Best defensive midfielders in 1. Division

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in 1. Division, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

D. Osorio of FC Midtjylland is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in 1. Division, with a Field Insider Rating of 49.9, and J. Larsson has been the form player this season, grading 55.5.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: F. Winther has improved his Season rating most, up +39.6 on last season, while Justin Janssen's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +12.2 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, D. Osorio of FC Midtjylland is the most valuable name in this group at 24.7.

Justin Janssen+12.2RTG

FC Nordsjaelland · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

F. Winther+39.6SsN

FC Fredericia · 24/25→25/26

36 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Season	Rating
1	D. Osorio Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	4975.5%	505.5%
2	D. Castillo Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	42469.9%	4920.8%
3	Justin Janssen Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	19	40925.6%	4933.6%
4	R. Norheim Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	21	3017.4%	470.6%
5	V. Bak Jensen Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	3347.1%	471.8%
6	J. LÃ¤hteenmÃ¤ki Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	20	33201.8%	4615.5%
7	P. Bravo Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	21	292.8%	462.2%
8	Robert Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	21	2595.3%	462.5%
9	M. Knudsen Defensive midfielder	Aarhus	25	3023.5%	4535.4%
10	Frederik Emmery Defensive midfielder	Aarhus	19	19	4529.6%
11	D. Kristjánsson Defensive midfielder	FC Fredericia	20	28	45
12	T. Gundelund Defensive midfielder	Vejle	24	2990.9%	455.2%
13	Kevin Yakob Defensive midfielder	Aarhus	25	298.1%	453.7%
14	L. Pedersen Defensive midfielder	Randers FC	20	27205.7%	4410.7%
15	W. Clem Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	22	27106.1%	443.3%
16	T. Sommer Defensive midfielder	Sonderjyske	24	3694.6%	443.1%
17	G. Links Defensive midfielder	Aarhus	27	4957.4%	438.8%
18	A. Wikman Defensive midfielder	Silkeborg	22	2515.2%	4315.9%
19	M. Enggård Defensive midfielder	Vejle	22	22267.2%	425.8%
20	M. Freundlich Defensive midfielder	Silkeborg	23	223.7%	413%
21	A. Pyndt Defensive midfielder	FC Fredericia	25	27154.3%	4133.1%
22	F. Winther Defensive midfielder	FC Fredericia	26	45776.5%	4122.2%
23	V. Westh Defensive midfielder	Silkeborg	22	15	41
24	J. Nielsen Defensive midfielder	Silkeborg	20	14129.5%	400.8%
25	B. Tahirović Defensive midfielder	Brondby	23	1867%	391.5%
26	J. Björkengren Defensive midfielder	Randers FC	27	403.3%	3910.6%
27	E. Achouri Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	27	3568.1%	3812.8%
28	B. Slisz Defensive midfielder	Brondby	27	3817.4%	3613.2%
29	M. Emil Madsen Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	28	4012.3%	3511.6%
30	M. Vestergård Defensive midfielder	Vejle	28	40	34
31	M. Brink Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	28	2620.9%	348.2%
32	J. Larsson Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	29	5691.4%	339.3%
33	R. Vinderslev Defensive midfielder	Sonderjyske	28	1828.1%	2825.9%
34	P. Billing Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	30	411068.6%	2742.7%
35	K. Mbabu Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	31	1913.4%	2028.1%
36	A. Rømer Defensive midfielder	Randers FC	32	1012.2%	1530.1%