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 (new entry)
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 impressed against Bournemouth in Forest's opener but hit new heights against Southampton on matchday two, scoring the winner from close range.
He also topped the game for touches in the opposition box (6), successful dribbles (4) and shots on target (2).
9. Morgan Rogers (new entry)
Aston Villa may have tasted defeat on matchday two, losing 2-0 to Arsenal, but Morgan Rogers caught the eye with a lively performance. Traditionally a winger, the Englishman has been playing as an attacking midfielder in 2024/25, sometimes even doubling with Ollie Watkins up top.
While he is yet to register a goal contribution, he completed three more dribbles than any other player in the Arsenal clash. He also created two chances and registered three shots.
8. James Maddison (new entry)
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.
7. Bruno Fernandes (down four)
Erik ten Hag went striker-less against Brighton on matchday two, as he had done in the opener with Fulham. Bruno Fernandes was deployed as the most advanced forward for Manchester United but struggled to make a significant impact.
He dropped into his favoured number ten position after the break and looked much sharper, with Man Utd's best attacking play coming through him as the game became more stretched in the closing stages.
6. Bruno Guimaraes (up one)
There can be no doubting who Newcastle United's midfield star is, with Bruno Guimaraes delivering another excellent and well-rounded performance against Bournemouth on matchday two.
The Magpies have done superbly well to retain the Brazilian this summer and he proved a key creator and defensive force against the Cherries.
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 (up two)
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.
The box-to-box machine was sublime against Ipswich in Liverpool's opener and offered a similarly graceful yet tenacious display against Brentford.
3. Martin Odegaard (down one)
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.
The Arsenal captain performs an ever-evolving function in Arsenal's midfield; one capable of being mastered by very few. Relentless without the ball but a delight with it, Odegaard deserves immense credit for developing well beyond his initial trajectory when he rocked up to the Emirates on loan three years ago.
It's hard to imagine this Arsenal team without him in it.
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 once he returns from injury.
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