Most In-Form U21 defenders in Major League Soccer 2026

The most in-form U21 defenders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

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

At a glance

M. Dos Santos of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across U21 defenders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 49.6, and T. Johnson has been the form player this season, grading 46.6, and Neil Pierre leads the scoring with 4 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: O. Verhoeven has improved his Season rating most, up +24 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, T. Johnson of Vancouver Whitecaps is the most valuable name in this group at 13.5.

San Diego · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

O. Verhoeven+24SsN

San Diego · 24/25→25/26

24 players · ranked by best this seasonCustomise →

	Player	Team
1	T. Johnson Centre-back	Vancouver Whitecaps	21	4760.1%	497.7%
2	M. Duah Centre-back	San Diego	21	42301.9%	479.5%
3	N. Norris Centre-back	FC Dallas	21	27341%	4613.4%
4	F. Westfield Full-back	Philadelphia Union	20	2713.3%	485.7%
5	O. Verhoeven Centre-back	San Diego	20	26130.7%	456.2%
6	E. Kohler Centre-back	New England Revolution	20	25	4624.1%
7	E. Kohler Centre-back	New England Revolution	20	25	4624.1%
8	L. De Fougerolles Centre-back	Real Salt Lake	20	25	44
9	M. Mbokazi Centre-back	Chicago Fire	20	2213.7%	4374.7%
10	R. Baker-Whiting Full-back	Nashville SC	21	21165.8%	448.9%
11	M. Agyemang Centre-back	Charlotte	21	19	45
12	Leonardo Barroso Centre-back	Chicago Fire	21	1875.7%	414.3%
13	Harbor Miller Full-back	Los Angeles Galaxy	19	18311.6%	426.3%
14	E. Báez Full-back	Atlanta United FC	21	1676.6%	4818%
15	M. Dos Santos Centre-back	New York Red Bulls	17	15	50
16	S. Hawkins Centre-back	Seattle Sounders	19	147100%	407%
17	M. Dos Santos Centre-back	New York Red Bulls	18	14	48
18	J. Bazán Centre-back	New York Red Bulls	20	1212000%	4083.9%
19	Neil Pierre Centre-back	Philadelphia Union	18	102450%	4317.3%
20	Iago Centre-back	Orlando City SC	21	10227.6%	4133.2%
21	J. Gilman Centre-back	Toronto FC	21	9	40
22	I. James Centre-back	Sporting Kansas City	18	966.7%	397.4%
23	S. Suárez Centre-back	New England Revolution	21	9	33
24	A. Chirila Full-back	FC Cincinnati	17	6	41