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Defensive midfielders with the Best Potential in Major League Soccer 2026

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Best goalkeepers in Major League SoccerBest defenders in Major League SoccerBest midfielders in Major League SoccerBest attackers in Major League SoccerMost in-form defensive midfielders in Major League SoccerTop-scoring defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer

At a glance

A. Mehmeti of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 53.4, and C. Durkin leads the scoring with 2 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: N. Caliskan has improved his Season rating most, up +41.4 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, N. Caliskan of Real Salt Lake is the most valuable name in this group at 12.9.

Best talent
A. Mehmeti53.4RTG
New York Red Bulls
In form
A. Mehmeti46.7SsN
New York Red Bulls
Rising potential
N. Caliskan+6.1RTG
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
N. Caliskan+41.4SsN
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
C. Durkin2goals
St. Louis City
Most valuable
N. Caliskan12.9val
Real Salt Lake
39 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1A. MehmetiDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls174753
2S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1924332.1%4510.1%
3M. CorcoranDefensive midfielderNashville SC2015274.4%4417.2%
4S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229232.2%4412.5%
5M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2433112.8%4410.6%
6H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2226107.9%4438.2%
7L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2235302.3%4314.8%
8J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy253027.5%433.6%
9Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1919125.3%4329.7%
10J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242635%424.5%
11N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528136.1%425%
12J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2432141.7%428.6%
13N. CaliskanDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake264365.3%4111%
14S. ZawadzkiDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew262229.6%414.8%
15Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami252730.3%4110.2%
16Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC263935.6%405.2%
17C. DurkinDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City2639186.1%4024.7%
18E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC252416%405.2%
19J. ShoreDefensive midfielderNew York City FC19763.3%396.7%
20J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241734.4%3917.3%
21S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew241557.1%384.9%
22N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
23K. AgyabengDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City19937
24B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272214.3%377%
25J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2513131%368.8%
26S. KowalczykDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo281932.7%3225.9%
27A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC282043.2%293.4%
28D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281816%290.7%
29A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304564.2%289.2%
30M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire28840.4%2710.4%
31ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo302322%249%
32H. DotsonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders2919172.1%246.2%
33O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291444.8%243.9%
34S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake302855.4%236.6%
35D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30112243.2%
36I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311067.4%1818.4%
37S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal31138.1%188.3%
38J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego332747.1%1626.2%
39D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers401519.4%71.4%