In the 2024-25 campaign, Serie A once again showcased why its centre-backs are among the finest in world football. Top 5 best center backs Serie A 2025 isn’t just about dominating in tackles or clearances — it’s about leadership, ball-playing skills, consistency, and being the backbone of top teams. In this article, AntiKick will guide you through five of the very best central defenders in Serie A as of 2025, with stats, strengths, and what makes them stand out.
What makes a great center back in Serie A
Before naming names, let’s quickly outline what we looked for:
- Defensive reliability: interceptions, tackles, aerial duels, blocks, clean sheets.
- Ball progression: passing, long balls, ability to initiate attacks.
- Consistency and minutes played: staying fit, being selected, making match-defining plays.
- Leadership / positional awareness in high-pressure games.
With those criteria, here are the top 5 center backs in Serie A in the 2024-25 season.
Top 5 center backs Serie A 2025
Below are the defenders who shone brightest — they mixed defensive work, attacking support, and consistency at a high level.
1. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
Bastoni clearly leads the pack. He was officially awarded Serie A’s Best Defender for 2024-25. He played almost every match, combining excellent defensive discipline with progressive ball movement.
Why he’s exceptional:
- He contributed with both goals and assists, proving danger still arrives even.
- His passing stats are elite: among Serie A defenders with many attempted long balls, he recorded one of the best success rates.
- Inter’s defense in that season was one of the strongest: few goals conceded, and Bastoni was central to that solidity.
2. Gleison Bremer (Juventus)
Though he had some injury issues, when fit, Bremer remains a rock at the back. He combines physical strength, good aerial presence, and psychological intensity that opponents dread in duels.
Stand-out points:
- Strong aerial win rate and ability to remain composed under pressure.
- At times, crucial in breaking up play and preventing counterattacks.
- Despite some absences, when he lines up he givesentus a more stable defensive core.
3. Luiz Felipe (Lazio)
Luiz Felipe has quietly built up excellent numbers with Lazio. He may not always grab headlines, but stats reflect his consistency and defensive value.
What he brings:
- Good in one vs one situations, solid in blocks and interceptions.
- Has contributed occasional goals or assists, but his primary value is in preventing goals.
- His minutes played show he’s trusted.
4. Samuel Gigot (Lazio / Other Clubs)
Gigot sometimes flies under the radar, but he appears frequently in “decisive defenders” lists — those who make important interventions, stop goals, keep clean sheets.
Key strengths:
- Timing of tackles and interceptions, especially in matches against strong attacking sides.
- Often contributes to keeping Lazio’s back line organized, reducing defensive “panic moments”.
5. (Tie or close contender) — Mario Gila (Lazio)
If you want someone who’s rising and showing promise, Mario Gila is turning heads. While not as “proven” as Bastoni or Bremer, his metrics and performances suggest he could soon crack into the top echelon.
What makes him interesting:
- He plays enough minutes to prove reliability.
- His defensive actions per 90 are solid; not flashy, but dependable.
- Lazio seem to trust him in important fixtures, which speaks volumes.
Honorable mentions
These players didn’t quite make the top 5 but deserve recognition:
- Alessio Romagnoli has had good moments, especially with positioning and experience.
- Young center backs like Pietro Comuzzo are showing flashes and might be future names to watch.
Why these defenders matter for fans & teams
- They determine the fate of tight matches – set piece defending, stoppage-time blocks, clean sheets.
- Many of them also unlock attacks: long passes, playing out.
- -ey form the foundation upon which coaches build systems: if your central defence is weak, you can’t dominate high-intensity pressing games, or control possession.
Conclusion
In conclusion, top 5 best center backs Serie A 2025 belongs to players who not only defend well, but also contribute to the team’s identity — whether through build-up, reliability, or leadership. Bastoni stands out as the apex, with Bremer and Luiz Felipe right behind, while Gigot and Gila make up the rest of a top-5 that blends quality and promise.
If you want, AntiKick can also put together a comparison of these defenders: stats, strengths/weaknesses, and where they might be headed (transfers, improvements). Do you want to see that?
