Ranking the 10 Best Premier League Midfielders of All Time

The Premier League is known worldwide as the most physical competition where the best quality of football is also played. From the best coaches to the best players and teams, the Premier League is the highest stage of league competitions and has been home to some legendary players. Among these legends are the midfielders, players who run the game and are known for pulling the strings on the field with color and skill.

Midfielders can create, defend, and carry the ball independently, almost seeming too good for their positions. The midfield is the team’s engine; only gifted players can orchestrate the work needed in tight spaces.

From the effortless magic of David Silva and Cesc Fabregas to the elegance and vision of Kevin De Bruyne or the box-to-box role while always pouncing on loose balls playstyle of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the Premier League has seen midfielders, who were so complete throughout the years, they could change matches single-handedly. Considering conditions like trophies, influence, statistics, and appearances, we rank the best Premier League midfielders of all time.

List of Top 10 Best Premier League Midfielders of All Time

Rank	Player	Club	EPL Appearances	Assists	Goals	Titles
1	Kevin De Bruyne	Chelsea & Manchester City	277*	118	70	6
2	Paul Scholes	Manchester United	499	61	107	11
3	Frank Lampard	West Ham United, Chelsea & Manchester City	611	114	177	3
4	Steven Gerrard	Liverpool	504	97	121	0
5	Patrick Vieira	Arsenal & Manchester City	307	35	31	3
6	Yaya Toure	Manchester City	230	31	60	3
7	David Silva	Manchester City	309	95	60	4
8	Roy Keane	Manchester United & Nottingham Forest	366	35	39	7
9	Cesc Fabregas	Arsenal & Chelsea	350	111	50	2
10	Rodri	Manchester City	174*	21	22	4

Also Read: Best Midfielders in the World Currently (Ranked)

10. Rodri (Manchester City)

While some may question Rodri’s entry on this list, he is still the only Ballon d’Or winner in this list. Rodri came from Atletico Madrid to the Premier League as one of the most expensive midfielders ever. While he took a season to settle into Manchester City’s injured side, he solidified his place by taking over Fernandinho in the City midfield.

Rodri would dictate the speed of play, win balls with his immense strength, and give important through balls, leading to goals. He already has four back-to-back Premier League titles and scored in the Champions League final, helping City win the Treble. Rodri held the record for being unbeaten for an entire year and has put midfielders back on the map in the same league as attackers when naming players who could win their teams the match.

9. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal & Chelsea)

Hailing from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Cesc Fabregas was a force to be reckoned with. Fabregas was brought to the Premier League by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and immediately impressed the fans with how effortlessly he made the most difficult passes. Fabregas is currently the third-highest assist-provider in the league with 111 to his name, alongside 50 goals and two Premier League titles.

Fabregas’ solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur in 2009 just seconds into the second half remains one of the most iconic moments of the North London Derby. He also had iconic moments for Chelsea when he scored a late winner in their 2015-15 title-winning campaign against QPR in the dying ends of the game.

8. Roy Keane (Manchester United & Nottingham Forest)

Roy Keane is a name symbolic of a no-nonsense, old-school, and physical player who gave everything on the field. As United’s captain, he was a figure of respect and fear amongst his rivals. He had several iconic battles with Patrick Viera, with the duo going end to end to win matches and leagues. Keane spent over a decade at Manchester United and won 7 Premier Leagues then.

Keane’s aggression had impressed Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him from Nottingham Forrest, and he fit right into the United midfield to lead them into one of their golden eras. He was one of the most dominant figures of his time and led Manchester United fearlessly before Celtic finished his career.

7. David Silva (Manchester City)

When we talk about players who were born to play football, David Silva would often be the first name on the list. Also known as ‘El Mago, ‘ Silva had a gifted touch on the ball that helped him exploit tight spaces and destroy defenses like they were not in front of him. With the duo combining, Silva had the most iconic partnership with the 5th all-time highest scorer in the league, Sergio Aguero. Silva is currently the seventh highest assists provider in the league at 93.

In his time in the Premier League with Manchester City, David Silva won four league titles and left the league as a legend and icon of the game. He was also a key figure with his national team and was often named the Team of the Year, further underlining his quality. Silva and Toure led the charge for Manchester City’s resurgence in the league. They were a part of some of the iconic games, like their 6-1 victory over Manchester United, with him providing a beautiful assist to Eden Dzeko for the final goal.

