Aerial ability remains one of the most valuable qualities in Premier League football.
Centre-backs must defend crosses and direct passes, while forwards are expected to provide an outlet, compete for clearances and create opportunities from set pieces. However, being tall does not automatically make a player dominant in the air.
The best aerial players combine height and strength with timing, positioning, anticipation and jumping ability. They understand the flight of the ball, establish their position early and make clean contact despite pressure from an opponent.
This ranking combines performances from the opening weeks of 2026/27 with evidence from the completed 2025/26 season. Total aerial duels won, success rate, positional role and attacking or defensive impact have all been considered.
Statistics are correct as of 19 September 2026 and will change as the campaign develops.
The Best Premier League Players in the Air in 2026/27
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds United
James Tarkowski, Everton
Daniel Ballard, Sunderland
Kristoffer Ajer, Brentford
Igor Thiago, Brentford
Malick Thiaw, Newcastle United
James Hill, Bournemouth
Oliver McBurnie, Hull City
Igor Jesus, Nottingham Forest
1. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk remains the standard against which the Premier League’s best aerial players are measured.
The Liverpool captain won 165 aerial duels during the 2025/26 season, the highest total recorded by any player in the division. He combined that volume with a strong success rate, demonstrating that his position at the top was not simply the result of contesting more high balls than everyone else.
Van Dijk’s aerial dominance is based on much more than height. He reads the flight of the ball early, establishes his position and times his jump so that he can make contact at the highest possible point.
His body positioning is especially important. Van Dijk frequently places himself between the forward and the expected destination of the ball, making it difficult for the opponent to challenge without committing a foul.
He is equally valuable at defensive set…
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