Big Game Big Player

Best Midfielders in the Premier League 2025/26: Ranking Based on Key Performance Metrics

Introduction

Evaluating Premier League midfielders goes beyond simple appearances or highlight moments. In modern football, a midfielder’s effectiveness is measured through a combination of defensive actions, creative contributions, passing efficiency, and overall influence on the game.

Key metrics such as tackles, interceptions, take-ons, chances created, passes completed, and minutes played offer a comprehensive view of a player’s consistency, reliability, and impact over the course of the season.

Using advanced statistics from the 2025/26 Premier League season, we can objectively rank the top six central or defensive midfielders—Ryan Gravenberch, Moises Caicedo, Youri Tielemans, Granit Xhaka, Martin Zubimendi, and Rodrigo—based on their all-around contributions.

Overall Ranking of Premier League Midfielders (Best to Worst)

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool
    Gravenberch stands out with the highest take-ons completed (19), 4 goals, 2 assists, 7 shots on target, 91 ball recoveries, 78 ground duels won, and 1,850 minutes played. His combination of defensive solidity, attacking contribution, and reliability places him at the top.
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea
    Caicedo impresses with 96 ground duels won, 52 tackles made, 40 interceptions, 34 fouls won, 10 take-ons, 3 goals, and a 75% shot accuracy. With 1,506 minutes played, he is a dynamic, aggressive midfielder who consistently disrupts opponents.
  3. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland
    Xhaka excels in aerial duels won (46), clearances (65), ball recoveries (102), blocked shots (16), and assists (5), along with 1,963 minutes played. His leadership, defensive contributions, and creative passing make him a central figure in Sunderland’s midfield.
  4. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal
    Zubimendi ranks highly in passes completed (1,194), long pass accuracy (49.35%), tackles made (40), and minutes played (1,910). He also contributes 3 goals, 1 assist, and 9 through balls. Despite being new to the Premier League, his overall work rate and passing influence mark him as a key player for Arsenal.
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa
    Tielemans leads the group with 12 through balls, 24 chances created, 27 fouls won, 73 ground duels won, and 63.08% long pass accuracy, alongside 17 appearances and 1,299 minutes. His creativity from deep and ability to unlock defenses are standout traits, even if his goal output is limited.
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City
    Rodrigo has played just 635 minutes, scoring no goals and registering 2 through balls. However, he boasts elite long pass accuracy (72%), strong passing reliability (89.33%), and 11 chances created. While limited by injuries, his efficiency in the minutes he has featured confirms his high-quality pedigree.

Minutes Played & Games Featured: Reliability, Fitness, and Tactical Trust

Games Played

  1. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 23
  2. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 22
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 21
  4. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 18
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 17
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 11

Minutes Played

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 1,963
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 1,910
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 1,850
  4. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 1,506
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 1,299
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 635

Minutes played and games featured are key indicators of a midfielder’s reliability, availability, and physical conditioning over the course of an EPL season.

Players who consistently stay fit and feature regularly are often those most trusted by their managers to execute tactical demands week in, week out.

For Manchester City’s Rodrigo, his numbers tell a clear story. He has managed just 635 Premier League minutes across 11 appearances, a sharp drop compared to previous seasons.

This is largely explained by recurring injury setbacks over the past two campaigns.

However, there is no question over Rodrigo’s elite quality. He is a Ballon d’Or winner, having played a decisive role in Manchester City’s Premier League and UEFA Champions League triumphs two seasons ago, before injuries began to disrupt his rhythm and availability.

Among the remaining midfielders, Granit Xhaka stands out as the most heavily relied upon. The Sunderland captain leads this group with 1,963 minutes played, underlining his importance, durability, and leadership in midfield.

Close behind is Martin Zubimendi, who has logged 1,910 Premier League minutes for Arsenal, underlining his status as a tactical cornerstone and one of the most trusted midfielders in Mikel Arteta’s system.

However, minutes alone do not tell the full story. A deeper look into advanced performance metrics will be essential in assessing whether Martin Zubimendi has truly been effective for Arsenal, particularly amid widespread criticism over costly errors at the heart of midfield.

The scrutiny intensified most recently following a cheap giveaway against Manchester United that directly led to a goal, a moment that has raised fresh questions about his decision-making, composure, and adaptation to the Premier League’s intensity.

It is also important to note that Zubimendi is the only midfielder on this list experiencing the demands of the Premier League for the first time this season, a factor that adds important context to both his performances and the scrutiny surrounding him.

Given their heavy workloads, it is reasonable to expect Xhaka and Zubimendi’s overall statistics—from passing volume and defensive actions to positional influence—to outperform the rest of the group.

Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch ranks third with 1,850 Premier League minutes played, underlining his importance, consistency, and tactical value in Liverpool’s midfield.

There is little doubt that Gravenberch has been crucial for Liverpool over recent seasons, playing a key role in shielding the backline, maintaining midfield balance, and contributing to Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning campaign last season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans complete the ranking in fourth and fifth place, with 1,506 minutes and 1,299 minutes respectively, showing solid involvement but slightly less reliance compared to the top three.

Goals Scored

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 4
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 3
  3. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 3
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 1
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0
  6. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 0

While goal-scoring is not traditionally the primary responsibility of a defensive midfielder, having a goal-scoring defensive midfielder can be a decisive advantage in the Premier League. When a team’s attacking players are tightly marked or neutralised by the opposition, goals from deep midfield areas often become the difference in tight games.

These midfielders act as the unexpected goal threat—the surprise package capable of arriving late in the box or striking from range to change the outcome of a match.

Within this group, Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch leads the way with 4 Premier League goals, underlining his ability to influence games beyond defensive duties. He is followed closely by Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, who have each scored 3 goals, showing that they can contribute offensively despite operating primarily as holding or defensive midfielders.

In contrast, Manchester City’s Rodrigo and Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans have yet to register a goal this season.

For Youri Tielemans, this lack of goals likely reflects his control-oriented, positional midfield role, where his primary responsibility is to dictate tempo, maintain structure, and facilitate progression rather than make frequent attacking runs. This tactical role allows other attacking players, such as Morgan Rogers, to operate higher up the pitch, focus on receiving assists, occupying dangerous spaces, and converting chances into goals.

Based purely on goal output from midfield, Gravenberch, Zubimendi, and Caicedo clearly emerge as the top three performers in this list, offering their teams an added scoring dimension from deep.

Assists

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 5
  2. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 4
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 2
  4. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 1
  5. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 1
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0

Beyond scoring goals, midfielders influence matches by creating goals for their teammates through assists.

Assist numbers reflect a midfielder’s ability to unlock opposition defences with decisive passes, identify runners in advanced areas, and consistently create high-quality goal-scoring opportunities.

At this level, it is a combination of timing, precision, vision, and passing range that separates elite midfield creators from the rest.

In this group, Granit Xhaka stands out as the most effective assist provider, registering 5 Premier League assists so far.

His assist output underscores why he has been so vital for Sunderland this season, complementing his other elite qualities: the ability to control games from deep midfield, dictate tempo, and deliver line-breaking passes into dangerous attacking zones.

Xhaka’s combination of vision, precision, and positional intelligence makes him a good deep-lying playmaker who can offer plenty in attacking creativity.

Close behind is Youri Tielemans with 4 assists, reinforcing the view that Tielemans is one of the most creative deep-lying midfielders in this EPL.

Ryan Gravenberch ranks third with 2 assists, providing solid creative output alongside his defensive duties, especially considering he leads this group in goals.

Meanwhile, Martin Zubimendi and Moises Caicedo have recorded 1 assist each.

Manchester City’s Rodrigo is yet to register an assist, which can be partly attributed to his ongoing struggle to regain full match fitness following recent injury setbacks.

Shots on Target

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 7
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 6
  3. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 6
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 5
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 4
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 1

Ryan Gravenberch leads the group with the highest number of shots on target. Coupled with the fact that he also has the most goals, this highlights his ability to convert opportunities efficiently and maintain attacking threat from midfield, even though he plays as a defensive midfielder.

Martin Zubimendi and Moises Caicedo follow closely with 6 shots on target each, while Granit Xhaka has 5 and Youri Tielemans has 4.

Rodrigo has just 1, which is understandable given he has played the fewest minutes among these midfielders. We hope he can regain full fitness soon to contribute more consistently.

Shot Accuracy (%)

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 75.0%
  2. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 62.5%
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 53.85%
  4. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 50.0%
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 36.36%
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 33.33%

Beyond the raw number of shots on target, shot accuracy (%) highlights which midfielders know how to pick their moments, deciding when to shoot for maximum impact versus shooting from low-probability positions.

Shot accuracy (%) separates those who convert opportunities efficiently from those who take less effective attempts.

