Best Defensive Midfielders in the Premier League (Oct 2025)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Premier League Defensive Midfielders 2022-23
Our database tracked 49 Premier League Defensive Midfielders in the 2022-23 season, representing 24 clubs with a combined market value of £1.2B. The average market value for Premier League Defensive Midfielders was £24.8M, with the average age at 26.2 years old.
The most valuable defensive midfielder in the Premier League was Rodri, worth £110.0M and played for Manchester City at 29 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders averaged £83.0M in market value, including Moisés Caicedo and Bruno Guimarães.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked defensive midfielder was Yunus Konak (19 years, Brentford FC, £4.5M), while the oldest was Idrissa Gueye (36 years, Everton FC, £1.5M). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 32 Defensive Midfielders (65%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Premier League market for Defensive Midfielders remained highly competitive with significant transfer activity 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 Premier League
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Premier League Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 24 clubs with £1.2B combined value.
Age Distribution: Premier League Defensive Midfielders
The Premier League CDM market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 24-26 bracket (12 players, 24% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at £361.6M, averaging £36.2M per player.
Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (4 players)
21-23 Years (10 players)
24-26 Years (12 players)
27-29 Years (12 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 5 Defensive Midfielders (10% of players) control £415.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 12% of the Premier League CDM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Club Distribution: Premier League Defensive Midfielders
Among 24 Premier League clubs, Manchester City leads with 3 Defensive Midfielders worth £162.0M (averaging £54.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 53% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.
Manchester City (3 Defensive Midfielders)
Chelsea FC (3 Defensive Midfielders)
Liverpool FC (3 Defensive Midfielders)
Aston Villa (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.
Rodri
Manchester City • 29 years old
£110.0M
£110.0M
+0.0%
Expected: £109.2M
94.1
Moisés Caicedo
Chelsea FC • 23 years old
£77.8M
£90.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £113.5M
93.9
Bruno Guimarães
Newcastle United • 27 years old
£69.2M
£80.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £85.7M
93.8
Ryan Gravenberch
Liverpool FC • 23 years old
£64.9M
£75.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £94.6M
92.7
Martín Zubimendi
Arsenal FC • 26 years old
£51.9M
£60.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £66.2M
91.1
Amadou Onana
Aston Villa • 24 years old
£43.2M
£50.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £60.4M
88.7
Manuel Ugarte
Manchester United • 24 years old
£38.9M
£45.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £54.4M
87.5
Boubacar Kamara
Aston Villa • 25 years old
£34.6M
£40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £46.2M
85.8
Nico González
Manchester City • 23 years old
£34.6M
£40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £50.4M
85.1
Adam Wharton
Crystal Palace • 21 years old
£38.9M
£45.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £61.5M
84.6
Roméo Lavia
Chelsea FC • 21 years old
£34.6M
£40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £54.6M
83.3
Carlos Baleba
Brighton & Hove Albion • 21 years old
£34.6M
£40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £54.6M
83.1
Rodrigo Bentancur
Tottenham Hotspur • 28 years old
£30.0M
£30.0M
+0.0%
Expected: £28.6M
77.9
André
Wolverhampton Wanderers • 24 years old
£24.2M
£28.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £32.5M
77.7
João Palhinha
Tottenham Hotspur • 30 years old
£30.0M
£30.0M
+0.0%
Expected: £28.6M
76.6
Cheick Doucouré
Crystal Palace • 25 years old
£21.6M
£25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £27.8M
76.3
Sander Berge
Fulham FC • 27 years old
£21.6M
£25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £25.7M
76.3
Mats Wieffer
Brighton & Hove Albion • 25 years old
