20 Best Midfielders in the Premier League Right Now (2025)

The Premier League has been home to some of the best midfielders in the world over the years. Patrick Vieira, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes are just a handful of names that come to mind when discussing those who have patrolled the middle of the park since the league’s inception in 1992. That quintet, of course, have long since retired, and there are now a new batch of star names in England’s top tier.

The Premier League is the top league in the world, and thus, some of the very best talents on the planet tend to flock to the division. There is a vast array of impressive midfield players plying their trade in England’s top flight, and picking the best of the bunch is not an easy task by any means. But who are the current top midfielders in the division?

Below is an attempt to answer that question. Be warned – this list is only our opinion and is not definitive. A whole host of factors have been taken into consideration when formulating the standings below. It also has to be considered that some midfielders are more defensive-minded, while others are tasked with making more telling contributions going the other way. The following factors have been taken into account when making this list.

Ranking Factors

• How well they performed throughout the 2024/25 season.
• Their status compared to other midfielders in the English top flight – where do they stand in the pecking order?
• Injuries – any sustained periods on the sidelines were taken into consideration.
• Overall importance to their respective teams – how well do their sides perform with/without them?
• Success – how successful they have been at their current sides, both collectively and individually.

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20

Youri Tielemans

Aston Villa

Youri Tielemans was vital for Aston Villa during their memorable Champions League run in 2024/25, and was just as important in another impressive league season. The Belgian is as tenacious as he is technical in the middle of the park, with his hard-working nature complementing the wonderful passing range he possesses.

He has missed a substantial chunk of action because of injuries this term, but he has shown just how valuable he can be to the Villans’ setup. Unai Emery looks to have turned the club’s fortunes around after a difficult start to the season, and you would imagine Tielemans will provide additional impetus in midfield once he returns to full fitness.

19

Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

It’s no coincidence that the top teams in England were closely monitoring Morgan Gibbs-White in the summer transfer window. After a big-money move to Nottingham Forest from Wolves in 2023, the creative midfielder has gone from strength-to-strength.

Although Nottingham Forest have had a tough start to the new term, with both Nuno Espirito Santo and successor Ange Postecoglou shown the door, Gibbs-White has continued to drive his team forward as they aim to turn their fortunes around under new boss Sean Dyche. Also now a regular member of Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad, Gibbs-White’s intricate ability on the ball could carry him to the 2026 World Cup.

18

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

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Morgan Rogers was one of the standout performers at Aston Villa last term, and it’s been brilliant to watch. The originator of the ‘Ice Cold’ celebration Cole Palmer regularly displays, the former Man City academy prospect is as powerful as he is technically astute.

Emery has a wealth of talent at his disposal at Villa Park, yet it’s no surprise that the English youngster is one of the first names on the teamsheet each week. The sky is the limit for the 23-year-old, who looks set to be a Champions League-level player for many years to come.

17

Granit Xhaka

Sunderland

While Arsenal might have made the correct decision to part ways with Granit Xhaka, what the Switzerland international has accomplished since then has been nothing short of remarkable. An invincible with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side, the veteran returned to English soil following Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League.

Since joining the Black Cats, Xhaka has continued to show just how impactful he can be. He’s captained the side to some mammoth victories this term, catapulting the Wearside outfit into the top half of the Premier League. The 33-year-old is the heartbeat of the team and will be pivotal to their ambitions this term.

16

Florian Wirtz

Liverpool

There have been plenty of teething issues with Florian Wirtz, who has gone missing in several high-profile matches for Liverpool this term. His £116m transfer fee meant that he was always going to be under a microscope — and fans really haven’t seen the best of him yet.

But there can be no doubt about the quality he possesses. During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, the 22-year-old won back-to-back Bundesliga Player of the Season awards, scoring 21 goals and registering 23 assists in 63 appearances during that timeframe. Should he get to grips with the physicality of football’s best division soon, he could well become the Merseyside club’s key man.

15

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

Adam Wharton is well on his way to becoming the next £100m+ midfielder in the Premier League. The very biggest clubs in England will all be keeping a close eye on his progress at Selhurst Park over the next 12 months.

Ever since arriving at Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers, the 21-year-old has exuded intelligence and confidence at the heart of his team. Another youngster who could be heading to the World Cup in America next year, Wharton’s price tag could become eye-watering if he continues to improve at his current rate.

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14

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest

Newcastle United will live to regret allowing youth academy product Elliot Anderson to leave St James’ Park. Sacrificing the young Englishman to help the club’s PSR situation, the Magpies will already be wondering exactly why they allowed him to leave under any circumstances.

Anderson made his England debut at the start of the 2025-26 season, and looked like a player who had been part of the international set-up for many years, such was his comfort in the middle of the park. His passing range has improved immeasurably, while Anderson also isn’t afraid of driving forward with the ball at his feet. Nothing fazes the 22-year-old.

13

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United

After the whole betting scandal and subsequent ban that followed it, Sandro Tonali could have been forgiven for not being in the right frame of mind to play football and for him to have taken a while to get up to speed. Instead, the Italian produced his most influential performances to date in a Newcastle shirt in the 2024/2025 season, and was instrumental in the Magpies’ success in the Carabao Cup and a return to the Champions League via a top-five finish.

There’s every reason to believe that Tonali will just keep getting better and better, and Eddie Howe’s deployment of him in the pivot role has certainly seemed to transform Newcastle’s fortunes. He’s continued to play his part in midfield, keeping things ticking while contributing with assists in both domestic and European football this term.

12

Tijjani Reijnders

Manchester City

Tijjani Reijnders was always expected to be a success at Manchester City after signing for £46 million from AC Milan in the summer. However, the Netherlands international hit the ground running quicker than even Pep Guardiola would’ve expected.

Netting a debut goal against Wolves before more impressive displays against the likes of Arsenal in the early parts of the season, Reijnders is already among the finest midfielders in the division. His ability to arrive inside the penalty area at the right time is uncanny, as is his cute ability in possession of the football.

11

Martin Odegaard

Arsenal

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For years, it seemed as if Martin Odegaard would fail to deliver on the early promise that saw him become Real Madrid’s youngest-ever player and a goalscorer in the Norwegian top flight at the age of just 15. However, strong loan spells at Heerenveen and Real Sociedad gave him a platform to showcase his ability, and Arsenal moved to sign him permanently after a short stint on loan for the second part of the 2020/21 season.

He has only been at the Emirates Stadium for four years, yet he is already the club captain and one of the Premier League’s best players. Odegaard has been the orchestrator of many of their attacks during the last three seasons, as the north London outfit have become one of the most dominant sides in the league. While he’s struggled with multiple injuries so far in 2025/26, that’s no reason to question his talent.