In this comparison, Moises Caicedo leads the way with an impressive 75.0% shot accuracy, followed by Granit Xhaka at 62.5%.

Ryan Gravenberch ranks third with 53.85%, while Martin Zubimendi sits at 50.0%.

Youri Tielemans and Rodrigo fall below the 50% mark, recording 36.36% and 33.33% shot accuracy respectively.

For Youri Tielemans, the low shot accuracy likely reflects riskier shooting choices or limited opportunities due to his positional, control-oriented midfield role, meaning he rarely finds himself in positions to shoot for maximum impact.

Goals from Inside the Box

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 2
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 2
  3. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 1
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 0
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0
  6. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 0

Goals from Outside the Box

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 2
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 2
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 1
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 1
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0
  6. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 0

Ryan Gravenberch has 2 goals inside the box and 2 goals from outside, demonstrating a well-balanced goal threat. He is equally dangerous from close range and from distance, making him a versatile scoring option from midfield.

Martin Zubimendi has 2 goals inside the box and 1 from outside, suggesting he is more threatening when positioned in the box. It also highlights his ability to time runs into the box effectively, while posing less threat from long-range shots compared to Gravenberch.

On the other hand, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo has 1 goal inside the box and 2 from outside, which could indicate a positional strategy where he allows teammates like Enzo Fernandes more room to operate in the box while he takes advantage of his shooting ability from outside. His goal-scoring from distance could be an indication he is confident and accurate from range.

Granit Xhaka has scored only once from outside the box and none inside, reflecting a positional role that keeps him farther from goal and indicating a lower goal threat from distance compared to Gravenberch and Caicedo.

Rodrigo and Youri Tielemans are yet to score this season, likely due to limited opportunities or their control-oriented, deeper midfield roles, which keep them farther from goal-scoring positions.

Conversion Rate (%)

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 37.5%
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 30.77%
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 25.0%
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 12.5%
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0
  6. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 0

Conversion rate (%) highlights the players who are most efficient at turning goal-scoring opportunities into goals.

In this comparison, Moises Caicedo leads the way with a 37.5% conversion rate, followed by Ryan Gravenberch at 30.77%, while Martin Zubimendi ranks third with 25.0%.

Granit Xhaka records a 12.5% conversion rate, while Youri Tielemans and Rodrigo are yet to convert any of their chances into goals in the Premier League so far.

Chances Created

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 24
  2. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 24
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 18
  4. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 14
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 11
  6. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 9

While conversion rate (%) measures how efficiently a player turns chances into goals, chances created highlights how well a midfielder can create goal-scoring opportunities for teammates. For a defensive midfielder, this metric is especially important, as it shows whether he can still function as a creative force from deep, often described as a deep-lying playmaker.

In this comparison, Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans and Granit Xhaka lead the way with 24 chances created each, indicating that they are the most creative midfielders among the six players analysed. Their numbers underline their ability to dictate play, unlock defences, and supply attackers despite operating in deeper midfield roles.

Ryan Gravenberch has created 18 chances, which is four more than Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi, who has registered 14 chances created so far. This places Gravenberch comfortably ahead in terms of creative output from midfield.

What stands out most is that Manchester City’s Rodrigo has created 11 chances, which is two more than Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, despite Rodrigo having played 871 fewer minutes.

This stark contrast highlights the difference in chance creation efficiency between the two and underlines why Rodrigo is regarded as an elite midfielder. With more minutes this season, he would almost certainly rank among the best—if not the best—in chance creation within this group.

Passes Completed

  1. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 1,194
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 1,186
  3. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 950
  4. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 894
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 685
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 561

In general, passes completed and passing accuracy identify the midfielder who truly acts as the passing metronome. Passing is fundamental to maintaining possession, circulating and recycling the ball, and progressing play when a team needs to move up the pitch.

On the other hand, misplaced passes can expose a team to pressure or directly lead to goals conceded. This was evident when Martin Zubimendi briefly lost concentration and played a loose pass to Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo as Arsenal were advancing to attack. Mbeumo capitalised and scored, a moment that placed Zubimendi under heavy criticism from Arsenal fans.

However, the overall statistics paint a broader picture. Zubimendi has completed the highest number of passes among these midfielders, leading the group with 1,194 completed passes. Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch follows closely in second place with 1,186 completed passes.

Granit Xhaka has completed 950 passes, while Moises Caicedo ranks fourth with 894 completed passes. Youri Tielemans has recorded 685 passes completed, with Rodrigo registering 561, a figure influenced by his limited minutes this season.

