\n<\/p>\n
Standout defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)<\/i><\/p>\n
Three full-backs stood out with their performances.<\/p>\n
Aaron Wan-Bissaka<\/b>, who has switched his allegiance to DR Congo, made the most interceptions (66) and completed the most dribbles (64) among Premier League defenders \u2013 form that saw him voted West Ham’s player of the season by fans.<\/p>\n
Algeria’s Rayan Ait-Nouri<\/b> provided a serious attacking threat playing as a wing-back, bagging four goals and seven assists in a struggling Wolves side.<\/p>\n
Ola Aina<\/b> had the best season of his career for Nottingham Forest, impressively winning back possession 190 times – the highest figure recorded by any top-flight defender.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian right-back also made a joint-high three clearances off the line, a figure which was matched by six other players including, unexpectedly, Everton and Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Aina’s international team-mate Calvin Bassey<\/b> touched the ball 2,536 times for Fulham – more than any other African in the Premier League \u2013 and his 1,926 successful passes, 113 clearances and 17 blocks were the most by a defender from the continent.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui’s<\/b> 115 tackles and 216 duels for Manchester United ranked the Moroccan second and third respectively among the league’s defenders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n