since Premier League Founded in 1992, it has become one of the most watched and loved leagues in world football.

There are many exciting, outstanding offensive players who have graced this prestigious league, but here we take a closer look at the defensive players, specifically the top scorer in the competition’s history.

One player who won’t be on the list is Everton’s Ashley Young, who has converted into a full-back but the Englishman has scored most of his goals from central field, so he will be excluded from this list.

12

Antonio Valencia

24 goals

Antonio Valencia first entered the Premier League during his time at the club. Wigan Athletic. The Ecuador international is lightning quick and powerful, making him a standout player for the Latin American team.

Valencia spent three seasons in the top flight at the DW Stadium, scoring six goals as he primarily played as a right-winger, shooting low.

Then he moved to Manchester Unitedhe scored 18 goals in 10 seasons. Valencia joined Sir Alex Ferguson’s side as a midfielder but spent most of his time at Old Trafford at right-back as his attacking and defensive abilities made him a useful asset in that area of ​​the pitch.

11

Kieran Richardson

24 goals

Former left-back Kieran Richardson has played for five different clubs in the Premier League: Manchester United, West Brom, Sunderland, fulham and aston villa.

Richardson is another player who can play in a number of different positions, he can play on the left wing and in midfield, but he mainly plays at left back.

The defender’s best goalscoring tallies in the Premier League came in the 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2013/14 seasons, with four goals scored during spells at Sunderland and Fulham.

10

Julian Dix

24 goals

Julian Dix also scored 24 goals in the Premier League, albeit in fewer appearances than Richardson and Valencia.

Dix played for liverpool and west ham united In the Premier League, his best scoring season came in the 1995/96 season, when he scored 10 goals in 34 league games. most Dix’s goal came from the penalty spotas he is known for his accuracy from 12 yards out.

9

William Gallus

25 goals

William Gallas is famous in London for doing something not many players have done before: playing for a team chelsea, arsenal and tottenham hotspur.

The Frenchman is one of the best defenders in the Premier League, especially during his time at Chelsea, where he played a key role in the team’s early success.

Despite playing as a defender, Gallas has always had a passion for scoring goals, as evidenced by his five goals in the 2005/06 season. Gallas scored all types of goals, whether with his right or left foot, but it was mainly his headers that posed a huge threat from set pieces.

8

Steve Watson

26 goals

Steve Watson plays for Newcastle Unitedaston villa, evertonand West Brom During his time in the Premier League.

The 50-year-old is comfortable playing anywhere in the back four and has made over 350 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 26 goals.

Watson enjoyed two outstanding seasons in the Premier League, scoring five goals while playing for Everton in 2002/03 and 2003/04, including a hat-trick in 2003 (albeit from midfield).

7

Marcos Alonso

26 goals

Marcos Alonso is one of the most modern defenders on this list and he most recently played for Chelsea in the 2021/22 season.

Alonso spent six seasons with the Blues, with his best goal tally in 2017/18 being seven goals in 33 games. The Spaniard is also part of the Premier League Champions League Championships he won at Stamford Bridge.

Before joining the Blues, Alonso played for Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland in the Premier League, but these periods were not as successful as his time at Chelsea. The left-back was known for scoring from long range or set pieces while playing in England.

6

Gary Cahill

28 goals

Former England centre-back Gary Cahill has played for four Premier League clubs: Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

Cahill became a top defender in his later years at Bolton before moving to Chelsea where he won the Premier League twice and the Champions League once. The defender’s threat in front of goal mainly comes from set-pieces and his ability to receive crosses will be invaluable to the Blues.

5

Ian Hart

28 goals

previous Leeds UnitedSunderland and Reading defender Ian Hart is in the top five of the Premier League’s highest-scoring defenders, having made fewer appearances than Gary Cahill.

The former Republic of Ireland international played more than 237 games in the Premier League, with all 28 of his goals coming during his time at Leeds United.

Hart has primarily played as a left-back throughout his career, but he also has the versatility to play at the back. Hart has scored a variety of goals throughout his career, although he does have Free kick scored.

4

Leighton Baines

32 goals

It’s probably no surprise that Leighton Baines is among the top four highest-scoring defenders, as the former Wigan and Everton man has scored penalties and free-kicks for both teams.

Although Baines is a left-back, he is a great attacking threat because he has an excellent left foot, which has helped him score some wonderful goals.

Baines scored five goals in three Premier League seasons – all with Everton – and scored in 11 consecutive seasons between 2008/09 and 2017/18.

3

Ian Marshall

33 goals

Ian Marshall plays for Oldham Athletic at Ipswich Town in the Premier League, Leicester City and Bolton.

Martial is a centre-back with impressive goalscoring ability, scoring 33 goals in 157 games in England’s top flight. Martial’s goals are varied as he is the other defender to take penalties, but the fact that only two defenders have scored more than him speaks for itself.

2

David Unsworth

38 goals

Currently ranked second is David Unsworth, who has played for Everton, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Wigan. He will be remembered mainly for his time at the Toffees.

Unsworth has played 334 of 364 Premier League games for Everton in his career. The left-back was a consistent scorer, scoring 11 goals in the 1999/00 to 2000/01 season alone.

Like Baines, Unsworth is also a defender who has scored many penalties in his career. His last penalty in the top flight came in 2007, saving Wigan Athletic from decline.

1

John Terry

41 goals

The defender with the most goals in Premier League history is former Chelsea centre-back John Terry.

Terry has only made 492 appearances for the Blues in the Premier League. He is a five-time Premier League champion And a five-time FA Cup winner, he also won the Europa League and Champions League.

During Chelsea’s successful period in the mid-to-late 2000s, Terry was a key part of Chelsea’s defence, adept at not just stopping goals from entering the net, but preventing them from finding their way into the net. He is also a huge threat at the other end of the court.

The former England captain scored 41 goals in the Premier League, with his best tallies coming in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, with him scoring six goals in each season.