Best Attacking Midfielders in Premier League History

Football is a sport where attacking midfielders have an elegance no one else possesses. They are the ones who make the game entertaining, contributing to heaps of goals, often using tricks, skills, and intelligent passing. Across the history of the Premier League, it has been blessed with many attacking midfielders who have influenced the way the game is played and have provided some of the best memories to billions of the league’s followers.

In this post, we explore the top 10 best attacking midfielders in Premier League history, analysing their careers and celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the league. The following ranking factors have been used.

Ranking Factors:

Consistency: Consistency is a key factor; to be able to replicate good performances over a large period of time is absolutely crucial.

Performing Under Pressure: A player becomes truly exceptional when he performs under pressure. It is those moments that will be forever etched into the hearts of billions, and it is these moments that separate the best from the greatest.

Contributions to Team Success: Goals and assists mean little without team success. Additional recognition is always given to players whose goal contributions helped their team lift silverware.

List of the Best Attacking Midfielders in Premier League History

10. Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes is one of the best signings for Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex era, where it worked exactly as it was intended to. The Portuguese magnifico was brought in to bring life to the tepid Manchester United attack, and he did exactly what he was supposed to do. His ability to turn the tide around, his bull’s-eye penalty skills, his impeccable work rate and fitness, and his eye for creating chances have made him one of the most irreplaceable players for the Red Devils.

Despite being surrounded by players who are not at his level, the consistent output he is generating every season makes him one of the finest midfielders in the modern Premier League era.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	189
Goals	62
Assists	50
Premier League Trophies	0

9. Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen might not boast the trophy haul of other legends on the list, but quality-wise, he has been nothing short of incredible. A key player in the entertaining Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur era, Eriksen was in full sync with Harry Kane and Son Heung Min, racking up many assists as a result. His exquisite passing, eye for goal, and footballing intelligence made him one of the best midfielders in the league.

After leaving the Premier League and surviving a near-death experience, he re-entered the country, joining Brentford and subsequently reaching Manchester United. In this edition, he has reinvented himself and has become a useful squad player.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	304
Goals	54
Assists	77
Premier League Trophies	0

8. David Beckham

David Beckham is an icon of the sport and one of the most recognizable faces on this planet. While his actions off the field played a key part in that, he earned that reputation by his consistent performances on the field. Hailing from the academy of Manchester United, David Beckham was pivotal in the success the Red Devils saw during the early Sir Alex Ferguson’s Premier League era, winning six Premier League titles during his tenure. He was a menace on the field, especially on set-pieces, where he could influence the games on his own. There is a reason the phrase “Bend It Like Beckham” is in existence.

In addition to his elegance on the ball, his impeccable work rate and stamina helped Manchester United establish dominance in the midfield. A true legend of the game, he will forever be remembered fondly by Manchester United fans and neutrals alike.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	265
Goals	62
Assists	80
Premier League Trophies	6

7. Juan Mata

The Spanish maestro, despite graduating from the Real Madrid academy, spent a significant amount of his career in England. Signed by Chelsea in 2011, he became one of the key players of his team. While he could not lift a Premier League title, his in-game intelligence played a key role in creating many goal-scoring opportunities for his side. Unfortunately, his time at the club ended sourly, so he moved to another English giant, Manchester United.

Primarily playing as an attacking midfielder behind the striker, Mata was also comfortable drifting out wide to create chances. While he was not rapid and had a short stature, he made up for it with his control, technique, passing, creativity, and vision, which allowed him to link up with teammates with ease. He was also fantastic on set-pieces and often used to score from free-kicks.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	278
Goals	52
Assists	54
Premier League Trophies	0

Also Read: Ranking 10 Best Midfielders In Premier League Currently

6. Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes was regarded as one of the best players of his generation and is regarded as one of the best English midfielders of all time. Scholes was one of the most important players in Sir Alex Ferguson’s system and played a key role in winning eleven Premier League titles, only two short of Ryan Giggs.

Despite not being a flamboyant player, Scholes was renowned for his ability to manage the tempo of a game, especially with his clever passing. He had a knack for scoring goals from distance, which helped his side to gain an advantage over the opposition. His contributions to the sport got him the respect of his peers, and he is loved by the Reds even to this day.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	499
Goals	107
Assists	55
Premier League Trophies	11

5. Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas is not just a Premier League icon, but a legend of the sport itself. He broke onto the scene at an early age of just 17. With key players getting injured, Fabregas did not misplace the trust placed by Arsenal and quickly rose up the ranks to become one of the most pivotal players of the squad. After a detour in Spain, where he won it all, he returned to England, but this time he joined the cross-town rivals Chelsea, where he won his two league titles.

He played in multiple roles, as a deep-lying playmaker, tenacious box-to-box midfielder, and in advanced roles where he used to often chip in with goals. His creativity was unmatched, as he had an ability to see passes no one else would.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	350
Goals	50
Assists	111
Premier League Trophies	2

4. David Silva

Nicknamed “El Mago,” David Silva has been with Manchester City since the beginning of the Abu Dhabi era. He joined the club after spending a significant period in his home nation, Spain. He excelled under multiple managers, but under Pep Guardiola, he played his best football.

David Silva was composed on the ball, passing the ball around with very high accuracy. His vision was second to none, and combined with an ability to read the game and control the tempo of his team’s play, made him one of the best players in the world in his position. He was one of the pivotal reasons why Manchester City dominated English football, winning multiple Premier League titles with such ease. He is regarded as one of the best players ever in the history of Manchester City.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	309
Goals	60
Assists	93
Premier League Trophies	4

Also Read: Ranking the Top 10 Premier League Strikers of All Time

3. Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard is an undisputed legend of Liverpool Football club and is also regarded as an icon of English football. Gerrard spent the majority of his playing career as a central midfielder for Liverpool and even captained the side for long periods of time.

He started his career at a young age with the club and slowly became an irreplaceable asset. Gerrard was immensely respected by the other greats of the game and rightfully so. He was a phenomenal player, known to change the nature of the game on his own, especially with his long-range efforts. He was a versatile player as well, known to seamlessly blend into multiple roles, aiding his team in all phases of play. In addition to his footballing attributes, Gerrard was highly regarded for his leadership, determination, and influence on the pitch throughout his career.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	504
Goals	120
Assists	92
Premier League Trophies	0

2. Frank Lampard

Just like the player before, Frank Lampard is regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time and is a revered Chelsea icon. Lampard played and thrived under multiple managers for Chelsea and was loved by everyone. He could play anywhere in the midfield, supporting in defensive situations, controlling possession, and aiding attackers to score goals or score goals by himself. He was a leader by example and laid the building blocks for the success of the Abramovich era.

It is truly remarkable that he scored 177 goals as a midfielder, rightfully holding the record of most goals by a midfielder in the Premier League.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	609
Goals	177
Assists	102
Premier League Trophies	3

1. Kevin de Bruyne

Kevin de Bruyne’s rise in football is inspirational. After getting discarded by Chelsea for “not being good enough,” he went to Germany to prove his worth, and when he came back to England, many questioned the value Man City could get for that price point. But De Bruyne showed everyone why he is the best.

While there were many successful players in Pep’s era, there was no one who was on his level. There were only a very few players in the history of the Premier League who could match KDB’s value at his peak. Those crosses from the right half space used to feel like a cheat code, which made them one of the most dominant sides in the Premier League’s history. He could execute any kind of pass with precision and high accuracy, which made him a blessing for the forward players, who thrived because of him. KDB will be leaving Man City at the end of the season, with six Premier League titles in his cabinet.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	281
Goals	70
Assists	118
Premier League Trophies	6

Best Attacking Midfielders In Premier League History

Rank	Player	Clubs	Spell in the Premier League
1	Kevin de Bruyne	Chelsea, Manchester City	2011-2014; 2015-current
2	Frank Lampard	West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City	1993-2015
3	Steven Gerrard	Liverpool	1998-2015
4	David Silva	Manchester City	2010-2021
5	Cesc Fabregas	Arsenal, Chelsea	2003-2012;2014-2020
6	Paul Scholes	Manchester United	1992-2013
7	Juan Mata	Chelsea, Manchester United	2011-2023
8	David Beckham	Manchester United	1992-2003
9	Christian Eriksen	Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Manchester United	2013-2020; 2021-current
10	Bruno Fernandes	Manchester United	2019-current

Also Read: Ranking the Ten Best Premier League Players | All Time

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