also won 60% of his duels.
Laimer’s defensive stats are particularly impressive, with him ranking in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90′ and the 95th percentile for interceptions per game among midfielders in the Bundesliga.
A complete midfielder who is capable of doing everything, Laimer is a great tackler, an excellent passer, and a capable dribbler. He is also a hard worker who covers every blade of the pitch. He is a valuable asset to any team and is sure to be a success at Bayern Munich.
N’Golo Kanté will go down in history as one of the most unique and beloved players in world football. The diminutive midfielder is a gifted ball-winner and has a knack for finding space in tight areas. Known for his incredible energy, relentless tackling and ability to break up play, it seems his body is finally calling it a day after sustaining recurring injuries during his final campaign with Chelsea last season.
Now playing in the Saudi Pro League alongside compatriot Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad, the 32-year-old will be looking to set alight the league and enjoy the final years of his professional career.
Marcelo Brozovi? had another outstanding season for Inter Milan last season. The Croatia international played a key role in the Nerazzurri‘s charge for silverware both domestically and continentally, making 40 appearances in all competitions and contributing with three goals and six assists, as Inter made it to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
The 30-year-old’s strengths lie in his passing, ball retention and defensive work rate. He is an excellent passer of the ball, both short and long, and being the metronomic figure he is at the middle of the pitch, he is always looking to create chances for his teammates.
Despite attracting interest with his performances last season from some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Brozovi? decided to try a new challenge by securing a move to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr on a three-year contract that is reportedly worth more than €25 million per season.
Regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world not long ago, Brazil international Fabinho’s fall from grace has been nothing short of sensational. Just 18 months ago, the 29-year-old was part of the Liverpool setup that was all set to conquer England and Europe, and he played a crucial role in it. Today, that same player isn’t even considered among the top 10 in his position.
A versatile midfielder who can deputise both at right-back and centre-back, Fabinho was the anchor of an ageing Liverpool team that just had one season too many without mobility and legs in their midfield since their Champions League triumph in 2019.
With his big £40m move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad this summer, Fabinho will be earning a massive £700,000-per-week in wages. Part of the big contingent of established big-name players making the switch to Saudi Arabia, it’ll be interesting to see whether Fabinho can bring back some of his lost touch that made him stand out as one of the very best.
Sergio Busquets is probably the last of his kind. The archetypal deep-lying playmaker, his ability to control the tempo of a game remains unmatched to this day. The 35-year-old has a wide passing range, can pick out a pass with either foot, and is always on the lookout to create chances for his teammates. An excellent reader of the game, the Barcelona legend is a master of the art of interception, always finding himself in the right place to break up opposing attacks.
Last season, Busquets was ranked in the 99th percentile for passes completed and in the 95th percentile for progressive passes. However, Busquets’ 2022/23 season was not without its flaws. Throughout the season, there were instances where he would be caught out of position, while also demonstrably not being up to pace to start quick counter-attacks.
With his summer move to Inter Miami, Busquets will now be playing alongside friend and former Barça teammate Lionel Messi after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the David Beckham-owned club.
Juve’s loss is Tottenham’s gain. After his rocky patch with Juventus, Rodrigo Bentancur took some time to find his feet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his first season under Antonio Conte. However, the first half of the 2022/23 season showed what this Uruguayan midfielder can bring to the table when given the licence to flourish.
An elegant passer of the ball, Bentancur was one of the standout performers for Conte’s side last campaign, recycling possession effectively and marshalling the defence as a screen alongside Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
In his 26 appearances for Spurs, before an ACL injury ended his season prematurely, Bentancur scored six goals and set up another two. However, with the appointment of an attacking-minded head coach in Ange Postecoglou, Bentancur is sure to become an even greater asset due to his defensive and box-to-box abilities.
Despite another disappointing campaign for Spurs, the Denmark international enjoyed another solid season, especially in front of goal, scoring five and creating another seven in 44 appearances across all competitions as Spurs finished the season in eighth place in the league.
A tidy midfielder, whose primary strengths are his passing, ball retention and defensive work rate, Højbjerg’s deep-playmaking abilities will also come in handy under the new management of Ange Postecoglou.
At 28, Højbjerg is entering his prime years. Being a part of the leadership group at the club, his contribution both on and off the pitch will be vital if Spurs are to push for a European-place finish in the post-Harry Kane era.
João Palhinha was a revelation in his debut season in the Premier League. The Portuguese midfielder joined Fulham from Sporting CP for £18 million in the summer and has quickly established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league.
A tireless worker who is always looking to win the ball back and progress the play by distributing the ball from deep, it is Palhinha’s positional awareness and decision-making that sets him apart from many of his peers.
Palhinha’s ball-winning ability and passing range make him a complete midfielder, and despite just a season in the Premier League, the 28-year-old Portuguese midfielder has attracted attention from some of the top clubs in Europe with his combative performances throughout the 2022/23 season. A move to Bayern fell through at the eleventh hour in the summer, though don’t rule out a winter move away from Craven Cottage for the Portuguese.
Remember the raw and headless-chicken-like André-Frank Zambo Anguissa in Fulham’s relegation campaign during the 2020/21 Premier League season? Yes, that Zambo Anguissa. Today, that very player has become a Serie A champion with Napoli.
A versatile midfielder who can play in a variety of roles, the Cameroon international is strong in defence, good at carrying the ball forward, and is excellent at reading the game and anticipating danger.
