20 Best Premier League Right-Backs Right Now

The Premier League has been home to some of the best right-backs that the world has ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The likes of ex-Manchester City enforcer Pablo Zabaleta, Branislav Ivanovic, formerly of Chelsea, and defender-turned-pundit Gary Neville, all spring to mind when thinking of some of the best who played in the English top flight, but there are many, many more.

As is the modern era of football, full-backs are very different to the right-backs of yesteryear. Often revolutionising the game, the bare expectations are that they are as competent going forward as they are when having to do what the old guard were typically tasked with doing: defending.

Right now, the Premier League is stacked with quality right-backs, including the likes of Chelsea’s Reece James and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber. We have taken a look at the current crop of right-backs in the England top division and offered our top 20 ranking.

Ranking factors

While compiling the top 15 list, the following was taken into account:

• Longevity
• Form
• Trophies
• Goals
• Assists
• Defensive ability
• Clean sheets
• Individual awards

20

Noussair Mazraoui

Manchester United

Former Bayern Munich utility man Noussair Mazraoui has been a useful option for Ruben Amorim to call upon. Able to play on either side of the backline, the 35-cap Morocco international made an impressive start to his career at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, something which then continued under his current boss.

To say that the Red Devils haven’t been at their best under Amorim, though, is an understatement, so Mazraoui’s positive performances need to be taken with a pinch of salt. He also missed the start of the new season with a couple of injuries, but could rise up the rankings if he continues to play a part in United’s apparent revival.

19

Trai Hume

Sunderland

Having won promotion back to the top flight via the play-offs, there were more than a few sceptics about Sunderland’s chances of survival. But, with the Black Cats making a fantastic start to 2025/26, those doubters have been converted into believers.

New signings have made a difference, but so to have the old guard — none more so than right-back Trai Hume. Signed in 2022 from Northern Irish side Linfield, the 23-year-old has really stepped up his game during his first year in the English top flight, with him relentlessly pressing teams out of possession. He’s barely missed a game for Regis le Bris’ side so far this term, a fantastic indicator of how integral he is to the team.

18

Diogo Dalot

Manchester United

Questions are consistently raised about whether Diogo Dalot has a long-term future at Old Trafford, but the Portuguese international has been a consistent presence in United teams under multiple managers. It demonstrates just how highly they have rated him through the years, even if some supporters might not agree with them.

It’s Dalot’s versatility that makes him so highly valued by current manager Amorim, who the defender is related to. Typically deployed as a right-back during his career, he’s also lined up on the opposite flank and sometimes even further forward. The 26-year-old no doubt has room to improve, but if he does, he has plenty to offer the team.

17

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

West Ham United

At Manchester United, there were always question marks over whether Aaron Wan-Bissaka was good enough to be a long-term option at right-back for the Red Devils. Monikered as ‘The Spider’ thanks to his gangly limbs and highly impressive 1v1 ability, it was his attacking threat which left a lot to be desired.

Moving to West Ham in 2024 offered him the chance to play regular, consistent football and showcase why he was so highly regarded at Crystal Palace. It’s not been plain sailing for the 28-year-old, with the east London club going through something of a rough patch in recent months. But he now hopes to rediscover his best form under Nuno Espirito Santo.

16

Kyle Walker

Burnley

Kyle Walker might be one of the best right-backs in football history, but things started to get ugly towards the end of his career at Manchester City. Supporters were convinced that the 35-year-old was finished, and the club ultimately agreed, letting him go on loan to AC Milan in January 2025 before he permanently left for Burnley in the summer.

Since arriving at Turf Moore, though, Walker has looked more similar to the player of old. Scott Parker hoped that the 96 cap England international could provide valuable leadership to his backline, and he’s done that and more. He still possesses enough of his recovery pace to keep attackers out, and might yet be vital to the Clarets’ survival hopes this term.

15

Kieran Trippier

Newcastle United

He might not have looked like an elite full-back while at Tottenham Hotspur, but Kieran Trippier found a new level in his first full season at Newcastle United. The Englishman was a regular fixture on the right side of the Magpies’ back line, with his quality going forward – only rivalled by few – nothing short of incredible.

Three years after his arrival at St James’ Park, the 35-year-old’s level has steadily dipped with age, and he’s gradually been phased into a rotational option. Nevertheless, Trippier is still a useful option to call upon when needed, and considering Valentino Livramento’s injury issues, he’s still picking up consistent minutes in the north-east.

14

Conor Bradley

Liverpool

One of the finest young talents in the Premier League right now, Conor Bradley was extremely unlucky to be playing at Liverpool in the same era as one of the club’s greatest ever right-backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold. But now that the England international has left for Real Madrid, the Northern Irishman is getting the chance to show what he can bring to the team.

Despite Jeremie Frimpong’s arrival at the club, Bradley has consistently started in the right-back berth in 2025/26, putting in a superb performance against Vinicius Jr. during Liverpool’s Champions League victory. The club’s poor Premier League form, though, means that the 22-year-old can only rise so high here.

13

Malo Gusto

Chelsea

Upon arriving from French top flight outfit Lyon, Chelsea fans assumed Malo Gusto would take up the role of Reece James’ understudy. However, with the skipper’s injury woes initially persisting, the young French defender was given an opportunity to impress in the first-team – and he took the chance with both hands.

The versatile defender has shown that he’s an effective player in the final third while proving to be a real asset in his own box. Any club would miss a player of James’ quality, but Gusto really does help to maintain Chelsea’s level of performances. Enzo Maresca has continued to utilise the 22-year-old, despite James also being available, which is a testament to his ability.

12

Michael Kayode

Brentford

Arriving at the G-tech Community Stadium in January 2025 on loan, Brentford fans might have forgiven Michael Kayode for taking some time to get up to speed in the Premier League. Although the former Fiorentina defender played 71 times for I Viola, he was only 20-years-old, so making an instant impact wasn’t necessarily expected from the young full-back.

But Kayode impressed in west London, which led to Brentford making the deal permanent in the summer. And since then, the Italy under-21 defender has taken his game up a level under Keith Andrews, marauding forward to offer an extra threat while looking assured without the ball. He’s started every Premier League game so far this season, with him indispensable for the Bees.

11

Kenny Tete

Fulham

One of the most quietly consistent full-backs in the Premier League, it’s about time Kenny Tete gets the recognition that he deserves. His reading of the game and anticipation is second-to-none and he has also done a fine job going forward, scoring one goal so far in 2025/26.

An ever-willing runner, Tete’s cleverness and street smarts have made him an important part of Marco Silva’s side, and it’s no surprise that the Cottagers look far more defensively assured when the Dutchman is patrolling the right flanks like he usually does. And, when you factor in that they usually say ‘availability is the best ability’, Tete is pretty much always there.