Ranking the 10 best midfielders in the Premier League 2021: Bruno completely outstats the league

At the end of 2019, COVID-19 began to emerge and quickly spread around the world. By early 2020, almost every country was affected by the pandemic. Due to its high transmission rate and serious health impact, many sports leagues were forced to suspend or postpone matches. Later, competitions resumed but were played without spectators.

In the 2020/21 season, Man City regained the Premier League title after losing it to Liverpool the previous year. One notable feature of the Etihad Stadium side that season was their reliance on a strong midfield rather than a traditional striker. In addition, the league saw many outstanding midfielders deliver impressive performances. In this article, nowgoalpro.net evaluates the 10 best midfielders in the Premier League 2021.

Top 10 best midfielders in the Premier League 2021

10. Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)

As one of the most promising young players in the Premier League, Tielemans got an excellent season, featuring in all 38 matches for Leicester. His key role was linking defense and attack, taking responsibility for progressing the ball forward. Tielemans ranked among the midfielders with the most passes into the final third and, together with Ndidi, formed an effective partnership in midfield. His most memorable moment of the season was helping Leicester win the FA Cup by defeating Chelsea in the final.

9. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham)

Despite it being his first season at Tottenham, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made a strong impact, playing all 38 matches without missing a single minute. In Mourinho’s system, Hojbjerg operated as a defensive midfielder, tasked with protecting the back line. His defensive numbers were consistently among the highest in the squad, and he also led the team in total passes, acting as the link between defense and the attacking duo of Son Heung-min and Harry Kane.

8. Tomas Soucek (West Ham)

After joining West Ham from Slavia Prague, Soucek delivered impressive performances as a central midfielder. He used his intelligent movement into the penalty area and strong positioning to score 10 goals. He also ranked among the league leaders in aerial duels, using his 1.92m height to dominate in the air. Soucek displayed remarkable stamina, playing all 38 matches and often covering the most distance in games, averaging over 12km per match.

7. N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)

Following a few challenging seasons under Lampard, Kante truly flourished under Thomas Tuchel. In Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system, the French midfielder played a more advanced role, focusing on pressing higher up the pitch rather than staying deep. This tactical adjustment allowed Kante to showcase his exceptional tackling and interception abilities, ranking among the best in the league. He also demonstrated strong ball-carrying skills, helping create space and opportunities for Chelsea’s attackers.

6. Declan Rice (West Ham)

The 2020/21 campaign confirmed Rice as one of the league’s top midfielders. He delivered outstanding defensive performances with high interception numbers while also making more forward runs to support West Ham’s attacks. The partnership between Soucek and Rice became one of the most effective in the Premier League and played a crucial role in helping West Ham finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League.

5. Rodri (Man City)

During the 2020/21 season, Rodri became increasingly important to Man City as captain Fernandinho’s role declined. After a period of adaptation, Rodri fully settled into the Premier League and established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders. He led the league in total passes (2,785) and touches, maintaining a pass accuracy rate above 90% despite attempting many long passes. Rodri also excelled in aerial duels, recording the highest success rate among midfielders (76.5%), which significantly reduced pressure on center-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones.

4. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)

While Rodri strengthened his influence, De Bruyne continued to show his world-class quality despite missing several matches due to injury. He played only 25 games but still recorded 12 assists, ranking third in the league. His passing and chance-creation numbers remained outstanding, underlining his importance to the team. Thanks to these performances, De Bruyne won the PFA Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season.

3. Mason Mount (Chelsea)

Mount enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career. Under both Lampard and Tuchel, he remained a key figure in the attacking midfield role. The English midfielder ranked second in the league, behind Kevin De Bruyne, for chances created (87) and shot-creating actions (163). Mount’s pressing ability was one of his greatest strengths, often winning possession high up the pitch and creating immediate scoring opportunities. He served as the link between Chelsea’s defensive and attacking units, ensuring the team functioned smoothly.

2. Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)

With Aguero sidelined by injury, Pep Guardiola opted not to sign a new striker and instead deployed Ilkay Gundogan in a more advanced attacking role in several matches. This proved to be Gundogan’s most productive season, as he scored 13 goals, only one of which was from the penalty spot. He showed excellent finishing inside the box while continuing to demonstrate intelligent movement to create space and receive passes. These qualities made Gundogan one of the standout players of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

1. Bruno Fernandes (Man United)

In his first full season with Man United, Bruno Fernandes continued his impressive form. He remained the central figure in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s system and delivered outstanding performances. The Portuguese midfielder led the Premier League in key passes (94) and total shots (168), while also contributing 18 goals and 12 assists. His direct style perfectly suited United’s counter-attacking approach, making him the team’s brightest star and the best midfielder in the Premier League that season.

NowGoal Pro has ranked the 10 best midfielders in the Premier League 2021. This article reflects personal opinions and is for reference purposes only. To read more articles and news about football, please follow our page.