Best defensive U18 midfielders

The best defensive U18 midfielders, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

L. Karl of Bayern München is the standout for raw talent across U18 midfielders, with a Field Insider Rating of 86.6, and V. Kostov has been the form player this season, grading 49.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: O. Pietuszewski has improved his Season rating most, up +25.2 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, S. Chambers of Scotland U19 is the most valuable name in this group at 125.9.

O. Pietuszewski+33.9RTG

FC Porto · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

O. Pietuszewski+25.2SsN

FC Porto · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by most clean sheetsCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	CS	Season	Rating
1	Vasilije Novicic Attacking midfielder	IMT Novi Beograd	18	12	34	48
2	V. Kostov Central midfielder	FK Crvena Zvezda	18	12	49	50
3	A. Bouaddi Defensive midfielder	Lille	18	10	3463.9%	8714.6%
4	Nathan De Cat Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	17	8	3811.4%	6229.9%
5	A. Maqokola Winger	Amazulu	0	7	20	2
6	O. Pietuszewski Central midfielder	FC Porto	18	6	25	6898.8%
7	Seluleko Mahlambi Central midfielder	TS Galaxy	0	6	30	2
8	K. Karetsas Attacking midfielder	Genk	18	6	2414.1%	600.5%
9	Hartmut von Kameke Central midfielder	Ismaily SC	0	5	18	35
10	G. Mora Attacking midfielder	Club Tijuana	17	5	21	53
11	L. Karl Attacking midfielder	Bayern München	18	5	35	87
12	Franco Mastantuono Winger	Real Madrid	18	4	757.9%	8047.6%
13	Banele Mnguni Attacking midfielder	Polokwane City	0	4	7	2
14	W. Ngema Winger	Richards Bay	0	4	7	2
15	Sevi Idriz Attacking midfielder	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	18	4	7	34
16	W. Dobson Attacking midfielder	Newcastle Jets	18	4	24	24
17	S. Mladenović Defensive midfielder	TSC Backa Topola	18	4	17	39
18	F. Matijašević Attacking midfielder	Cukaricki	18	4	15	40
19	M. Subotić Defensive midfielder	NK Lokomotiva Zagreb	18	4	19	39
20	Pedro Fernández Central midfielder	Paris Saint Germain	18	4	13	77
21	R. Matondo Defensive midfielder	Paris FC	18	4	286875%	8024.7%
22	H. Gray Attacking midfielder	Rotherham	17	4	13	46
23	K. Eichhorn Defensive midfielder	Hertha BSC	16	4	18	60
24	J. Richards Attacking midfielder	Luton	18	4	16109.2%	509.5%
25	X. Dierckx Defensive midfielder	Antwerp	16	4	17	54
26	S. Jeza Attacking midfielder	Siwelele	0	3	11	2
27	D. Mofokeng Centre-back	Magesi	0	3	11	2
28	Sphamandla Zikhali Central midfielder	Amazulu	0	3	9	2
29	T. Mokobodi Defensive midfielder	Stellenbosch	0	3	6	2
30	S. Mabele Attacking midfielder	Orbit College	0	3	7	2
31	Philipp Maybach Defensive midfielder	Austria Vienna	18	3	13	44
32	Bae Seung-Gyun Defensive midfielder	Dordrecht	18	3	20	53
33	A. Thomas Central midfielder	Jong PSV U21	18	3	20111.7%	5813.8%
34	J. van Ommeren Defensive midfielder	Jong Utrecht	18	3	21	5423.7%
35	Robin van Asten Central midfielder	Dordrecht	17	3	16	52
36	A. Ouazane Winger	Jong Ajax	16	3	23	54
37	S. Pnevmonidis Attacking midfielder	Atromitos	18	3	11	39
38	A. Vossah Defensive midfielder	Toulouse	18	3	18	74
39	S. Dahal Attacking midfielder	Al-Fayha	17	3	22	58
40	A. Lahdo Defensive midfielder	Hammarby FF	18	2	122240%	3718.4%
41	Sean Steur Central midfielder	Jong Ajax	18	2	952.9%	4714.5%
42	Bohlale Ngwato Attacking midfielder	Siwelele	0	2	3	2
43	G. Khoto Attacking midfielder	Orbit College	0	2	9	2
44	Realeboga Junior Potsana Central midfielder	Orbit College	0	2	10	2
45	F. Bzdyl Central midfielder	Žilina	18	2	951.7%	3211.3%
46	M. Bacik Central midfielder	Ružomberok	18	2	4	31
47	N. Ratner Central midfielder	Maccabi Haifa	18	2	12	41
48	M. Orozco Central midfielder	Deportivo Cali	17	2	4	24
49	S. Soliman Central midfielder	Future FC	0	2	3	32
50	A. Yasser Central midfielder	Ghazl El Mehalla	0	2	3	32