This time last year, the narrative around Chelsea's meeting with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge focused on whether Cole Palmer had reached Bukayo Saka-levels of stardom. He had taken west London by storm during his first year with the Blues and was spearheading an unlikely title charge through the autumn. Now, though, the debate between the two rivals has shifted to midfielders Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice.
That is what has inspired us to construct this list. The Premier League, as the real-life coming of the European Super League, is stacked full of quality. It would stir more debate to rank the top 50 midfielders, but 10 is a) more friendly for us as writers and you as readers, and b) more cut-throat. You want a top-10 spot? Start playing like you deserve one.
When we're talking about 'midfielders', we don't mean your Palmer- or Florian Wirtz- or Eberechi Eze-types who could easily be classified as forwards too. No, no. We're here to discuss the deep-lying variety, those you could get away with playing in centrally in a 4-3-3 without having to worry about their defensive positioning. Performances and fitness over the last couple of years are also being used to split hairs between the creme de la creme. Understood?
Oh, and at the risk of spoilers, the likes of Elliot Anderson, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali and Casemiro do not make the cut. Sorry…
Getty Images Sport10Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)
Liverpool's inability to get the signing of Martin Zubimendi over the line in 2024 didn't appear to hamper their short-term prospects, with their trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai strolling to last season's Premier League title without much fuss.
However, the Spain international has immediately proven a hit at Arsenal after deciding to snub the Reds 12 months prior to join the Gunners after one more year at boyhood club Real Sociedad. He oozes class from every pore, sweeping up possession and keeping play ticking so effortlessly.
Zubimendi is not only a leading Premier League midfielder already, but one of the standout stars of the 2025-26 season as a whole. Arsenal have lacked a proper ball-progressing No.6 for a few years, but he has filled that hole and then some.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport9Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Chelsea know better than any other club that you can solve all your problems if you simply throw enough money at them. Their decision to simply pay the £106.8 million ($140.7m) that Benfica wanted for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez in January 2023 seemed reckless and brash for the first year or so after that transfer, but is now a little easier on the eyes.
There was little room for a grace period at Stamford Bridge considering the money Chelsea paid for Fernandez's services. Upon arrival, he struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of the Premier League, though almost three years later this is no longer a problem.
The Argentine isn't the most technical of midfielders and you wouldn't really trust him as the main source of creativity in your team, but he does enough of everything to make himself a key component in Enzo Maresca's system, popping up with 10 goals and eight assists in the league alone since the Italian's appointment as head coach.
Getty Images Sport8Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
Had we pieced together these rankings over the summer, Szoboszlai would probably have been the one midfielder from Liverpool's strongest XI that wouldn't have made the cut. Alas, the poor form of Gravenberch and Mac Allister is partly responsible for their slump so far this season, but you can't point the finger of blame in the Hungarian's direction.
Szoboszlai has offered everything to try and stop the Reds' bleeding, even going as far as to fill in at right-back (a violation of the criteria to make this ranking, but one we're willing to overlook) as Arne Slot searches for a formula to stop the champions' slide down the table.
With three goals and five assists in all competitions from all over the pitch, the 25-year-old is holding up his end of the bargain this term. The same cannot be said for most of his subpar team-mates – get this man some help.
Getty Images Sport7Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)
If you rewound to 2021 and said four years later, Granit Xhaka would not only be one of the best midfielders in the world but was also playing for Sunderland, you may as well have started telling people that the rapture was coming too. The Swiss star's redemption arc has been incredible to witness.
Where he was once seen as a man-child who wouldn't ever be able to shake his tag as a liability at Arsenal, Xhaka is now a savvy veteran who unquestionably makes the team he's playing with better. He leads not only by inspiration but by example, and it's one of the main reasons why the Black Cats have enjoyed such early success back in the top-flight.
Xhaka is the commander in Regis Le Bris' midfield. Everything comes and goes through him. After leaving the Gunners as an unlikely hero in 2023 and then becoming a legend with Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen, he's earned that right.