Former West Ham and Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson says he is a big fan of  Max Kilman.

The 27-year-old has had his detractors since his £40m switch from Wolves in the summer but, when asked by Genting Casino for his three best defenders in the Premier League, Johnson replied:

“I quite like Max Kilman. He’s an outsider, but he will be getting a place in my list. Obviously, Virgil van Dijk, I’d have him all day. Probably Marc Guehi. I think he’s probably up there as well. There’s a lot of people playing well.”

Some may dispute Johnson’s list, especially as he did not mention the best centre-back pairing of last season, Arsenal’s William Saliba and Gabriel. However, he clearly rates Kilman very highly.

What do the stats say about Kilman?

Over the past year, Kilman has averaged 1.59 blocks per 90 minutes. That is in the top 17 percentile of centre-backs in Europe’s top 5 leagues. He averages 2.16 aerial duels won per 90, which is in the top 40 percentile.

Interestingly, the defender can also be an influence in the final third of the pitch. He produces 1.05 shot-creating actions per 90, which puts him in the top 25% of all centre-halves. His ability to pick out a pass was demonstrated against Crystal Palace earlier this season when he got the assist for Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham now have a solid centre-back partnership

While the Irons did not get off to a great start defensively this campaign, things have improved since Jean-Clair Tobido was introduced into the starting lineup.

The Frenchman needed time to regain match fitness but he has started to develop a good understanding with Kilman. Having a strong centre-back pairing will give Julen Lopetegui’s team a good foundation to build from.

Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here