£21.6M
£25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £27.8M
76.3
Ibrahim Sangaré
Nottingham Forest • 27 years old
£20.8M
£24.0M
+15.6%
Expected: £24.7M
75.8
Yves Bissouma
Tottenham Hotspur • 29 years old
£25.0M
£25.0M
+0.0%
Expected: £23.8M
75.0
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)
Chelsea FC's Moisés Caicedo at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 2.25×. That means Moisés Caicedo is valued 2.25× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Liverpool FC's Ryan Gravenberch, who is 23 years old, with a 1.88× PPVE. Third is Amadou Onana of Aston Villa, who is 24 years old with a 1.79× 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 2.25× means the player is worth 125% 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 | Moisés Caicedo Chelsea FC | 23 | 21-23 | £90.0M | £40.0M | 2.25× |
| #2 | Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC | 23 | 21-23 | £75.0M | £40.0M | 1.88× |
| #3 | Amadou Onana Aston Villa | 24 | 24-26 | £50.0M | £28.0M | 1.79× |
| #4 | Manuel Ugarte Manchester United | 24 | 24-26 | £45.0M | £28.0M | 1.61× |
| #5 | Boubacar Kamara Aston Villa | 25 | 24-26 | £40.0M | £28.0M | 1.43× |
| #6 | Jack Hinshelwood Brighton & Hove Albion | 20 | U21 | £24.0M | £20.0M | 1.20× |
| #7 | Adam Wharton Crystal Palace | 21 | 21-23 | £45.0M | £40.0M | 1.13× |
| #8 | Nico González Manchester City | 23 | 21-23 | £40.0M | £40.0M | 1.00× |
| #9 | Roméo Lavia Chelsea FC | 21 | 21-23 | £40.0M | £40.0M | 1.00× |
| #10 | Dário Essugo Chelsea FC | 20 | U21 | £20.0M | £20.0M | 1.00× |
| #11 | André Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 | 24-26 | £28.0M | £28.0M | 1.00× |
| #12 | Carlos Baleba Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 | 21-23 | £40.0M | £40.0M | 1.00× |
| #13 | Mats Wieffer Brighton & Hove Albion | 25 | 24-26 | £25.0M | £28.0M | 0.89× |
| #14 | Cheick Doucouré Crystal Palace | 25 | 24-26 | £25.0M | £28.0M | 0.89× |
| #15 | James Garner Everton FC | 24 | 24-26 | £18.0M | £28.0M | 0.64× |
| #16 | Lesley Ugochukwu Burnley FC | 21 | 21-23 | £18.0M | £40.0M | 0.45× |
| #17 | Stefan Bajcetic Liverpool FC | 20 | U21 | £9.0M | £20.0M | 0.45× |
| #18 | Soungoutou Magassa West Ham United | 22 | 21-23 | £12.0M | £40.0M | 0.30× |
| #19 | Yunus Konak Brentford FC | 19 | U21 | £4.5M | £20.0M | 0.23× |
| #20 | Ilia Gruev Leeds United | 25 | 24-26 | £5.0M | £28.0M | 0.18× |
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)
Brentford FC's Yunus Konak has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 105.9. That means Yunus Konak has 41% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Chelsea FC's Roméo Lavia with a 97.0 RAU (37% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Carlos Baleba of Brighton & Hove Albion with a 97.0 RAU (37% 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 | Yunus Konak Brentford FC | £6.4M | £5.5M-7.2M | +41% | 105.9 |
| #2 | Roméo Lavia Chelsea FC | £54.6M | £47.1M-62.2M | +37% | 97.0 |
| #3 | Carlos Baleba Brighton & Hove Albion | £54.6M | £47.1M-62.2M | +37% | 97.0 |
| #4 | Adam Wharton Crystal Palace | £61.5M | £53.0M-69.9M | +37% | 97.0 |
| #5 | Stefan Bajcetic Liverpool FC | £12.3M | £10.6M-14.0M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #6 | Jack Hinshelwood Brighton & Hove Albion | £32.7M | £28.2M-37.2M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #7 | Dário Essugo Chelsea FC | £27.3M | £23.5M-31.0M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #8 | Freddie Potts West Ham United | £1.8M | £1.6M-2.0M | +26% | 86.4 |
| #9 | Soungoutou Magassa West Ham United | £15.1M | £13.3M-17.0M | +26% | 86.4 |
| #10 | Kaden Rodney Crystal Palace | £262K | £226K-299K | +31% | 86.2 |
| #11 | Lesley Ugochukwu Burnley FC | £23.6M | £20.4M-26.9M | +31% | 86.2 |
| #12 | Nico González Manchester City | £50.4M | £44.4M-56.5M | +26% | 86.2 |
| #13 | Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC | £94.6M | £83.2M-105.9M | +26% | 86.2 |
| #14 | Moisés Caicedo Chelsea FC | £113.5M | £99.8M-127.1M | +26% | 86.2 |
| #15 | Manuel Ugarte Manchester United | £54.4M | £47.8M-60.9M | +21% | 71.8 |
| #16 | Amadou Onana Aston Villa | £60.4M | £53.2M-67.7M | +21% | 71.8 |
| #17 | James Garner Everton FC | £20.9M | £18.4M-23.4M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #18 | André Wolverhampton Wanderers | £32.5M | £28.6M-36.4M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #19 | Boubacar Kamara Aston Villa | £46.2M | £40.7M-51.8M | +16% | 56.1 |
| #20 | Mats Wieffer Brighton & Hove Albion | £27.8M | £24.4M-31.1M | +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 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)
Sunderland AFC's Granit Xhaka in the 30+ age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-13.1%. That means João Palhinha captures 9.4% of total market value while representing only 22.4% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Everton FC's Idrissa Gueye with a +-13.1% ASC (9.4% value share vs 22.4% player share in 30+ bracket). Third is Wataru Endo of Liverpool FC with a +-13.1% ASC (9.4% value vs 22.4% players in 30+ bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-13.1% ASC means the player captures -13.1% 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 | Granit Xhaka Sunderland AFC | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #2 | Idrissa Gueye Everton FC | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #3 | Wataru Endo Liverpool FC | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #4 | Christian Nørgaard Arsenal FC | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #5 | Casemiro Manchester United | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #6 | João Palhinha Tottenham Hotspur | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #7 | Jefferson Lerma Crystal Palace | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #8 | Tomáš Souček West Ham United | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #9 | Ibrahim Blati Touré Pyramids FC | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #10 | Guido Rodríguez West Ham United | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #11 | Jordan Henderson Brentford FC | 30+ | 9.4% | 22.4% | -13.1% |
| #12 | Nico González Manchester City | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #13 | Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #14 | Roméo Lavia Chelsea FC | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #15 | Moisés Caicedo Chelsea FC | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #16 | Freddie Potts West Ham United | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #17 | Lesley Ugochukwu Burnley FC | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #18 | Adam Wharton Crystal Palace | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #19 | Soungoutou Magassa West Ham United | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
| #20 | Kaden Rodney Crystal Palace | 21-23 | 29.7% | 20.4% | +9.3% |
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, 3 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 12 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 £110.0M. 2 undervalued, 1 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vitaly Janelt Brentford FC | £20.0M | £18.0M | -5.00 | Undervalued |
Wataru Endo Liverpool FC | £8.0M | £18.0M | -2.00 | Undervalued |
Josh Cullen Burnley FC | £6.5M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Tyler Adams AFC Bournemouth | £18.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Ibrahim Sangaré Nottingham Forest | £24.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Ilia Gruev Leeds United | £5.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Boubacar Kamara Aston Villa | £40.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC | £75.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Amadou Onana Aston Villa | £50.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
James Garner Everton FC | £18.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Bruno Guimarães Newcastle United | £80.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Dário Essugo Chelsea FC | £20.0M | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Kaden Rodney Crystal Palace | £200K | £18.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Rui Pires Lion City Sailors | £450K | £18.0M | -0.60 | Good Value |
Florentino Burnley FC | £22.0M | £18.0M | -0.43 | Fair Value |
Ibrahim Blati Touré Pyramids FC | £1.2M | £18.0M | -0.23 | Fair Value |
Yunus Konak Brentford FC | £4.5M | £18.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Idrissa Gueye Everton FC | £1.5M | £18.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Casemiro Manchester United | £10.0M | £18.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
João Palhinha Tottenham Hotspur | £30.0M | £18.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |