Fastest-rising U23 defensive midfielders

The fastest-rising U23 defensive midfielders, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

N. Sadiki of Sunderland is the standout for raw talent across U23 defensive midfielders, with a Field Insider Rating of 95.1, and G. Zechiël has been the form player this season, grading 66.2, and J. James leads the scoring with 11 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: G. Zechiël has improved his Season rating most, up +55.9 on last season, while A. Pyrka's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +37.8 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, A. Scott of Bournemouth is the most valuable name in this group at 173.5.

FC St. Pauli · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

G. Zechiël+55.9SsN

Utrecht · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by biggest risers (potential)Customise →

#	Player	Team	Age	ΔRTG	Season	Rating
1	A. Pyrka Defensive midfielder	FC St. Pauli	23	+37.8 24/25→25/26	2950.8%	75101.9%
2	S. Ebonog Defensive midfielder	Le Havre	21	+36.2 24/25→25/26	27682.9%	7594.3%
3	N. Aséko Nkili Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	20	+35.4 24/25→25/26	441603.8%	7395.2%
4	O. Vargas Defensive midfielder	Atletico Madrid	20	+33.4 24/25→25/26	1850.3%	8170.5%
5	M. Linday Defensive midfielder	Heerenveen	23	+32.9 24/25→25/26	4142.2%	6991.1%
6	M. Yalcouyé Defensive midfielder	Swansea	20	+31.9 24/25→25/26	141.4%	6596.7%
7	M. Baur Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	22	+30.6 24/25→25/26	52589.3%	7470.2%
8	N. Sadiki Defensive midfielder	Sunderland	21	+29.8 24/25→25/26	344.8%	9545.6%
9	E. İlkhan Defensive midfielder	Torino	22	+26.6 23/24→25/26	2047.8%	7357.2%
10	K. Kouassi Defensive midfielder	Lorient	21	+24.8 24/25→25/26	4592.7%	8739.7%
11	L. Miller Defensive midfielder	Udinese	19	+24.4 24/25→25/26	1566.2%	7746.6%
12	Kofi Jeremy Amoako Defensive midfielder	Dynamo Dresden	21	+22.8 24/25→25/26	33257%	6357%
13	Cameron Bragg Defensive midfielder	Southampton	21	+22.4 24/25→25/26	7318.7%	6256.9%
14	K. WÃ¤tjen Defensive midfielder	VfL Bochum	20	+22.4 24/25→25/26	22397.8%	6256.1%
15	H. Matsuda Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	22	+21.9 24/25→25/26	22160.7%	6353.3%
16	G. Yah Defensive midfielder	FC Volendam	22	+20.8 24/25→25/26	47230.1%	6844.1%
17	D. Oyegoke Defensive midfielder	Hellas Verona	23	+20.3 24/25→25/26	944.4%	6545.8%
18	L. Chambers Defensive midfielder	Charlton	22	+18.8 24/25→25/26	1531.8%	6244%
19	S. Diba Defensive midfielder	Grenoble	22	+18.1 24/25→25/26	15167.3%	5549.1%
20	B. Khela Defensive midfielder	Peterborough	21	+17.1 24/25→25/26	28171.8%	5052%
21	G. Zechiël Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	22	+16.9 24/25→25/26	66542.7%	8226.1%
22	J. Colwill Defensive midfielder	Cardiff	21	+16.3 24/25→25/26	2644.5%	5047.9%
23	T. Le Bris Defensive midfielder	Lorient	23	+16.2 24/25→25/26	3973.4%	7726.8%
24	N. Saliba Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	22	+15.8 24/25→25/26	3999%	5937%
25	M. Dorgeles Defensive midfielder	SC Braga	21	+15.5 24/25→25/26	1656.6%	6233.7%
26	A. Jashari Defensive midfielder	AC Milan	23	+14.6 24/25→25/26	1265.4%	7424.7%
27	P. Brittijn Defensive midfielder	Fortuna Sittard	22	+14.3 24/25→25/26	5395.6%	7224.9%
28	A. Scott Defensive midfielder	Bournemouth	22	+14.3 24/25→25/26	47361.4%	9118.6%
29	Nathan De Cat Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	17	+14.2 24/25→25/26	3811.4%	6229.9%
30	M. Kana Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	23	+14.1 24/25→25/26	14139%	5336.2%
31	J. Manzambi Defensive midfielder	SC Freiburg	20	+13.1 24/25→25/26	55485.1%	9017%
32	A. Atta Defensive midfielder	Udinese	23	+13.1 24/25→25/26	46242.5%	8618.1%
33	K. Smit Defensive midfielder	AZ Alkmaar	20	+13 24/25→25/26	42336.1%	7919.6%
34	Y. Cappelle Defensive midfielder	Zulte Waregem	22	+12.8 24/25→25/26	26127.6%	5629.6%
35	E. Fernández Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	23	+12.4 24/25→25/26	2049%	7220.9%
36	Justin Janssen Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	19	+12.2 24/25→25/26	40925.6%	4933.6%
37	O. Ngom Defensive midfielder	Lecce	22	+11.8 24/25→25/26	1920.2%	7319.4%
38	Marc Bernal Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	19	+11.8 24/25→25/26	23788.5%	8715.7%
39	N. Gillot Defensive midfielder	RAAL La Louvière	23	+11.4 24/25→25/26	2545%	5625.8%
40	N. Mbamba Defensive midfielder	Dender	21	+11.4 24/25→25/26	451105.4%	6123.2%
41	A. Bouaddi Defensive midfielder	Lille	18	+11 24/25→25/26	3463.9%	8714.6%
42	Jon Gorrotxategi Defensive midfielder	Real Sociedad	23	+10.8 24/25→25/26	468.9%	8514.5%
43	B. Önal Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	+10.6 24/25→25/26	50303.3%	7815.8%
44	Mathias De Amorim Defensive midfielder	Famalicao	21	+10.6 24/25→25/26	48135%	7017.8%
45	T. Claes Defensive midfielder	Zulte Waregem	22	+10.5 24/25→25/26	3316.5%	6021.3%
46	C. Favasuli Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	22	+10.2 24/25→25/26	47127.4%	7216.4%
47	D. Rensch Defensive midfielder	AS Roma	23	+10 24/25→25/26	2617.8%	7715%
48	V. Barco Defensive midfielder	Strasbourg	21	+9.8 24/25→25/26	50132.4%	8612.8%
49	R. Amané Defensive midfielder	Rapid Vienna	23	+9.7 24/25→25/26	4229.2%	4725.9%
50	M. Prati Defensive midfielder	Cagliari	22	+9.5 24/25→25/26	31477.4%	7714.1%