Top 10 Best Defenders In The Premier League Right Now

As the Premier League action heats up week after week, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of goals and celebrations. But let’s not forget about the backbone of every successful team, the defenders.

They may not always grab the headlines, but their contributions are invaluable in keeping the opposition at bay. However,

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Who Is Currently The Best Defender In The Premier League In The 2023/24 Season?

According to their current form, here are the best defenders In the Premier League right now:

1.  Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch professional footballer widely recognized as one of the top defenders in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

On July 31, 2023, following the departure of Jordan Henderson, Van Dijk was appointed as the new captain of Liverpool. However, his season had its ups and downs. On August 27, 2023, he received a red card against Newcastle United for a foul on Alexander Isak.

This incident was further compounded by Van Dijk’s refusal to leave the pitch and his use of abusive language towards the referee, resulting in a one-match ban and a £100,000 fine.

Despite this setback, Van Dijk’s leadership and defensive skills were clear throughout the season. He played a crucial role in Liverpool’s success, notably scoring the winning goal with a header in extra time of the EFL Cup final against Chelsea on February 25, 2024.

This victory was his first trophy as Liverpool’s captain. Additionally, Van Dijk’s statistics for the current season highlight his significance on the pitch. He has played over 25 matches, accumulating 2470 minutes of playtime, scoring two goals, and providing two assists.

Also, he completed 47 progressive dribbles and succeeded in 1275 dribbles. Van Dijk’s contributions to Liverpool’s defensive stability and his ability to make impactful plays in important moments made him one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

2. William Saliba

William Saliba is currently one of the best defenders In the Premier League. He gained prominence during the 2022-23 Premier League season while playing for Arsenal.

Saliba debuted for Arsenal on August 5, 2022, displaying a composed and error-free performance against Crystal Palace, as noted by BBC. His first goal for the club, which was a well-crafted shot against AFC Bournemouth, demonstrated his offensive capabilities. However, his season was cut short due to a back injury sustained on March 16, 2023, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Saliba’s absence had significant repercussions for Arsenal, particularly in their defensive stability, as they struggled defensively and relinquished their lead in the league standings to eventual champions Manchester City.

Despite this setback, Saliba reaffirmed his commitment to Arsenal by signing a long-term contract extension in July 2023. During the 2023-24 season, Saliba continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess, earning accolades for his performances.

With 27 matches played and over 2700 minutes on the field. His defensive statistics, including successful dribbles and progressive plays, underscored his importance to the team’s defensive strategy.

3. Gabriel Magalhães

Gabriel Magalhães, a Brazilian footballer, currently is one of the best defenders In the English Premier League for the 2023/24 season. He has shown his skills with several notable performances throughout the season.

On 17 September 2023, he marked his 100th appearance in the Premier League during Arsenal’s victory over Everton. His defensive skills were complemented by offensive contributions with his goal against Liverpool in a 1–1 draw at Anfield.

One of his best moments was on 20 January 2024, when Gabriel netted two crucial goals in Arsenal’s dominant 5–0 win against Crystal Palace.

Initially, the second goal was credited as an own goal, but after Arsenal’s appeal, the Premier League’s Goal Accreditation Appeals Panel awarded it to Gabriel. This achievement was his first brace for the club.

On 11 February, in Arsenal’s resounding 6–0 victory over West Ham, he registered his 150th appearance for the club while contributing a goal. His statistics for the season reflect his all-round contribution, with three goals and one assist in 25 matches played.

With his blend of defensive stability, occasional goal-scoring prowess, and consistent performances, Gabriel Magalhães has rightfully earned recognition as one of the best defenders in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.

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4. John Stones

John Stones has shown exceptional skills in the 2023/24 season. Throughout 13 matches, Stones conceded only 5 goals while securing an impressive 4 clean sheets.

This translates to a goal conceded approximately every 172 minutes when Stones is on the pitch. In terms of defensive contributions, Stones averaged 0.21 tackles and 0.84 interceptions per 90 minutes.

Additionally, he consistently cleared the danger with an average of 1.88 clearances per match. Despite his defensive focus, Stones has maintained discipline, receiving only 2 yellow cards and 0 red cards in the season so far.

His commitment to fair play is clear by his modest average of 0.31 fouls per 90 minutes. While primarily known for his defensive prowess, Stones has also displayed surprising accuracy in front of goal. Despite taking only 1 shot in the season, he impressively hit the target with every attempt, resulting in a shooting accuracy of 100%.

5. Joe Gomez

Gomez has been one of the top backbones In the 2023/24 Premier League season for Liverpool. We’ve seen some of his great performances in 23 matches with a playing time of 1357 minutes.

With an average of 0.66 goals conceded for every 90 minutes on the field. Moreover, Gomez has maintained a clean sheet in 35% of the matches he has played, totaling 8 clean sheets out of the 23 matches. This statistic highlights his ability to thwart opposition attacks effectively and preserve a secure defensive line for Liverpool.

