Best Defensive Midfielders in the Championship (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Championship Defensive Midfielders 2025-26
Our database tracks 36 Championship Defensive Midfielders in the 2025-26 season, representing 23 clubs with a combined market value of €124.5M. The average market value for Championship Defensive Midfielders is €3.5M, with the average age at 27.8 years old.
The most valuable defensive midfielder in the Championship is Flynn Downes, worth €13.0M and playing for Southampton FC at 27 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders average €11.6M in market value, including Shea Charles and Boubakary Soumaré.
Age distribution shows the youngest tracked defensive midfielder is Jacob Wright (20 years, Norwich City, €2.5M), while the oldest is Steven Nzonzi (37 years, Stoke City, €700K). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Our 1-year forecast model projects 17 Defensive Midfielders (47%) will increase in market value over the next 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Championship market for Defensive Midfielders remains actively developing with emerging talent in the 2025-26 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in Championship
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Championship Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 23 clubs with €124.5M combined value.
Age Distribution: Championship Defensive Midfielders
The Championship CDM market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 27-29 bracket (13 players, 36% of market). The 27-29 age group holds the most value at €63.2M, averaging €4.9M per player.
Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (2 players)
21-23 Years (3 players)
24-26 Years (8 players)
27-29 Years (13 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 4 Defensive Midfielders (11% of players) control €48.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with mid (€5-15m) tier representing 28% of the Championship CDM pool.
Mid (€5-15M)
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Championship Defensive Midfielders
Among 23 Championship clubs, Southampton FC leads with 2 Defensive Midfielders worth €25.0M (averaging €12.5M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 50% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.
Southampton FC (2 Defensive Midfielders)
Leicester City (3 Defensive Midfielders)
Ipswich Town (2 Defensive Midfielders)
Wrexham AFC (2 Defensive Midfielders)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Flynn Downes
Southampton FC • 27 years old
€11.2M
€13.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €13.4M
67.7
Shea Charles
Southampton FC • 22 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €13.2M
67.3
Boubakary Soumaré
Leicester City • 27 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €12.4M
66.7
Azor Matusiwa
Ipswich Town • 27 years old
€9.5M
€11.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €11.3M
65.6
Jens Cajuste
Ipswich Town • 26 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €9.8M
61.3
Oliver Skipp
Leicester City • 25 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.2M
58.9
Ben Sheaf
Wrexham AFC • 28 years old
€7.9M
€7.5M
-5.4%
Expected: €6.6M
57.3
Mirko Topić
Norwich City • 25 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.1M
52.9
Toby Collyer
West Bromwich Albion • 22 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.5M
52.6
Hamza Choudhury
Leicester City • 28 years old
€5.3M
€5.0M
-5.4%
Expected: €4.4M
52.2
Matt Grimes
Coventry City • 30 years old
€5.8M
€4.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €3.8M
51.2
Amir Hadziahmetovic
Hull City • 29 years old
€5.8M
€4.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €4.0M
51.0
Sam Field
Queens Park Rangers • 27 years old
€2.8M
€3.2M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.3M
46.3
Brian De Keersmaecker
Oxford United • 25 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.1M
42.9
Casper De Norre
Millwall FC • 29 years old
€3.2M
€2.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.2M
40.0
Tomoki Iwata
Birmingham City • 29 years old
€3.2M
€2.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.2M
40.0
Jacob Wright
Norwich City • 20 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.0M
39.4
John Lundstram
Hull City • 32 years old
€2.8M
€2.2M
-22.6%
Expected: €1.8M
38.9
Nampalys Mendy
Watford FC • 33 years old
€1.9M
€1.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €1.3M
34.2
Djibril Soumaré
Sheffield United • 23 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
34.1
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Leicester City's Oliver Skipp at 25 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 2.67×. That means Oliver Skipp is valued 2.67× higher than the median player in the 24-26 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Southampton FC's Shea Charles, who is 22 years old, with a 2.40× PPVE. Third is Mirko Topić of Norwich City, who is 25 years old with a 1.67× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 2.67× means the player is worth 167% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Oliver Skipp Leicester City | 25 | 24-26 | €8.0M | €3.0M | 2.67× |
| #2 | Shea Charles Southampton FC | 22 | 21-23 | €12.0M | €5.0M | 2.40× |
| #3 | Mirko Topić Norwich City | 25 | 24-26 | €5.0M | €3.0M | 1.67× |
| #4 | Brian De Keersmaecker Oxford United | 25 | 24-26 | €3.0M | €3.0M | 1.00× |
| #5 | Toby Collyer West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €5.0M | 1.00× |
| #6 | Jacob Wright Norwich City | 20 | U21 | €2.5M | €2.5M | 1.00× |
| #7 | David Ozoh Derby County | 20 | U21 | €800K | €2.5M | 0.32× |
| #8 | Djibril Soumaré Sheffield United | 23 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €5.0M | 0.30× |
| #9 | Víctor Griffith St. Johnstone FC | 25 | 24-26 | €200K | €3.0M | 0.07× |
| #10 | Chris Hamilton Dunfermline Athletic FC | 24 | 24-26 | €150K | €3.0M | 0.05× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
Understanding Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Derby County's David Ozoh at 20 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means David Ozoh is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 6 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Norwich City's Jacob Wright, who is 20 years old, with a +40% RPP (6 years to peak). Third is Toby Collyer of West Bromwich Albion, who is 22 years old with a +30% RPP (4 years to peak).
How RPP is calculated: RPP compares a player's current market value to their forecasted peak value, calculating the percentage appreciation potential. A 40% RPP means the player is expected to gain 40% value as they enter their prime—making them excellent growth investments.
Recovery Potential by Player
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | David Ozoh Derby County | 20 | 6 | €800K | €1.3M | +40% |
| #2 | Jacob Wright Norwich City | 20 | 6 | €2.5M | €4.2M | +40% |
| #3 | Toby Collyer West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 4 | €5.0M | €7.2M | +30% |
| #4 | Shea Charles Southampton FC | 22 | 4 | €12.0M | €17.2M | +30% |
| #5 | Djibril Soumaré Sheffield United | 23 | 3 | €1.5M | €2.0M | +25% |
| #6 | Chris Hamilton Dunfermline Athletic FC | 24 | 2 | €150K | €186K | +20% |
| #7 | Oliver Skipp Leicester City | 25 | 1 | €8.0M | €9.2M | +14% |
| #8 | Brian De Keersmaecker Oxford United | 25 | 1 | €3.0M | €3.5M | +14% |
| #9 | Mirko Topić Norwich City | 25 | 1 | €5.0M | €5.8M | +14% |
| #10 | Víctor Griffith St. Johnstone FC | 25 | 1 | €200K | €231K | +14% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Norwich City's Jacob Wright has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Jacob Wright has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Derby County's David Ozoh with a 58.0 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Shea Charles of Southampton FC with a 38.7 RAU (10% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 58.0 means the upside is 58.0× greater than the uncertainty—making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Jacob Wright Norwich City | €3.0M | €2.6M-3.4M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | David Ozoh Derby County | €953K | €821K-1.1M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #3 | Shea Charles Southampton FC | €13.2M | €11.6M-14.8M | +10% | 38.7 |
| #4 | Toby Collyer West Bromwich Albion | €5.5M | €4.9M-6.2M | +10% | 38.7 |
| #5 | Chris Hamilton Dunfermline Athletic FC | €161K | €141K-180K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #6 | Djibril Soumaré Sheffield United | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #7 | Iain Wilson Greenock Morton FC | €154K | €136K-173K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #8 | Cammy MacPherson Greenock Morton FC | €360K | €317K-404K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #9 | Azor Matusiwa Ipswich Town | €11.3M | €10.0M-12.7M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #10 | Flynn Downes Southampton FC | €13.4M | €11.8M-15.0M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #11 | Sam Field Queens Park Rangers | €3.3M | €2.9M-3.7M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #12 | Boubakary Soumaré Leicester City | €12.4M | €10.9M-13.8M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #13 | Jonathan Svedberg St. Johnstone FC | €515K | €453K-577K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #14 | Víctor Griffith St. Johnstone FC | €205K | €180K-229K | +2% | 9.8 |
| #15 | Brian De Keersmaecker Oxford United | €3.1M | €2.7M-3.4M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #16 | Oliver Skipp Leicester City | €8.2M | €7.2M-9.2M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #17 | Mirko Topić Norwich City | €5.1M | €4.5M-5.7M | +2% | 9.8 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: defensive midfielder position shows weak depth (avg Z-score: -0.00). RPI: -0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Watford FC's Nampalys Mendy in the 30+ age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-18.7%. That means Matt Grimes captures 9.1% of total market value while representing only 27.8% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Sheffield Wednesday's Nathaniel Chalobah with a +-18.7% ASC (9.1% value share vs 27.8% player share in 30+ bracket). Third is John Lundstram of Hull City with a +-18.7% ASC (9.1% value vs 27.8% players in 30+ bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-18.7% ASC means the player captures -18.7% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Nampalys Mendy Watford FC | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #2 | Nathaniel Chalobah Sheffield Wednesday | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #3 | John Lundstram Hull City | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #4 | Ross Docherty Ross County FC | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #5 | Isaac Hayden Queens Park Rangers | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #6 | Matt Grimes Coventry City | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #7 | Jack Colback Without Club | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #8 | Steven Nzonzi Stoke City | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #9 | Victor Wanyama Without Club | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #10 | Josuha Guilavogui Without Club | 30+ | 9.1% | 27.8% | -18.7% |
| #11 | George Dobson Wrexham AFC | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #12 | Casper De Norre Millwall FC | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #13 | Amir Hadziahmetovic Hull City | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #14 | Ben Sheaf Wrexham AFC | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #15 | Azor Matusiwa Ipswich Town | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #16 | Hamza Choudhury Leicester City | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #17 | Boubakary Soumaré Leicester City | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #18 | Tomoki Iwata Birmingham City | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #19 | Iain Wilson Greenock Morton FC | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
| #20 | Sam Field Queens Park Rangers | 27-29 | 50.8% | 36.1% | +14.7% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use: "Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets. "Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months. "Peak" = pay premium for proven performers. "Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 2 immediate targets, 4 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 17 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €200K. 0 undervalued, 2 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hamza Choudhury Leicester City | €5.0M | €2.2M | -1.33 | Good Value |
Toby Collyer West Bromwich Albion | €5.0M | €2.2M | -1.00 | Good Value |
David Ozoh Derby County | €800K | €2.2M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Iain Wilson Greenock Morton FC | €150K | €2.2M | -0.87 | Good Value |
Cammy MacPherson Greenock Morton FC | €350K | €2.2M | -0.80 | Good Value |
Ben Sheaf Wrexham AFC | €7.5M | €2.2M | -0.78 | Good Value |
Jonathan Svedberg St. Johnstone FC | €500K | €2.2M | -0.74 | Good Value |
Mirko Topić Norwich City | €5.0M | €2.2M | -0.60 | Good Value |
George Dobson Wrexham AFC | €1.0M | €2.2M | -0.56 | Good Value |
Ross Docherty Ross County FC | €150K | €2.2M | -0.46 | Fair Value |
Jack Colback Without Club | €150K | €2.2M | -0.46 | Fair Value |
Victor Wanyama Without Club | €300K | €2.2M | -0.33 | Fair Value |
Josuha Guilavogui Without Club | €300K | €2.2M | -0.33 | Fair Value |
Chris Hamilton Dunfermline Athletic FC | €150K | €2.2M | -0.12 | Fair Value |
Víctor Griffith St. Johnstone FC | €200K | €2.2M | -0.08 | Fair Value |
Djibril Soumaré Sheffield United | €1.5M | €2.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Isaac Hayden Queens Park Rangers | €700K | €2.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Casper De Norre Millwall FC | €2.5M | €2.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Alfons Amade Dunfermline Athletic FC | €300K | €2.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Azor Matusiwa Ipswich Town | €11.0M | €2.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |