Best defensive midfielders in First League

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in First League, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

I. Ivanov of Lokomotiv Plovdiv is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in First League, with a Field Insider Rating of 32.2, and I. Chochev has been the form player this season, grading 36.7.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: Pedro Naressi has improved his Season rating most, up +11.7 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, I. Ivanov of Lokomotiv Plovdiv is the most valuable name in this group at 10.3.

CSKA Sofia · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

Pedro Naressi+11.7SsN

Ludogorets · 21/22→25/26

31 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Season	Rating
1	I. Ivanov Defensive midfielder	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	23	10	32
2	A. Bouras Defensive midfielder	Levski Sofia	24	11	32
3	T. Marinov Defensive midfielder	Spartak Varna	20	11	32
4	B. Beyhan Defensive midfielder	Cherno More Varna	21	8	32
5	C. Hüseynov Defensive midfielder	Arda Kardzhali	23	11	32
6	E. Ali Defensive midfielder	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	22	6	32
7	A. Stoyanov Defensive midfielder	Botev Vratsa	21	10	32
8	D. Yordanov Defensive midfielder	Spartak Varna	21	9	31
9	Ismael Ferrer Defensive midfielder	Beroe	23	16	31
10	M. Dosso Defensive midfielder	Slavia Sofia	24	12	30
11	Y. Baurenski Defensive midfielder	Septemvri Sofia	24	10	29
12	Carlos Algarra Defensive midfielder	Botev Plovdiv	26	14	27
13	E. Dost Defensive midfielder	Lokomotiv Sofia	27	24	27
14	I. Yurukov Defensive midfielder	Botev Vratsa	26	10	27
15	F. Kaloč Defensive midfielder	Ludogorets	26	390.3%	2758%
16	Deroy Duarte Defensive midfielder	Ludogorets	27	1560.2%	2760.8%
17	D. Lovrić Defensive midfielder	Dobrudzha	26	9	27
18	Francisco Varela Defensive midfielder	Beroe	25	5	2637.7%
19	David Valverde Defensive midfielder	Beroe	26	6	25
20	Bruno Jordão Defensive midfielder	CSKA Sofia	27	1133.7%	2522.5%
21	L. Kotev Defensive midfielder	Arda Kardzhali	28	211507.7%	250.8%
22	S. Gavrilov Defensive midfielder	Beroe	26	5	25
23	Lucas Araújo Defensive midfielder	Botev Plovdiv	27	9	2337.7%
24	Pedro Naressi Defensive midfielder	Ludogorets	28	15417.9%	2359.7%
25	G. Trdin Defensive midfielder	Levski Sofia	28	11	23
26	David Teles Defensive midfielder	Cherno More Varna	28	7	21
27	K. Stanoev Defensive midfielder	Lokomotiv Sofia	31	22	16
28	R. Tsonev Defensive midfielder	Botev Vratsa	31	17	15
29	I. Chochev Defensive midfielder	Ludogorets	33	37	12
30	I. Minchev Defensive midfielder	Slavia Sofia	35	22	10
31	G. Kostadinov Defensive midfielder	Levski Sofia	35	666.1%	857.1%