Tonali Tops the Bill: Ranking Football's Most Coveted Defensive Midfielders This Summer

The defensive midfielder has become football's currency of choice. Whether it's Rodri's Ballon d'Or triumph in 2024, the eye-watering fees splashed on Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, or the stellar impact made by recent Premier League arrivals, the No.6 role commands serious investment.

The 2025/26 season proved the point emphatically. Martin Zubimendi's switch to Arsenal proved transformative—the Gunners romped to the title and reached the Champions League final, chasing the quadruple until March's reality check. Granit Xhaka's transfer to Sunderland earned universal acclaim as the season's standout deal, whilst Jordan Henderson's arrival at Brentford helped smooth the club's transition under Keith Andrews following the Thomas Frank era.

With the summer window looming, plenty of talented operators remain available to the highest bidder. Here's our rundown of the ten best defensive midfielders ready to move.

10. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough)

The Championship's most valuable property on Transfermarkt, Hackney's Premier League arrival feels inevitable. The 23-year-old is wanted by virtually every top-flight club, with RB Leipzig and FC Porto also circling. He recorded FotMob's highest average match rating in the Championship (7.64) and created 2.3 chances per 90 minutes, posting the second-highest total of chances created (83) in the division. England caps surely await once he makes the step up.

9. Danilo (Botafogo)

A revelation since departing Nottingham Forest last summer, the Brazilian is in World Cup contention for his country, potentially operating alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro if Carlo Ancelotti opts for a three-man midfield. A European return would be richly deserved.

8. Casemiro (Manchester United)

Defying the narrative that he was finished, the five-time Champions League winner delivered his finest domestic campaign this season. Ruben Amorim saw flashes of quality before Michael Carrick unlocked the best version—Casemiro became a Premier League standout. At 33 on £350,000 weekly wages, European suitors may balk, but Saudi Arabia beckons. Should a Champions League club stomach the financial commitment, he remains a genuine asset.

7. Morten Hjulmand (Sporting CP)

A perennial fixture on these lists, the Sporting captain remains arguably Portugal's finest midfielder. Hjulmand completed 91% of attempted passes last season and notched 58 tackles—bettered by only 11 players across Europe's top leagues. Whether he'll ever leave remains the question.

6. Carlos Baleba (Brighton)

Manchester United's persistent interest seemingly destabilised the Cameroon international, whose form flatlined for much of the campaign before improving in the closing weeks. His inconsistency might not deter United, who could shell out over £80million to replace Casemiro, though they'd probably prefer to look elsewhere. There's every chance they sign him anyway—such is their transfer nous.

5. James Garner (Everton)

Everton insist he's not for sale, yet Garner possesses the quality to operate at Champions League level. David Moyes publicly cited Everton's struggles as the reason for his World Cup omission—a motivation that shouldn't be underestimated.

4. Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal)

The Portuguese midfielder's Saudi sojourn hasn't diminished his standing. January rumours of a £13million exit proved fanciful; Neves now sits under contract until 2029. Don't expect him to budge for anything less than £20million, though. Four years younger than Casemiro and earning comparable wages, his ranking at fourth might seem bold, but his quality is undeniable and longevity in football is precious.

3. Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart)

The 25-year-old German represents an intriguing wildcard. Manchester United have been sniffing around the Stuttgart playmaker, who could offer an alternative option as they hunt midfield reinforcements following Champions League qualification.

2. Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Another curious England World Cup casualty, Wharton was inexplicably overlooked despite a stellar campaign with Conference League champions Palace. At just 22, the complete defensive midfielder package is ready to step up to a genuine heavyweight. His omission from the squad remains baffling.

1. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United)

Newcastle's dysfunction dragged Tonali's season down, much like Baleba's at Brighton. Yet memory lingers of his 2024/25 brilliance—the Premier League's finest midfielder bar Rodri. Should he join Arsenal, Manchester City or Manchester United this summer—a move appearing increasingly probable—that standard will almost certainly return. Does Arsenal strictly need him? Perhaps not. Would they be substantially stronger? Unquestionably.