Best defensive midfielders in La Liga

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in La Liga, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

Pedri of Barcelona is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in La Liga, with a Field Insider Rating of 89.7, and Samú Costa has been the form player this season, grading 62.5.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: Edu Expósito has improved his Season rating most, up +27 on last season, while O. Vargas's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +33.4 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, Pedri of Barcelona is the most valuable name in this group at 165.

Atletico Madrid · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

Edu Expósito+27SsN

Espanyol · 24/25→25/26

34 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Season	Rating
1	Pedri Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	23	5915.9%	908.4%
2	I. Moriba Defensive midfielder	Celta Vigo	23	4854.2%	884.8%
3	Marc Bernal Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	19	23788.5%	8715.7%
4	Jon Gorrotxategi Defensive midfielder	Real Sociedad	23	468.9%	8514.5%
5	Mikel Jauregizar Defensive midfielder	Athletic Club	22	446.6%	852.1%
6	Samú Costa Defensive midfielder	Mallorca	25	6350.2%	811.9%
7	O. Vargas Defensive midfielder	Atletico Madrid	20	1850.3%	8170.5%
8	Sergi Altimira Defensive midfielder	Real Betis	24	286%	774.5%
9	Marc Casadó Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	22	1261.6%	7710.9%
10	J. Cardoso Defensive midfielder	Atletico Madrid	24	2151.5%	7514%
11	Alejandro Rego Defensive midfielder	Athletic Club	23	25	72
12	Álvaro Núñez Defensive midfielder	Elche	26	2749.1%	692.7%
13	Iker Muñoz Defensive midfielder	Osasuna	23	817.6%	697.5%
14	Óscar Mingueza Defensive midfielder	Celta Vigo	27	3130.8%	6724.2%
15	Unai Vencedor Defensive midfielder	Levante	25	1068.4%	651.9%
16	F. Ugrinic Defensive midfielder	Valencia	27	26	65
17	Moncayola Defensive midfielder	Osasuna	28	3983%	648.1%
18	Manu Morlanes Defensive midfielder	Mallorca	27	3589.1%	6212.5%
19	Fran Beltrán Defensive midfielder	Girona	27	3016.2%	6122.1%
20	K. Arriaga Defensive midfielder	Levante	28	4138.8%	585.6%
21	Edu Expósito Defensive midfielder	Espanyol	29	43164.6%	5711.4%
22	Marc Roca Defensive midfielder	Real Betis	29	30123.7%	5313%
23	S. Amrabat Defensive midfielder	Real Betis	29	1919.4%	5332.5%
24	Oriol Rey Defensive midfielder	Levante	28	1649.8%	5118.2%
25	Adrià Pedrosa Defensive midfielder	Elche	28	2139.8%	5028%
26	S. Colombatto Defensive midfielder	Oviedo	29	2530.8%	4912.6%
27	Unai López Defensive midfielder	Rayo Vallecano	30	30±0%	4521.1%
28	Óscar Valentín Defensive midfielder	Rayo Vallecano	31	3665%	4118.8%
29	Lucas Torró Defensive midfielder	Osasuna	31	2742.9%	4021.7%
30	Darder Defensive midfielder	Mallorca	32	3710.2%	3826%
31	L. Dendoncker Defensive midfielder	Oviedo	31	3014.4%	37±0%
32	Ruíz de Galarreta Defensive midfielder	Athletic Club	32	3640%	3619.1%
33	Gumbau Defensive midfielder	Rayo Vallecano	31	2188.1%	3521.5%
34	A. Witsel Defensive midfielder	Girona	37	36219.8%	2029.1%