Best central midfielders in 2. Bundesliga

The highest-potential central midfielders in 2. Bundesliga, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

S. El-Faouzi of FC Schalke 04 is the standout for raw talent across central midfielders in 2. Bundesliga, with a Field Insider Rating of 71.5, and M. Wanitzek has been the form player this season, grading 72.7.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: Max Marie has improved his Season rating most, up +37.4 on last season, while S. El-Faouzi's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +26.1 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, S. El-Faouzi of FC Schalke 04 is the most valuable name in this group at 33.6.

FC Schalke 04 · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

Max Marie+37.4SsN

Eintracht Braunschweig · 24/25→25/26

38 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Season	Rating
1	S. El-Faouzi Central midfielder	FC Schalke 04	24	5369.8%	7257.5%
2	A. Aouchiche Central midfielder	FC Schalke 04	24	47190.2%	7015.7%
3	D. Herold Central midfielder	Karlsruher SC	23	4672.7%	675.5%
4	S. Castañeda Central midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	21	1930%	662.8%
5	Max Marie Central midfielder	Eintracht Braunschweig	21	44566.7%	6622.1%
6	L. Ulrich Central midfielder	1. FC Magdeburg	21	45118.6%	6445.5%
7	J. Therkelsen Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	23	3519%	6339.3%
8	H. Akiyama Central midfielder	SV Darmstadt 98	25	3711%	6217.1%
9	K. Davidsen Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	21	3233.2%	6242.2%
10	F. Schmahl Central midfielder	SV Elversberg	23	2576.4%	611.3%
11	Dariusz Stalmach Central midfielder	1. FC Magdeburg	20	278866.7%	6083.3%
12	T. Janisch Central midfielder	1. FC Nürnberg	20	1130.6%	581.4%
13	U. Tohumcu Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	21	16132.4%	5714.8%
14	N. Niehoff Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	21	1330.2%	5726.9%
15	R. Schallenberg Central midfielder	FC Schalke 04	27	3431.4%	564.1%
16	F. Michel Central midfielder	1. FC Magdeburg	25	20188.6%	561.3%
17	S. Russo Central midfielder	Arminia Bielefeld	26	3540.5%	5424.2%
18	Z. Sertdemir Central midfielder	Preußen Münster	21	1225.5%	5334.5%
19	A. Müller Central midfielder	Karlsruher SC	25	1948.8%	5313%
20	S. Ltaief Central midfielder	SpVgg Greuther Fürth	26	24106.9%	5018.9%
21	N. Fröling Central midfielder	Dynamo Dresden	26	1815.9%	5017.2%
22	J. Rochelt Central midfielder	Arminia Bielefeld	27	3044.9%	4917.3%
23	S. Gnaka Central midfielder	1. FC Magdeburg	27	1558.4%	4726.4%
24	D. Burnić Central midfielder	Karlsruher SC	28	2524.3%	4420.2%
25	L. Marseiler Central midfielder	SV Darmstadt 98	29	2925%	4017.7%
26	M. Mehlem Central midfielder	Arminia Bielefeld	28	1441.9%	3831.3%
27	F. Porath Central midfielder	FC Schalke 04	29	1365.6%	3736.2%
28	M. Corboz Central midfielder	Arminia Bielefeld	31	4587.6%	3624.2%
29	M. Benger Central midfielder	Preußen Münster	28	1032.9%	360.6%
30	M. Wanitzek Central midfielder	Karlsruher SC	33	7313.9%	3123.7%
31	P. Förster Central midfielder	Karlsruher SC	31	2127.7%	2923.5%
32	J. Meffert Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	31	2035.6%	2738.1%
33	J. Green Central midfielder	SpVgg Greuther Fürth	31	1074.7%	2445.4%
34	V. Šapina Central midfielder	Dynamo Dresden	31	857.4%	2410.3%
35	C. Antwi-Adjei Central midfielder	FC Schalke 04	32	114.5%	2223%
36	S. Jung Central midfielder	Karlsruher SC	36	261.5%	2016.9%
37	S. Skrzybski Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	33	2228.8%	1846%
38	S. Schwab Central midfielder	Holstein Kiel	35	755.7%	129.1%