Passing Accuracy (%)

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 91.04%
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 90.33%
  3. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 89.33%
  4. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 88.91%
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 84.46%
  6. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 83.11%

However, passing accuracy (%) tells a slightly different story. While Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi has completed the most passes, his passing accuracy is not the highest in this group. Moises Caicedo leads the way with an impressive 91.04% passing accuracy, followed closely by Ryan Gravenberch at 90.33%.

Manchester City’s Rodrigo records a strong 89.33% passing accuracy, despite having played the fewest minutes among these midfielders. Zubimendi ranks fourth with 88.91%, while Youri Tielemans has posted 84.46% so far. Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka sits at the bottom of this ranking with 83.11% passing accuracy.

In the Premier League, competition is often decided by fine margins, where even a brief lapse in concentration can be costly. In our view, it is often safer to complete fewer passes with higher accuracy than to attempt a higher volume of passes at a lower success rate.

Long Pass Accuracy (%)

  1. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 72.00%
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 63.83%
  3. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 63.08%
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 57.8%
  5. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 49.35%
  6. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 25.93%

Long pass accuracy (%) measures a midfielder’s efficiency in progressing the ball, switching play from deep areas, and breaking opposition lines. It is especially valuable for beating the press, relieving pressure, and initiating quick counter-attacks, helping place the team on the front foot.

In this comparison, the numbers underline why Manchester City’s Rodrigo is so highly rated and a Ballon d’Or winner. He leads the group with an outstanding 72.00% long pass accuracy, followed by Moises Caicedo at 63.83% and Youri Tielemans at 63.08%. These three midfielders stand out as the most effective at progressing the ball and switching play from deep, providing a reliable outlet to escape intense opposition pressing.

At the other end of the ranking are Granit Xhaka with 57.8%, Martin Zubimendi with 49.35%, and Ryan Gravenberch with 25.93% long pass accuracy, making them the bottom three performers in this metric.

Crosses Completed

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 17
  2. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 9
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 2
  4. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 2
  5. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 0
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0

Crosses are a useful metric for assessing a midfielder’s positional dynamism—showing how effectively they drift to the wings and deliver balls into the box.

In this comparison, Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka leads the way with 17 completed crosses, followed by Youri Tielemans with 9.

Martin Zubimendi and Moises Caicedo have each completed 2 crosses, while Ryan Gravenberch and Rodrigo are yet to register a cross this season.

Through Balls

  1. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 12
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 9
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 5
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 5
  5. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 5
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 2

Through balls are a strong indicator of creativity from deep, especially for holding or defensive midfielders.

While tackling, interceptions, and ball circulation are the basics, a midfielder who can directly contribute to attacking play gives his team a major advantage.

As the saying goes, attack is the best form of defence—the more time opponents spend worrying about your attacks, the less time they have to threaten your goal.

Consistent through balls also signal positive activity inside the opposition’s box, a key trait for teams built around progressive and attacking football.

In this comparison, Youri Tielemans leads the way with 12 through balls, a contribution that has significantly supported Aston Villa’s attacking play and helped them remain third in the league for an extended period.

This attacking influence from a central or defensive midfielder fits perfectly with Unai Emery’s attacking football philosophy, shaped by his past managerial success.

Martin Zubimendi ranks second with 9 through balls, aligning with his ability to arrive in the box and score goals.

This suggests that Zubimendi plays a positive role in Arsenal’s efforts to penetrate the opposition’s box through vertical passes.

Side note: While Arsenal are known for their attacking football, they have also recently shown an improved ability to drop into a compact, low-block shape after losing possession, making them one of the strongest defensive teams in recent seasons.

Granit Xhaka, Ryan Gravenberch, and Moises Caicedo have each completed 5 through balls, contributing a balanced mix of creativity and defensive responsibility.

Manchester City’s Rodrigo has registered 2 through balls so far, a figure influenced by his limited minutes and fitness struggles this season.

Tackles Made

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 52
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 40
  3. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 38
  4. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 35
  5. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 35
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 19

It comes as little surprise that Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo leads this group for tackles made so far in the Premier League.

Over the past few seasons, he has built a reputation as a tenacious ball-winner at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, often walking a fine line that has seen him accumulate a number of yellow cards for overly aggressive challenges.

Martin Zubimendi ranks second with 40 tackles, highlighting that he is not only effective in and around the opposition’s penalty box, but also capable of consistently winning the ball back and contributing defensively for the Arsenal team.

