With the free-flowing, expansive nature of modern football, every top team requires a talented defensive midfielder to dominate the defensive half, whilst helping out the back four.
Thankfully, when it comes to defensive midfielders, there are plenty to choose from in FIFA 20. We list the best young CDM talents to sign in Career Mode, who will serve your team for years to come.
How to choose the best young defensive midfielders (CDMs) on FIFA 20 Career Mode
Here we are looking at the best young defensive midfielders (CDM) aged between 20 and 23 years old. They will all start the 2019/20 season with a rating of at least 76, with the potential to improve to at least 80. Some of these young defenders will start off as squad players in need of training, but some are already of first team quality.
For a full list of all the best young defensive midfielders (CDMs) on Career Mode, look at the table at the end of this page.
Rodri (OVR 85 – POT 90)
Age: 23
Position(s): CDM, CM
Club: Manchester City
Country: Spain
Value: £42.3 million (Release Clause: £81.4 million)
Wage: £135,000 a week
Rodri has been hailed as one of the most exciting young players in the world, marked by his whopping £80 million transfer fee, which Man City paid Atletico to secure his services
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His FIFA stats reflect this, as Rodri possesses 85 rated short passing, 84 standing tackle and 84 interceptions. With a potential rating of 90, Rodri is set to be one of the best in world, which is what you’d expect when paying the huge £81.4 million release clause and £135,000 a week wage that is required to sign him.
Lucas Torreira (OVR 82 – POT 87)
Age: 23
Position(s): CDM, CM
Club: Arsenal
Country: Uruguay
Value: £24.3 million (Release Clause: £48 million)
Wage: £72,000 a week
Since joining Arsenal in summer 2018, Torreira has become a vital part of Arsenal’s squad, with 60 appearances for the North London club already.
His hard-working, feisty nature has been portrayed through his FIFA 20 stats of 87 rated aggression, 86 interceptions and 84 defensive awareness. The Uruguayan will set you back £42 million and an increased wage bill of £85,000 a week.
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Wilfred Ndidi (OVR 81 – POT 84)
Age: 22
Position(s): CDM, CM
Club: Leicester
Country: Nigeria
Value: £18.5 million (Release Clause: £36.4 million)
Wage: £66,000 a week
Ndidi has been with Leicester for one and a half seasons now, creating a name for himself at the club and making an influential contribution to Leicester’s strong start to their 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
The Nigerian has strong defensive stats of 85 aggression, 84 interceptions and 85 standing tackle, so he will have no issue helping out your back four. Leicester will want £30 million for the defensive mid, and you’ll have to pay Ndidi £80,000 a week to sign him.
Julian Weigl (OVR 80 – POT 84)
Age: 23
Position(s): CDM, CB
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Country: Germany
Value: £15.8 million (Release Clause: £27.2 million)
Wage: £54,000 a week
Since joining Dortmund in 2015, Julian Weigl has racked up a massive 158 appearances for the German club. At just 23 years old, the German youngster has some real experience under his belt.
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His 85 short passing, 83 long passing and 79 defensive awareness make up a well-rounded defensive midfielder, and he will cost £24 million in transfer fees, plus £75,000 a week in wages.
Sander Berge (OVR 79 – POT 87)
Age: 23
Position(s): CDM, CM
Club: KRC Genk
Country: Norway
Value: £15.3 million (Release Clause: £26 million)
Wage: £12,000 a week
Sander Berge is a strong, physical defensive midielder with fantastic potential. Currently playing for KRC Genk, Berge has outgrown the Belgium league and is ready for the next step in his career.
The Norwegian is 6ft5, with a strength of 91 and a potential rating of 87; he will have no problems bossing your midfield. Berge will set you back £19 million and £42,000 a week in wages.
Marc Roca (OVR 79 – POT 86)
Age: 22
Position(s): CDM, CM
Club: Espanyol
Country: Spain
Value: £14.4 million (Release Clause: £33.1 million)
Wage: £23,000 a week
Marc Roca is a product of the Espanyol youth system. With three seasons worth of La Liga football to his name, the Spaniard may well be ready for a new challenge.
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His 84 long passing, 83 short passing and 78 defensive awareness reveal his strength as an all-rounder and with the right training he could become world class. You’ll have to pay £18 million and £40,000 a week in wages for Roca’s services.
Diadie Samassekou (OVR 79 – POT 86)
Age: 23
Position(s): CDM, CM
Club: Hoffenheim
Country: Mali
Value: £14.4 million (Release Clause: £27.4 million)
Wage: £28,000 a week
Samassekou joined Hoffenheim this summer for a fee of £12 million, after making 134 appearances for RB Salzburg. He has made a slow start to his Hoffenheim career with just two appearances so far this season.
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His 82 rated standing tackle, 79 aggression and 79 interceptions suggest that he may be worth stealing off of Hoffenheim for his £30.4 million release clause. Of course, you’ll also have to cover Samassekou’s £28,000 a week wage demands.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin (OVR 79 – POT 84)
Age: 23
Position(s): CDM, CM, CB
Club: Everton
Country: Ivory Coast
Value: £14 million (Release Clause: £27.6 million)
Wage: £59,000 a week
Gbamin joined Everton for a fee of £25 million this summer, after three seasons and 95 appearances for FSV Mainz.
The Ivorian has superb physical stats of 85 sprint speed, 85 aggression and 83 strength; if you work on his technical ability, Gbamin will become a force to be reckoned with. He will cost his £27.6 million release clause and £59,000 a week in wages.
Declan Rice (OVR 78 – POT 87)
Age: 20
Position(s): CDM, CB, CM
Club: West Ham
Country: England
Value: £13.5 million (Release Clause: £28.4 million)
Wage: £44,000 a week
Having been at West Ham since 2013, Declan Rice has worked his way in to the first team and is now a crucial part of the East London team.
READ MORE: Best Young CMs to sign on FIFA 20 Career Mode
He has has decent stats of 79 short passing, 74 long passing and 78 rated defensive awareness. With a potential of 87, he has the capability to become the perfect defensive midfielder. Being such a vital member of West Ham , you'll have to pay his release clause of £28 million and increase his wages to £60,000 a week.
Lucas Tousart (OVR 78 – POT 83)
Age: 22
Position(s): CDM
Club: Lyon
Country: France
Value: £11.3 million (Release Clause: £22.2 million)
Wage: £45,000 a week
Lucas Tousart is a high potential midfielder going in to his fifth season with Lyon, suggesting he may be ready for a move.
His 85 aggression, 82 strength and 82 standing tackle prove his worth in defence, but you will have to work on Tousart’s passing stats to ensure he is well balanced. At £16 million he is an affordable midfield option, with wage demands of £45,000 a week.
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All the Best Young Defensive Midfielders (CDM) on FIFA 20
Player | Age | Pos | Club | Country | OVR | POT | V | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rodri | 23 | CDM CM | Manchester City | Spain | 85 | 90 | £42.3m | £135k |
L. Torreira | 23 | CDM CM | Arsenal | Netherlands | 82 | 87 | £24.3m | £72k |
W. Ndidi | 22 | CDM CM | Leicester | Nigeria | 81 | 84 | £18.5m | £66k |
J. Weigl | 23 | CDM CB | Borussia Dortmund | Germany | 80 | 84 | £15.8m | £54k |
Marc Roca | 22 | CDM CM | Espanyol | Spain | 79 | 86 | £14.4m | £23k |
D. Samassékou | 23 | CDM CM | Hoffenheim | Mali | 79 | 86 | £14.4m | £28k |
S. Berge | 21 | CDM CM | KRC Genk | Norway | 79 | 87 | £15.3m | £12k |
J. Gbamin | 23 | CDM CM CB | Everton | Ivory Coast | 79 | 84 | £14m | £59k |
D. Rice | 20 | CDM CB CM | West Ham | England | 78 | 87 | £13.5m | £44k |
L. Tousart | 22 | CDM | Lyon | France | 78 | 83 | £11.3m | £45k |
*Currently on loan
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