Best Defensive Midfielders in the MLS (Oct 2025)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: MLS Defensive Midfielders 2022-23
Our database tracked 18 MLS Defensive Midfielders in the 2022-23 season, representing 15 clubs with a combined market value of €28.8M. The average market value for MLS Defensive Midfielders was €1.6M, with the average age at 29.7 years old.
The most valuable defensive midfielder in the MLS was Andrés Cubas, worth €4.0M and played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 29 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders averaged €3.1M in market value, including Keaton Parks and Aiden O'Neill.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked defensive midfielder was Danley Jean Jacques (25 years, Philadelphia Union, €2.0M), while the oldest was Sergio Busquets (37 years, Inter Miami CF, €1.5M). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 5 Defensive Midfielders (28%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The MLS market for Defensive Midfielders remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2022-23 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 MLS
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all MLS Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 15 clubs with €28.8M combined value.
Age Distribution: MLS Defensive Midfielders
The MLS CDM market shows 3 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 30+ bracket (8 players, 44% of market). The 27-29 age group holds the most value at €16.5M, averaging €2.4M per player.
Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
24-26 Years (3 players)
27-29 Years (7 players)
30+ Years (8 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 2 Defensive Midfielders (11% of players) control €7.5M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows concentrated value with emerging (<€5m) tier representing 100% of the MLS CDM pool.
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: MLS Defensive Midfielders
Among 15 MLS clubs, New York City FC leads with 2 Defensive Midfielders worth €6.5M (averaging €3.3M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 72% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.
New York City FC (2 Defensive Midfielders)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1 Defensive Midfielders)
FC Cincinnati (1 Defensive Midfielders)
Philadelphia Union (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.
Andrés Cubas
Vancouver Whitecaps FC • 29 years old
€4.0M
€4.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €3.8M
47.8
Keaton Parks
New York City FC • 28 years old
€3.5M
€3.5M
+0.0%
Expected: €3.3M
46.8
Aiden O'Neill
New York City FC • 27 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.1M
41.9
Obinna Nwobodo
FC Cincinnati • 28 years old
€3.0M
€3.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €2.9M
41.3
Danley Jean Jacques
Philadelphia Union • 25 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.2M
36.8
Chris Durkin
St. Louis CITY SC • 25 years old
€1.6M
€1.8M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.0M
35.4
Wilder Cartagena
Orlando City SC • 31 years old
€1.8M
€1.8M
+0.0%
Expected: €1.7M
32.8
Tristan Muyumba
Atlanta United FC • 28 years old
€1.2M
€1.2M
+0.0%
Expected: €1.1M
29.6
Diadié Samassékou
Houston Dynamo FC • 29 years old
€1.0M
€1.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €954K
26.7
Sergio Busquets
Inter Miami CF • 37 years old
€1.5M
€1.5M
+0.0%
Expected: €1.4M
26.5
Gastón Brugman
Nashville SC • 33 years old
€1.2M
€1.2M
+0.0%
Expected: €1.1M
26.3
Jailson
Los Angeles FC • 30 years old
€1.0M
€1.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €954K
26.0
Djibril Diani
Charlotte FC • 27 years old
€692K
€800K
+15.6%
Expected: €824K
25.2
Matt Polster
New England Revolution • 32 years old
€800K
€800K
+0.0%
Expected: €763K
21.9
Nemanja Radoja
Sporting Kansas City • 32 years old
€800K
€800K
+0.0%
Expected: €763K
21.9
Jeppe Tverskov
San Diego FC • 32 years old
€600K
€600K
+0.0%
Expected: €572K
18.2
Jefferson Valverde
Houston Dynamo FC • 26 years old
€346K
€400K
+15.6%
Expected: €424K
16.4
Ashley Westwood
Charlotte FC • 35 years old
€400K
€400K
+0.0%
Expected: €382K
11.1
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)
2 pre-peak players found. PPVE compares market value to age bracket median to identify exceptional value opportunities.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Danley Jean Jacques Philadelphia Union | 25 | 24-26 | €2.0M | €2.0M | 1.00× |
| #2 | Chris Durkin St. Louis CITY SC | 25 | 24-26 | €1.8M | €2.0M | 0.90× |
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)
St. Louis CITY SC's Chris Durkin has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 41.4. That means Chris Durkin has 11% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Philadelphia Union's Danley Jean Jacques with a 41.4 RAU (11% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Jefferson Valverde of Houston Dynamo FC with a 23.5 RAU (6% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 41.4 means the upside is 41.4× 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 | Chris Durkin St. Louis CITY SC | €2.0M | €1.8M-2.2M | +11% | 41.4 |
| #2 | Danley Jean Jacques Philadelphia Union | €2.2M | €2.0M-2.5M | +11% | 41.4 |
| #3 | Jefferson Valverde Houston Dynamo FC | €424K | €373K-475K | +6% | 23.5 |
| #4 | Djibril Diani Charlotte FC | €824K | €725K-923K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #5 | Aiden O'Neill New York City FC | €3.1M | €2.7M-3.5M | +3% | 12.0 |
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)
Houston Dynamo FC's Diadié Samassékou in the 27-29 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +18.4%. That means Andrés Cubas captures 57.3% of total market value while representing only 38.9% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Atlanta United FC's Tristan Muyumba with a +18.4% ASC (57.3% value share vs 38.9% player share in 27-29 bracket). Third is Andrés Cubas of Vancouver Whitecaps FC with a +18.4% ASC (57.3% value vs 38.9% players in 27-29 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +18.4% ASC means the player captures 18.4% 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 | Diadié Samassékou Houston Dynamo FC | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #2 | Tristan Muyumba Atlanta United FC | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #3 | Andrés Cubas Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #4 | Djibril Diani Charlotte FC | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #5 | Obinna Nwobodo FC Cincinnati | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #6 | Aiden O'Neill New York City FC | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #7 | Keaton Parks New York City FC | 27-29 | 57.3% | 38.9% | +18.4% |
| #8 | Gastón Brugman Nashville SC | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #9 | Nemanja Radoja Sporting Kansas City | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #10 | Wilder Cartagena Orlando City SC | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #11 | Jeppe Tverskov San Diego FC | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #12 | Matt Polster New England Revolution | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #13 | Jailson Los Angeles FC | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #14 | Sergio Busquets Inter Miami CF | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #15 | Ashley Westwood Charlotte FC | 30+ | 28.1% | 44.4% | -16.3% |
| #16 | Jefferson Valverde Houston Dynamo FC | 24-26 | 14.6% | 16.7% | -2.1% |
| #17 | Chris Durkin St. Louis CITY SC | 24-26 | 14.6% | 16.7% | -2.1% |
| #18 | Danley Jean Jacques Philadelphia Union | 24-26 | 14.6% | 16.7% | -2.1% |
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: 0 immediate targets, 2 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 6 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
No players in this category
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 €3.0M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Djibril Diani Charlotte FC | €800K | €1.2M | -0.88 | Good Value |
Jefferson Valverde Houston Dynamo FC | €400K | €1.2M | -0.87 | Good Value |
Ashley Westwood Charlotte FC | €400K | €1.2M | -0.86 | Good Value |
Diadié Samassékou Houston Dynamo FC | €1.0M | €1.2M | -0.80 | Good Value |
Tristan Muyumba Atlanta United FC | €1.2M | €1.2M | -0.72 | Good Value |
Jeppe Tverskov San Diego FC | €600K | €1.2M | -0.57 | Good Value |
Nemanja Radoja Sporting Kansas City | €800K | €1.2M | -0.29 | Fair Value |
Matt Polster New England Revolution | €800K | €1.2M | -0.29 | Fair Value |
Obinna Nwobodo FC Cincinnati | €3.0M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Jailson Los Angeles FC | €1.0M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Chris Durkin St. Louis CITY SC | €1.8M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Aiden O'Neill New York City FC | €3.0M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Danley Jean Jacques Philadelphia Union | €2.0M | €1.2M | +0.12 | Fair Value |
Keaton Parks New York City FC | €3.5M | €1.2M | +0.20 | Fair Value |
Gastón Brugman Nashville SC | €1.2M | €1.2M | +0.29 | Fair Value |
Andrés Cubas Vancouver Whitecaps FC | €4.0M | €1.2M | +0.40 | Fair Value |
Sergio Busquets Inter Miami CF | €1.5M | €1.2M | +0.71 | Above Market |
Wilder Cartagena Orlando City SC | €1.8M | €1.2M | +1.14 | Above Market |