Most in-form U23 defensive midfielders

The most in-form 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 best this seasonCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Season	Rating
1	G. Zechiël Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	22	66542.7%	8226.1%
2	L. Camara Defensive midfielder	Monaco	22	64107.4%	884.5%
3	Pedri Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	23	5915.9%	908.4%
4	K. Sano Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	5755.2%	809.9%
5	J. Manzambi Defensive midfielder	SC Freiburg	20	55485.1%	9017%
6	M. Beier Defensive midfielder	Borussia Dortmund	23	538.1%	894.7%
7	P. Brittijn Defensive midfielder	Fortuna Sittard	22	5395.6%	7224.9%
8	M. Baur Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	22	52589.3%	7470.2%
9	A. Wharton Defensive midfielder	Crystal Palace	22	51134.9%	908.9%
10	B. Önal Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	50303.3%	7815.8%
11	V. Barco Defensive midfielder	Strasbourg	21	50132.4%	8612.8%
12	S. Ouaissa Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	21	4952%	8212.9%
13	H. Amass Defensive midfielder	Sheffield Wednesday	19	491095.1%	704.8%
14	D. Osorio Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	4975.5%	505.5%
15	Mathias De Amorim Defensive midfielder	Famalicao	21	48135%	7017.8%
16	I. Moriba Defensive midfielder	Celta Vigo	23	4854.2%	884.8%
17	S. Seidl Defensive midfielder	FC BW Linz	23	48	47
18	C. Favasuli Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	22	47127.4%	7216.4%
19	Lee Tae-Seok Defensive midfielder	Austria Vienna	23	47490%	4910.8%
20	G. Yah Defensive midfielder	FC Volendam	22	47230.1%	6844.1%
21	A. Scott Defensive midfielder	Bournemouth	22	47361.4%	9118.6%
22	T. Fukui Defensive midfielder	Arouca	22	4651.1%	687.4%
23	A. Khalaili Defensive midfielder	Union St. Gilloise	21	46151.4%	657.1%
24	A. Kurtulan Defensive midfielder	Göztepe	23	46219.4%	534.3%
25	E. Camara Defensive midfielder	Charleroi	23	46139.6%	595.6%
26	A. Atta Defensive midfielder	Udinese	23	46242.5%	8618.1%
27	Jon Gorrotxategi Defensive midfielder	Real Sociedad	23	468.9%	8514.5%
28	M. Perrone Defensive midfielder	Como	23	4674.1%	889.2%
29	J. James Defensive midfielder	Leicester	22	46163.2%	701.1%
30	M. Kislyak Defensive midfielder	CSKA Moscow	20	4671.4%	4116.6%
31	B. González Defensive midfielder	Guadalajara Chivas	23	45	62
32	T. Noslin Defensive midfielder	Telstar	23	4527.6%	6915.5%
33	S. Charles Defensive midfielder	Southampton	22	459.2%	752.9%
34	K. Kouassi Defensive midfielder	Lorient	21	4592.7%	8739.7%
35	T. Morton Defensive midfielder	Lyon	23	4515.1%	8412.3%
36	J. Breum Defensive midfielder	GO Ahead Eagles	22	455.1%	745%
37	N. Mbamba Defensive midfielder	Dender	21	451105.4%	6123.2%
38	A. Stanković Defensive midfielder	Club Brugge KV	20	45	66
39	A. Piedfort Defensive midfielder	KVC Westerlo	21	44132.5%	606.9%
40	N. Aséko Nkili Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	20	441603.8%	7395.2%
41	E. Alagich Defensive midfielder	Adelaide United	22	44	23
42	S. El Mourabet Defensive midfielder	Strasbourg	20	44	80
43	Mikel Jauregizar Defensive midfielder	Athletic Club	22	446.6%	852.1%
44	D. Methalie Defensive midfielder	Toulouse	20	43	80
45	Rafel Bauzà Defensive midfielder	Mirandes	21	432417.6%	691.9%
46	A. Engwanda Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	23	43129.7%	7410.8%
47	K. Smit Defensive midfielder	AZ Alkmaar	20	42336.1%	7919.6%
48	Y. Titraoui Defensive midfielder	Charleroi	22	4254.4%	6110.5%
49	T. de Jonge Defensive midfielder	Groningen	23	4271.3%	7214.9%
50	M. Zanotti Defensive midfielder	FC Lugano	23	42	4830.4%