U21 midfielders with the Best Potential in Major League Soccer 2026

The highest-potential U21 midfielders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer Best defenders in Major League Soccer Best attackers in Major League Soccer Most in-form midfielders in Major League Soccer Top-scoring midfielders in Major League Soccer Most valuable midfielders in Major League Soccer

At a glance

A. Mehmeti of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across U21 midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 53.4, and Cavan Sullivan leads the scoring with 6 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: R. Donkor has improved his Season rating most, up +30.9 on last season, while H. Synchuk'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, N. Tsakiris of San Jose Earthquakes is the most valuable name in this group at 13.5.

CF Montreal · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

R. Donkor+30.9SsN

New York Red Bulls · 24/25→25/26

24 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →

	Player	Team
1	A. Mehmeti Defensive midfielder	New York Red Bulls	17	47	53
2	Cavan Sullivan Winger	Philadelphia Union	16	301415%	5340.5%
3	Kaick Central midfielder	FC Dallas	20	3541.4%	4913.5%
4	R. Donkor Central midfielder	New York Red Bulls	21	38137.3%	4817.8%
5	T. Habroune Central midfielder	Columbus Crew	20	40206.1%	4815.6%
6	C. Sanchez Central midfielder	Atlanta United FC	18	212462.5%	4831.3%
7	J. Badwal Central midfielder	Vancouver Whitecaps	20	29104.2%	4811.9%
8	N. Tsakiris Attacking midfielder	San Jose Earthquakes	21	28386.2%	4718.4%
9	B. Raines Central midfielder	New England Revolution	21	32164.7%	4713.4%
10	S. Brunell Defensive midfielder	Seattle Sounders	19	24332.1%	4510.1%
11	G. Valenzuela Central midfielder	FC Cincinnati	21	31101.3%	457.2%
12	M. Corcoran Central midfielder	Nashville SC	20	15274.4%	4417.2%
13	D. Vazquez Central midfielder	San Diego	20	252350%	439.8%
14	Luis Otávio Defensive midfielder	Orlando City SC	19	19125.3%	4329.7%
15	H. Synchuk Central midfielder	CF Montreal	20	21324%	424.5%
16	M. Sofo Central midfielder	New York Red Bulls	21	1522.9%	424.6%
17	Ervin Torres Attacking midfielder	Austin	18	12	4111.9%
18	N. Streit Central midfielder	CF Montreal	20	18	41
19	Z. Taifi Attacking midfielder	Orlando City SC	20	152071.4%	4113.9%
20	M. Cimermancic Central midfielder	Toronto FC	21	12342.3%	409.2%
21	J. Bartlett Central midfielder	Sporting Kansas City	20	1911.4%	394.8%
22	J. Shore Defensive midfielder	New York City FC	19	763.3%	396.7%
23	K. Agyabeng Defensive midfielder	Sporting Kansas City	19	9	37
24	F. Camara Central midfielder	Nashville SC	20	10	32