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6. Yaya Toure (Manchester City)

Yaya Toure makes this list as one of the most underrated players. Toure was magical to watch, with a stature that allowed him to play in defense in the 2009 Champions League final against Barcelona and win the treble. Soon after, he moved on to become one of the biggest names for Manchester City. Yaya Toure was one of those players who announced himself on the top stage. He was allowed to lead the charge for early success at City and would have one of the best seasons ever for a midfielder in 2013-14.

Toure scored 20 goals, which was the most ever by a midfielder, and assisted 9 times in the season, scoring goals all by himself or through set pieces. Yaya Toure was a magical player in a league of his own. He was one of the most complete midfielders ever and the African Player of the Year four times, winning 3 Premier League titles in his time.

5. Patrick Vieira (Arsenal and Manchester City)

Patrick Viera was an Arsenal legend who led them to the Invincibles season and was a powerhouse in the middle of the pitch. While Vieira was mainly deployed as a defensive midfielder, his strength helped him make runs through the opposition’s attack, score goals on his own, or set up his teammates. Viera was almost impossible to mark and could easily take the ball off players.

He won three league titles with Arsenal and then transferred to Manchester City later in his career. Throughout his over decade-long stint in the Premier League, Vieira came and left like a star, with all eyes on him whenever he started a match. He is still known for his iconic battles against Roy Keane, where the two put everything on the line to win.

4. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Steven Gerrard is another iconic name of the Premier League known for leading the Liverpool side. While he never won a league title, he helped Liverpool win other domestic trophies and a Champions League in one of the best finals. Gerrard was known for his all-round game and ability to score screamers from far-off distances.

His playmaking ability was also second to none, and he often shifted in the defense. In a career spanning almost two decades for the Reds, he scored over 120 times and provided nearly 100 assists, making iconic partnerships with Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez.

3. Frank Lampard (West Ham United, Chelsea & Manchester City)

Frank Lampard was a Premier League great starting his career at West Ham and then immediately being picked up by Chelsea, where he became a legend of the league and the game. Lampard was a box-to-box midfielder who played 611 matches and managed to score 177 goals with 114 assists in the league, making him the only midfielder to be in the top-assist, top-appearances as well as top-goal scoring lists of the league.

Lampard was also versatile, playing in all midfield positions and winning the league thrice with Chelsea and the Champions League. Lampard ended his career with a season at Manchester City before moving to the MLS. He could hit long shots and had almost a poaching ability, being a midfielder coach relied upon for scoring goals.

2. Paul Scholes (Manchester United)

Paul Scholes was one of the most feared midfielders of his time, known for his passing and composure on the ball. Scholes could provide inch-perfect crosses and long balls, which often changed the course of the match. His longevity is another thing that showcases his quality of being an engine in the midfield for two different golden generations at Manchester United.

He has the most Premier League titles on this list at 11, with him providing 61 assists as a central midfielder and scoring 107 times in almost 500 appearances. Scholes was an icon of the Premier League for nearly two decades and has the third-highest yellow cards in the competition at 97, showcasing he would often put in tackles but still in attack. This puts Scholes in a different conversation as midfielders during the 90s and 00s were more complete and had more duties than midfielders in the current era.

1. Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea & Manchester City)

Kevin De Bruyne stepped into the Premier League as someone who would have led the Chelsea midfield in 2012. He was signed from Genk on deadline day for Jose Mourinho’s side but would never be able to make his place at the London club. Frustrated after making just three appearances in the league despite providing an assist, he was sold as someone who could not make his place in the stacked Chelsea team of the time.

De Bruyne would live up to his potential in Germany for two years before moving back to the Premier League with Manchester City in the 2015/16 season for Manuel Pellegrini. The Belgian stepped back into the League as a transformed player and would go on to do things for City in the next decade nobody could have ever dreamt of. De Bruyne has led the charge for City’s magnificent midfield, assisting from angles that would make short passes for many.

He is already the player with the second most number of assists with the least number of matches played and has 6 Premier Leagues, with four coming back-to-back from 2020-2024. With 118 assists under his belt, De Bruyne is a legend of the game. It has led Manchester City as English dominants through his impeccable vision of finding players and changing matches by scoring beautiful goals when needed.

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