When it comes to identifying the top 5 best defenders Serie A 2025, the choice isn’t easy—but some names tower above the rest. In this article, ProteanCup will guide you through who stood out in the 2024/25 Serie A season—players combining defensive solidity, leadership, attacking contributions, and consistency. Let’s dive in.
Who defines “best defender” in Serie A 2025?
Before naming the five, it helps to explain the criteria. Fans and analysts look for defenders who offer:
- Defensive leadership: organising the back line, positioning, tackling, interceptions
- Consistency: few mistakes, solid performances match after match
- Statistical output: clean sheets, blocks, aerial duels, interceptions
- Added value: assists, ability to build from the back or contribute in attack
Many of the 2024/25 season’s awards and ratings also combined both advanced tracking stats and traditional metrics—so the names below reflect both reputation and measurable output.
Top 5 best defenders Serie A 2025
Here are the five defenders who impressed the most in Serie A in 2024/25. I’ve ordered them roughly by impact, but each brings something special.
1. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
- Awarded Best Defender of the 2024/25 Serie A season, for the second year running. His performances under Inzaghi combined defensive reliability with excellent passing and leadership.
- Season stats: 33 league appearances, 1 goal, 5 assists—not bad for a centre-back. His passing accuracy was extremely high, key passes, and he often started attacks.
- Defensive metrics: consistently among the best in terms of interceptions, blocks, clearances, aerial duels. Also vital in organisation and positioning.
2. Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli)
- Buongiorno was one of the top contenders for the Defender of the Season award. He impressed especially for Napoli’s defensive stability.
- His qualities: strong in duels, reliable in reading the game, seldom out of position. Also contributed in build-up play.
3. Nuno Tavares (Lazio)
- The left-back was nominated among the top three defenders in Serie A for 2024/25. His dynamism on the flank, both defensive work and attacking support, caught many eyes.
- In particular, Tavares stood out early in the season thanks to his assists and forward runs.
4. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)
- Although primarily known for being attack-minded, Dimarco’s defensive consistency was also excellent. He led among defenders for combined goals + assists.
- As a wing-back/full-back, his dual role (helping in attack, tracking back) was among the best in Serie A. Hisacking contributions (crosses, chance-creation) stood out.
5. Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli)
- A more traditional full-back/right-back, Di Lorenzo combined experience, physicality, and consistency. He doesn’t always grab the headlines, but Napoli often depended on him for defensive balance and occasional attacking support.
- His place in many “Team of the Season” selections reflects that steadiness—good defensive stats, a low error rate, strong in duels and recoveries.
Honorable mentions
These players didn’t make the top 5, but deserve recognition:
- Alberto Dossena (Cagliari) – excellent in clearances and aerial du
- Amir Rrahmani (Napoli) – solid centre-back partner; stability and leadership.
- Evan Ndicka (Roma) – good defensive metrics, especially in blocks, interceptions, one-on-one duels.
Why these defenders matter
The top 5 best defenders Serie A 2025 represent more than just good stats; they tell a story of evolving roles, where defenders must:
- Be two‐way players, helping both defensively and in attack
- Handle tactical demands: high lines, pressing, playing out from the back
- Stay consistent across the long Italian season
These five have shown they can do that. Bastoni leads the pack, but players like Tavares and Dimarco show how full-backs/wing-backs are matching centre-backs in significance.
Conclusion
In summarizing, the top 5 best defenders Serie A 2025 as identified here are: Alessandro Bastoni, Alessandro Buongiorno, Nuno Tavares, Federico Dimarco, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Each brings a mix of defensive leadership, technical skill, and consistency that makes them stand out in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues.
ProteanCup hopes this gives you sharper insight into who’s dominating defence in Serie A. If you want, I can also pull up match‐by‐match defensive stats (tackles, interceptions, blocks) so you can compare these defenders side by side. Want me to do that?
