Defensive mid is arguably one of the most underrated positions on the pitch, not to mention one of the hardest positions to truly excel in. The best CDMs in EA Sports FC 26 have incredible engines and are able to sniff out and shut down danger before it becomes a problem for the rest of their team.
The Fastest Players in EA Sports FC 26
Pace can make all the difference, especially for certain tactics, so finding the fastest players in FC 26 is important in all game modes.
For this reason, those looking to dominate the Career Mode in EA Sports FC 26 will want to find themselves a high-potential defensive midfielder, although knowing where to start looking can be tricky. That's why we've put together this list of the best CDMs in the FC 26 Career Mode, with options for various levels.
Only players aged 25 or under at the start of the 25-26 season will be considered for this list.
The Best Career Mode Defensive Midfielders in EA Sports FC 26
|
Name |
Age |
Club |
Rating |
Potential |
Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jorthy Mokio |
17 |
Ajax |
70 |
89 |
+19 |
|
Moises Caicedo |
23 |
Chelsea |
87 |
89 |
+2 |
|
Ryan Gravenberch |
23 |
Liverpool |
85 |
88 |
+3 |
|
Sandro Tonali |
25 |
Newcastle United |
86 |
88 |
+2 |
|
Aleksandar Pavlovic |
21 |
Bayern Munchen |
79 |
87 |
+8 |
|
Carlos Baleba |
21 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
81 |
87 |
+6 |
|
Johnny Cardoso |
23 |
Atletico Madrid |
81 |
87 |
+6 |
|
Angelo Stiller |
24 |
VfB Stuttgart |
83 |
87 |
+4 |
|
Aurelien Tchouameni |
25 |
Real Madrid |
84 |
87 |
+3 |
|
Archie Gray |
19 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
75 |
86 |
+11 |
|
Ardon Jashari |
23 |
AC Milan |
77 |
86 |
+9 |
|
Zeno Debast |
21 |
Sporting CP |
78 |
86 |
+8 |
|
Samu Costa |
24 |
RCD Mallorca |
78 |
86 |
+8 |
|
Adam Wharton |
21 |
Crystal Palace |
79 |
86 |
+7 |
|
Felix Nmecha |
24 |
Borussia Dortmund |
82 |
86 |
+4 |
|
Marc Bernal |
18 |
FC Barcelona |
73 |
85 |
+12 |
|
Dario Essugo |
20 |
Chelsea |
75 |
85 |
+10 |
|
Ibrahima Sory Bangoura |
21 |
Genk |
70 |
84 |
+14 |
|
Bailey Rice |
18 |
Rangers |
61 |
83 |
+22 |
|
Boris Mamuzah Lum |
17 |
Hertha BSC |
60 |
82 |
+22 |
The Best Young Defensive Midfielders for a Lower-League Team in EA FC 26 Career Mode
Bailey Rice and Boris Mamuzah Lum both offer potential gains of +22, making them excellent options for lower-league teams that are hoping to make it to the very top. Nathan De Cat is also worth keeping an eye on, with the young Belgian able to jump from a 63 rating to an 83 if he gets the right amount of game time.
The Best Young Defensive Midfielders for a Mid-Table Team in EA FC 26 Career Mode
Jorthy Mokio is a must-sign player for anybody who can afford him. Once they've secured his services, up-and-coming managers should be looking at the likes of Archie Gray and Marc Bernal. They're good enough to be starting in most mid-table teams and can develop into two of the best CDMs in FC 26, if players put the time into nurturing their talents.
The Best Young Defensive Midfielders for a Top-of-the-Table Team in EA FC 26 Career Mode
When compared to last year's list, there are a lot of new Career Mode CDMs who could do a decent job at a top-tier club. The most notable of these is Jorthy Mokio, who offers a staggering +19 growth and has the potential to become the best defensive midfielder in EA Sports FC 26. Ryan Gravenberch and Aleksandar Pavlovic are the other two players worth keeping an eye on. Neither will come cheap, but both offer decent growth and fantastic potential.
The Best Young Players for Every Position in FC 26 Career Mode
EA Sports FC 26
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- September 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone / In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- EA Vancouver, EA Romania
- Publisher(s)
- EA
- Genre(s)
- Sports