Fastest-improving defensive midfielders

The fastest-improving (by % Season change) defensive midfielders, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

N. Sadiki of Sunderland is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders, with a Field Insider Rating of 95.1, and J. Veerman has been the form player this season, grading 75.3, and L. Haraslín leads the scoring with 13 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 D. Svensson's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +41.4 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, R. Gravenberch of Liverpool is the most valuable name in this group at 188.

Borussia Dortmund · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

G. Zechiël+55.9SsN

Utrecht · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by biggest season change %Customise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Δ%	Season	Rating
1	L. Curda Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	24	+194.7 24/25→25/26	67194.7%	7322%
2	J. Garner Defensive midfielder	Everton	25	+178.3 24/25→25/26	65178.3%	9016.2%
3	J. Veerman Defensive midfielder	PSV Eindhoven	27	+173.8 24/25→25/26	75173.8%	662.9%
4	Casemiro Defensive midfielder	Manchester United	34	+149.2 24/25→25/26	75149.2%	348.7%
5	R. Zerrouki Defensive midfielder	Twente	28	+137.6 24/25→25/26	51137.6%	581%
6	Mathias De Amorim Defensive midfielder	Famalicao	21	+135 24/25→25/26	48135%	7017.8%
7	A. Wharton Defensive midfielder	Crystal Palace	22	+134.9 24/25→25/26	51134.9%	908.9%
8	V. Barco Defensive midfielder	Strasbourg	21	+132.4 24/25→25/26	50132.4%	8612.8%
9	Álex Grimaldo Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	30	+128.2 24/25→25/26	67128.2%	5319.4%
10	C. Favasuli Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	22	+127.4 24/25→25/26	47127.4%	7216.4%
11	J. van Overeem Defensive midfielder	Heerenveen	32	+125 21/22→25/26	55125%	3725.5%
12	J. Kitolano Defensive midfielder	Sparta Rotterdam	24	+124.9 24/25→25/26	50124.9%	739.8%
13	M. Meulensteen Defensive midfielder	GO Ahead Eagles	27	+121.6 24/25→25/26	57121.6%	6111.3%
14	G. Brugman Defensive midfielder	Pescara	33	+115.8 24/25→25/26	44115.8%	2430.6%
15	E. Watt Defensive midfielder	Motherwell	26	+113.5 24/25→25/26	51113.5%	476.3%
16	J. Ryerson Defensive midfielder	Borussia Dortmund	28	+112 24/25→25/26	53112%	6413.9%
17	Rony Defensive midfielder	Atletico-MG	31	+110 24/25→25/26	44110%	3911.3%
18	I. Zhelizko Defensive midfielder	Lechia Gdansk	25	+108.5 24/25→25/26	54108.5%	4010.3%
19	Aleix García Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	29	+107.7 24/25→25/26	52107.7%	589.1%
20	L. Camara Defensive midfielder	Monaco	22	+107.4 24/25→25/26	64107.4%	884.5%
21	S. Berhalter Defensive midfielder	Vancouver Whitecaps	25	+106.3 24/25→25/26	56106.3%	4913.5%
22	J. Neufville Defensive midfielder	Bradford	26	+105.6 24/25→25/26	44105.6%	4731.2%
23	T. Leoni Defensive midfielder	Reims	26	+103.6 24/25→25/26	45103.6%	599.4%
24	N. Dismas Defensive midfielder	Göztepe	23	+103.5 24/25→25/26	41103.5%	512%
25	S. Pontisso Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	29	+96.2 24/25→25/26	4196.2%	483.6%
26	P. Brittijn Defensive midfielder	Fortuna Sittard	22	+95.6 24/25→25/26	5395.6%	7224.9%
27	M. Lindberg Defensive midfielder	Sirius	26	+93.8 24/25→25/26	4493.8%	330.9%
28	K. Kouassi Defensive midfielder	Lorient	21	+92.7 24/25→25/26	4592.7%	8739.7%
29	V. Torp Defensive midfielder	Coventry	26	+92.4 24/25→25/26	4892.4%	680.7%
30	J. Larsson Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	29	+91.4 24/25→25/26	5691.4%	339.3%
31	M. Arfsten Defensive midfielder	Columbus Crew	25	+86.9 24/25→25/26	4986.9%	470.6%
32	Moncayola Defensive midfielder	Osasuna	28	+83 24/25→25/26	3983%	648.1%
33	C. McGrandles Defensive midfielder	Lincoln	30	+81.5 24/25→25/26	4581.5%	345.3%
34	J. Chotard Defensive midfielder	Stade Brestois 29	24	+80.4 24/25→25/26	4980.4%	7811.1%
35	R. Slater Defensive midfielder	Hull City	26	+78.6 24/25→25/26	4078.6%	630.8%
36	P. Lees-Melou Defensive midfielder	Paris FC	33	+76.9 24/25→25/26	5676.9%	348.6%
37	B. Baiye Defensive midfielder	Erzurumspor FK	25	+76.2 24/25→25/26	4076.2%	456.4%
38	L. Kelly Defensive midfielder	Milton Keynes Dons	30	+76.1 24/25→25/26	3876.1%	221.3%
39	M. Crooks Defensive midfielder	Hull City	32	+75.8 24/25→25/26	5275.8%	3536.3%
40	D. Osorio Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	+75.5 24/25→25/26	4975.5%	505.5%
41	Y. Belkhdim Defensive midfielder	Angers	24	+75.4 24/25→25/26	5275.4%	768.7%
42	Luís Esteves Defensive midfielder	GIL Vicente	28	+75.3 24/25→25/26	5475.3%	544.8%
43	Marcelo Hermes Defensive midfielder	Juventude	31	+74.3 24/25→25/26	4774.3%	3626.2%
44	A. Perea Defensive midfielder	New York City FC	25	+74.3 24/25→25/26	3774.3%	434.4%
45	M. Perrone Defensive midfielder	Como	23	+74.1 24/25→25/26	4674.1%	889.2%
46	T. Le Bris Defensive midfielder	Lorient	23	+73.4 24/25→25/26	3973.4%	7726.8%
47	M. Kislyak Defensive midfielder	CSKA Moscow	20	+71.4 24/25→25/26	4671.4%	4116.6%
48	T. de Jonge Defensive midfielder	Groningen	23	+71.3 24/25→25/26	4271.3%	7214.9%
49	W. Burger Defensive midfielder	1899 Hoffenheim	25	+69.7 24/25→25/26	6069.7%	8629.6%
50	F. Ranocchia Defensive midfielder	Palermo	25	+68.4 24/25→25/26	4668.4%	676.7%