Who do you think is the cream of them all, the best of the lot, the greatest Premier League midfielders?
It is not easy to tell. In its 32-year history, the Premier League has seen its fair share of world-class midfielders. This middle position of the field has been where some of the most spectacular footballers have graced their presence on the pitch.
Be it a maestro who orchestrates the attacks or an anchor to the team, screening the backline, midfielders are usually quite literally the lifeblood of their teams.
The shape in which midfielders come is many: they can be playmakers, ball-winners, and box-to-box dynamos amongst others.
While ranking them will always be subjective, some key factors will be important in determining how great they were: goals and assists, trophies, longevity, and quality of the teams they have played for.
With that in mind, here are the 10 best midfielders in Premier League history, ranked upon influence, achievements, and contribution towards the game.
1. Kevin De Bruyne
- Appearances: 260
- Goals: 68
- Assists: 112
- League titles: 6
Is it too soon to call him the best Premier League midfielder ever? No, it isn’t, because he has been the lead protagonist in Manchester City’s era of unprecedented success.
With a fifth successive title seemingly just over the horizon, his legacy shines brighter with each passing minute.
His stats are out of this world: 112 assists-only seconds to Ryan Giggs and 68 goals that underline his marvellous repertoire.
He is just a football genius, one step ahead of the game. And the scariest thing is that he’s still improving. The only other midfielder from this list still contributing with loads of influence is his teammate Rodri, but De Bruyne is the record-breaker.
His cameo against Newcastle last season was a show of masterclass as he turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead and turned a corner in City’s historic fourth straight title win. Performances like that seal his standing as an all-time great.
2. Paul Scholes
- Appearances: 499
- Goals: 107
- Assists: 55
- League titles: 11
A Manchester United legend whose prolonged brilliance manages to secure him a place on this list.
While his brief resurfacing in 2012/13 revealed his touch and grace in playing others, the supposition that he brought absolutely nothing else to the table for ninety minutes is indeed a fallacy.
Throughout much of his career, Scholes was a dynamic box-to-box attacking midfielder whose tireless work rate and tenaciousness made him a fan favourite and trusted lieutenant of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The heartbeat of United’s dominance, Scholes has 11 Premier League titles and was central to that historic 1998/99 treble-winning season, smoothly adapting to the tactical evolution a decade later.
None matched his vision on the pitch; no player could find a pass quite like Scholes.
Modest, perhaps even underappreciated, this Salford native was one of the finest midfielders of his generation, rivalling the likes of Xavi and Andrea Pirlo in sheer skill and artistry.
3. Frank Lampard
- Appearances: 609
- Goals: 177
- Assists: 102
- League titles: 3
A midfielder who was different, who broke the mould. His phenomenal 177 goals in the Premier League include an astonishing 147 for Chelsea, securing him a place in history.
What is truly incredible is that he did all this playing from midfield, really not a position noted for prolific goal-scoring. This is down to his relentless consistency, managed by a run of 10 successive seasons of 10+ league goals.
Having been at the cornerstone of Chelsea’s dominant era under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, he picked up three Premier League titles while notching 102 assists, showing his exceptional all-round ability.
4. Steven Gerrard
- Appearances: 504
- Goals: 120
- Assists: 92
- League titles: 0
Despite falling agonizingly short of a Premier League title in 2013/14, his legend has only grown.
The long-range screamers that are forever etched in the memory, the indefatigable passion with which he led from the front, and the sheer, unadulterated joy he brought onto the pitch have sealed his legendary status at Anfield.
Gerrard was more than just a supremely talented footballer; he was the living, breathing embodiment of Liverpool’s proud tradition.
While his Champions League exploits are the stuff of legends, it is his staggering 504 appearances, countless match-winning moments, and the mere brute force of his personality that have left a solid mark on the game.
5. Patrick Vieira
- Appearances: 307
- Goals: 31
- Assists: 34
- League titles: 3
Force of nature in midfield with a burst of power, skill, and finesse that left an indelible mark on the Premier League.
While his famous battles with Roy Keane are etched in memory, to reduce Vieira to a mere “destroyer” does him a great deal of injustice.
This was a French maestro who was so much more: a quite sublime midfielder capable of rampaging through opponents’ defences one minute and calmly dictating the pace of Arsenal’s attacks the next.
The fulcrum of Arsene Wenger’s revolution, he anchored the Invincibles of 2003/04 with his imposing presence while being the creative catalyst that drove the team forward due to his vision and technique.
Though his towering height usually belies a grace across the pitch with an effortless languidness bordering on nonchalance, Vieira played.
His presence elevated the quality around him, and he was an instant Premier League legend.
6. Roy Keane
- Appearances: 366
- Goals: 39
- Assists: 33
- League titles: 7
Keane epitomized what Sir Alex Ferguson, as captain, had in mind. There was an unbridled passion and unstinting commitment to push his comrades forward.
His intense, all-action style drove United’s transformation into the dominant force, backed by a winning mentality that sent the team on to their unprecedented successes.
Keane was more than just a destructive force in midfield; he was the natural leader who orchestrated the game’s tempo, providing the platform from which his teammates could shine.
He drove United’s ascendancy down the pitch for over 13 years, and his untiring work rate along with his uncompromising attitude has inspired a generation of players.
7. Yaya Toure
- Appearances: 230
- Goals: 62
- Assists: 32
- League titles: 3
Sometimes misconceived as a destroyer or box-to-box midfielder, Toure was a creative genius in an energetic No. 10 who would electrify the pitch with his directness and vision.
He would power through the opposition midfield with that rare combination of power and finesse, leaving defenders in the wake of his path as he would conjure up some audacious final ball that opened up even the most resolute defences.
A colossus of English football, his influence was at its peak in City’s title-winning 2013/14 campaign, where he scored 20 league goals, proving his remarkable skill and athleticism.
His legacy remains unchallenged as one of the most dazzling midfielders to have ever played in the Premier League.
8. Rodri
- Appearances: 172
- Goals: 22
- Assists: 21
- League titles: 3
Since he arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2019, the Spaniard has been nothing short of transformative, with City claiming four out of five league titles during his reign.
It is no accident that Rodri makes such an impact palpably while promoting a new culture in the No.6 role through his metronomic passing, intelligent reading of the game, and tireless defensive work.
He is not made of that mould, but he does things in his own quiet, vital way: defensive screening, tempo control, and progressive passing. The numbers don’t lie: City’s record-breaking 50-game unbeaten run with Rodri at the helm is enough and more to prove his importance.
In the 2023/24 campaign, he’s topped the charts in evading opposition pressure, initiating attacks from deep and progressing the ball through the thirds.
Rodri’s unsung heroics have redefined the role of a deep-lying playmaker -which makes him an indispensable cog in City’s well-oiled machine
9. David Silva
- Appearances: 309
- Goals: 60
- Assists: 93
- League titles: 4
Silva remodelled Manchester City’s identity and etched himself as their greatest-ever player.
And that spark was the virtuoso playmaker, who turned City into an unbeaten streak on the pitch with his creativity.
First under Roberto Mancini and then Manuel Pellegrini, he had given vision and skill in defining how City played; then seamlessly adapted to the tactical nuances of Pep Guardiola to form, along with Kevin De Bruyne, truly unforgettable company.
It’s very easy to forget his earlier equally impressive synergy with Yaya Tour, the big proof of his incredible ability to raise the level of those around him.
Over a decade, Silva has weaved magic at Etihad, conjuring dozens of goals and assists and winning four Premier League titles.
It was, however, his subtle genius off the ball, put alongside his technical abilities that made him the darling of City fans and turned him into a legend loved by all.
10. Cesc Fabregas
- Appearances: 350
- Goals: 50
- Assists: 111
- League titles: 2
A midfield genius across two eras and two clubs, the Premier League is irrevocably indebted to his legacy.
While he was a fresh-faced and exciting talent at Arsenal, the future was bright, even if the Gunners were past their glory days. In Fabregas, that brilliance remained if a title had eluded him.
He then grasped the ultimate prize when engineering the Blues’ 2014/15 title triumph with a remarkable 18 assists in midfield.
His passing range was almost telepathic, and with that subtlety in his creativity and vision, Fabregas had become one of the adored conductors in the middle of the park.
He forged in England over 16 years a reputation as one of the most gifted and influential midfielders to be seen in this league; his name is also enshrined in the record books, as one of the all-time assist leaders.
Other Notable Midfielders In Premier League History
- N’Golo Kante
- Claude Makelele
- Paul Ince
- Michael Essien
- Ozil
- Xabi Alonso
- Gareth Barry
- Fernandinho
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