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The Premier League has always boasted some of the world's best players over the years, and that includes defenders. Superstars from around the world have always been drawn towards the Premier League, which is why it is considered to be the best league in the world.
Some of football's best defenders are currently competing in the Premier League. Today's list will look at 5 of the most valuable defenders currently playing in England's top flight.
The values of the players take into consideration their abilities, performance, age, remaining contract duration and injury history, and not the value that they have to their respective clubs. So without further ado, here are
The 5 most valuable defenders in the Premier League
Values provided by Football Transfers
#5 Raphael Varane (Manchester United) - £54 million
Raphael Varane has established himself as one of the world's best defenders over the past few years. The former Real Madrid man has won a slew of trophies as part of the Los Blancos backline, partnered with Spanish centre-back Sergio Ramos at the heart of their defense.
Now, the Frenchman has finally made his way to the Premier League. Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign the defender for £42 million earlier this summer, in what is a massive coupe by the Red Devils. Varane is a world class player whose positioning and defensive awareness are amongst the world's best. His calmness and comfort on the ball will also be huge for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who looked shaky at the back on multiple occasions in the 2020-21 season.
At just 28-years-old, Varane is in the prime of his career and could be a stalwart of Manchester United's defense for years to come.
#4 Harry Maguire (Manchester United) - £54.35 million
Raphael Varane's new partner at Manchester United, Harry Maguire, occupies the #4 spot on the list. The Manchester United captain has become one of the Premier League's best centre-backs over the past year, after his slow start for the club.
Manchester United bought Maguire from Leicester City for £78 million back in 2019, and the Englishman has been a fixture in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side ever since.
Maguire's aerial prowess is unmatched among defenders in the Premier League and his physicality will make him the perfect foil for Varane's technical ability. Also 28-years-old, Maguire and Varane will form one of the league's best centre-back partnerships for at least the next 3-4 years.
#3 Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - £63.4 million
No one expected Portuguese defender - Ruben Dias - to reach the heights he has in the Premier League when he joined Manchester City last season. The Portuguese defender was bought from Benfica for £62 million and completely changed Pep Guardiola's defense.
Dias marshaled City's defense and was one of the main reasons why they ran away with the Premier League title in the 2020-21 season. The Portuguese defender was also named FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League's Player of the Season.
Dias's mobility and positional awareness makes him one of the best modern centre-backs in world football. The 24-year old has a long career ahead of him and is sure to add many more accolades to his already impressive resume.
#2 Andy Robertson (Liverpool) - £65.44 million
The first full-back on the list with another unexpected meteoric rise to prominence, Andy Robertson is one of, if not the best, left-backs in the world today.
The Scot joined Liverpool from Hull City for £8 million back in 2017, in what is one of the biggest transfer coupes of the 2010's. Since then, he has established himself as a bonafide superstar in Jurgen Klopp's side and helped the Reds win the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League and 2019-20 Premier League titles.
Robertson is one of the best all-round full-backs in the game. The Scot's defensive prowess is matched by his ability to move forward. The 27-year-old is also a set-piece specialist, which adds another potent weapon to his arsenal. Since joining Liverpool, the left-back has provided 39 assists in 189 Premier League appearances and has been named in both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League teams of the year.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - £71 million
Robertson's partner-in-crime, Trent Alexander-Arnold, holds the top spot as the Premier League's most valuable defender. In a short amount of time, the Englishman has become one of the best right-backs in world football.
Alexander-Arnold came through the Liverpool academy, making his first team debut in 2016. Since then, the 22-year old has only gone from strength to strength and become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.
The Englishman's set-piece proficiency and ability to pick out a pass are unmatched in his position. Alexander-Arnold also has the ability to drift into midfield and is a huge component of Jurgen Klopp's style of play.
The 22-year old has already registered 8 goals and 33 assists in 129 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, and with more than a decade left in his career, one can expect Alexander-Arnold to become one of the league's greatest ever players.
