Fastest-growing U23 defensive midfielders

The fastest-growing (by % Rating change) 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 biggest rating change %Customise →

#	Player	Team	Age	Δ%	Season	Rating
1	A. Pyrka Defensive midfielder	FC St. Pauli	23	+101.9 24/25→25/26	2950.8%	75101.9%
2	M. Yalcouyé Defensive midfielder	Swansea	20	+96.7 24/25→25/26	141.4%	6596.7%
3	N. Aséko Nkili Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	20	+95.2 24/25→25/26	441603.8%	7395.2%
4	S. Ebonog Defensive midfielder	Le Havre	21	+94.3 24/25→25/26	27682.9%	7594.3%
5	M. Linday Defensive midfielder	Heerenveen	23	+91.1 24/25→25/26	4142.2%	6991.1%
6	O. Vargas Defensive midfielder	Atletico Madrid	20	+70.5 24/25→25/26	1850.3%	8170.5%
7	M. Baur Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	22	+70.2 24/25→25/26	52589.3%	7470.2%
8	E. İlkhan Defensive midfielder	Torino	22	+57.2 23/24→25/26	2047.8%	7357.2%
9	Kofi Jeremy Amoako Defensive midfielder	Dynamo Dresden	21	+57 24/25→25/26	33257%	6357%
10	Cameron Bragg Defensive midfielder	Southampton	21	+56.9 24/25→25/26	7318.7%	6256.9%
11	K. WÃ¤tjen Defensive midfielder	VfL Bochum	20	+56.1 24/25→25/26	22397.8%	6256.1%
12	H. Matsuda Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	22	+53.3 24/25→25/26	22160.7%	6353.3%
13	B. Khela Defensive midfielder	Peterborough	21	+52 24/25→25/26	28171.8%	5052%
14	S. Diba Defensive midfielder	Grenoble	22	+49.1 24/25→25/26	15167.3%	5549.1%
15	J. Colwill Defensive midfielder	Cardiff	21	+47.9 24/25→25/26	2644.5%	5047.9%
16	L. Miller Defensive midfielder	Udinese	19	+46.6 24/25→25/26	1566.2%	7746.6%
17	D. Oyegoke Defensive midfielder	Hellas Verona	23	+45.8 24/25→25/26	944.4%	6545.8%
18	N. Sadiki Defensive midfielder	Sunderland	21	+45.6 24/25→25/26	344.8%	9545.6%
19	G. Yah Defensive midfielder	FC Volendam	22	+44.1 24/25→25/26	47230.1%	6844.1%
20	L. Chambers Defensive midfielder	Charlton	22	+44 24/25→25/26	1531.8%	6244%
21	K. Kouassi Defensive midfielder	Lorient	21	+39.7 24/25→25/26	4592.7%	8739.7%
22	N. Saliba Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	22	+37 24/25→25/26	3999%	5937%
23	M. Kana Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	23	+36.2 24/25→25/26	14139%	5336.2%
24	M. Dorgeles Defensive midfielder	SC Braga	21	+33.7 24/25→25/26	1656.6%	6233.7%
25	Justin Janssen Defensive midfielder	FC Nordsjaelland	19	+33.6 24/25→25/26	40925.6%	4933.6%
26	Nathan De Cat Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	17	+29.9 24/25→25/26	3811.4%	6229.9%
27	Y. Cappelle Defensive midfielder	Zulte Waregem	22	+29.6 24/25→25/26	26127.6%	5629.6%
28	T. Le Bris Defensive midfielder	Lorient	23	+26.8 24/25→25/26	3973.4%	7726.8%
29	G. Zechiël Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	22	+26.1 24/25→25/26	66542.7%	8226.1%
30	R. Amané Defensive midfielder	Rapid Vienna	23	+25.9 24/25→25/26	4229.2%	4725.9%
31	N. Gillot Defensive midfielder	RAAL La Louvière	23	+25.8 24/25→25/26	2545%	5625.8%
32	P. Brittijn Defensive midfielder	Fortuna Sittard	22	+24.9 24/25→25/26	5395.6%	7224.9%
33	A. Jashari Defensive midfielder	AC Milan	23	+24.7 24/25→25/26	1265.4%	7424.7%
34	N. Mbamba Defensive midfielder	Dender	21	+23.2 24/25→25/26	451105.4%	6123.2%
35	V. Saus Defensive midfielder	Baltika	22	+22.8 24/25→25/26	28	3522.8%
36	T. Claes Defensive midfielder	Zulte Waregem	22	+21.3 24/25→25/26	3316.5%	6021.3%
37	E. Fernández Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	23	+20.9 24/25→25/26	2049%	7220.9%
38	D. Castillo Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	+20.8 24/25→25/26	42469.9%	4920.8%
39	K. Smit Defensive midfielder	AZ Alkmaar	20	+19.6 24/25→25/26	42336.1%	7919.6%
40	O. Ngom Defensive midfielder	Lecce	22	+19.4 24/25→25/26	1920.2%	7319.4%
41	A. Scott Defensive midfielder	Bournemouth	22	+18.6 24/25→25/26	47361.4%	9118.6%
42	A. Atta Defensive midfielder	Udinese	23	+18.1 24/25→25/26	46242.5%	8618.1%
43	Mathias De Amorim Defensive midfielder	Famalicao	21	+17.8 24/25→25/26	48135%	7017.8%
44	M. Madjed Defensive midfielder	Hammarby FF	21	+17.6 24/25→25/26	32298.8%	4117.6%
45	J. Manzambi Defensive midfielder	SC Freiburg	20	+17 24/25→25/26	55485.1%	9017%
46	M. Kislyak Defensive midfielder	CSKA Moscow	20	+16.6 24/25→25/26	4671.4%	4116.6%
47	C. Favasuli Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	22	+16.4 24/25→25/26	47127.4%	7216.4%
48	A. Wikman Defensive midfielder	Silkeborg	22	+15.9 24/25→25/26	2515.2%	4315.9%
49	B. Önal Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	+15.8 24/25→25/26	50303.3%	7815.8%
50	Marc Bernal Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	19	+15.7 24/25→25/26	23788.5%	8715.7%