The Premier League is one of the toughest soccer leagues in the world and brings together some of the best players on the planet. Among them are the best center backs in England.
Responsible for maintaining the defensive solidity of their teams and facing the best attackers on the planet, the defenders of the tournament are part of the limelight in any match.
But who are the best and greatest center backs in England today?
We’ve compiled a TOP 10 of the country’s best center-backs. Learn about their titles, histories and careers.
Join the Bet7k team and get a bonus of up to R$7,000 on your first deposit!
England’s top 10 defenders: career, titles and records
Here is a list of the best center backs in England today:
- William Saliba (Arsenal)
- Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
- Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
- Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)
- John Stones (Manchester City)
- Mykolenko (Tottenham)
- Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)
- Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
- Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
- Sven Botman (Newcastle)
1. William Saliba (Arsenal).
French-born William Saliba began his career at Saint-Étienne before joining Arsenal in 2019.
Despite loan spells at Nice and Marseille, Saliba returned to Arsenal for the 2022-23 season and quickly established himself as one of England’s best center-backs.
Combining physical strength and excellent reading of the game, the defender has become a key part of the Gunners’ defense in the Premier League.
Palmarés
- Arsenal : English Super Cup: 2020 and 2023
Read also: England’s best goalkeepers: 10 of today’s top players
2. Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
In 2024, Rúben Dias was part of the team of the year at the Fifa The Best awards, as one of the best defenders of the season.
The Portuguese player made a name for himself at Benfica before being signed by Manchester City in 2020. His arrival brought defensive stability to Pep Guardiola’s team, contributing to important titles the team has won in recent years.
During his first season (2020/21), the center-back scored his first goal for City in a win against West Ham.
In total, he played 47 games for the club, helping the team to win the Premier League title and League Cup, as well as reaching a Champions League final.
Dias excelled as a leader of the defense, contributing to 15 clean sheets and was chosen best player of the season by the Football Writers Association, being the first defender to receive the awardsince 1989.
In 2021, he extended his contract with City until 2027 and captained the team for the first time in a victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
In the 2022/23 season, Rúben Diaswon the triple crown:
- Premier League;
- FA Cup;
- Champions League.
As a result, he has come to be regarded as one of the best center backs of the season.
Known for his leadership, Dias is a relentless center-back, combining refined technique and exceptional marking ability.
Read also: Champions League winners: 10 great teams, players, coaches and countries that dominate the competition.
Titles
Manchester City
- English League Cup: 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
- English Super Cup: 2024
3. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
From Avai to the list of the best center-backs in England! This sums up the career of Brazilian Gabriel Magalhães, who started at Brazilian club Avaí before moving to French club Lille and then Arsenal.
At Arsenal, he stood out as one of the best defenders in the Premier League. With his ability in the air and his aggressive marking, Gabriel established himself as a benchmark in Arsenal’s defense.
In 2023, he won his first English title in the English Super Cup by beating the great Manchester City. During the season, Gabriel also reached the milestone of 100 appearances for the club.
Read also: 10 best right-backs in England today [List].
Palmarés
Arsenal
- Florida Cup: 2022
- English Super Cup: 2023
4. Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)
Trained in Chelsea’s youth academy, Marc Guéhi was loaned to Swansea before signing permanently for Crystal Palace in 2021, when he became the third most expensive signing in the club’s history.
The young center-back quickly stood out for his ability to position himself and his talent for tackling. His rapid growth and consistency have made him a central part of Crystal Palace’s defense, and one of the best defenders in England.
5. John Stones (Manchester City)
John Stones began his career at Barnsley and made a name for himself at Everton before joining Manchester City in 2016. Known for his technique and calmness on the ball, Stones evolved under Pep Guardiola and is now one of the defensive pillars of the multi-champion team.
In fact, in the 2022/23 season, he won the triple title crown, which included the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League. That same year, he was named one of the best central defenders in the Champions League.
He is versatile and also performs well in midfield, especially as a playmaker, which makes him an even more strategic player for any team he plays for.
Achievements
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24.
- English League Cup: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21.
- English Super Cup: 2018, 2019
- FA Cup: 2018-19 and 2022-23
- UEFA Champions League: 2022-23
- UEFA Super Cup: 2023
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2023
6. Mykola Matviyenko (Tottenham)
Mykola Matviyenko is a Ukrainian center-back who made a name for himself at Shakhtar Donetsk before joining Tottenham.
Known for his versatility and excellent ball control, he quickly adapted to English soccer, becoming one of the best center backs in England.
7. Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)
Signed by Sochaux at the age of 15, Ibrahima Konaté moved on to RB Leipzig, where he caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs. In 2021, he was signed by Liverpool, where he quickly impressed with his combination of physical strength and speed. His presence in defense has been fundamental in the team’s important games.
At the beginning of his career, he played as a striker, but soon established himself as one of the best defenders of the new generation.
In 2021, he was transferred to Liverpool, where he made his Premier League debut in September, forming a solid defensive partnership with Virgil Van Dijk.
In February 2022, he helped Liverpool win the English League Cup against Chelsea, converting a decisive penalty.
Konaté also scored important goals in the Champions League, contributing to Liverpool’s success in the tournament.
Titles
Liverpool
- English League Cup: 2021-22 and 2023-24
- FA Cup: 2021-22
- FA Super Cup: 2022
8. Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
Ezri Konsa began his career at Charlton Athletic before moving to Brentford and then Aston Villa.
With his tactical intelligence and marking ability, Konsa has established himself as one of England’s best center-backs and, indeed, his consistency has been vital to Aston Villa.
It was even at Aston Villa, newly promoted to the Premier League, that he was reunited with manager Dean Smith, who had signed him from Brentford the previous year.
In 2020, Konsa scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-1 draw against Everton.
In 2021, Konsa scored two goals in a 2-1 win against Leicester City, becoming the first Villa defender to score two goals in a Premier League match since 2010.
9. Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
Lisandro Martinez, known for his tenacity and precision tackling, made a name for himself at Defensa y Justicia in Argentina and then Ajax before signing for Manchester United in 2022.
Although small in stature for a defender, his combative style and on-field leadership make him a key part of United’s backline and one of England’s best defenders.
Martinez is the second most expensive defender in the club’s history after Harry Maguire and is the most expensive transfer of an Argentine defender.
List of achievements
Manchester United
- English League Cup: 2022-23
- FA Cup: 2023-24
Argentine National Team
- Copa América: 2021 and 2024
- CONMEBOL-UEFA Champions Cup: 2022
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
10. Sven Botman (Newcastle United).
Dutchman Sven Botman was signed from Ajax and moved to Lille, where he helped win League 1.
In 2022 he was signed by Newcastle United. Botman is known for his physical imposition and aerial skills, quickly becoming one of the best center backs in England and one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
Honors:
- Ligue 1 (2020-21).
There is no doubt that English soccer brings together some of the biggest names in the beautiful game, which means that many of England’s best defenders are among the best in the world.
Now you know who the best center backs in England are and you can follow the Premier League betting with more knowledge of the game. best of luck!
Read also:All about Bet7K: what it is, how the system works and more.
Bet on Bet7k and WINup to R$7,000 in bonuses on your first deposit.
