Best Premier League midfielders - 2024/25 power rankings
- Premier League is home to some of the world's best midfielders
- Man City's midfield key to dominance under Pep Guardiola
- Martin Odegaard has inspired a challenging Arsenal in recent years
England is no longer a land where box-to-box fiends rule. The era of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard is no more.
Still, that doesn't mean there's been a great reduction in quality. Anything but. Instead, the Premier League is home to a variety of midfield profiles each boasting their own unique brilliance.
The box-to-boxer does remain, only not as prevalent, with press resisters growing in prominence as of late given the desires of teams to win possession back high up the pitch.
This is a division home to some of the world's leading midfielders and here's how 90min ranks the ten best early in the 2024/25 campaign.
10. Morgan Gibbs-White (-)
Morgan Gibbs-White was key to Nottingham Forest's survival in 2023/24 and he's likely to have a similar influence in the Midlands this season.
The attacking midfielder has been one of key players behind Forest's remarkable unbeaten start to the new campaign.
9. James Maddison (down 1)
James Maddison came back to haunt his former employers Leicester City in Tottenham's Premier League opener and he proved similarly impactful against Everton on matchday two.
While Heung-min Son caught the eye with a brace, it was Maddison that was pulling the strings in the 4-0 win. He assisted Cristian Romero's header with a tantalising cross and was a constant threat in the final third.
If he can be a bit more consistent, Spurs will do well this season.
8. Amadou Onana (new entry)
Signed to replace Douglas Luiz during the summer transfer window, it's fair to say that Amadou Onana has more than done that thus far.
The towering midfielder has added a real goal threat to the middle of the park for Aston Villa.
He's developing into one of the better midfielders in the Premier League.
7. Bruno Fernandes (-)
Man Utd's creator-in-chief and captain was typically effective in the win over Southampton.
He bagged an assist and inspired the much-needed 3-0 win.
6. Bruno Guimaraes (-)
There can be no doubting who Newcastle United's midfield star is, with Bruno Guimaraes delivering another excellent and well-rounded performance against Wolves in week four of the season.
The Magpies have done superbly well to retain the Brazilian this summer.
5. Declan Rice (-)
While Declan Rice's start to 2024/25 has been fairly mediocre by his own lofty standards, there can be no denying his immense influence on this swashbuckling Arsenal side.
The £105m man was key to their title challenge last term, adding another string to his bow in the form of set-pieces, and will surely get up to speed within the next few weeks.
4. Dominik Szoboszlai (-)
Hungary's captain endured a tough second half to the 2023/24 season having made a lightning-fast start to his Liverpool career. Dominik Szoboszlai, amid a demanding schedule, ran out of puff.
Alexis Mac Allister was the midfield star for the Reds down the stretch, but the very early signs under Arne Slot suggest Szoboszlai will be the main man in the middle of the park.
3. Martin Odegaard (-)
Martin Odegaard makes you purr a stupid number of times in any given contest. It's simply joyous watching the Scandinavian playmaker go about his business.
Unfortunately, we won't see him playing for a while due to a serious injury he picked up while on international duty.
2. Kevin De Bruyne (up two)
Kevin De Bruyne may have lost a yard but he's as canny as ever. He starred in spurts after returning from a long-term hamstring injury last season and may well be enjoying his last dance in Manchester this term.
The Belgian's campaign started brightly away at Chelsea and got even better against newly-promoted Ipswich Town. De Bruyne scored and assisted in the 4-1 win and looked at his creative best once again.
1. Rodri
The linchpin of the most dominant club team the Premier League has perhaps ever seen, Rodri is undoubtedly the division's best.
The fact that he is yet to feature for Man City this season doesn't stop him being comfortably the best midfielder in England, and almost certainly world football.
The reigning champions have won their opening two games without him and will only improve now that he's returned from injury.
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