The role of the defensive midfielder has evolved significantly in recent years.
What was once primarily about breaking up play and making crunching tackles is now a position that demands more: not only winning the ball but also progressing it forward and dictating the tempo from deep.
The same is true in EA FC 26, where your defensive midfielders aren’t just enforcers—they’re playmakers too.
In Career Mode, the key is to sign a CDM who can perform now and grow into an even bigger asset for the future. With that in mind, we’ve ranked the 10 best young defensive midfielders you can sign, focusing on players 23 years old or younger and valued at under £40 million.