The 27-year-old perfectly balanced defensive duties with smart forward runs as he frequently bossed the game for his team from the middle of the pitch last season, scoring four and assisting eight goals in 45 appearances across all competitions last season.
If he continues to develop at this rate, Zambo Anguissa has the potential become one of the best midfielders in the world in the coming years.
After his breakthrough season for AC Milan during their Scudetto-winning campaign of the 2021/22 season, Sandro Tonali established himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Europe last season. Despite the Rossoneri failing to retain their domestic crown, the 23-year-old enjoyed his most productive season in professional football after scoring two and assisting 10 goals in 48 games across all competitions.
A technically-gifted midfielder whose attacking threat lie in his accurate passing, timely dribbles and astute ball retention, Tonali is also known for his defensive duties. The Italy international is an exceptional reader of the game, knowing when to trigger a press or put in a tackle.
Tonali’s performances in 2022/23 made Newcastle United splash £55 million to acquire his services on a five-year deal. Given Eddie Howe’s playing philosophy, Tonali should easily slot into that midfield-three.
Ever since joining Newcastle in January 2022 from French club Olympique Lyonnais, Bruno Guimarães has been one of the catalysts in Newcastle United’s rise from relegation fodder to Champions League qualification.
Sitting at the base of the Magpies’ midfield-three, the Brazil international breaks up play and sets off attacks from deep. Last season, alongside Joe Willock and Joelinton, Guimarães formed a formidable trio that bullied and harassed most teams in the Premier League. His defensive contributions, as well as his five goals and five assists, were vital to Newcastle finishing fourth.
With European football back at St James’ Park after two decades, Guimarães will look to build on his performances from last season.
Brighton & Hove Albion have made a habit of unearthing hidden gems in this hyperinflated football market. This time it is Moisés Caicedo who has exceeded all expectations to emerge as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
After breaking into the Brighton playing XI towards the end of the 2021/22 season, Caicedo took no time to cement his place in their midfield, becoming a star performer for Robert De Zerbi’s side as Brighton qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.
For someone who is strong, athletic, technically gifted and has a good understanding of the game at the age of just 21, it seems understandable why Chelsea went all in and broke the British transfer record to sign Caicedo for £115 million.
Real Madrid’s €80m acquisition of Aurélien Tchouaméni from AS Monaco didn’t quite go to plan last summer as the France international failed to cement a starting position in a star-studded Real Madrid midfield. However, having particularly impressed by his defensive work that includes timely tackles and interceptions, at 23, Tchouaméni has enough time to hone his attacking attributes and emerge as an heir to either Toni Kroos or Luka Modri? when they eventually hang up their boots.
Despite his lack of playing time at the Spanish capital, Tchouaméni has had a long list of suitors ready to prize him away from LaLiga, especially with Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool looking to bolster their midfield ranks.
Declan Rice’s stock has risen astronomically over the last couple of seasons. The former West Ham United captain enjoyed another fruitful campaign last season that ended with him lifting the UEFA Conference League trophy, bringing home the club’s first silverware in over 40 years. As a result, the 24-year-old earned himself a £105m move to Arsenal over the summer.
Very few players in world football can match the England international’s excellent tackling rate and superb reading of the game with timely interceptions. There has always been doubts about his offensive capabilities, though given some of the worldies he has scored for the Hammers over the years, there’s no doubt Rice will get ample opportunities to decide games in the attacking half as well.
Joshua Kimmich is one of the few elite-level versatile footballers currently in the game. The right-back-turned-defensive-midfielder has been the architect of Bayern Munich’s success both domestically and continentally.
The Germany international is a complete midfielder as he keep things ticking with his immaculate passing range and while also being able to break up play at an unprecedented level for both club and country. Having someone like Leon Goretzka alongside him gives Kimmich licence to make marauding forward runs and create chances for both himself and his teammates.
Arsenal’s Ghanaian midfielder was challenging the likes of Rodri and Casemiro as the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League last season before injuries to William Saliba and himself derailed Arsenal’s bid to win a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years.
It won’t be exactly an exaggeration to say that the role Partey plays in the Arsenal midfield is one of the toughest roles in European football at the moment. Everything flows through Partey, who is the lynchpin of this Arsenal team, and whenever he’s having an off-day, the team is likely to struggle for control.
The addition of Declan Rice will certainly give Partey more licence to venture forward, which he consistently used to do during his Atlético Madrid days. Despite interests from the Middle East, Partey has remained with the Gunners, extending his deal until 2028.
As far as midfield destroyers go, there is none better than Casemiro in world football right now. The 31-year-old Brazilian was at the heart of everything good at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for seven years before Florentino Pérez and Real Madrid deemed him surplus to requirements.
Thus, it was a big shock when the Brazil international joined Manchester United last summer. But Casemiro took little time to cement his place in the team and became one of the indispensable members of Erik ten Hag’s setup, playing a crucial rule to help United return to the Champions League with a third-place Premier League finish.
Like so many players before and after him, it took a year for the Spain international to get to grips with the pace and physicality of the Premier League. However, once he found his feet, there have been few midfielders that have been better than Rodri in the defensive midfield department.
Last season, alongside Erling Haaland, Rodri was one of Man City’s most consistent performers. Scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final to help his club become only the second English team to win a European treble, Rodri was awarded the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season award for his performances.
Given his role in City’s historic treble-winning campaign, there’s no doubt that the 27-year-old Spaniard will be right up there with Erling Haaland contesting for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
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