Players with the best pass completion percentage in Europe's top five leagues

Central defenders may not be the first position you think of for the players with the highest pass completion percentage, but in fact that is the case.

If you were asked, what position do you think the player with the highest pass completion percentage in Europe's top five leagues plays, you'd probably think of a midfielder first.

But in fact, the players with the highest percentage this season happen to mainly be defenders. 

Here for you, we have the players from the top five leagues in Europe who have the best pass completion percentage.

 

Presnel Kimpembe (PSG) - 96.8%

PSG have quite a few names on this list, but most importantly they take the top spot.

Presnel Kimpembe is proving himself to be one of the most competent and able defenders in the world, with a great defensive ability partnered with the skill and confidence to play with the ball at his feet and play it.

He has made 1,913 of his 1,977 passes attempted, which is the third most attempted and completed on this list, so it's not like he has lowly stats and has snuck his way onto this list.

 

Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) - 94.9%

Manchester City have been mightily impressive this year, not just on the attack but on defence, too. Every single player is more than competent on the ball, and Aymeric Laporte is a great example of that.

Laporte is one of only two players on this list who has attempted and completed over 2000 passes so far this season. 2,295 passes completed off 2,418 attempted is so such a great amount that it ranks third from all players in Europe's top five leagues. 

What's more is that he also leads this list for progressive passes with 172.

 

Thilo Kehrer (PSG) - 94.9%

The second PSG player on the list is Thilo Kehrer, who you could say has snuck his way onto this list as opposed to his teammate, Kimpembe.

Kehrer has played in 24 of 33 games this season, and has started 15 of them.

But he makes the most of his time on the pitch, picking up the standards set from the other defenders ahead of him.

He has made 1,091 passes from 1,150 attempted, which to be fair to him, is still more than Neymar has made and attempted on slightly less games played.

 

Jason Denayer (Lyon) - 94.5%

Another one who has not played that many games this year, Jason Denayer has only played 15 times this season, starting in 12 of those games. Although he has a slight excuse of an injury that sidelined him for nine games between December to February.

Denayer has attempted 739 passes, and has made 698 of them.

It is the lowest amount of passes attempted and made on this list, but he has the high completion percentage which is the least that should be expected, so he gets a pass.

 

Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - 94.4%

Last season's Premier League Player of the Year Ruben Dias has been carrying on his strong ways and is now a huge influence on the rest of the Manchester City defence.

Dias is an important part of the City team, not just because he is so strong defensively but also because he brings more qualities to the team.

Of course, the first to note is his passing ability. He has attempted 1,994 passes, and has made 1,882 of them.

But most valuably is the fact that he has registered an assist this year.

Only two players on this list have got an assist, but Dias hasn't got just the one but instead has three this season.

 

Danilo Pereira (PSG) - 94.3%

Finally, a player that does not play in the back line. Danilo Pereira is a defensive midfielder, so while he does often drop back into defense, he does start as the game as a midfielder.

He actually brings the best of both worlds to the PSG side, as he has scored five goals this season.

However, like Kehrer, Pereira is a victim of PSG's stacked squad, as he has only played 23 games with 19 starts.

With that game time, though, he has attempted 1,383 passes, and has made 1,304 of them.

 

Patric (Lazio) - 93.5%

Patric isn't the most well-known player on this list, but he should be recognised for his strong performances this year in the games that he has played.

That part must be said, as he has played just 20 of Lazio's 33 games, starting in 15 of them.

He has attempted 1,125 passes, and has made 1,052 of them.

Patric is the other player on this list with an assist to his name this season, which is a big plus for him.

 

Aissa Mandi (Villareal) - 93.5%

Another name that probably isn't too familiar, Aissa Mandi has played a part in Villareal conceding the fourth least amount of goals in the Spanish La Liga this season.

Again though, it is only a part and not a big one, as he has played only 15 times this season, starting in 13.

Like Denayer, he is forgiven for having a strong completion percentage. 845 passes completed from 904 attempts gives him his very solid rate.

 

William Saliba (Marseille) - 93.5%

The youngest name on this list, Arsenal loanee William Saliba has shown out for Marseille this year, solidifying himself in their defence and earning a France call-up along the way.

Saliba has played more games and thus more minutes, playing in and starting in 32 of Marseille's 33 games played this season. 

With that sort of game time comes a high amount of passes attempted and completed. He has attempted 2,720 passes and has made 2,542 of them.

He ranks top for both of those on this list, and also ranks second of all players from the 'Big Five' for attempts, but then he's back at the number one spot for most completed.

He also ranks at the top for total distance of his passes (49,996 yards), and is second of all outfield players for progressive passing yards (15,096 yards).

 

Marquinhos (PSG) - 93.4%

Finally, the last player on this list is yet another PSG player to take their total to four players on this list, this time it is the Brazilian defender, Marquinhos.

It is no surprise to see Marquinhos on this list. He started his PSG career as a defensive midfielder, and he has on occasions played in that position but will also often make surging runs forward with or without the ball. 

Marquinhos has attempted 2,033 passes and has made 1,898.