England, the birthplace of soccer, has always produced exceptional talents who have made their mark on the pitch. But as well as launching so many into the world, it is also a hub that attracts the best players from every continent. That’s why, in this guide to the best midfielders in England, we’re going to talk about 15 stars who currently play for English teams, regardless of their nationality.
You’ll find the leaders of the country’s biggest teams, such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and more!
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Top 10 English midfielders: career, titles and records
The list of the best midfielders in England today includes:
- Rodri
- Declan Rice
- Bruno Guimarães
- Moises Caicedo
- Kobbie Mainoo
- Yves Bissouma
- Enzo Fernandez
- Sandro Tonali
- Amadou Onana
- Manuel Ugarte
- Boubacar Kamara
- Casemiro
- Edson Alvarez
- Wataru Endo
- James Ward-Prowse
Here’s a look at the careers and titles of England’s best midfielders today, who help ensure that the Premier League remains among the best leagues in the world.
#1 Rodri (Manchester City)
The Manchester City midfielder tops many international lists of the best midfielders in the world today.
Part of one of the most successful teams in recent years, the Spanish star has played for teams such as Villareal and Atlético de Madrid.
In 2019, he was signed by Manchester City for 70 million euros and, in 2023, he experienced the peak of his career when he scored the only goal in the final of the Champions League, which decided City’s first title in the competition.
Read also: Champions League winners: 10 greatest teams, players, coaches and countries that have dominated the competition
Titles won by Manchester City
- English Super Cup: 2019
- English League Cup: 2019-20 and 2020-21
- Premier League: 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24
- FA Cup: 2022-23
- UEFA Champions League: 2022-23
- UEFA Super Cup: 2023
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2023
#2 Declan Rice (Arsenal)
As well as being one of the best midfielders in England, Declan Rice is also one of the best in other positions such as central midfielder or defender. Super versatile, the athlete is one of the strongest names on the pitch when it comes to the Premier League.
The Englishman began his career at West Ham, where he received his first call-up to the senior squad aged just 18 in 2017.
As early as 2023, Rice signed a long-term contract with Arsenal, transferring for no less than an initial £100 million, making him the most expensive English player, with Jack Grealish.
Titles for West Ham
UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022-23
Arsenal titles
English Super Cup: 2023
Campaign highlights
England
Second place in the Eurocup: 2020
Third place in the UEFA Nations League: 2018-19
#3 Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United)
On the list of the best midfielders in England, Brazilian Bruno Guimarães plays for Newcastle United and the Brazilian national team. He was even part of the team that won the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
A star at Atlético Paranaense, he joined Lyon for the 2020 season and, in 2022, moved to English soccer, where he is one of the stars.
#4 Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)
At just 22, Caicedo is already one of the best midfielders in England. The youngster was discovered when he was just 13, when he was given the chance to play for Independiente del Valle, one of Ecuador’s most traditional teams.
In fact, the star is one of the names that Flamengo fans won’t forget, after all, in 2020, he scored one of the goals, as well as a memorable performance in the Ecuadorian team’s 5-0 thrashing of the rubronegro in the third round of the Libertadores group stage.
In 2021, he moved to international soccer, starting out at Brighton & Hove Albion, then at Berschoot, until in 2023, he arrived at Chelsea, one of the biggest teams in England.
The club paid £100 million plus £15 million in performance-related bonuses, making it the most expensive signing in Premier League history.
#5 Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Now just 19, Mainoo arrived at Manchester United at the age of 9 in 2014. Eight years later, in 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the team and is currently one of the best midfielders in England.
In 2024, the star scored his first goal as a professional and 3 days later, he scored the winning goal in a 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which was voted the Premier League Goal of the Month for February.
Three months later, the star entered the record books as the youngest Manchester United player to score against Liverpool in the North West Derby (the name of the soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester United, both clubs from the North West of England), at the age of 18 years and 354 days.
In that season’s FA Cup final, Mainoo secured victory over rivals City with a goal, winning his first FA Cup title.
Titles for Manchester United
English League Cup: 2022-23
FA Cup: 2023-24
#6 Yves Bissouma (Tottenham)
Yves Bissouma is a Malian midfielder known for his intensity and defensive ability.
He began his career in Mali, before making a name for himself at French side Lille, where his performances made him one of the top talents in League 1.
In 2018, Bissouma was signed by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, where he gained even more prominence. In 2023, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, where he quickly became an important cog in the midfield, becoming one of the best midfielders in England. He is admired for his physical strength, ball control and ability to intercept moves.
#7 Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Enzo Fernández is an Argentine midfielder who attracted worldwide attention after his brilliant performances for River Plate and the Argentina national team.
He excelled in winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he was voted “Best Young Player”.
After his success in Argentina, he moved to Benfica in Portugal, where his performances led Chelsea to sign him in one of the biggest transfers in the club’s history.
#8 Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United)
Sandro Tonali is an Italian midfielder who began his career at Brescia, where he quickly made a name for himself as one of the emerging talents in European soccer.
He was signed by AC Milan in 2020, and helped the club win the Serie A title in 2022, playing a key role in the midfield.
In 2023, he moved to Newcastle United, as the largest transfer of an Italian player in history, worth 70 million euros (R$364 million).
Compared to Italian soccer legends like Andrea Pirlo, Tonali stands out for his ability to conduct the game and his keen tactical vision.
#9 Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)
Amadou Ba Zeund Georges Mvom Onana, Senegalese-Belgian, who, although born in Senegal, represents the Belgian national soccer team.
Onana began his career with Bundesliga side Hamburger SV in 2020, scoring on his debut in the German Cup. In 2021, he moved to LOSC Lille in Ligue 1.
In 2022, he was signed by Everton for around £33 million, scoring his first Premier League goal in 2023. However, the following year, he was transferred to Aston Villa for £50 million, signing a five-year contract, where he became one of the best midfielders in England.
#10 Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United)
Manuel Ugarte is a young Uruguayan talent who, in just a few years, has already played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs and has become one of the most sought-after midfielders on the market. His marking ability, versatility and potential for growth make him one of the great promises of world soccer.
His career began at Fénix, the Uruguayan club where he took his first steps as a professional at a very young age. After making a name for himself at Fénix, he was transferred to Famalicão, where he caught the eye of major European clubs, including Sporting, where he won the League Cup and established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Portuguese league.
In 2023, he was signed by PSG, one of the biggest clubs in the world, where he quickly became a regular and played in the Champions League.
In 2024, he was announced as Manchester United’s new signing, showing his ambition to continue growing at one of Europe’s most traditional clubs.
#11 Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa)
Frenchman Boubacar Kamara began his career at Olympique de Marseille, where he stood out for his defensive ability and tactical intelligence.
In 2022, he moved to Aston Villa, becoming an important part of the team and one of the best midfielders in England.
He is praised for his ability to read the game and position himself, as well as his ability to act as a defender when necessary.
Read also: TOP 10 | Best defenders in England today
#12 Casemiro (Manchester United)
Brazilian veteran Casemiro is one of the greatest midfielders in England and the world, having reached the peak of his career at Real Madrid, where he won several important titles and became a five-time Champions League winner.
He began his career at São Paulo in Brazil and moved to Real Madrid in 2013. After 11 years at the Spanish club, he moved to Manchester United in 2022, where he quickly established himself as the leader of the midfield.
Manchester United titles
English League Cup: 2022-23
FA Cup: 2023-24
#13 Edson Alvarez (West Ham)
Edson Álvarez is a Mexican midfielder and defender, known for his versatility and tackling ability.
He began his career with América in Mexico and gained prominence for his performances with Ajax in the Netherlands, where he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Eredivisie.
In 2023, Álvarez moved to West Ham United and established himself as an important part of the Mexican national team.
#14 Wataru Endo (Liverpool)
Wataru Endo is a Japanese midfielder, but rose to prominence playing in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart.
He began his career with Shonan Bellmare in Japan and had a spell in the Belgian league before moving to Germany.
In 2023, he was signed by Liverpool, where he brought his defensive skills and leadership to the club’s midfield. Endo is also the captain of the Japanese national team and has been an important part of several international campaigns, as well as being one of England’s best midfielders.
#15 James Ward-Prowse (Nottingham Forest)
James Ward-Prowse has an established career in English soccer. His ability to take free-kicks makes him a highly respected player in the world of soccer.
His professional career began at Southampton, a club where he made a name for himself at youth level. Over the years, the player became one of Southampton’s captains and was one of the team’s key players for many years.
After Southampton’s relegation, Ward-Prowse was signed by West Ham, one of England’s most traditional clubs.
In 2024, he was loaned to Nottingham Forest, where he still plays today and remains one of the best midfielders in England.
Now you know who the best midfielders in England are and you can follow the Premier League by betting on the teams that have the best chance of winning! Take the opportunity to find out more too:
- England’s best goalkeepers: 10 greatest current stars
- 10 Best England right-backs of today [List]
- 9 best left-backs in England today! List
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