Ranking the 10 best available center backs in the 2026 summer transfer window

The countdown to the summer 2026 transfer window is already shaping up to be a feeding frenzy for elite center backs, with Europe’s heavyweights circling a market flush with young talent, disgruntled stars and one headline-grabbing free agent. From Bundesliga thoroughbreds to Premier League rebels, here are the ten defenders most likely to dominate the back-page gossip columns between now and deadline day.

10. Jarrad Branthwaite Everton’s 23-year-old stalwart remains an enigma. Once valued near €80 million, a plateau in form has cooled that price tag, turning stagnation into opportunity. England’s top six now view Branthwaite as a low-risk, high-upside depth option who can grow into a starting role without the pressure of an eight-figure gamble.

9. Goncalo Inacio The left-footed Sporting CP captain has been flirting with Premier League moves for three consecutive windows. While his compatriot Diomande has leapfrogged him in the scouting pecking order, Inacio’s composure in a high line and Champions League experience keep him firmly on Liverpool and Chelsea shortlists.

8. Nico Schlotterbeck Dortmund’s highlight-reel passer divides opinion: dazzling long diagonals and marauding runs sit beside occasional lapses in concentration. Yet raw tools that can’t be coached—size, technique, left-footed flair—make the Germany international a tantalising project for sides willing to bet on coaching to iron out the errors.

7. Yan Bisseck Inter’s 25-year-old Swiss Army knife has flown under the radar behind Serie A’s star-studded back line. Bisseck’s elite one-v-one defending and progressive carries have Premier League mid-table clubs on alert, but sources indicate Liverpool would not consider him out of place in a red shirt either.

6. Ousmane Diomande Ivorian international Diomande, 22, is the more complete package of Sporting’s defensive duo. Having refined the “do-more-with-less” craft in Lisbon, he now profiles as the ready-made physical presence Chelsea and Liverpool crave to anchor back lines that have looked vulnerable on the counter.

5. Castello Lukeba RB Leipzig’s next cash cow. Recruited from Lyon and polished in the Red Bull pressing machine, Lukeba’s game is built on anticipation rather than flash, registering fewer errors than any under-23 regular in the Bundesliga. Expect a bidding war that eclipses the fees paid for previous Leipzig alumni.

4. Cristian Romero Tottenham’s combustible captain appears to have burned his final bridge in north London, with Argentine media reporting he is “done” with the club. On talent alone, the 26-year-old is among the world’s most aggressive ball-winners; if Real or Atletico Madrid can stomach the baggage, they could secure a transformational defender for a cut-rate fee amid Spurs’ relegation turmoil.

3. Micky van de Ven Also disillusioned by Spurs’ collapse, Van de Ven offers a different flavour: blistering recovery pace, Theo Hernandez-style solo runs, and aerial dominance. Only 24, the Dutchman is coveted by the same Madrid giants and would command a premium price, yet scouts insist the package is worth every penny.

2. Alessandro Bastoni Inter’s two-time Champions League finalist has everything but a new challenge. Left-footed, press-resistant and an orchestrator from deep, Bastoni is the prototype modern libero. Whispered discontent in Milano could see him swap black-and-blue for any elite side searching for a defensive quarterback this summer.

1. Luka Vuskovic The name on every sporting director’s notepad. Still 17 and developing at Hamburg, the Tottenham-owned prodigy is already drawing public courtship from Bayern Munich. Comparisons to Sergio Ramos feel lofty, yet his aerial dominance, timed tackling and rangy passing have Europe’s giants plotting an approach that could break teenage transfer records. Spurs insist he is not for sale—but every player has a price.