5 fastest centre-backs in the Premier League right now

#3 Caglar Soyuncu (Leicester City)

Leicester City v Newcastle United - Premier League

Turkish centre-back Caglar Soyuncu is a physically imposing customer. His wide frame and aerial ability help him greatly in dispensing his duties as one of Leicester City's first-choice centre-backs. Soyuncu has done a decent job over the past few seasons under Brendan Rodgers.

An underrated part of Soyuncu's game is his pace. The 25-year-old is also excellent with the ball at his feet and is crucial to Leicester City playing out from the back. He can also keep up with pacy attackers and is a very aggressive defender.

This makes him a difficult defender to go up against as it's difficult to beat him and speed away because he is pretty good at making recoveries.

#2 Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)

Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League

Virgil van Dijk is arguably the best centre-back in the world right now. The Dutchman is a colossus at the back. Not only is he extremely athletic and physically imposing, but he is also a very intelligent defender who knows how to time his moves.

Van Dijk rarely rushes in for a tackle. He forces the attackers to make mistakes while covering the channels they could run into quite efficiently. Van Dijk was the runner-up in the 2019 Ballon d'Or race after helping Liverpool win the Champions League in the 2018-19 season.

The 30-year-old is one of Liverpool's most inspired signings in recent times. He is one of the most well-rounded centre-backs of the modern era. In addition to being excellent in almost every aspect of his game as a centre-back, Van Dijk is also extremely fast for a man his size.

He can keep up with the fastest Premier League attackers and can even beat some of them for pace.

#1 Raphael Varane (Manchester United)

Atalanta v Manchester United: Group F - UEFA Champions League

Manchester United's dip in form in the early phase of the 2021-22 season was aggravated by Raphael Varane's unavailability. The French centre-back has suffered multiple injury issues since joining the Red Devils in the summer.

However, he has proved to be a great addition to the side whenever he has played. Varane has always been renowned for his pace. He possesses an excellent reading of the game and it's a joy to watch him close down attackers in the blink of an eye.

The French World Cup winner is a Rolls Royce defender who is phenomenal at his job. Once he regains full fitness, Manchester United will undoubtedly be a whole lot steadier at the back.