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Defensive midfielders with the Best Potential in Major League Soccer

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, 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

S. Berhalter of Vancouver Whitecaps is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 48.8, and E. Löwen leads the scoring with 6 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: S. Berhalter has improved his Season rating most, up +30.7 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, S. Berhalter of Vancouver Whitecaps is the most valuable name in this group at 15.2.

Best talent
S. Berhalter48.8RTG
Vancouver Whitecaps
In form
S. Berhalter58.7SsN
Vancouver Whitecaps
Rising potential
S. Berhalter+5.8RTG
Vancouver Whitecaps · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
S. Berhalter+30.7SsN
Vancouver Whitecaps · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
E. Löwen6goals
St. Louis City
Most valuable
S. Berhalter15.2val
Vancouver Whitecaps
50 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1S. BerhalterDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps2559109.6%4913.5%
2M. ArfstenDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew255191.8%470.6%
3Igor JesusDefensive midfielderLos Angeles FC2329232.6%4614.4%
4C. BassettDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids253312.3%455.5%
5D. AyalaDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers243961.3%447.4%
6O. LarrazDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids24325%430.7%
7D. EdelmanDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls232420.9%436.9%
8A. PereaDefensive midfielderNew York City FC253872.5%434.4%
9O. ValenciaDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls22264319.2%
10P. StroudDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls2427142.9%438.7%
11V. LoturiDefensive midfielderCF Montreal25301410%4212.6%
12A. FortuneDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC232424.9%421.2%
13D. GjengaarDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls221377.3%421.5%
14D. MarczukDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake2219190.6%424%
15R. DonkorDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls2118141.1%422.7%
16J. AtencioDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids242889.9%415.9%
17J. BartlettDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City202141
18E. EcheniqueDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati222241
19N. CaliskanDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake25261278.9%4013.9%
20J. PérezDefensive midfielderNashville SC2315825%4011.5%
21Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC262916.3%394.4%
22Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami24221.4%3912.9%
23O. GeneDefensive midfielderMinnesota United FC23674.4%3834.9%
24B. OjedaDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake262728.7%3817%
25M. LongstaffDefensive midfielderToronto FC261838.2%3711.1%
26M. HerreraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew273629.7%3625.4%
27P. BuchaDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati283610.9%3520.5%
28D. ChambostDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew2838310.9%35±0%
29C. DurkinDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City261934.2%3420.1%
30A. WattsDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City261842.9%348.4%
31Z. BassongDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2724167%3213.3%
32P. RuizDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake27133025%317.5%
33J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union271328.7%3016.2%
34A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC281431.9%3038.3%
35E. LöwenDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City294936.6%3015.9%
36D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281636.8%2824.9%
37B. AnungaDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati292152.9%2711.7%
38A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps303113.5%2712.5%
39C. RonanDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids28863.2%2727.2%
40O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati292115.7%2727.8%
41F. CarballoDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls292171.7%2614.3%
42C. RoldanDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders314126.2%2519.7%
43S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal311544.8%2029.4%
44A. WestwoodDefensive midfielderCharlotte36341.2%181.6%
45M. PolsterDefensive midfielderNew England Revolution333022.8%1724.3%
46M. KayeDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311831.2%1728.6%
47J. OsorioDefensive midfielderToronto FC3443106.2%176.2%
48D. NagbeDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew361125.7%161.9%
49A. MoralesDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City3618350%1131.3%
50D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers40200.5%833.3%