Best Midfielders in the Serie A 2025/26
Per-90 performance rankings · Rising Transfers DNA Analysis · 25 players ranked
Based on per-90 statistics across 25 Serie A midfielders in 2025/26, Manuel Locatelli leads the ranking as a Metronome with a composite score of 3.48. Nicolò Barella (Metronome) ranks second at 2.73, followed by Nicolò Fagioli (Elite Playmaker) at 2.68. All rankings are calculated using Rising Transfers' 47-dimension per-90 analysis methodology.
Methodology: Per-90 stats explained · DNA matching
Manuel Locatelli
25 games · Italy
Nicolò Barella
23 games · Italy
Nicolò Fagioli
25 games · Italy
Full Serie A Midfielders Rankings
| # | Player | Style | KP/90 | Goals/90 | TW/90 | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel Locatelli | Metronome | 1.43 | 0.03 | 2.05 | 25 | Similar → |
| 2 | Nicolò Barella | Metronome | 2.61 | 0.11 | 1.17 | 23 | Similar → |
| 3 | Nicolò Fagioli | Elite Playmaker | 2.19 | 0.07 | 1.04 | 25 | Similar → |
| 4 | Bryan Cristante | Metronome | 0.77 | 0.06 | 1.12 | 28 | Similar → |
| 5 | Mario Pašalić | Creative Playmaker | 1.88 | 0.15 | 0.96 | 23 | Similar → |
| 6 | Charles De Ketelaere | Creator | 2.60 | 0.13 | 0.58 | 21 | Similar → |
| 7 | Marten de Roon | Chance Creator | 0.77 | 0.04 | 1.52 | 21 | Similar → |
| 8 | Nico Paz | Creator | 1.59 | 0.37 | 1.56 | 22 | Similar → |
| 9 | Lucas Da Cunha | Metronome | 1.44 | 0.14 | 0.84 | 29 | Similar → |
| 10 | Antoine Bernede | Creator | 1.19 | 0.04 | 1.54 | 17 | Similar → |
| 11 | Éderson | Metronome | 1.05 | 0.08 | 1.38 | 21 | Similar → |
| 12 | Teun Koopmeiners | Chance Creator | 0.82 | 0.00 | 0.57 | 23 | Similar → |
| 13 | Khéphren Thuram | Chance Creator | 0.88 | 0.11 | 1.14 | 24 | Similar → |
| 14 | Andrea Cambiaso | Creator | 1.82 | 0.10 | 1.35 | 24 | Similar → |
| 15 | Weston McKennie | Creator | 1.49 | 0.17 | 0.76 | 25 | Similar → |
| 16 | Nikola Vlašić | Creator | 1.56 | 0.25 | 1.15 | 16 | Similar → |
| 17 | Máximo Perrone | Metronome | 1.08 | 0.10 | 1.22 | 21 | Similar → |
| 18 | Ylber Ramadani | Ball-Winner | 0.47 | 0.03 | 1.48 | 19 | Similar → |
| 19 | Manu Koné | Box-to-Box | 0.92 | 0.07 | 1.02 | 19 | Similar → |
| 20 | Rolando Mandragora | Box-to-Box | 1.40 | 0.23 | 0.89 | 25 | Similar → |
| 21 | Youssouf Fofana | Ball-Winner | 1.55 | 0.09 | 0.75 | 26 | Similar → |
| 22 | Davide Zappacosta | Creator | 1.36 | 0.11 | 0.56 | 22 | Similar → |
| 23 | Stanislav Lobotka | Midfielder | 0.82 | 0.04 | 0.60 | 21 | Similar → |
| 24 | Morten Frendrup | Ball-Winner | 0.45 | 0.03 | 2.00 | 18 | Similar → |
| 25 | Jesper Karlström | Box-to-Box | 0.48 | 0.03 | 0.95 | 18 | Similar → |
KP = Key passes · TW = Tackles won · Int = Interceptions · Clr = Clearances · GC = Goals conceded
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best midfielder in the Serie A right now?
Based on per-90 data in 2025/26, Manuel Locatelli is the top-ranked midfielder in the Serie A. Manuel Locatelli is classified as a Metronome by Rising Transfers' DNA analysis system.
How are Serie A midfielders ranked on Rising Transfers?
Rising Transfers ranks midfielders using a composite per-90 score across key performance dimensions specific to the position. All statistics are normalised per 90 minutes of play to allow fair comparison between players with different minutes. Only players with 1,350+ minutes (equivalent to approximately 15 full matches) are included to ensure statistical reliability.
What does the DNA archetype mean for midfielders?
Each player is assigned a DNA archetype (e.g. Creator, Ball-Winner, Pressing Forward) based on their playing style vector — a 768-dimensional representation of their per-90 performance across 47 metrics. The archetype describes how the player plays, not just their position.
How often is the Serie A midfielder ranking updated?
Rankings are recalculated weekly as new match data is processed into Rising Transfers' DNA pipeline. The underlying per-90 statistics are sourced from live match data across the Serie A season.
Midfielders Rankings in Other Leagues
Other Positions in the Serie A
Rankings are generated by Rising Transfers using per-90 statistics from the 2025/26 Serie A season. Only players with 1,350+ minutes in the current season are included to ensure statistical reliability. Scores are computed using a position-specific composite formula across 47 performance dimensions. Data is refreshed weekly. Learn more about our methodology →
Some players may be excluded due to data availability (e.g. mid-season transfers, injury absences, or cup-only appearances). Rankings reflect on-pitch statistical performance and do not account for team defensive structure or shot quality — elite players on dominant teams may rank lower on volume-based metrics.