However, he has yet to register a goal in the current Premier League season, but his contribution to scoring places him at 24th in Liverpool’s squad’s top scorers list.

Despite this, his defensive acumen remains a critical asset for his team’s success. When compared to other Premier League defenders, Gomez’s defensive statistics position him favorably among the best defenders in the league right now.

​6. Jarrad Branthwaite

Jarrad Branthwaite has garnered attention for his outstanding performances during the 2023/24 season. Despite starting the season on the substitutes’ bench, Branthwaite quickly established himself in the starting lineup, notably partnering with team captain James Tarkowski in central defense.

His reliability led to a contract extension with Everton until 2027. Branthwaite scored his first goal at Goodison Park against Tottenham Hotspur, contributing to a 2-2 draw.

In addition to his domestic performances, Branthwaite has also represented his country in the UEFA U21 Championship Qualification, appearing in four matches and accumulating a total of 338 minutes on the pitch.

Statistically, Branthwaite concedes an average of 0.8 goals per 90 minutes, with a clean sheet ratio of 50%, showing his ability to shut out opposition attacks.

These performances placed him among one of the best defenders in the Premier League and among UEFA U21 Championship Qualification players.

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7. Micky van de Ven

Micky van de Ven is a Dutch footballer known for his defensive prowess, and he’s currently one of the top defenders In the Premier League.

He made his Tottenham debut on August 13, 2023, in a match against Brentford and scored his first goal in English football on October 7, 2023, during Tottenham’s 1–0 victory over Luton Town.

However, his season faced a setback when he sustained a hamstring injury on November 6, 2023, during a match against Chelsea. Despite this lapse, he returned to action on January 14, 2024, in a 2–2 draw with Manchester United.

For the 2023/24 Premier League season, van de Ven has shown consistent performance, appearing in 17 matches and playing a total of 1484 minutes. On average, he concedes 1.03 goals for every 90 minutes played, with a clean-sheet ratio of 24%.

This means he has kept a clean sheet in 4 out of the 17 matches he has played. In terms of goal-scoring, van de Ven has netted one goal so far in the league, ranking him 12th in Tottenham Hotspur’s squad for the season.

Overall, van de Ven’s contributions on the field have established him as a key defensive player for Tottenham Hotspur in the ongoing Premier League campaign.

8. Rúben Dias

Rúben Dias has been a formidable presence in the Premier League, ranking as one of the best defenders in the 2023/24 season. With a notable appearance in 23 matches, summing up 1927 minutes on the field.

He has conceded an average of 0.93 goals for every 90 minutes played so far. Moreover, Dias boasts a Clean Sheets ratio of 30%. He has kept a Clean Sheet in 7 out of the 23 matches he has participated in.

Dias is exceptional, providing a sturdy backbone to his team’s defense and his skillful defense skills contribute significantly to his team’s defensive stability and overall performance on the pitch.

9. Sven Botman

Sven Botman has proven to be one of the best defenders in the ongoing 2023/24 Premier League season. His performance statistics highlight his proficiency on the field.

In 16 matches played, Botman has conceded 25 goals and maintained 4 clean sheets, restating to a goal conceded approximately every 52 minutes when he’s on the pitch.

He shows solid defensive skills with 1.26 tackles and 0.42 interceptions per 90 minutes, coupled with about 3.63 clearances. Offensively, Botman has scored 2 goals, both away, averaging 0.14 goals per 90 minutes, and assisted in 2 goals.

His involvement in goals stands at 0.28 per 90 minutes. Botman’s non-penalty expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes is 0.12. He maintains a shooting accuracy of 25.00% with a goal scored for every 4.00 shots taken.

Additionally, Botman’s passing accuracy is notable, completing roughly 64.22 passes per game with a rate of 90.75%. His ability to create scoring chances is obvious, making 0.35 key passes per game and having an expected assists (xA) output of 0.22 per 90 minutes.

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10. Lucas Digne

Digne has been fantastic for Aston Villa In the 2023/24 Premier League season. He has shown a commendable defensive record, conceding 19 goals while securing 4 clean sheets in 22 matches.

When he’s on the field, his team concedes a goal roughly every 83 minutes. His defensive prowess is apparent in his stats, with nearly 2 tackles and over 1 interception per 90 minutes, along with about 2 clearances.

Digne’s discipline is also notable, having received 5 yellow cards but no red cards, committing around 1.25 fouls per 90 minutes. Not just a solid defender, Digne also contributes offensively, scoring 1 goal and assisting 2 others this season.

His goal involvement stands at 0.17 per 90 minutes, and his shooting accuracy is around 44.44%. He takes roughly 0.51 shots per 90 minutes and has an xG output of 1.38.

Passing-wise, Digne averages around 39.28 passes per game with an 81.59% completion rate. He also creates significant scoring chances with 1.65 key passes per game, and his xA (Expected Assists) output is 0.19 per 90 minutes.