Best Defensive Midfielders in the La Liga (Dec 2025)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: La Liga Defensive Midfielders 2024-25
Our database tracked 30 La Liga Defensive Midfielders in the 2024-25 season, representing 18 clubs with a combined market value of €263.3M. The average market value for La Liga Defensive Midfielders was €8.8M, with the average age at 27.4 years old.
The most valuable defensive midfielder in the La Liga was Aurélien Tchouaméni, worth €75.0M and played for Real Madrid at 25 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders averaged €31.4M in market value, including Marc Casadó and Pape Gueye.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked defensive midfielder was Marc Bernal (18 years, FC Barcelona, €10.0M), while the oldest was Axel Witsel (36 years, Girona FC, €1.5M). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 14 Defensive Midfielders (47%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The La Liga market for Defensive Midfielders remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2024-25 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 La Liga
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all La Liga Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 18 clubs with €263.3M combined value.
Age Distribution: La Liga Defensive Midfielders
The La Liga CDM market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 30+ bracket (10 players, 33% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at €140.0M, averaging €23.3M per player.
Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (1 players)
21-23 Years (5 players)
24-26 Years (6 players)
27-29 Years (8 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 3 Defensive Midfielders (10% of players) control €130.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 3% of the La Liga CDM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Club Distribution: La Liga Defensive Midfielders
Among 18 La Liga clubs, Real Madrid leads with 1 Defensive Midfielders worth €75.0M (averaging €75.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 67% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.
Real Madrid (1 Defensive Midfielders)
FC Barcelona (2 Defensive Midfielders)
Villarreal CF (2 Defensive Midfielders)
Sevilla FC (3 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.
Aurélien Tchouaméni
Real Madrid • 25 years old
€64.9M
€75.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €79.9M
94.5
Marc Casadó
FC Barcelona • 22 years old
€25.9M
€30.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €33.1M
79.4
Pape Gueye
Villarreal CF • 26 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €24.4M
76.8
Samú Costa
RCD Mallorca • 25 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.4M
70.8
Sofyan Amrabat
Real Betis Balompié • 29 years old
€15.5M
€12.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €10.6M
67.4
Batista Mendy
Sevilla FC • 25 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.2M
62.0
Antonio Blanco
Deportivo Alavés • 25 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.2M
62.0
Marc Bernal
FC Barcelona • 18 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €12.8M
60.2
Lucien Agoumé
Sevilla FC • 23 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.5M
59.3
Thomas Partey
Villarreal CF • 32 years old
€10.3M
€8.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €6.7M
59.2
Pepelu
Valencia CF • 27 years old
€6.5M
€7.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.7M
57.4
Urko González de Zárate
RCD Espanyol Barcelona • 24 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.4M
53.9
Baptiste Santamaria
Valencia CF • 30 years old
€6.5M
€5.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €4.2M
52.8
Leander Dendoncker
Real Oviedo • 30 years old
€5.8M
€4.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €3.8M
51.5
Marc Roca
Real Betis Balompié • 29 years old
€5.2M
€4.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €3.5M
49.8
Nemanja Gudelj
Sevilla FC • 34 years old
€3.9M
€3.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.6M
43.5
Iker Muñoz
CA Osasuna • 23 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.2M
43.2
Lucas Torró
CA Osasuna • 31 years old
€3.9M
€3.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.5M
43.0
Charles Pickel
RCD Espanyol Barcelona • 28 years old
€3.2M
€3.0M
-5.4%
Expected: €2.6M
42.6
Yvan Neyou
Getafe CF • 28 years old
€3.2M
€3.0M
-5.4%
Expected: €2.6M
42.4
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)
FC Barcelona's Marc Casadó at 22 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 10.00×. That means Marc Casadó is valued 10.00× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Real Madrid's Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is 25 years old, with a 7.50× PPVE. Third is Lucien Agoumé of Sevilla FC, who is 23 years old with a 2.67× 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 10.00× means the player is worth 900% 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 | Marc Casadó FC Barcelona | 22 | 21-23 | €30.0M | €3.0M | 10.00× |
| #2 | Aurélien Tchouaméni Real Madrid | 25 | 24-26 | €75.0M | €10.0M | 7.50× |
| #3 | Lucien Agoumé Sevilla FC | 23 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €3.0M | 2.67× |
| #4 | Samú Costa RCD Mallorca | 25 | 24-26 | €15.0M | €10.0M | 1.50× |
| #5 | Marc Bernal FC Barcelona | 18 | U21 | €10.0M | €10.0M | 1.00× |
| #6 | Batista Mendy Sevilla FC | 25 | 24-26 | €10.0M | €10.0M | 1.00× |
| #7 | Antonio Blanco Deportivo Alavés | 25 | 24-26 | €10.0M | €10.0M | 1.00× |
| #8 | Iker Muñoz CA Osasuna | 23 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €3.0M | 1.00× |
| #9 | Mario Martín Getafe CF | 21 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €3.0M | 1.00× |
| #10 | Damián Rodríguez Celta de Vigo | 22 | 21-23 | €2.5M | €3.0M | 0.83× |
| #11 | Urko González de Zárate RCD Espanyol Barcelona | 24 | 24-26 | €5.0M | €10.0M | 0.50× |
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)
FC Barcelona's Marc Bernal at 18 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +48%. That means Marc Bernal is projected to appreciate 48% as they reach their peak age in 8 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Getafe CF's Mario Martín, who is 21 years old, with a +35% RPP (5 years to peak). Third is Marc Casadó of FC Barcelona, 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 48% RPP means the player is expected to gain 48% 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 | Marc Bernal FC Barcelona | 18 | 8 | €10.0M | €19.2M | +48% |
| #2 | Mario Martín Getafe CF | 21 | 5 | €3.0M | €4.6M | +35% |
| #3 | Marc Casadó FC Barcelona | 22 | 4 | €30.0M | €43.1M | +30% |
| #4 | Damián Rodríguez Celta de Vigo | 22 | 4 | €2.5M | €3.6M | +30% |
| #5 | Lucien Agoumé Sevilla FC | 23 | 3 | €8.0M | €10.7M | +25% |
| #6 | Iker Muñoz CA Osasuna | 23 | 3 | €3.0M | €4.0M | +25% |
| #7 | Urko González de Zárate RCD Espanyol Barcelona | 24 | 2 | €5.0M | €6.2M | +20% |
| #8 | Batista Mendy Sevilla FC | 25 | 1 | €10.0M | €11.6M | +14% |
| #9 | Antonio Blanco Deportivo Alavés | 25 | 1 | €10.0M | €11.6M | +14% |
| #10 | Samú Costa RCD Mallorca | 25 | 1 | €15.0M | €17.3M | +14% |
| #11 | Aurélien Tchouaméni Real Madrid | 25 | 1 | €75.0M | €86.7M | +14% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
FC Barcelona's Marc Bernal has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 79.0. That means Marc Bernal has 28% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Getafe CF's Mario Martín with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Marc Casadó of FC Barcelona 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 79.0 means the upside is 79.0× 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 | Marc Bernal FC Barcelona | €12.8M | €11.0M-14.6M | +28% | 79.0 |
| #2 | Mario Martín Getafe CF | €3.4M | €3.0M-3.9M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #3 | Marc Casadó FC Barcelona | €33.1M | €29.1M-37.0M | +10% | 38.7 |
| #4 | Damián Rodríguez Celta de Vigo | €2.8M | €2.4M-3.1M | +10% | 38.7 |
| #5 | Urko González de Zárate RCD Espanyol Barcelona | €5.4M | €4.7M-6.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #6 | Aurélien Tchouaméni Real Madrid | €79.9M | €70.3M-89.5M | +7% | 25.8 |
| #7 | Lucien Agoumé Sevilla FC | €8.5M | €7.5M-9.5M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #8 | Iker Muñoz CA Osasuna | €3.2M | €2.8M-3.6M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #9 | Carlos Protesoni Deportivo Alavés | €1.2M | €1.1M-1.4M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #10 | Pepelu Valencia CF | €7.7M | €6.8M-8.6M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #11 | Oriol Rey Levante UD | €2.1M | €1.8M-2.3M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #12 | Samú Costa RCD Mallorca | €15.4M | €13.5M-17.2M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #13 | Batista Mendy Sevilla FC | €10.2M | €9.0M-11.5M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #14 | Antonio Blanco Deportivo Alavés | €10.2M | €9.0M-11.5M | +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 strong 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)
Sevilla FC's Batista Mendy in the 24-26 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +33.2%. That means Aurélien Tchouaméni captures 53.2% of total market value while representing only 20.0% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Real Madrid's Aurélien Tchouaméni with a +33.2% ASC (53.2% value share vs 20.0% player share in 24-26 bracket). Third is Pape Gueye of Villarreal CF with a +33.2% ASC (53.2% value vs 20.0% players in 24-26 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +33.2% ASC means the player captures 33.2% 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 | Batista Mendy Sevilla FC | 24-26 | 53.2% | 20.0% | +33.2% |
| #2 | Aurélien Tchouaméni Real Madrid | 24-26 | 53.2% | 20.0% | +33.2% |
| #3 | Pape Gueye Villarreal CF | 24-26 | 53.2% | 20.0% | +33.2% |
| #4 | Antonio Blanco Deportivo Alavés | 24-26 | 53.2% | 20.0% | +33.2% |
| #5 | Urko González de Zárate RCD Espanyol Barcelona | 24-26 | 53.2% | 20.0% | +33.2% |
| #6 | Samú Costa RCD Mallorca | 24-26 | 53.2% | 20.0% | +33.2% |
| #7 | Omar Mascarell RCD Mallorca | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #8 | Leander Dendoncker Real Oviedo | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #9 | Lucas Torró CA Osasuna | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #10 | Thomas Partey Villarreal CF | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #11 | Gerard Gumbau Rayo Vallecano | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #12 | Baptiste Santamaria Valencia CF | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #13 | Mikel Vesga Athletic Bilbao | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #14 | Axel Witsel Girona FC | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #15 | Oriol Romeu Without Club | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #16 | Nemanja Gudelj Sevilla FC | 30+ | 11.8% | 33.3% | -21.5% |
| #17 | Charles Pickel RCD Espanyol Barcelona | 27-29 | 13.6% | 26.7% | -13.1% |
| #18 | Sofyan Amrabat Real Betis Balompié | 27-29 | 13.6% | 26.7% | -13.1% |
| #19 | Oriol Rey Levante UD | 27-29 | 13.6% | 26.7% | -13.1% |
| #20 | Pepelu Valencia CF | 27-29 | 13.6% | 26.7% | -13.1% |
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: 1 immediate targets, 7 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 10 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 €75.0M. 1 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlos Protesoni Deportivo Alavés | €1.2M | €4.0M | -1.80 | Undervalued |
Omar Mascarell RCD Mallorca | €900K | €4.0M | -1.07 | Good Value |
Baptiste Santamaria Valencia CF | €5.0M | €4.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Oriol Rey Levante UD | €2.0M | €4.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Pepelu Valencia CF | €7.5M | €4.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Urko González de Zárate RCD Espanyol Barcelona | €5.0M | €4.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Samú Costa RCD Mallorca | €15.0M | €4.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Damián Rodríguez Celta de Vigo | €2.5M | €4.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Oriol Romeu Without Club | €1.2M | €4.0M | -0.87 | Good Value |
Gerard Gumbau Rayo Vallecano | €1.5M | €4.0M | -0.67 | Good Value |
Axel Witsel Girona FC | €1.5M | €4.0M | -0.67 | Good Value |
Marc Bernal FC Barcelona | €10.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Thomas Partey Villarreal CF | €8.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Charles Pickel RCD Espanyol Barcelona | €3.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Sofyan Amrabat Real Betis Balompié | €12.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mikel Vesga Athletic Bilbao | €2.5M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Santiago Colombatto Real Oviedo | €3.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Batista Mendy Sevilla FC | €10.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Aurélien Tchouaméni Real Madrid | €75.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Yvan Neyou Getafe CF | €3.0M | €4.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |