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In the history of the Premier League, there have been some fine defensive midfielders. Over the years, the need for a quality defensive-minded midfielder has only increased in world football.
They can be a catalyst in dictating the flow of a football match. The role of a defensive midfielder is crucial irrespective of whether a formation with two or three midfielders is considered.
The Premier League is home to some great defensive midfielders at present
There was a time when the likes of Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele and others gave a different dimension to the midfield across Premier League clubs.
Luckily, the quality of defensive midfielders hasn't ever been compromised in the Premier League. Top-class defensive-minded midfielders are still very much present in the league. Without much ado, let's have a look at five of the finest that are currently playing in England's top division:
#5 Yves Bissouma (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Yves Bissouma was once a teammate with Adama Traore at Majestic SC during his early days. It was during his stint at Lille in Ligue 1 that the Malian midfielder caught the eye of many.
The central defensive midfielder was signed by Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2018. Since then, Bissouma has been a regular starter for the Seagulls in the Premier League, only out when he was injured.
The 25-year old is a strong unit in midfield given his smart reading of the game, fine tackling and effective interception abilities. Bissouma is an ideal player to help protect the defense, especially in a tough league like the Premier League.
He was touted to move away this summer from the Sussex-based club but a move didn't materialize. If his form continues like it has been in the past three seasons, Bissouma is more than likely to join a top Premier League club next season.
#4 Declan Rice (West Ham United)
The English midfielder had quite an impressive time at Euro 2020 and has been linked with a number of clubs in the Premier League. Manchester United and Chelsea looked like potential destinations for Declan Rice this summer. With West Ham United being firm in their valuation of £100 million for the Englishman, neither club were ready to match that price.
As a result, Rice is still with the east London club, trying his best to help the Hammers secure a place in Europe for next season. The former Chelsea youth player brings a lot of composure and stability to the midfield. He has a good understanding of the game, is technically sound and can be quite helpful in building an attack.
In his 137 appearances in the Premier League, Rice has made 318 tackles, with a success ratio of 58 per cent. With his smart intellect, the 22-year old can be a huge asset in midfield and it is almost inevitable that he'll play for a bigger club come next summer.
#3 Fabinho (Liverpool)
The Premier League has some versatile midfielders and Fabinho is definitely one of them. Fabinho has been quite an underrated player for the Reds given how he has gone about his business effectively without creating any fuss.
The Liverpool midfielder is really the engine when it comes to his performance in midfield. Fabinho has the ability to recover the ball and help in recycling possession. His strong and incisive reading of the game helps in restricting the opposition more often than not.
At Liverpool, the Brazilian has also contributed in giving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson the liberty to attack more, dropping in as a third centre-back. The 27-year old has also been used as a centre-half in the Premier League by Jurgen Klopp when in need.
Fabinho, with his experience and technical abilities, has been a delight to watch in the Premier League. He has been an important player for the Merseyside club and remains a key part of their ambition to win silverware this season.
#2 Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
After N'Golo Kante's departure to Chelsea in 2016, Leicester City needed a strong replacement for the Frenchman. Wilfred Ndidi was brought in from Genk in 2017 to fulfill that goal and the Nigerian hasn't disappointed a bit.
Leicester City have been a commendable team ever since their historic Premier League title win in the 2015-16 season. Post that, they have been intensely pushed to play in Europe and have been successful in that.
Ndidi, alongside Youri Tielemans, has been an interesting watch. While the Belgian is an adventurous midfielder, Ndidi likes to sit back and help the defense. The 24-year old does participate in the attack but his natural game always revolves around protecting the back-four.
He likes to help out his defenders and break the opposition's game-play. Ndidi's tackles and interceptions have been very effective in the Premier League. In his 152 appearances in the league, the Foxes' midfielder has made 591 tackles with a success ratio of 62 per cent. With his skills in midfield, the young Nigerian could attract interest from big clubs sooner rather than later.
#1 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
There are very few players in the Premier League who are loved by the fanbase of almost every club. N'Golo Kante is surely one of them. The Frenchman has always kept a positive attitude on and off the pitch.
Seldom, we see players as hardworking as Kante on the pitch. He has won the Premier League with both Leicester City and Chelsea. He's also won the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, the FA Cup and the FIFA World Cup.
Over the past few years Kante has become a beast of a midfielder. He has a tireless work-rate, amazing positional sense, brilliant tactical awareness and superb ability to read the game. With all this combination, the French midfielder is a blessing to have for any team.
If you've got Kante in your team, it's like having an additional player on the pitch. In his 198 appearances in the Premier League, the 2018 World Cup winner has made 618 tackles, with a success ratio of 63 per cent. Undoubtedly, the Chelsea midfielder is arguably the best defensive midfielder in England's top tier league right now.
