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Defensive midfielders with the Best Potential in Major League Soccer 2026

The highest-potential defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

Best goalkeepers in Major League SoccerBest defenders in Major League SoccerBest midfielders in Major League SoccerBest attackers in Major League SoccerMost in-form defensive midfielders in Major League SoccerTop-scoring defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer

At a glance

A. Mehmeti of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across defensive midfielders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 53.4, and T. Muyumba has been the form player this season, grading 47.7.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: N. Caliskan has improved his Season rating most, up +41.4 on last season. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, T. Jacob of Atlanta United FC is the most valuable name in this group at 13.4.

Best talent
A. Mehmeti53.4RTG
New York Red Bulls
In form
T. Muyumba47.7SsN
Atlanta United FC
Rising potential
N. Caliskan+6.1RTG
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Most improved
N. Caliskan+41.4SsN
Real Salt Lake · 24/25→25/26
Top scorer
T. Muyumba4goals
Atlanta United FC
Most valuable
T. Jacob13.4val
Atlanta United FC
44 players · ranked by best potentialCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1A. MehmetiDefensive midfielderNew York Red Bulls174753
2T. JacobDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC2244377.4%475.7%
3S. BrunellDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders1924332.1%4510.1%
4S. GidiDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati2229232.2%4412.5%
5H. OjediranDefensive midfielderColorado Rapids2226107.9%4438.2%
6M. PeltolaDefensive midfielderDC United2433112.8%4410.6%
7L. SanabriaDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy2235302.3%4314.8%
8J. HaakDefensive midfielderLos Angeles Galaxy253027.5%433.6%
9K. Kossa-RienziDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders243797.3%43±0%
10Luis OtávioDefensive midfielderOrlando City SC1919125.3%4329.7%
11J. LukićDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union242635%424.5%
12N. PalacioDefensive midfielderToronto FC2528136.1%425%
13J. DavisDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2432141.7%428.6%
14N. CaliskanDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake264365.3%4111%
15Y. BrightDefensive midfielderInter Miami252730.3%4110.2%
16C. DurkinDefensive midfielderSt. Louis City2639186.1%4024.7%
17E. TagsethDefensive midfielderNashville SC252416%405.2%
18Alonso CoelloDefensive midfielderToronto FC263935.6%405.2%
19Bryan Josías Ramírez LeónDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati263339
20J. ShoreDefensive midfielderNew York City FC19763.3%396.7%
21J. CaicedoDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers241734.4%3917.3%
22S. BangouraDefensive midfielderColumbus Crew241557.1%384.9%
23N. AcevedoDefensive midfielderNew York City FC272710.4%3828.4%
24K. AgyabengDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City19937
25B. ServaniaDefensive midfielderDC United272214.3%377%
26J. ReidDefensive midfielderSporting Kansas City2513131%368.8%
27S. KowalczykDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo281932.7%3225.9%
28J. BuenoDefensive midfielderPhiladelphia Union271949.2%325.4%
29T. MuyumbaDefensive midfielderAtlanta United FC2948243.2%3128.5%
30A. O'NeillDefensive midfielderNew York City FC282043.2%293.4%
31D. DianiDefensive midfielderCharlotte281816%290.7%
32A. CubasDefensive midfielderVancouver Whitecaps304564.2%289.2%
33M. PinedaDefensive midfielderChicago Fire28840.4%2710.4%
34ArturDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo302322%249%
35H. DotsonDefensive midfielderSeattle Sounders2919172.1%246.2%
36O. NwobodoDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati291444.8%243.9%
37S. SpieringsDefensive midfielderReal Salt Lake302855.4%236.6%
38D. SamassékouDefensive midfielderHouston Dynamo30112243.2%
39B. BronicoDefensive midfielderCharlotte311651.6%1819.3%
40I. HarkesDefensive midfielderSan Jose Earthquakes311067.4%1818.4%
41S. PietteDefensive midfielderCF Montreal31138.1%188.3%
42J. TverskovDefensive midfielderSan Diego332747.1%1626.2%
43D. CharáDefensive midfielderPortland Timbers401519.4%71.4%
44D. DouděraDefensive midfielderFC Cincinnati28181