Field Insider

Most Improved defenders in Major League Soccer 2026

The most improved defenders in Major League Soccer in 2026, ranked on Field Insider.

At a glance

M. Dos Santos of New York Red Bulls is the standout for raw talent across defenders in Major League Soccer, with a Field Insider Rating of 49.6, and M. Woledzi has been the form player this season, grading 61.4, and A. Markanich leads the scoring with 7 goals.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: E. Segura has improved his Season rating most, up +40.1 on last season, while E. Morales's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +6.9 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, Felipe Andrade of Houston Dynamo is the most valuable name in this group at 14.9.

50 players · ranked by most improvedCustomise →
PlayerTeam
1E. SeguraCentre-backLos Angeles FC29+40.1
24/25→25/26
5853.3%310.6%
2M. WoledziCentre-backNashville SC25+36.4
24/25→25/26
6124%452.8%
3R. PorteousCentre-backLos Angeles FC27+35.7
24/25→25/26
59303.4%3821.9%
4R. HoldingCentre-backColorado Rapids31+31.5
24/25→25/26
38517.7%2643%
5N. TafariCentre-backLos Angeles FC29+29.2
24/25→25/26
4958%306.8%
6D. PolvaraCentre-backSt. Louis City26+28.3
24/25→25/26
31130.6%4217.2%
7M. LabordaFull-backVancouver Whitecaps27+27.5
24/25→25/26
5137%4515.5%
8T. BlackmonCentre-backVancouver Whitecaps30+25.4
24/25→25/26
4247.7%3016.6%
9A. MarkanichFull-backMinnesota United FC26+25.1
24/25→25/26
329.7%411.5%
10O. VerhoevenCentre-backSan Diego20+24
24/25→25/26
26130.7%456.2%
11A. NajarFull-backNashville SC33+22.1
23/24→25/26
4022.1%1711.1%
12K. ThompsonFull-backColorado Rapids23+22
24/25→25/26
3151%43±0%
13E. MoralesFull-backCF Montreal22+21.7
24/25→25/26
23100.9%4311.1%
14D. LovitzCentre-backNashville SC35+21.5
24/25→25/26
4741.9%1512.4%
15W. SandsCentre-backNew England Revolution26+21.2
24/25→25/26
28217%4227.3%
16Antônio CarlosCentre-backHouston Dynamo33+20.7
24/25→25/26
38363%1552%
17D. MunieCentre-backSan Jose Earthquakes26+20.1
24/25→25/26
2656.4%4214.9%
18S. HeftiFull-backDC United28+18.9
24/25→25/26
38101.1%3531.1%
19J. DíazCentre-backMinnesota United FC25+17.2
24/25→25/26
2810.4%423%
20A. GutmanFull-backChicago Fire29+16.5
24/25→25/26
2313%2910.1%
21J. OrozcoCentre-backSt. Louis City22+15.8
22/23→25/26
19128.2%4213.6%
22O. SvatokCentre-backAustin31+15.3
24/25→25/26
2022.4%225.2%
23L. BartlettCentre-backDC United29+15.1
24/25→25/26
3049.8%314.7%
24T. GrayCentre-backNew York City FC24+13.9
24/25→25/26
315.5%457.2%
25J. DeanFull-backChicago Fire29+13.7
24/25→25/26
2743.8%272.2%
26K. FranklinFull-backToronto FC23+13.6
24/25→25/26
19119.3%4416.8%
27M. FofanaCentre-backNew England Revolution28+13.5
24/25→25/26
3423.8%354.5%
28R. Baker-WhitingFull-backNashville SC21+13.3
24/25→25/26
21165.8%448.9%
29J. TravisFull-backColorado Rapids22+13.2
24/25→25/26
18293.3%4211.1%
30R. CannonCentre-backColorado Rapids28+13
24/25→25/26
1741.7%306.6%
31T. BaumgartlCentre-backSt. Louis City30+12.7
23/24→25/26
2228.7%2930%
32R. PrisoCentre-backVancouver Whitecaps24+12.7
24/25→25/26
1816.2%411.9%
33B. KikanovicFull-backSan Jose Earthquakes26+11.9
24/25→25/26
243927.6%
34L. MacNaughtonFull-backSt. Louis City31+11.6
24/25→25/26
16189.1%2019.9%
35I. FrayFull-backInter Miami24+11.4
24/25→25/26
1811.7%434.2%
36K. RowlesCentre-backDC United28+9.8
24/25→25/26
3520.1%331.5%
37F. NegriFull-backHouston Dynamo31+9.2
24/25→25/26
1756.5%180.6%
38R. LaryeaCentre-backToronto FC31+7.5
24/25→25/26
1515%2429%
39S. MooreFull-backFC Dallas29+7.2
24/25→25/26
262.4%322.3%
40C. GarcésFull-backLos Angeles Galaxy24+7
24/25→25/26
194.5%391.8%
41J. YaroCentre-backSt. Louis City31+6.9
24/25→25/26
1770.4%224.7%
42B. ByeFull-backPortland Timbers30+6.8
24/25→25/26
1130.6%2729%
43J. BellCentre-backAustin29+6.3
24/25→25/26
141.4%25±0%
44R. HollingsheadCentre-backLos Angeles FC35+6
24/25→25/26
4738.1%148.4%
45B. KamungoFull-backFC Dallas24+6
24/25→25/26
1336.2%435.7%
46N. HarrielFull-backPhiladelphia Union25+5.7
24/25→25/26
3723.2%457.5%
47N. ToloCentre-backSeattle Sounders29+5.7
24/25→25/26
3964.3%302.7%
48M. DeslerCentre-backAustin31+5
24/25→25/26
1142.3%1714.4%
49L. EngelCentre-backReal Salt Lake27+4.9
24/25→25/26
976.2%3216.4%
50Y. CheberkoCentre-backLos Angeles FC28+4.1
24/25→25/26
3252.6%321.3%