Most aerial duels won in the Premier League 2026/27: live top 10
Aerial duels are the one physical contest the data measures cleanly, and the list of who wins most says a lot about how teams attack and defend. This is the live Premier League top 10 for aerials won this season, with the win rate and the height beside the total.
Right now. Dan Ballard leads on 26 aerials won, 1 ahead of Oli McBurnie. New to the 10 since the last change: Malick Thiaw. Biggest climber: Igor Jesus, up 2 places to 7th.
The top 10: most aerial duels won in the Premier League
| Player | Club | Won | Contested | Win % | Per 90 | Height | Minutes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dan Ballard | Sunderland · 27 | 26 | 48 | 54 | 5.2 | 187 | 450 | View profile → |
| 2 |  Oli McBurnie | Hull City · 30 | 25 | 57 | 44 | 5.09 | 188 | 442 | View profile → |
| 3 |  Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Leeds United · 29 | 24 | 43 | 56 | 5.13 | 189 | 421 | View profile → |
| 4 |  Kristoffer Ajer | Brentford · 28 | 20 | 29 | 69 | 4 | 198 | 450 | View profile → |
| 5 |  James Tarkowski | Everton · 33 | 20 | 26 | 77 | 4 | 185 | 450 | View profile → |
| 6 |  António Silva | AFC Bournemouth · 22 | 19 | 29 | 66 | 3.8 | 187 | 450 | View profile → |
| 7 |  Igor Jesus | Nottingham Forest · 25 | 18 | 33 | 55 | 6.3 | 183 | 257 | View profile → |
| 8 |  Ronald Araujo | Liverpool · 27 | 18 | 25 | 72 | 5.68 | 192 | 285 | View profile → |
| 9 |  Malick Thiaw | Newcastle United · 25 | 18 | 26 | 69 | 3.6 | 194 | 450 | View profile → |
| 10 |  Thierno Barry | Everton · 23 | 17 | 49 | 35 | 3.65 | 195 | 419 | View profile → |
What the numbers mean
An aerial duel is a header contested by two players, and winning them is the most measurable part of a defender's or a target man's game. The raw count follows the players who are asked to head the ball most: centre backs facing direct opponents and strikers played long to.
The bars put each player against every Premier League outfield player with 180 minutes: aerials won per 90 for the rate, the aerial win percentage for the quality, aerials contested per 90 for how often he is tested, and all duels won for the ground game beside it. A full bar means the top of that group.
The list rebuilds every night from the latest matches, so it will move as the season goes on. The date on each card says when it last changed.
The ball-winning midfielders list → · Why per 90 matters →
What counts as an aerial duel?
A challenge for a ball in the air between two players. The winner is the one who gets the first touch. Uncontested headers do not count.
Why show the win rate?
A player who wins 20 of 40 aerials is a different proposition from one who wins 20 of 25. The rate says whether the volume comes from dominance or from being targeted.
How often does it update?
Every night, from the latest matches. The order, the cards and the table rebuild together, and the date on each card says when the list last changed.
Reading the list
The total goes to the players who are tested most, so read the win percentage before the count. A striker high on this list is being used as a target; a full back high on it is playing in a side that defends deep. The contested-per-90 figure shows who the opposition keeps going long against. Each name opens a full FDscout profile.