Best CDMs In FIFA 23

Key Takeaways

• A good defensive midfielder is crucial for FIFA 23 teams for controlling attacks and counters.
• Rare, expensive DMs like Kimmich and Kante bolster squads best through good trades.
• Players like Palhinha, Phillips, and Torreira stand out for their defensive prowess and playmaking skills.

A defensive midfielder has become one of the most important roles in modern teams that need fluidity in attack and defense. Players in this role are expected to aid the defense in stopping certain attacks before quickly moving the ball forward to progressive players in the hope of gaining some control and possibly starting a counterattack as well. DMs are pretty popular in FIFA games as well, especially since they help chase down the opposition and ensure that their attacks don’t materialize dangerously while also serving as a link between the defense and the rest of the team.

Some of the best DMs that players can use to bolster their squad extensively in FIFA 23 are very rare and expensive. Players need to secure good trades and deals to get these players in Ultimate Team, and these players will aid most people across the many other modes in this game. With a good DM, players can afford to be more aggressive without worrying about a hole appearing in their defense. FIFA 23‘s gameplay may be so tried-and-tested that this irritates people to no end, but players who focus more on the mechanical side of things would want to secure a highly-rated DM who fits in perfectly well with their style of play.

Updated November 14, 2024 by Ben Painter: EA Sports FC 25 hasn’t been out long, and some fans may not have picked up that latest game yet. Avid FIFA players may want to return to the latest entry in the FIFA name, FIFA 23. A good place to start when deciding what team to play with and what players to use is picking a solid defensive midfielder. CDMs are useful for breaking up play and aiding the defenders in stopping attacks. This update adds five more of the best CDMs in FIFA 23.

28 Joao Palhinha

Rating: 81

• Club: Fulham
• Nation: Portugal
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 85

After being linked to some of the top clubs in the world, it was Fulham who signed Joao Palhinha in a big statement signing by the West London club. However, he has moved on to Bayern Munich for EA Sports FC 25.

Although the Portuguese lacks pace, he makes up for it with his strength, height, and fantastic defensive stats. He is undoubtedly one of the best CDMs in FIFA 23 and will not look out of place among the other stars in the Premier League. Palhinha is also a handy dribbler and can pass out from a deeper role, perfect when playing as Fulham or using him in Ultimate Team.

27 Kalvin Phillips

Rating: 81​​​​​​

• Club: Manchester City
• Nation: England
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 77

Although his move to Manchester City didn’t really work out for him, he is currently on loan at Ipswich Town for EA Sports FC 25. In FIFA 23, Phillips is one of the best CDMs in the game.

During his time with Leeds United, he was dubbed the Yorkshire Pirlo due to the similarities in his game to the legendary Italian. Phillips operates best as a deep-lying playmaker. He has decent dribbling stats and is capable of roaming around the midfield and protecting the defense. He shines in his physicality, with 86 aggression and 85 stamina, meaning he will never give up on the field.

26 Lucas Torreira

Rating: 81

• Club: Galatasaray
• Nation: Uruguay
• League: Super Lig (Turkey)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 83

Once at Arsenal, it didn’t work out for him in North London, so the Urguyan moved on to Turkish giants Galatasaray, where his game has flourished.

He may not be the tallest, standing at only 166 cm, but he makes up for it with his fantastic work rate and his staggering 90 stamina. There aren’t any real weaknesses in his game, he is good in all aspects of the park. He holds the ball well thanks to his low center of gravity. When using a Super Lig team on Ultimate Team, there is only one man to use in that CDM role.

25 Thomas Delaney

Rating: 81

• Club: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (on loan from Sevilla)
• Nation: Denmark
• League: Bundesliga (Germany)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 76

Thomas Delaney is another player who is a bit of an all-rounder in the midfield. He is very good defensively, but can also take the ball forward and play as a more advanced midfielder. The Dane plays for Sevilla, but on FIFA 23 he is on loan at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga.

Where he shines is his aerial ability. With 91 jumping and 83 heading accuracy, he should be the focal point for set pieces and his 77 strength and 85 aggression will help him get stuck in at both ends of the pitch.

24 Robert Andrich

Rating: 81

• Club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
• Nation: Germany
• League: Bundesliga (Germany)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 83

A rock at the back, standing at 187 cm, he will head and kick anything that comes at him and protect the defense in his coveted CDM role. He is a much more traditional CDM, but that is giving him a little discredit as he can actually play too, with a decent passing range and also not too shabby from a direct freekick.

The big German will be a great option for Bundesliga teams in Ultimate Team, with his physicality being the best weapon in his arsenal. Partnering him with more offensive players, such as Christopher Nkunku or Marco Reus in the midfield will benefit players massively.

23 Denis Zakaria

Rating: 81

• Club: Chelsea
• Nation: Switzerland
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 79

Although he didn’t play much for Chelsea in real life that season, the Swiss midfielder is still an option to use for the West London club in FIFA 23. AS Monaco has the honor to utilize his abilities for EA Sports FC 24, albeit with a slight downgrade to his stats.

In this version of the game, Zakaria is a fast and powerful holding midfielder, with 82 Pace and 85 Physical. He is quick enough to track most forwards and has the passing and dribbling stats to contribute to the attack. For most starting Premier League squads on Ultimate Team, Zakaria is the go-to CDM.

22 Zambo Anguissa

Rating: 81

• Club: Napoli
• Nation: Cameroon
• League: Serie A (Italy)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 80

The Cameroonian is a decent, all-around midfielder, but he excels in defense, with his best stats being 86 Stand Tackle, 85 Strength, and 84 Stamina. He is an excellent carrier of the ball and is a perfect link between the defense and attack, capable of playing in a more advanced CM position also.

Anguissa is 6’0″, which works for clearing balls in the air, complete with his 76 and 70-heading accuracy. Although not amazing, he can still chip in in that department. For Ultimate Team players, he plays for Napoli in the Serie A, so that is handy for creating links to him for chemistry.

21 Ibrahim Sangare

Rating: 81

• Club: PSV
• Nation: Côte d’Ivoire
• League: Eredivisie (Netherlands)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 77

The biggest pull to using Sangare in FIFA is his height. Standing at 6 foot 3, he is a powerhouse in the midfield, getting his body in the way of any attack. Not the best passer of the ball, he is certainly no deep-lying playmaker, but that is not his job in the game. He wins the ball back and plays it to those who have a better passing range.

In EA Sports FC 24, gamers can use these skills in the Premier League, as he made the move to newly promoted Nottingham Forest. His strength is a staggering 91, making him one of the strongest in FIFA 23, and certainly one of the best CDMs in the game.

20 Idrissa Gueye

Rating: 82

• Club: Everton
• Nation: Senegal
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 76

Everton re-signed Gueye from Paris Saint-Germain ahead of this season, and he was a much-needed addition to their midfield, offering protection to their defense in the CDM position.

He has 87 Stand Tackle, 86 Interceptions, and 85 Stamina. Gueye can run around the park, making interceptions, breaking up attacks, and offering protection, so the attackers can flourish.

19 Ismael Bennacer

Rating: 82

• Club: AC Milan
• Nation: Algeria
• League: Serie A (Italy)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 83

The AC Milan player fits a bit of a different profile to some of the other CDMs previously mentioned, as his best attributes lie in his dribbling. Specifically, 89 Balance, 87 Agility, and 86 Dribbling is where he excels, offering a different edge in the midfield than a big bruiser.

His passing is also pretty good. He can play it long or break into pockets with his dribbling and play the ball into crucial areas. The Algerian is a threat in attack and defense.

18 Aurelien Tchouameni

Rating: 82

• Club: Real Madrid
• Nation: France
• League: La Liga (Spain)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 85

One of the most talented and sought-after players in the world, it’s easy to see why Tchouameni managed to bag a spot in the illustrious Real Madrid team. His ceiling is massive, and one can only imagine just how much Tchouameni will develop in an absolutely star-studded squad.

There’s a reason why he’s one of the best DMs in FIFA, with the entire world recognizing just how amazing this talent really is. Only time will tell just how far Tchouameni will reach if he continues on this path.

17 Konrad Laimer

Rating: 83

• Club: RB Leipzig
• Nation: Austria
• League: Bundesliga (Germany)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 83

RB Leipzig identifies brilliant talent regularly, so it’s easy to see why Konrad Laimer makes this list. The performances of this amazing DM have flown under the radar, but it’s only a matter of time before a big club comes around to snap this talent up.

At a respectable 83 rating, it’s clear that Konrad Laimer would be a great addition to any squad. For a DM, his pace is great and makes him a great link between defense and attack.

16 Fernando Reges Mouta

Rating: 83

• Club: Sevilla
• Nation: Brazil
• League: La Liga (Spain)
• Other Position(s): CB
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: N/A

Speaking of underrated players, another name that comes to mind is Fernando Reges Mouta. This player is the definition of fine wine, being a strong part of Sevilla’s squad despite reaching his mid-30s.

Fernando has played for several elite clubs and is known for his great defensive and physical capabilities, making him a strong part of any squad. FIFA has recognized his strong physicality, which also shows in his stats.

15 Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Rating: 83

• Club: Tottenham Hotspur
• Nation: Denmark
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 80

Tottenham Hotspur has upgraded quite a bit in recent times. With players like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, it’s very much possible for this team to finally get that elusive trophy that has been evading them for the longest time.

Hojbjerg is easily one of the best players on the team, with his physicality and defensive skills being his strongest suit. His passing is also pretty great, letting him link up quick and efficient passes with ease.

14 Thomas Partey

Rating: 84

• Club: Arsenal
• Nation: Ghana
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 82

Arsenal has been on a roll this season, with many people arguing that they have a solid chance to finally win the league this season after believing in the Mikel Arteta project. A huge reason for this is the strong squad that Arsenal has built up in recent times, with Thomas Partey being a standout in this regard.

Many people wrote off Partey as a failure from the get-go, but he has definitively silenced his critics. He’s a beast in FIFA, with his dribbling, defending, physicality, and passing all being 80 or above!

13 Sandro Tonali

Rating: 84

• Club: AC Milan
• Nation: Italy
• League: Serie A (Italy)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 85

One of the most promising young prospects around, Sandro Tonali is shaping up to be someone truly special. This is something that the EA scouts recognized, leading to him receiving such an impressive rating.

His pace, passing, and physical skills make him a force to be reckoned with. The sky’s the limit for Sandro Tonali, and fans hope that he’ll be able to achieve his full potential and become one of the greatest DMs of all time.

12 Franck Kessie

Rating: 84

• Club: FC Barcelona
• Nation: Côte d’Ivoire
• League: La Liga (Spain)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 82

Despite their financial problems, there’s no denying that Barcelona has managed to build a competent squad. Their team is full to the brim with depth and talent, with Frank Kessie being a pretty great DM in the squad.

His defensive and physical skills are impressive, with the rest of his stats being pretty great too. Suffice it to say, any team that needs a good DM will be pretty well-serviced with Kessie’s presence in the team.

11 Declan Rice

Rating: 84

• Club: West Ham United
• Nation: England
• League: Premier League (England)
• Other Position(s): N/A
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 87

Declan Rice has shot up the ranks to become one of the best English DMs of the current era. It’s easy to see why West Ham is unwilling to let this amazing player go despite the efforts of many top teams.

There’s still a lot of time for Rice to develop as a talented DM. Players in FIFA 23 should keep in mind to not unleash any shots on goal with this player since he isn’t a finisher by any means.

10 Sergio Busquets

Rating: 85

• Club: FC Barcelona
• Nation: Spain
• League: La Liga (Spain)
• Other Position(s): N/A
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 81

He might be getting on in terms of age, but no one came close to Busquets during his peak as a DM. He’s one of the biggest reasons why Barcelona managed to remain so dominant for such a long spell in the 2010s.

Even at 34 years old, Busquets is still rated highly by many fans and players. His 85 rating in FIFA 23 is proof of this, although his pace does make him somewhat vulnerable when moving the ball forward.

9 Marcelo Brozovic

Rating: 86

• Club: Inter
• Nation: Croatia
• League: Serie A (Italy)
• Other Position(s): CM
• Rating In EA Sports FC 25: 82

Inter Milan might not be reaching the heights it did under Antonio Conte during their title-winning season, but their players are still in a class of their own. One of the key reasons they won the title in the 2020-21 season was the contributions of Marcelo Brozovic as DM.

Brozovic is great at passing, dribbling, and defending, making him a great player to tackle opponents and move the ball forward on his own. However, players should keep in mind that his pace isn’t the best, and poor positioning will lead to players going ahead of them with ease.