Most improved defensive midfielders

The most improved 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 80.7, 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 +60.5 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, J. Garner of Everton is the most valuable name in this group at 131.4.

Borussia Dortmund · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

G. Zechiël+60.5SsN

Utrecht · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	ΔSsN	Season	Rating
1	G. Zechiël Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	22	+60.5 24/25→25/26	71570.8%	8226.1%
2	M. Sangaré Defensive midfielder	Lens	24	+55.9 22/23→25/26	63798.6%	8870.6%
3	João Palhinha Defensive midfielder	Tottenham	31	+52.6 24/25→25/26	59785.1%	431.7%
4	J. Veerman Defensive midfielder	PSV Eindhoven	27	+52.4 24/25→25/26	81185.2%	662.9%
5	J. Leweling Defensive midfielder	VfB Stuttgart	25	+49.8 24/25→25/26	65319.2%	8311.5%
6	J. Manzambi Defensive midfielder	SC Freiburg	20	+49.2 24/25→25/26	59512.5%	9017%
7	Casemiro Defensive midfielder	Manchester United	34	+49.2 24/25→25/26	77174.5%	348.7%
8	A. Boakye Defensive midfielder	Saint Etienne	25	+48.9 24/25→25/26	62376.2%	695.5%
9	L. Curda Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	24	+47.8 24/25→25/26	70211.5%	7322%
10	M. Baur Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	22	+46.1 24/25→25/26	54562.2%	7470.2%
11	D. Genreau Defensive midfielder	Melbourne Victory	27	+45 24/25→25/26	481730.8%	1870.3%
12	M. Skóraś Defensive midfielder	Gent	26	+44.9 24/25→25/26	45	516.7%
13	S. Meïté Defensive midfielder	PAOK	32	+44.7 24/25→25/26	481277.1%	2021%
14	N. Aséko Nkili Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	20	+44.1 24/25→25/26	461917.4%	7395.2%
15	Mateus Vital Defensive midfielder	SHANGHAI SIPG	28	+43.9 24/25→25/26	53493.3%	2848.3%
16	Álex Grimaldo Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	30	+43.8 24/25→25/26	73149%	5319.4%
17	J. Garner Defensive midfielder	Everton	25	+43.5 24/25→25/26	66195.9%	9016.2%
18	H. Amass Defensive midfielder	Sheffield Wednesday	19	+43.4 24/25→25/26	481058.5%	704.8%
19	F. Ambina Defensive midfielder	Valerenga	24	+43.2 24/25→25/26	54385.7%	4826.7%
20	B. Önal Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	+42.9 24/25→25/26	56340.5%	7815.8%
21	R. Yamamoto Defensive midfielder	St. Truiden	24	+42.7 24/25→25/26	56331%	6425.5%
22	R. Malinovskyi Defensive midfielder	Genoa	33	+42.6 24/25→25/26	48747.4%	3114.7%
23	O. Targhalline Defensive midfielder	Feyenoord	24	+42.2 24/25→25/26	53376.8%	7311.3%
24	N. Mbamba Defensive midfielder	Dender	21	+40.6 24/25→25/26	441230.3%	6123.2%
25	F. Winther Defensive midfielder	FC Fredericia	26	+40.4 24/25→25/26	45897.8%	4122.2%
26	Lee Tae-Seok Defensive midfielder	Austria Vienna	23	+40.3 24/25→25/26	48503.8%	4910.8%
27	R. Gagliardini Defensive midfielder	Hellas Verona	32	+39.6 24/25→25/26	421523.1%	3512.7%
28	L. Bertone Defensive midfielder	FC Thun	32	+38.9 21/22→25/26	55243.1%	2438.8%
29	M. Pessina Defensive midfielder	Monza	29	+38.6 24/25→25/26	45567.6%	483.6%
30	J. Gbamin Defensive midfielder	Metz	30	+38 24/25→25/26	393166.7%	4612.9%
31	D. Castillo Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	+37.9 24/25→25/26	44583.1%	4920.8%
32	I. Kaboré Defensive midfielder	Wrexham	25	+37.6 24/25→25/26	43709.4%	697.6%
33	Justin Janssen Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	19	+37.6 24/25→25/26	411074.3%	4933.6%
34	A. Scott Defensive midfielder	Bournemouth	22	+37.6 24/25→25/26	47417.8%	9118.6%
35	V. Darida Defensive midfielder	Hradec Králové	35	+37.4 24/25→25/26	44550%	193.9%
36	F. Rieder Defensive midfielder	FC Augsburg	24	+37.2 24/25→25/26	51265.7%	8417.8%
37	R. Ndiaye Defensive midfielder	Le Havre	24	+37.2 24/25→25/26	56197.9%	8224.2%
38	M. Shelton Defensive midfielder	Barnet	29	+37 22/23→25/26	44506.8%	246.2%
39	A. Atta Defensive midfielder	Udinese	23	+36.4 24/25→25/26	50277.9%	8618.1%
40	K. Lofthouse Defensive midfielder	Burton Albion	25	+36.2 24/25→25/26	46354.9%	5224%
41	K. Smit Defensive midfielder	AZ Alkmaar	20	+35.8 24/25→25/26	44416.3%	7919.6%
42	İ. Akdağ Defensive midfielder	Keçiörengücü	34	+35.2 23/24→25/26	42558.7%	157.5%
43	P. Gerkens Defensive midfielder	Cercle Brugge	31	+35.2 24/25→25/26	47311.5%	3314%
44	M. Bogarde Defensive midfielder	Lask Linz	24	+34.8 22/23→25/26	44362.5%	485%
45	J. James Defensive midfielder	Leicester	22	+34.4 24/25→25/26	51204.8%	701.1%
46	L. Camara Defensive midfielder	Monaco	22	+34.1 24/25→25/26	66107.2%	884.5%
47	S. Birindelli Defensive midfielder	Monza	26	+34.1 24/25→25/26	40550%	625.7%
48	L. Haraslín Defensive midfielder	Sparta Praha	30	+33.9 20/21→25/26	361540.9%	198.3%
49	J. van Overeem Defensive midfielder	Heerenveen	32	+33.9 21/22→25/26	58141.8%	3725.5%
50	D. Kruse Defensive midfielder	IFK Goteborg	24	+33.8 24/25→25/26	41504.5%	3928.6%