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Most Improved defenders in League One 26/27

The most improved defenders in League One in 26/27, ranked on Field Insider.

Most improved goalkeepers in League OneMost improved midfielders in League OneMost improved attackers in League OneBest defenders in League OneMost in-form defenders in League OneTop-scoring defenders in League One

At a glance

L. Thomas of Leicester is the standout for raw talent across defenders in League One, with a Field Insider Rating of 66.5, and C. Piergianni has been the form player this season, grading 45.5, and L. Sørensen leads the scoring with 4 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: J. Bagan has improved his Season rating most, up +32 on last season, while I. Ogundere's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +14.6 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, B. Hills of Stockport County is the most valuable name in this group at 14.6.

Best talent
L. Thomas66.5RTG
Leicester
In form
C. Piergianni45.5SsN
Stevenage
Rising potential
I. Ogundere+14.6RTG
AFC Wimbledon · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
J. Bagan+32SsN
Cardiff · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
L. Sørensen4goals
Huddersfield
Most valuable
B. Hills14.6val
Stockport County
50 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1J. BaganCentre-backCardiff25+32
24/25→25/26
45±0%512.6%
2K. WattsCentre-backCambridge United26+31.7
24/25→25/26
44±0%35±0%
3J. GibbonsCentre-backNotts County28+21.9
24/25→25/26
39±0%295.1%
4W. FishCentre-backCardiff23+20.1
24/25→25/26
31179.5%4918.2%
5M. WallaceCentre-backHuddersfield33+17.8
24/25→25/26
27±0%18±0%
6R. BalkerFull-backHuddersfield28+13.5
24/25→25/26
23±0%3711.2%
7L. ThomasFull-backLeicester25+13.3
24/25→25/26
27±0%67±0%
8L. FreestoneCentre-backStevenage26+9.7
24/25→25/26
34±0%42±0%
9A. OshilajaCentre-backMansfield Town33+9.3
24/25→25/26
36±0%18±0%
10P. NgFull-backCardiff30+9
24/25→25/26
34±0%30±0%
11L. NessCentre-backNotts County24+8.2
24/25→25/26
16±0%31±0%
12M. IhiekweCentre-backBlackpool33+7.6
24/25→25/26
2155.9%1548.6%
13G. JohnstonCentre-backLuton28+7.1
24/25→25/26
30±0%439.5%
14T. NixonFull-backDoncaster23+6.1
24/25→25/26
9203.3%4035.6%
15B. HillsCentre-backStockport County22+5.7
24/25→25/26
2431.5%482.8%
16R. McDonaldCentre-backNotts County34+5.4
24/25→25/26
1745%924.6%
17O. SowunmiFull-backBromley30+4.8
24/25→25/26
35±0%22±0%
18M. PenningtonFull-backBradford32+4.2
24/25→25/26
21±0%22±0%
19H. MatthewsCentre-backBradford22+4
24/25→25/26
7133.3%57±0%
20A. BaldwinCentre-backBradford29+3.2
24/25→25/26
31±0%32±0%
21L. SørensenFull-backHuddersfield26+3.1
24/25→25/26
2117.2%443.9%
22C. PiergianniCentre-backStevenage34+3.1
24/25→25/26
46±0%19±0%
23F. KentCentre-backOxford United30+2.8
24/25→25/26
2016%2328.6%
24B. NelsonCentre-backLeicester22+1.2
24/25→25/26
177.5%612.3%
25L. MacariFull-backNotts County24+1
24/25→25/26
264%34±0%
26C. TiltCentre-backBurton Albion350
24/25→25/26
29±0%16±0%
27T. MengiCentre-backLuton24-1.2
24/25→25/26
176.6%4426.3%
28T. SibbickCentre-backBurton Albion27-1.4
24/25→25/26
23±0%36±0%
29U. Godwin-MalifeFull-backReading26-1.5
24/25→25/26
26±0%42±0%
30J. WilliamsCentre-backBlackpool26-1.8
24/25→25/26
1612.2%588%
31J. BedeauCentre-backNotts County26-2.1
24/25→25/26
36±0%33±0%
32B. CargillFull-backMansfield Town31-2.5
24/25→25/26
2011.2%2033.6%
33K. AbrefaFull-backReading22-3.2
24/25→25/26
926%442.4%
34A. MitchellCentre-backPlymouth24-4.5
24/25→25/26
30±0%49±0%
35J. OlowuCentre-backLeyton Orient26-4.7
24/25→25/26
19±0%449.4%
36E. PyeCentre-backStockport County23-5.2
24/25→25/26
44±0%54±0%
37F. HorsfallCentre-backBlackpool29-5.4
24/25→25/26
2021.3%2828%
38G. OshoCentre-backCardiff28-5.8
24/25→25/26
18±0%31±0%
39O. CaseyFull-backBlackpool25-6.1
24/25→25/26
42±0%48±0%
40N. ByrneCentre-backDoncaster33-6.5
24/25→25/26
16±0%13±0%
41I. OgundereCentre-backAFC Wimbledon23-6.8
24/25→25/26
28±0%49±0%
42I. BowatCentre-backHuddersfield24-7.5
22/23→25/26
8±0%592.2%
43J. BoweryCentre-backMansfield Town35-7.9
24/25→25/26
1140.9%947.7%
44J. ClarkeCentre-backCardiff36-10.8
24/25→25/26
283.1%631.4%
45T. VancootenCentre-backStevenage28-11.5
24/25→25/26
14±0%3415.4%
46C. ChambersCentre-backCardiff31-12.2
24/25→25/26
2236.1%2151.8%
47C. TaylorCentre-backWycombe24-13
24/25→25/26
19±0%44±0%
48C. NelsonCentre-backMilton Keynes Dons33-13.9
24/25→25/26
12±0%10±0%
49Benn David WardCentre-backReading22-14.3
24/25→25/26
958.9%4129.8%
50P. O'ConnorCentre-backReading29-15.8
24/25→25/26
25±0%32±0%