Best Defensive Midfielders in the Liga Portugal (Jun 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Liga Portugal Defensive Midfielders 2023-24
Our database tracked 29 Liga Portugal Defensive Midfielders in the 2023-24 season, representing 14 clubs with a combined market value of €179.3M. The average market value for Liga Portugal Defensive Midfielders was €6.2M, with the average age at 25.2 years old.
The most valuable defensive midfielder in the Liga Portugal was Morten Hjulmand, worth €50.0M and played for Sporting CP at 26 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders averaged €25.8M in market value, including Alan Varela and Richard Ríos.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked defensive midfielder was Gabriel Moscardo (20 years, SC Braga, €7.0M), while the oldest was Seba Pérez (33 years, Casa Pia AC, €800K). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 18 Defensive Midfielders (62%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Liga Portugal market for Defensive Midfielders remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2023-24 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 Liga Portugal
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Liga Portugal Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 14 clubs with €179.3M combined value.
Age Distribution: Liga Portugal Defensive Midfielders
The Liga Portugal CDM market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 24-26 bracket (16 players, 55% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at €142.6M, averaging €8.9M per player.
Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (2 players)
21-23 Years (4 players)
24-26 Years (16 players)
27-29 Years (5 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 3 Defensive Midfielders (10% of players) control €104.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 3% of the Liga Portugal CDM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Club Distribution: Liga Portugal Defensive Midfielders
Among 14 Liga Portugal clubs, Sporting CP leads with 1 Defensive Midfielders worth €50.0M (averaging €50.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 72% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.
Sporting CP (1 Defensive Midfielders)
SL Benfica (3 Defensive Midfielders)
FC Porto (2 Defensive Midfielders)
SC Braga (4 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.
Morten Hjulmand
Sporting CP • 26 years old
€43.2M
€50.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €50.9M
88.9
Alan Varela
FC Porto • 24 years old
€27.7M
€32.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €35.7M
84.2
Richard Ríos
SL Benfica • 26 years old
€19.0M
€22.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €21.5M
74.9
Enzo Barrenechea
SL Benfica • 25 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.4M
70.5
Manu Silva
SL Benfica • 24 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.7M
62.2
Pablo Rosario
FC Porto • 29 years old
€10.3M
€8.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €7.0M
58.3
Gabriel Moscardo
SC Braga • 20 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.3M
56.0
Demir Ege Tıknaz
SC Braga • 21 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.9M
54.5
Vítor Carvalho
SC Braga • 29 years old
€5.2M
€4.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €3.5M
49.5
Jordan Holsgrove
GD Estoril Praia • 26 years old
€3.0M
€3.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.4M
47.9
Mohamed Bamba
Gil Vicente FC • 21 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.4M
42.1
Adriano Firmino
CD Santa Clara • 26 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.4M
40.1
Florian Grillitsch
SC Braga • 30 years old
€2.6M
€2.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €1.7M
37.3
Tom van de Looi
FC Famalicão • 26 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.0M
37.3
Pedro Ferreira
CD Santa Clara • 28 years old
€2.1M
€2.0M
-5.4%
Expected: €1.8M
37.0
Matheus Dias
CD Nacional • 24 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
34.6
Jandro Orellana
GD Estoril Praia • 25 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.0M
28.9
Roni
Avs Futebol • 27 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.0M
28.0
Juanse Rodríguez
CD Tondela • 20 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.2M
27.7
Georgios Liavas
Rio Ave FC • 25 years old
€778K
€900K
+15.6%
Expected: €922K
27.6
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 Porto's Alan Varela at 24 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 32.00×. That means Alan Varela is valued 32.00× higher than the median player in the 24-26 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is SL Benfica's Enzo Barrenechea, who is 25 years old, with a 15.00× PPVE. Third is Manu Silva of SL Benfica, who is 24 years old with a 10.00× 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 32.00× means the player is worth 3100% 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 | Alan Varela FC Porto | 24 | 24-26 | €32.0M | €1.0M | 32.00× |
| #2 | Enzo Barrenechea SL Benfica | 25 | 24-26 | €15.0M | €1.0M | 15.00× |
| #3 | Manu Silva SL Benfica | 24 | 24-26 | €10.0M | €1.0M | 10.00× |
| #4 | Demir Ege Tıknaz SC Braga | 21 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €3.0M | 2.00× |
| #5 | Matheus Dias CD Nacional | 24 | 24-26 | €1.5M | €1.0M | 1.50× |
| #6 | Gabriel Moscardo SC Braga | 20 | U21 | €7.0M | €7.0M | 1.00× |
| #7 | Mohamed Bamba Gil Vicente FC | 21 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €3.0M | 1.00× |
| #8 | Jandro Orellana GD Estoril Praia | 25 | 24-26 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00× |
| #9 | Georgios Liavas Rio Ave FC | 25 | 24-26 | €900K | €1.0M | 0.90× |
| #10 | Rafael Brito Casa Pia AC | 24 | 24-26 | €400K | €1.0M | 0.40× |
| #11 | Iyad Mohamed Casa Pia AC | 25 | 24-26 | €400K | €1.0M | 0.40× |
| #12 | Tiago Hernández Avs Futebol | 24 | 24-26 | €300K | €1.0M | 0.30× |
| #13 | Joe Hodge CD Tondela | 23 | 21-23 | €700K | €3.0M | 0.23× |
| #14 | Tomás Mendes FC Alverca | 21 | 21-23 | €500K | €3.0M | 0.17× |
| #15 | Juanse Rodríguez CD Tondela | 20 | U21 | €1.0M | €7.0M | 0.14× |
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)
CD Tondela's Juanse Rodríguez at 20 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Gabriel Moscardo is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 6 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is SC Braga's Gabriel Moscardo, who is 20 years old, with a +40% RPP (6 years to peak). Third is Mohamed Bamba of Gil Vicente FC, who is 21 years old with a +35% RPP (5 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 | Juanse Rodríguez CD Tondela | 20 | 6 | €1.0M | €1.7M | +40% |
| #2 | Gabriel Moscardo SC Braga | 20 | 6 | €7.0M | €11.6M | +40% |
| #3 | Mohamed Bamba Gil Vicente FC | 21 | 5 | €3.0M | €4.6M | +35% |
| #4 | Demir Ege Tıknaz SC Braga | 21 | 5 | €6.0M | €9.3M | +35% |
| #5 | Tomás Mendes FC Alverca | 21 | 5 | €500K | €773K | +35% |
| #6 | Joe Hodge CD Tondela | 23 | 3 | €700K | €936K | +25% |
| #7 | Matheus Dias CD Nacional | 24 | 2 | €1.5M | €1.9M | +20% |
| #8 | Manu Silva SL Benfica | 24 | 2 | €10.0M | €12.4M | +20% |
| #9 | Tiago Hernández Avs Futebol | 24 | 2 | €300K | €373K | +20% |
| #10 | Alan Varela FC Porto | 24 | 2 | €32.0M | €39.8M | +20% |
| #11 | Rafael Brito Casa Pia AC | 24 | 2 | €400K | €497K | +20% |
| #12 | Jandro Orellana GD Estoril Praia | 25 | 1 | €1.0M | €1.2M | +14% |
| #13 | Georgios Liavas Rio Ave FC | 25 | 1 | €900K | €1.0M | +14% |
| #14 | Enzo Barrenechea SL Benfica | 25 | 1 | €15.0M | €17.3M | +14% |
| #15 | Iyad Mohamed Casa Pia AC | 25 | 1 | €400K | €462K | +14% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
CD Tondela's Juanse Rodríguez has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Juanse Rodríguez has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is SC Braga's Gabriel Moscardo with a 58.0 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Tomás Mendes of FC Alverca with a 46.3 RAU (15% 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 | Juanse Rodríguez CD Tondela | €1.2M | €1.0M-1.4M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Gabriel Moscardo SC Braga | €8.3M | €7.2M-9.5M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #3 | Tomás Mendes FC Alverca | €573K | €494K-652K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #4 | Mohamed Bamba Gil Vicente FC | €3.4M | €3.0M-3.9M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #5 | Demir Ege Tıknaz SC Braga | €6.9M | €5.9M-7.8M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #6 | Alan Varela FC Porto | €35.7M | €31.4M-39.9M | +11% | 42.8 |
| #7 | Tiago Hernández Avs Futebol | €321K | €283K-360K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #8 | Manu Silva SL Benfica | €10.7M | €9.4M-12.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #9 | Matheus Dias CD Nacional | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #10 | Rafael Brito Casa Pia AC | €428K | €377K-480K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #11 | Joe Hodge CD Tondela | €741K | €652K-830K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #12 | Sabit Abdulai FC Alverca | €721K | €634K-807K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #13 | Roni Avs Futebol | €1.0M | €906K-1.2M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #14 | Georgios Liavas Rio Ave FC | €922K | €811K-1.0M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #15 | Iyad Mohamed Casa Pia AC | €410K | €360K-459K | +2% | 9.8 |
| #16 | Enzo Barrenechea SL Benfica | €15.4M | €13.5M-17.2M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #17 | Jandro Orellana GD Estoril Praia | €1.0M | €901K-1.1M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #18 | Morten Hjulmand Sporting CP | €50.9M | €44.8M-57.0M | +2% | 7.1 |
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)
GD Estoril Praia's Jandro Orellana in the 24-26 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +24.4%. That means Morten Hjulmand captures 79.5% of total market value while representing only 55.2% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is FC Famalicão's Tom van de Looi with a +24.4% ASC (79.5% value share vs 55.2% player share in 24-26 bracket). Third is Jordan Holsgrove of GD Estoril Praia with a +24.4% ASC (79.5% value vs 55.2% players in 24-26 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +24.4% ASC means the player captures 24.4% 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 | Jandro Orellana GD Estoril Praia | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #2 | Tom van de Looi FC Famalicão | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #3 | Jordan Holsgrove GD Estoril Praia | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #4 | Morten Hjulmand Sporting CP | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #5 | Georgios Liavas Rio Ave FC | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #6 | Rafael Brito Casa Pia AC | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #7 | Tamás Nikitscher Rio Ave FC | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #8 | Ángel Algobia Avs Futebol | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #9 | Enzo Barrenechea SL Benfica | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #10 | Adriano Firmino CD Santa Clara | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #11 | Manu Silva SL Benfica | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #12 | Richard Ríos SL Benfica | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #13 | Tiago Hernández Avs Futebol | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #14 | Alan Varela FC Porto | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #15 | Iyad Mohamed Casa Pia AC | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #16 | Matheus Dias CD Nacional | 24-26 | 79.5% | 55.2% | +24.4% |
| #17 | Pedro Ferreira CD Santa Clara | 27-29 | 8.8% | 17.2% | -8.5% |
| #18 | Pablo Rosario FC Porto | 27-29 | 8.8% | 17.2% | -8.5% |
| #19 | Vítor Carvalho SC Braga | 27-29 | 8.8% | 17.2% | -8.5% |
| #20 | Sabit Abdulai FC Alverca | 27-29 | 8.8% | 17.2% | -8.5% |
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, 9 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 14 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 €500K. 0 undervalued, 1 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seba Pérez Casa Pia AC | €800K | €2.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Enzo Barrenechea SL Benfica | €15.0M | €2.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Sabit Abdulai FC Alverca | €700K | €2.0M | -0.43 | Fair Value |
Tiago Hernández Avs Futebol | €300K | €2.0M | -0.38 | Fair Value |
Roni Avs Futebol | €1.0M | €2.0M | -0.33 | Fair Value |
Rafael Brito Casa Pia AC | €400K | €2.0M | -0.31 | Fair Value |
Iyad Mohamed Casa Pia AC | €400K | €2.0M | -0.31 | Fair Value |
Tamás Nikitscher Rio Ave FC | €500K | €2.0M | -0.25 | Fair Value |
Ángel Algobia Avs Futebol | €600K | €2.0M | -0.19 | Fair Value |
Tomás Mendes FC Alverca | €500K | €2.0M | -0.08 | Fair Value |
Juanse Rodríguez CD Tondela | €1.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Gabriel Moscardo SC Braga | €7.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Florian Grillitsch SC Braga | €2.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Pedro Ferreira CD Santa Clara | €2.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Pablo Rosario FC Porto | €8.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Morten Hjulmand Sporting CP | €50.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Georgios Liavas Rio Ave FC | €900K | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Joe Hodge CD Tondela | €700K | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Manu Silva SL Benfica | €10.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Richard Ríos SL Benfica | €22.0M | €2.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |