Most creative defensive midfielders

The most creative 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 75.3, 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 +55.9 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, R. Gravenberch of Liverpool is the most valuable name in this group at 188.

Borussia Dortmund · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

G. Zechiël+55.9SsN

Utrecht · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by top assistsCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	assists	Season	Rating
1	J. Ryerson Defensive midfielder	Borussia Dortmund	28	15	53112%	6413.9%
2	J. Veerman Defensive midfielder	PSV Eindhoven	27	14	75173.8%	662.9%
3	O. Norwood Defensive midfielder	Stockport County	35	11	6160.6%	213.5%
4	L. Wing Defensive midfielder	Reading	31	11	6414.5%	3022.3%
5	J. van Overeem Defensive midfielder	Heerenveen	32	10	55125%	3725.5%
6	S. Berhalter Defensive midfielder	Vancouver Whitecaps	25	10	56106.3%	4913.5%
7	M. Pinnock Defensive midfielder	Bromley	31	10	3313.3%	2137.8%
8	J. Larsson Defensive midfielder	FC Copenhagen	29	9	5691.4%	339.3%
9	A. Boakye Defensive midfielder	Saint Etienne	25	9	57349.6%	695.5%
10	A. Thomasson Defensive midfielder	Lens	32	9	6812.4%	4314.1%
11	J. Leweling Defensive midfielder	VfB Stuttgart	25	9	58286.1%	8615%
12	Pedri Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	23	9	5915.9%	908.4%
13	L. Kelly Defensive midfielder	Milton Keynes Dons	30	9	3876.1%	221.3%
14	Mateus Vital Defensive midfielder	SHANGHAI SIPG	28	8	49507.4%	2848.3%
15	Xie Wenneng Defensive midfielder	Shandong Luneng	25	8	39	32
16	Li Yuanyi Defensive midfielder	Shandong Luneng	32	8	34	15
17	Gao Tianyi Defensive midfielder	Shanghai Shenhua	28	8	39	24
18	R. Ledezma Defensive midfielder	Guadalajara Chivas	25	8	2728.5%	5224.4%
19	Óliver Torres Defensive midfielder	Monterrey	31	8	44142.8%	2749.1%
20	V. Guzmán Defensive midfielder	CF Pachuca	31	8	33	26
21	İ. Akdağ Defensive midfielder	Keçiörengücü	34	8	43514.3%	1915.6%
22	I. Kaboré Defensive midfielder	Wrexham	25	8	41675.5%	697.6%
23	Álvaro Medrán Defensive midfielder	Al-Ettifaq	32	8	4126.8%	2816.1%
24	Luís Esteves Defensive midfielder	GIL Vicente	28	8	5475.3%	544.8%
25	Aleix García Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	29	8	52107.7%	589.1%
26	Álex Grimaldo Defensive midfielder	Bayer Leverkusen	30	8	67128.2%	5319.4%
27	J. Kimmich Defensive midfielder	Bayern München	31	8	496.7%	4526.7%
28	F. Murray Defensive midfielder	Wigan	27	8	5054.5%	447.6%
29	L. Walsh Defensive midfielder	Luton	28	8	32143.9%	3629%
30	T. Leoni Defensive midfielder	Reims	26	7	45103.6%	599.4%
31	Li Tixiang Defensive midfielder	Hangzhou Greentown	36	7	36	13
32	J. Lindseth Defensive midfielder	Manisa F.K.	30	7	43149.7%	3214.5%
33	V. Torp Defensive midfielder	Coventry	26	7	4892.4%	680.7%
34	M. Udol Defensive midfielder	Lens	30	7	522.1%	55±0%
35	J. Hardeveld Defensive midfielder	Telstar	31	7	6617.3%	411%
36	J. Holsgrove Defensive midfielder	Estoril	26	7	4721%	606.7%
37	B. Önal Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	7	50303.3%	7815.8%
38	J. Neufville Defensive midfielder	Bradford	26	7	44105.6%	4731.2%
39	N. Raskin Defensive midfielder	Rangers	25	7	5352.6%	530.7%
40	A. Maxim Defensive midfielder	Gaziantep FK	36	7	4528.4%	2010.1%
41	M. Skóraś Defensive midfielder	Gent	26	7	43	516.7%
42	G. Zechiël Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	22	7	66542.7%	8226.1%
43	K. Sano Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	7	5755.2%	809.9%
44	L. Curda Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	24	7	67194.7%	7322%
45	S. Trimboli Defensive midfielder	Mantova	24	7	4253.1%	6911.1%
46	S. Pontisso Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	29	7	4196.2%	483.6%
47	M. Shelton Defensive midfielder	Barnet	29	7	42468.5%	246.2%
48	K. Lofthouse Defensive midfielder	Burton Albion	25	7	44335.3%	5224%
49	A. Collins Defensive midfielder	Peterborough	26	7	4333.6%	46±0%
50	R. Wintle Defensive midfielder	Cardiff	29	7	34236.3%	3524.2%