This improved performance at the continental level has brought about an influx of the world’s best talents, many of whom are yet to hit their best. The Premier League has also seen a rise in players who, while already among Europe’s top players, are still on the right side of their 20s.
In this article, we will look at the five best defenders in the Premier League who are yet to turn 25.
#5 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has had a tough few weeks for the Red Devils. But if we ignore the recent struggle, Wan-Bissaka is still one of the best one-on-one defenders in the Premier League.
The right-back joined Manchester United in the 2019 summer window for €55 million and hit the ground running. He finished the 2019-20 Premier League season as the player with the most successful tackles (129). He followed it up with another stellar season, making 88 tackles, showcasing his worth as a great one-on-one defender, and finishing with the fifth most tackles that season.
Wan-Bissaka hasn’t had a great 2021-22 season so far. He particularly struggled at right wing-back against Manchester City. But at 23 years of age, he has enough time on hand to grow into a world-beater.
#4 Ben White
Arsenal defender Ben White joined the Gunners in the 2021 summer transfer window from Brighton and has soon grown into an integral player for the side. Mikel Arteta has started him in nine of Arsenal’s Premier League matches so far, and White has helped them keep five clean sheets.
In the two matches that the 24-year-old missed, Arsenal lost 2-0 and 5-0 to Chelsea and Manchester City, respectively. He has played an important part in the Gunners’ resurgence this Premier League season after a torrid start that saw them lose their first three matches.
White was also called up to England’s Euro 2020 squad to replace an injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, but didn’t make an appearance in the Three Lions’ run to the final.
#3 Reece James
Chelsea academy product Reece James was touted to grow into one of the Premier League’s best much before he became a regular feature in the Blues’ squad. James impressed during his loan spell with Wigan Athletic, which fast-tracked his promotion to the Chelsea squad as he made 24 Premier League appearances in his first season with them.
He was a regular feature in Frank Lampard and then Thomas Tuchel’s squad in the 2020-21 season as the Blues won the Champions League. He has now started the 2021-22 season firing on all cylinders. In just eight Premier League matches this season, James has scored four goals and provided three assists from right wing-back.
James is just 21 and has over a decade of top-level football left in him.
#2 Ruben Dias
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias made an immediate impact soon after his arrival in the Premier League. Dias won the 2020-21 Premier League player of the season award as Pep Guardiola’s men romped to the title in the defender’s first season in England.
At 24 years of age, Dias has seemingly ended Manchester City’s search for Vincent Kompany’s replacement. The Portuguese has enough in him to lead City to more titles. The center-back has brought much-required calm to the City back-line and has also fitted in seamlessly with Pep Guardiola’s possession-based style of play.
Dias has started all 11 Premier League matches for Manchester City this season with the Sky Blues having the second-best defensive record in the league.
#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has divided opinions, with questions often raised over his defensive ability. But with time, the 23-year-old has quashed all such criticism.
His attacking prowess makes him one of the toughest players to handle in the Premier League. There have even been calls for Jurgen Klopp to use Alexander-Arnold in midfield, but the German is quite clear about where he wants to play the ‘best right-back in the world’.
The Liverpool academy product helped end the club’s 30-year long wait for an English top-flight title, but not before adding a sixth Champions League title to the Reds’ trophy cabinet. He is unarguably the best Premier League defender under the age of 25.
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