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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

T. Habroune of Columbus Crew is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 46.3, and A. Cubas has been the form player this season, grading 46, and D. Jean-Jacques leads the scoring with 3 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: D. Jean-Jacques has improved his Season rating most, up +40.6 on last season, while N. Caliskan's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +10.8 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, C. Durkin of St. Louis City is the most valuable name in this group at 13.3.

Best talent
T. Habroune46.3RTG
Columbus Crew
In form
A. Cubas46SsN
Vancouver Whitecaps
Rising potential
N. Caliskan+10.8RTG
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
D. Jean-Jacques+40.6SsN
Philadelphia Union · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
D. Jean-Jacques3goals
Philadelphia Union
Most valuable
C. Durkin13.3val
St. Louis City
40 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1T. HabrouneDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew2037182.4%4610.8%
2N. CaliskanDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake253740.1%4614.7%
3S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1927378.6%4612.3%
4M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2436127.6%4512.9%
5S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229231%4413%
6L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2240362.1%4415.6%
7H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2229129.4%4438.4%
8J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242731.7%432.9%
9Igor JesusDefensive midfielderLos Angeles FC2330245.3%4320.9%
10Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami243046.2%4311.3%
11J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2435165.2%4311%
12Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1920138.6%4230.1%
13N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528134.5%425%
14J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy243125.2%428.1%
15C. DurkinDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City2643215.3%4229.6%
16D. Jean-JacquesDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union264522.2%426.9%
17Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC263833.1%404.4%
18Bryan Josías Ramírez LeónDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati263640
19E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC25292.4%406.6%
20S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew2421112.2%397.1%
21J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2416169%3811.7%
22N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
23B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272215.5%379.1%
24J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241840%3720.8%
25P. KingstonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders240378.3%
26J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union2713±0%314.7%
27D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281918.6%304.9%
28A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC2840189.2%30±0%
29M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire2814±0%279.7%
30A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304669.7%273.1%
31H. DotsonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders2931350%2616.3%
32ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30285.2%2410.1%
33S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake303278.5%2413.7%
34O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291771.9%243.5%
35D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30122347.1%
36I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311165.2%1817.5%
37B. BronicoDefensive midfielderCharlotte311749.3%1819.7%
38S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal311117.6%186.7%
39J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego333725.6%1527.6%
40D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers40192.6%812.3%