Youri Tielemans sits third in this comparison, showing a strong balance between offensive and defensive responsibilities. Given that he leads this group for through balls, it is encouraging to see that his creative influence does not come at the expense of his defensive output.

Ryan Gravenberch and Granit Xhaka have each registered 35 tackles.

Rodrigo rounds off the list with 19 tackles, a figure that is lower than expected but understandable given his limited minutes, and one that would typically be higher when fully fit.

Fouls from Tackle Attempts

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 19
  2. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 15
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 14
  4. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 13
  5. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 7
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 3

So, who is the cleanest tackler among these midfielders? As previously mentioned, Moises Caicedo has often exposed himself to disciplinary trouble due to what are widely regarded as overly aggressive tackles, and it comes as no surprise that he tops this chart with 19 fouls from tackle attempts.

Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans ranks second with 15 fouls, which can partly be explained by his lack of top-end pace compared to others in this group. Arriving late to challenges has contributed to his foul count, despite the fact that Tielemans remains a technically gifted midfielder when in possession.

Martin Zubimendi follows with 14 fouls from tackle attempts, a figure that could reflect his ongoing adaptation to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League, especially given that this is his first season in England.

Ryan Gravenberch comes next with 13 fouls, a relatively modest number for such a physically imposing midfielder, suggesting a good level of timing and discipline in his defensive work.

Granit Xhaka stands out as one of the cleanest tacklers in this group, committing just 7 fouls while playing for Sunderland this season.

Rodrigo has recorded only 3 fouls, but this figure is too small to draw firm conclusions, given that he has featured far less than the others in this comparison.

Take-ons Completed

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 19
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 10
  3. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 9
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 6
  5. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 4
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 3

Take-ons, or successful dribbles past an opponent, are an important measure in football because they show a player’s ability to beat opponents in one-on-one situations, create space, and progress the ball into dangerous areas.

In the Premier League this season, Ryan Gravenberch leads this group with 19 take-ons completed, followed by Moises Caicedo with 10 and Youri Tielemans with 9.

Granit Xhaka has registered 6 take-ons, while Martin Zubimendi has 4, and Rodrigo has completed 3.

Fouls Won

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 34
  2. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 27
  3. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 26
  4. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 24
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 13
  6. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 6

Fouls won is an important stat in football because it shows how often a player is able to draw fouls from opponents, helping their team gain set-piece opportunities and relieve pressure in key areas of the pitch.

In the Premier League this season, Moises Caicedo leads the way with 34 fouls won, followed by Youri Tielemans with 27. Granit Xhaka has won 26 fouls, while Ryan Gravenberch has recorded 24. Rodrigo has won 13 fouls, and Martin Zubimendi has registered 6 so far.

Fouls Committed

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 30
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 23
  3. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 22
  4. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 19
  5. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 16
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 5

Fouls committed is a key stat in football because it reflects how often a player gets the opportunity to break up play or challenge opponents, while also showing their disciplinary record and risk of conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas.

In the Premier League this season, Moises Caicedo tops the chart with 30 fouls committed, followed by Martin Zubimendi with 23 and Youri Tielemans with 22. Ryan Gravenberch has committed 19 fouls, Granit Xhaka has 16, and Rodrigo has the fewest with 5.

Aerial Duels Won

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 46
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 43
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 19
  4. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 14
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 13
  6. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 10

Aerial duels won is an important metric in football because it shows a player’s ability to dominate in the air, win headers, and help their team defend or attack from set-pieces.

In the Premier League this season, Granit Xhaka leads this group with 46 aerial duels won, followed closely by Martin Zubimendi with 43. Ryan Gravenberch has recorded 19, Youri Tielemans has 14, Rodrigo has 13, and Moises Caicedo has won 10 aerial duels so far.

Ground Duels Won

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 96
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 78
  3. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 73
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 65
  5. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 48
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 35

Ground duels won is a key stat in football because it measures a player’s ability to win challenges on the ground, regain possession, and control the midfield battle.

In the Premier League this season, Moises Caicedo leads with 96 ground duels won, followed by Ryan Gravenberch with 78 and Youri Tielemans with 73. Granit Xhaka has won 65, Martin Zubimendi has 48, and Rodrigo has recorded 35 ground duels so far.

Clearances

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 65
  2. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 47
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 32
  4. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 17
  5. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 15
  6. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 13

Clearances are an important defensive metric in football because they show a player’s ability to remove danger from their defensive zone, relieve pressure, and help maintain team shape under attack.

In the Premier League this season, Granit Xhaka leads with 65 clearances, followed by Martin Zubimendi with 47 and Ryan Gravenberch with 32. Rodrigo has 17, Moises Caicedo has 15, and Youri Tielemans has recorded 13 clearances so far.

Interceptions

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 40
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 30
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 28
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 20
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 10
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 7

Interceptions are a crucial stat in football because they show a player’s ability to read the game, cut out opposition passes, and help regain possession for their team.

In the Premier League this season, Moises Caicedo tops the list with 40 interceptions, followed by Ryan Gravenberch with 30 and Martin Zubimendi with 28. Granit Xhaka has made 20, Youri Tielemans has 10, and Rodrigo has recorded 7 interceptions so far.

Blocked Shots

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 16
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 10
  3. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 10
  4. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 5
  5. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 4
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 0

Blocked shots are an important defensive metric in football because they show a player’s ability to stop opposition attempts on goal, protect their goalkeeper, and disrupt attacking plays.

In the Premier League this season, Granit Xhaka leads this category with 16 blocked shots, followed by Moises Caicedo and Youri Tielemans, who both have 10. Ryan Gravenberch has 5, Martin Zubimendi has 4, and Rodrigo has yet to record a blocked shot.

Yellow Cards

  1. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 6
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 4
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 4
  4. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 4
  5. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 1
  6. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 0

Yellow cards are an important statistic in football because they reflect a player’s disciplinary record, showing how often a player is cautioned for fouls or misconduct, which can impact team strategy and availability.

In the Premier League this season, Moises Caicedo leads with 6 yellow cards, while Ryan Gravenberch, Martin Zubimendi, and Granit Xhaka have 4 each. Rodrigo has 1, and Youri Tielemans has yet to receive a yellow card.

Ball Recoveries

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 102
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 101
  3. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 91
  4. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 74
  5. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 67
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 47

Ball recoveries are a key metric in football because they measure a player’s ability to regain possession, disrupt opposition play, and help their team control the game.

In the Premier League this season, Granit Xhaka leads this category with 102 ball recoveries, followed closely by Moises Caicedo with 101. Ryan Gravenberch has recorded 91, Martin Zubimendi has 74, Youri Tielemans has 67, and Rodrigo has 47 ball recoveries so far.

Possession Lost

  1. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 277
  2. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 191
  3. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 187
  4. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 186
  5. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 125
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 80

Possession lost is an important stat in football because it shows how often a player loses the ball, which can impact a team’s control of the game and expose them to counter-attacks.

In the Premier League this season, Granit Xhaka leads this category with 277 times possession lost, followed by Ryan Gravenberch with 191. Martin Zubimendi has 187, Youri Tielemans has 186, Moises Caicedo has 125, and Rodrigo has lost possession 80 times so far.

Times Tackled

  1. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool – 27
  2. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea – 20
  3. Granit Xhaka – Sunderland – 18
  4. Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa – 15
  5. Martin Zubimendi – Arsenal – 11
  6. Rodrigo – Manchester City – 8

Times tackled is an important metric in football because it shows how often a player is challenged by opponents and how frequently they face defensive pressure, which can impact their ability to maintain possession and dictate play.

In the Premier League this season, Ryan Gravenberch has been tackled 27 times, followed by Moises Caicedo with 20 and Granit Xhaka with 18. Youri Tielemans has been tackled 15 times, Martin Zubimendi 11 times, and Rodrigo 8 times so far.

Conclusion

Based on a thorough review of defensive, creative, and attacking metrics, the ranking of Premier League midfielders for the 2025/26 season is clear: Ryan Gravenberch leads the pack, followed by Moises Caicedo, Granit Xhaka, Martin Zubimendi, Youri Tielemans, and Rodrigo.

This ranking highlights the players’ combined influence across ball-winning, chance creation, passing efficiency, and goal contribution. Gravenberch’s blend of defensive consistency and goal threat places him at the top, while Caicedo’s dynamic defensive actions and Xhaka’s leadership in midfield show the importance of well-rounded contributions.

Even with limited minutes, Rodrigo demonstrates the elite qualities that justify his status as a top-class midfielder. These insights provide a clear guide for fans and analysts when assessing the most effective and reliable central midfielders in the Premier League this season.

12th Man

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *