Best Defensive Midfielders in the Ligue 1 (Oct 2025)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielders 2025-26
Our database tracks 36 Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielders in the 2025-26 season, representing 15 clubs with a combined market value of €292.4M. The average market value for Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielders is €8.1M, with the average age at 25.8 years old.
The most valuable defensive midfielder in the Ligue 1 is Vitinha, worth €80.0M and playing for Paris Saint-Germain at 25 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders average €34.0M in market value, including Denis Zakaria and Orel Mangala.
Age distribution shows the youngest tracked defensive midfielder is Rabby Nzingoula (19 years, RC Strasbourg Alsace, €2.5M), while the oldest is Benjamin André (35 years, LOSC Lille, €5.0M). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Our 1-year forecast model projects 24 Defensive Midfielders (67%) will increase in market value over the next 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Ligue 1 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 Ligue 1
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 15 clubs with €292.4M combined value.
Age Distribution: Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielders
The Ligue 1 CDM market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 30+ bracket (10 players, 28% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at €104.6M, averaging €14.9M per player.
Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (5 players)
21-23 Years (8 players)
24-26 Years (7 players)
27-29 Years (6 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 4 Defensive Midfielders (11% of players) control €148.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 3% of the Ligue 1 CDM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Club Distribution: Ligue 1 Defensive Midfielders
Among 15 Ligue 1 clubs, Paris Saint-Germain leads with 1 Defensive Midfielders worth €80.0M (averaging €80.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 72% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.
Paris Saint-Germain (1 Defensive Midfielders)
Olympique Marseille (3 Defensive Midfielders)
Olympique Lyon (3 Defensive Midfielders)
AS Monaco (1 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.
Vitinha
Paris Saint-Germain • 25 years old
€69.2M
€80.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €92.5M
94.0
Denis Zakaria
AS Monaco • 28 years old
€30.0M
€30.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €28.6M
77.9
Orel Mangala
Olympique Lyon • 27 years old
€15.6M
€18.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €18.5M
72.1
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Olympique Marseille • 30 years old
€20.0M
€20.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €19.1M
71.5
Arthur Vermeeren
Olympique Marseille • 20 years old
€19.0M
€22.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €30.0M
71.1
Ngal'ayel Mukau
LOSC Lille • 20 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €20.4M
66.2
Tyler Morton
Olympique Lyon • 22 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.8M
54.8
Tanner Tessmann
Olympique Lyon • 24 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.0M
54.6
Maxime Lopez
Paris FC • 27 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.2M
54.6
Joris Chotard
Stade Brestois 29 • 24 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.0M
54.6
Charles Vanhoutte
OGC Nice • 27 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.2M
54.6
Salis Abdul Samed
OGC Nice • 25 years old
€4.8M
€5.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.1M
53.5
Geoffrey Kondogbia
Olympique Marseille • 32 years old
€7.0M
€7.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €6.7M
53.3
Johann Lepenant
FC Nantes • 22 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.6M
52.8
Junior Mwanga
FC Nantes • 22 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.6M
52.8
Nabil Bentaleb
LOSC Lille • 30 years old
€6.0M
€6.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €5.7M
52.6
Boubacar Traoré
FC Metz • 24 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.8M
52.3
Pierre Lees-Melou
Paris FC • 32 years old
€6.0M
€6.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €5.7M
51.3
Ugo Raghouber
LOSC Lille • 22 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.0M
47.7
Benjamin André
LOSC Lille • 35 years old
€5.0M
€5.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €4.8M
47.0
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)
Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha at 25 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 14.55×. That means Vitinha is valued 14.55× higher than the median player in the 24-26 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Olympique Marseille's Arthur Vermeeren, who is 20 years old, with a 8.80× PPVE. Third is Ngal'ayel Mukau of LOSC Lille, who is 20 years old with a 6.00× 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 14.55× means the player is worth 1355% 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 | Vitinha Paris Saint-Germain | 25 | 24-26 | €80.0M | €5.5M | 14.55× |
| #2 | Arthur Vermeeren Olympique Marseille | 20 | U21 | €22.0M | €2.5M | 8.80× |
| #3 | Ngal'ayel Mukau LOSC Lille | 20 | U21 | €15.0M | €2.5M | 6.00× |
| #4 | Tyler Morton Olympique Lyon | 22 | 21-23 | €7.0M | €4.0M | 1.75× |
| #5 | Junior Mwanga FC Nantes | 22 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €4.0M | 1.50× |
| #6 | Johann Lepenant FC Nantes | 22 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €4.0M | 1.50× |
| #7 | Joris Chotard Stade Brestois 29 | 24 | 24-26 | €6.0M | €5.5M | 1.09× |
| #8 | Tanner Tessmann Olympique Lyon | 24 | 24-26 | €6.0M | €5.5M | 1.09× |
| #9 | Rabby Nzingoula RC Strasbourg Alsace | 19 | U21 | €2.5M | €2.5M | 1.00× |
| #10 | Salis Abdul Samed OGC Nice | 25 | 24-26 | €5.5M | €5.5M | 1.00× |
| #11 | Ugo Raghouber LOSC Lille | 22 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €4.0M | 1.00× |
| #12 | Boubacar Traoré FC Metz | 24 | 24-26 | €5.0M | €5.5M | 0.91× |
| #13 | Dermane Karim FC Lorient | 21 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €4.0M | 0.75× |
| #14 | Rassoul Ndiaye Le Havre AC | 23 | 21-23 | €2.0M | €4.0M | 0.50× |
| #15 | Hamzat Ojediran RC Lens | 21 | 21-23 | €1.8M | €4.0M | 0.45× |
| #16 | Fodé Sylla RC Lens | 19 | U21 | €1.0M | €2.5M | 0.40× |
| #17 | Oussama El Azzouzi AJ Auxerre | 24 | 24-26 | €1.4M | €5.5M | 0.25× |
| #18 | Lohann Doucet Paris FC | 23 | 21-23 | €700K | €4.0M | 0.17× |
| #19 | Hyeok-kyu Kwon FC Nantes | 24 | 24-26 | €700K | €5.5M | 0.13× |
| #20 | Hamidou Makalou Stade Brestois 29 | 19 | U21 | €300K | €2.5M | 0.12× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
No RPP data available (requires forecast values in database)
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
RC Strasbourg Alsace's Rabby Nzingoula has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 105.9. That means Rabby Nzingoula has 41% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Stade Brestois 29's Hamidou Makalou with a 105.9 RAU (41% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Fodé Sylla of RC Lens with a 105.9 RAU (41% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 105.9 means the upside is 105.9× 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 | Rabby Nzingoula RC Strasbourg Alsace | €3.5M | €3.0M-4.0M | +41% | 105.9 |
| #2 | Hamidou Makalou Stade Brestois 29 | €424K | €365K-482K | +41% | 105.9 |
| #3 | Fodé Sylla RC Lens | €1.4M | €1.2M-1.6M | +41% | 105.9 |
| #4 | Ngal'ayel Mukau LOSC Lille | €20.4M | €17.6M-23.3M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #5 | Arthur Vermeeren Olympique Marseille | €30.0M | €25.8M-34.1M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #6 | Junior Mwanga FC Nantes | €7.6M | €6.7M-8.5M | +26% | 86.4 |
| #7 | Johann Lepenant FC Nantes | €7.6M | €6.7M-8.5M | +26% | 86.4 |
| #8 | Tyler Morton Olympique Lyon | €8.8M | €7.8M-9.9M | +26% | 86.4 |
| #9 | Ugo Raghouber LOSC Lille | €5.0M | €4.4M-5.7M | +26% | 86.4 |
| #10 | Dermane Karim FC Lorient | €3.9M | €3.4M-4.5M | +31% | 86.2 |
| #11 | Hamzat Ojediran RC Lens | €2.4M | €2.0M-2.7M | +31% | 86.2 |
| #12 | Lohann Doucet Paris FC | €848K | €746K-950K | +21% | 72.7 |
| #13 | Rassoul Ndiaye Le Havre AC | €2.4M | €2.1M-2.7M | +21% | 72.7 |
| #14 | Boubacar Traoré FC Metz | €5.8M | €5.1M-6.5M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #15 | Oussama El Azzouzi AJ Auxerre | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #16 | Hyeok-kyu Kwon FC Nantes | €813K | €715K-910K | +16% | 57.7 |
| #17 | Joris Chotard Stade Brestois 29 | €7.0M | €6.1M-7.8M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #18 | Tanner Tessmann Olympique Lyon | €7.0M | €6.1M-7.8M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #19 | Vitinha Paris Saint-Germain | €92.5M | €81.4M-103.5M | +16% | 56.1 |
| #20 | Salis Abdul Samed OGC Nice | €6.1M | €5.4M-6.8M | +11% | 41.4 |
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)
Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha in the 24-26 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +16.3%. That means Vitinha captures 35.8% of total market value while representing only 19.4% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is AJ Auxerre's Oussama El Azzouzi with a +16.3% ASC (35.8% value share vs 19.4% player share in 24-26 bracket). Third is Hyeok-kyu Kwon of FC Nantes with a +16.3% ASC (35.8% value vs 19.4% players in 24-26 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +16.3% ASC means the player captures 16.3% 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 | Vitinha Paris Saint-Germain | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #2 | Oussama El Azzouzi AJ Auxerre | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #3 | Hyeok-kyu Kwon FC Nantes | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #4 | Joris Chotard Stade Brestois 29 | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #5 | Boubacar Traoré FC Metz | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #6 | Tanner Tessmann Olympique Lyon | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #7 | Salis Abdul Samed OGC Nice | 24-26 | 35.8% | 19.4% | +16.3% |
| #8 | Junior Mwanga FC Nantes | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #9 | Johann Lepenant FC Nantes | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #10 | Tyler Morton Olympique Lyon | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #11 | Rassoul Ndiaye Le Havre AC | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #12 | Ugo Raghouber LOSC Lille | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #13 | Hamzat Ojediran RC Lens | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #14 | Lohann Doucet Paris FC | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #15 | Dermane Karim FC Lorient | 21-23 | 10.4% | 22.2% | -11.8% |
| #16 | Benjamin Stambouli FC Metz | 30+ | 18.1% | 27.8% | -9.7% |
| #17 | Geoffrey Kondogbia Olympique Marseille | 30+ | 18.1% | 27.8% | -9.7% |
| #18 | Pierre-Emile Højbjerg Olympique Marseille | 30+ | 18.1% | 27.8% | -9.7% |
| #19 | Abdoulaye Touré Le Havre AC | 30+ | 18.1% | 27.8% | -9.7% |
| #20 | Jean-Philippe Gbamin FC Metz | 30+ | 18.1% | 27.8% | -9.7% |
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: 19 immediate targets, 1 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 6 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 €80.0M. 1 undervalued, 1 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Boubacar Traoré FC Metz | €5.0M | €5.0M | -2.00 | Undervalued |
Lohann Doucet Paris FC | €700K | €5.0M | -1.08 | Good Value |
Ngal'ayel Mukau LOSC Lille | €15.0M | €5.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Benjamin Stambouli FC Metz | €400K | €5.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Assane Dioussé AJ Auxerre | €700K | €5.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Hyeok-kyu Kwon FC Nantes | €700K | €5.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Salis Abdul Samed OGC Nice | €5.5M | €5.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Benjamin André LOSC Lille | €5.0M | €5.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Francis Coquelin FC Nantes | €900K | €5.0M | -0.69 | Good Value |
Hamidou Makalou Stade Brestois 29 | €300K | €5.0M | -0.32 | Fair Value |
Hamzat Ojediran RC Lens | €1.8M | €5.0M | -0.17 | Fair Value |
Junior Mwanga FC Nantes | €6.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg Olympique Marseille | €20.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Jean-Philippe Gbamin FC Metz | €2.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Nabil Bentaleb LOSC Lille | €6.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Orel Mangala Olympique Lyon | €18.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Maxime Lopez Paris FC | €6.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Denis Zakaria AS Monaco | €30.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Pierre Lees-Melou Paris FC | €6.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Elisha Owusu AJ Auxerre | €3.0M | €5.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |