The best Premier League centre-backs of 2024-25 ranked
“No doubt offence sells the tickets, but defence wins championships,” as famed basketball coach Dave Thorson once said.
The adage is just as accurate for Premier League football. Every successful team possessed a central defender par excellence, and England’s top division is currently littered with them.
But who are the best centre-backs the Premier League has to offer right now? With 2024-25 underway, here are the best performers in the Premier League ranked by their Squawka Score this season so far.
Only players with 810+ minutes (half of the possible minutes across the season) under their belts have been considered.
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More Premier League player rankings:
- Who are the Premier League’s best wingers in 2024-25?
- Who are the Premier League’s best right-backs in 2024-25?
- Who are the Premier League’s best strikers in 2024-25?
5. Cristian Romero
- Team: Tottenham
- Squawka Score: 70%
Cristian Romero is a polarising figure. Tottenham fans continue to be frustrated with the Argentine over a perception that his lack of concentration costs the team goals. But Lionel Messi once described Romero as the best defender in the world. Romero has definitely calmed down this season, with just one yellow card and seven fouls committed from 12 games this season. He hasn’t committed more than one foul in a game.
Unfortunately, injury has hampered his playing time of late, with Ange Postecoglou recently taking a risk which didn’t pay off. But Romero’s ball-playing and ball-winning output has been elite this season. The Argentine has averaged 9.59 passes into the opposition half per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, in the 80-95th percentile among central defenders. He’s in the 95th percentile for tackles won, averaging 2.21 per 90.
4. Ibrahima Konate
- Team: Liverpool
- Squawka Score: 70%
Playing alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate’s development in Liverpool’s defence has accelerated. He’s turning into a king in the air, winning 82.35% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season. That places him in the 95th percentile among central defenders.
Konate has also proven tough to beat on the floor, with just 0.28 challenges lost per 90 and 2.03 possessions won in the defensive third. He was one of the first names on Arne Slot’s team sheet, but has unfortunately missed the past five games with a knee injury. Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in his absence.
3. Gabriel
- Team: Arsenal
- Squawka Score: 71%
When building a reputation, perceptions change. Whenever Arsenal have a corner, all eyes are inevitably on Gabriel. The Brazilian has developed a knack for scoring from Bukayo Saka’s deliveries. His manager, Mikel Arteta, will also be pleased with the Brazilian’s defensive work.
Gabriel has averaged 1.42 blocked shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, in the 95th percentile among defenders. He also ranks in the 80-95th percentile for last-man tackles retaining possession.
2. Virgil van Dijk
- Team: Liverpool
- Squawka Score: 75%
Form is temporary, as the old saying goes. Virgil van Dijk would be the first to admit he played below his usual (lofty) standards in recent times. But he is back, and better than ever. Perhaps he has been helped by taking over the captaincy from Jordan Henderson last season, leading Liverpool to EFL Cup success in Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign.
In the Premier League this season, Van Dijk has averaged 3.12 aerial duels won per 90, placing him in the 80-95th percentile among central defenders. He has an aerial duel success rate of 74.65%. He’s also lost just 0.20 challenges per 90 and averaged 4.35 clearances, showing it’s still so tough to get past him. Van Dijk’s forward passing accuracy of 82.12% is in the 80-95th percentile among central defenders.
1. Nikola Milenkovic
- Team: Nottingham Forest
- Squawka Score: 76%
Standing 6’5″, Nikola Milenkovic is a man mountain. Last season he was one of just two defenders with at least 30 games to have an aerial duel success rate above 70% in Serie A. This season, he’s proving tough to beat on the floor.
The Serbian has won 69.44% of his ground duels for Nottingham Forest, placing him in the 80-95th percentile among central defenders. Milenkovic has also lost just 0.06 challenges and had only 0.06 unsuccessful touches per 90 minutes, both in the 95th percentile.
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How do Squawka player ratings work?
Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.
Using extensive research and our expertise, we tailored each score to the players’ respective positions. For example, forwards are rated on metrics like shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.
