Who was the best Premier League midfielder in the 2025-26 campaign?
Midfield is a complex position on the pitch, with various roles even when focusing solely on the central areas. There are No.10s, No.8s, and No.6s as the leading positions. This list focuses solely on the No.8s and No.6s.
We used our Squawka Score to pick out the best 10 this season. Our rating system takes into account a variety of statistical categories, both defensive and offensive.
With 2025-26 now over,
We’re now in the final sprint of the 2025-26 campaign, and Bruno Guimaraes still leads the way on 77%. However, English duo Elliot Anderson and James Garner are in hot pursuit, while there are a host of big names making up the top 10, including Ryan Gravenberch, Enzo Fernandez and Bernardo Silva.
- Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle) – 79%
- Anton Stach (Leeds) – 69%
- Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) – 68%
- Declan Rice (Arsenal) – 66%
- Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) – 65%
- Joelinton (Newcastle) – 64%
- Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) – 64%
- James Garner (Everton) – 64%
- Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal) – 63%
- Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham) – 60%
Read on for more detail on the top five central midfield rankings, among midfielders with at least 1,710 minutes played (50%).
SBK betting offer: Bet £10, get £40 in free bets
Eligible readers* interested in this SBK betting offer can follow THIS LINK or click the image below.
New UK customers only. Min £10 first deposit using Debit Card or Bank Transfer. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get a £10 Football Bet Builder token upon settlement. A £10 Multiple token, a £5 Horse Racing Multiple token and a £5 Football Bet Builder token will be credited after 24 hours. A further £10 Free Bet token will be credited 48 hours after the qualifying bet has been settled. Full T&Cs apply, 18+. GambleAware.org.
5. Granit Xhaka
- Team: Sunderland
- Squawka Score: 65%
Sunderland secured European football on their Premier League return, and Granit Xhaka played a big part in that. The Swiss midfielder was a solid passer for Sunderland, averaging 7.25 completed passes into the final third per 90 minutes — placing him in the 80-95th percentile. He also ranked well for his 13.61 accurate forward passes, as well as 0.28 big chances created and 0.16 intentional assists. Xhaka sat in the 95th percentile and above for his 11.25 final third entries per 90.
4. Declan Rice
- Team: Arsenal
- Squawka Score: 66%
Declan Rice’s role changed a few times across the season, which has hurt his Score slightly. But he still remains one of the best in the Premier League. The Arsenal man sits in the 95th percentile and above for his 7.49 penalty area entries per 90 and 0.49 big chances created, causing problems for opposition defences as we know he can. Rice also ranked well for intentional assists (0.12) and successful passes into the penalty area (1.13) per 90, among other key metrics.
3. Elliot Anderson
- Team: Nottingham Forest
- Squawka Score: 68%
Elliot Anderson has emerged as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League in 2025-26. He did well across the board, sitting in the 95th percentile and above for his ball recoveries (8.26) and duels won (8.02) per 90, as well as his 3.43 possessions won in the defensive third. Anderson was very good on the ball too, with 15.39 accurate forward passes per 90 and 7.34 completed passes into the final third. The Englishman wasn’t just playing safe passes, he constantly looked to get Nottingham Forest up the pitch.
2. Anton Stach
- Team: Leeds
- Squawka Score: 69%
It may be a surprise to see Anton Stach so high. But he was excellent for Leeds United this season. Stach is most known for his creativity, with good scores for his 0.98 successful passes into the penalty area per 90. He also ranks well for the percentage of his passes that go into the final third and touches in the opposition box (2.08). But Stach’s best metric is his possessions won in the attacking third, with his 0.95 per 90, ranking in the 95th percentile and above.
1. Bruno Guimaraes
- Team: Newcastle
- Squawka Score: 79%
The best of the bunch in the Premier League in 2025-26 was Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian formed part of a settled midfield at Newcastle United and did a bit of everything, even with the Magpies’ struggles. He ranked in the 95th percentile and above for successful passes into the penalty area (1.83) and shots on target (0.84) per 90, alongside percentage of passes to the final third. Guimaraes also ranks well for penalty area entries (6.01) and big chances created (0.26). He’s become a real danger to opponents.
How do Squawka’s 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.