Most creative U23 defensive midfielders

The most creative 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 71.1, 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 +60.5 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, Pedri of Barcelona is the most valuable name in this group at 115.2.

FC St. Pauli · 24/25→25/26

Most improved

G. Zechiël+60.5SsN

Utrecht · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by top assistsCustomise →

#	Player	Team	Age	assists	Season	Rating
1	Pedri Defensive midfielder	Barcelona	23	9	6317.2%	908.4%
2	B. Önal Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	7	56340.5%	7815.8%
3	G. Zechiël Defensive midfielder	Utrecht	22	7	71570.8%	8226.1%
4	K. Sano Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	22	7	5955.3%	809.9%
5	D. Osorio Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	6	5381.7%	505.5%
6	F. Afena-Gyan Defensive midfielder	Amed	23	6	29	3928.5%
7	G. Diakité Defensive midfielder	Lausanne	20	6	41	47
8	T. Owusu Defensive midfielder	FC Luzern	23	6	41	49
9	S. Ouaissa Defensive midfielder	NEC Nijmegen	21	6	5462.2%	8212.9%
10	K. Kouassi Defensive midfielder	Lorient	21	6	48106%	8739.7%
11	M. Beier Defensive midfielder	Borussia Dortmund	23	6	6017.3%	894.7%
12	T. Gulliksen Defensive midfielder	Rapid Vienna	23	5	1846.7%	411%
13	A. Khalaili Defensive midfielder	Union St. Gilloise	21	5	47151.1%	657.1%
14	Boris Matić Defensive midfielder	Wolfsberger AC	21	5	36	45
15	C. Souaré Defensive midfielder	Plzen	23	5	206500%	297.3%
16	B. González Defensive midfielder	Guadalajara Chivas	23	5	48	62
17	M. Madjed Defensive midfielder	Hammarby FF	21	5	37338.1%	4117.6%
18	M. Kislyak Defensive midfielder	CSKA Moscow	20	5	4886.9%	4116.6%
19	O. Valencia Defensive midfielder	New York Red Bulls	22	5	26	4319.2%
20	Luca Stephenson Defensive midfielder	Dundee Utd	22	5	4131%	52±0%
21	J. Breum Defensive midfielder	GO Ahead Eagles	22	5	492.1%	745%
22	N. Aséko Nkili Defensive midfielder	Hannover 96	20	5	461917.4%	7395.2%
23	M. Baur Defensive midfielder	SC Paderborn 07	22	5	54562.2%	7470.2%
24	C. Favasuli Defensive midfielder	Catanzaro	22	5	48129.3%	7216.4%
25	J. Snowdon Defensive midfielder	Swindon Town	22	5	25	35
26	A. Wharton Defensive midfielder	Crystal Palace	22	5	51142%	908.9%
27	S. Braybrooke Defensive midfielder	Chesterfield	22	4	351404.3%	366.3%
28	Lee Tae-Seok Defensive midfielder	Austria Vienna	23	4	48503.8%	4910.8%
29	D. Castillo Defensive midfielder	FC Midtjylland	22	4	44583.1%	4920.8%
30	S. Seidl Defensive midfielder	FC BW Linz	23	4	52	47
31	D. Planka Defensive midfielder	Baník Ostrava	20	4	17	2
32	E. Alagich Defensive midfielder	Adelaide United	22	4	46	23
33	A. Domínguez Defensive midfielder	CF Pachuca	21	4	24	53
34	M. Tait Defensive midfielder	Livingston	20	4	29449.1%	5012.9%
35	C. Inao OulaÃ¯Defensive midfielder	Trabzonspor	20	4	39186.8%	555.5%
36	L. Camara Defensive midfielder	Monaco	22	4	66107.2%	884.5%
37	M. Siltanen Defensive midfielder	Djurgardens IF	19	4	38	42
38	Nathan De Cat Defensive midfielder	Anderlecht	18	4	3910.3%	6229.9%
39	A. Bulatović Defensive midfielder	Lens	19	4	23	76
40	D. Rensch Defensive midfielder	AS Roma	23	4	2714.6%	7715%
41	N. Pisilli Defensive midfielder	AS Roma	21	4	3040.7%	844.2%
42	Frederik Emmery Defensive midfielder	Aarhus	19	4	21	4529.6%
43	N. Gillot Defensive midfielder	RAAL La Louvière	23	4	2654.4%	5625.8%
44	V. Barco Defensive midfielder	Strasbourg	21	4	51144.8%	8612.8%
45	J. Manzambi Defensive midfielder	SC Freiburg	20	4	59512.5%	9017%
46	W. Mikelbrencis Defensive midfielder	Hamburger SV	22	4	263.2%	7410.6%
47	M. Perrone Defensive midfielder	Como	23	4	4881.4%	889.2%
48	Aleix Garrido Defensive midfielder	Eibar	22	4	2613050%	676.7%
49	Rafa Rodríguez Defensive midfielder	Malaga	23	4	27702.9%	6612.6%
50	J. James Defensive midfielder	Leicester	22	4	51204.8%	701.1%