Best young midfielders in EA FC 25 with high potential

If you need a central midfielder to hold down the center of the field or push forward and create goal-scoring opportunities in EA FC 25, we compiled a list of the best high-potential young defenders in Career Mode.

When Career Mode fans construct their lineup, finding players with their preferred roles comes into play whether you are either developing youth academy prospects or creating a transfer shortlist.

Courtesy of the EA FC database, we have shortlisted the best central midfielders in the game, noting their age (under 24), overall rating, potential, value, and when their contract runs out in Career Mode.

Best young Central Midfielders (CM)

Dexerto

Name	Age	Overall Rating	Potential	Team	Contract	Value	Wage
Warren Zaire-Emery	18	80	90	PSG	(2022 ~2029)	€44.5m	€54K
Gavi	19	83	90	FC Barcelona	(2020~2026)	€70.5M	€100K
Pedri	21	86	90	FC Barcelona	(2020~2026)	€98.5M	€140K
Eduardo Camavinga	21	83	90	Real Madrid	(2021 ~ 2029)	€73.5M	€150K
Vitinha	24	85	89	PSG	(2022 ~ 2027)	€77M	€110K
Joao Neves	19	79	88	PSG	(2024 ~2029)	€38M	€55K
Fermin	21	76	87	FC Barcelona	(2023 ~ 2027)	€17M	€63K
Lucas Bergvall	18	68	87	Tottenham	(2024 ~2029)	€3M	€33K
Tygo Land	18	64	86	PSV	(2022 ~ 2029)	€1.9M	€6K
Lewis Miley	18	72	86	Newcastle United	(2023 ~2028)	€5.5M	€42K
Pablo Barrios	21	76	86	Atletico Madrid	(2022 ~ 2028)	€17M	€38K
Hugo Larsson	20	74	86	Eintracht Frankfurt	(2023 ~2028)	€10M	€22K
Javi Guerra	21	75	86	Valencia	(2021 ~ 2027)	€12.5M	€26K
Nico Rovella	22	78	86	Lazio	On loan from Juventus through 2025	€31.5M	€83K
Enzo Fernandez	23	82	86	Chelsea	(2023 ~2032)	€43.5M	€115K
Matt O’Riley	23	79	86	Brighton	(2024 ~2029)	€35M	€77K

Players we recommend

• Joao Neves
• Pablo Barrios
• Hugo Larsson

PSG has too many cooks in the kitchen. Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha are world-class midfielders, and Fabian Ruiz is usually the third central midfielder for matches. PSG just signed Joao Neves during the most recent summer transfer window, but with no way into the team, we could see him asking out sooner rather than later.

Pablo Barrios finds himself in a similar situation at Atletico Madrid. The rising star is near the bottom of the pecking order of a position group that features Rodrigo De Paul, Connor Gallagher, Koke, and other talented options. It won’t be too hard to pry the star out of Madrid.

Eintracht Frankfurt is off to a red-hot start this season, and much of that credit goes to a young and talented roster. One of those future stars is Hugo Larsson, who could be looking for a more ambitious project in January or next year.

Best young Central Defensive Midfielders (CDM)

Name	Age	Overall Rating	Potential	Team	Contract	Value	Wage
Aurelien Tchouameni	24	85	90	Real Madrid	(2022 ~ 2028)	€74.5M	€200K
Archie Gray	18	73	87	Tottenham	(2024 ~2030)	€6.5M	€38K
Arthur Vermeeren	19	76	87	RB Leppzig	On loan from Atletico Madrid	€15M	€33K
Kobbie Mainoo	19	77	87	Manchester United	(2022 ~2027)	€21.5M	€53K
Sandro Tonali	24	85	87	Newcastle United	(2023 ~2028)	€55.5M	€32K
Moises Caicedo	22	82	87	Chelsea	(2023 ~2031)	€43M	€110K
Manuel Ugarte	23	81	86	Manchester United	(2024 ~2029)	€35.5M	€90K
Aleksander Pavlovic	20	73	85	Bayern Munich	(2023 ~2029)	€7M	€27K
Matteo Prati	20	73	85	Cagliari	(2023 ~2028)	€7M	€11K
Romeo Lavia	20	75	85	Chelsea	(2023 ~2030)	€11.5M	€58K
Stefan Bajcetic	19	72	85	Salzburg	On loan from Liverpool	€5.5M	€36K
Pape Matar Sarr	21	79	85	Tottenham	(2021 ~2030)	€26M	€67K
Adam Wharton	20	78	85	Crystal Palace	(2024 ~2029)	€26M	€53K
Nico Gonzalez	22	78	85	Porto	(2023 ~2028)	€27M	€15K
Samuele	22	77	85	Torino	(2022 ~2026)	€22.5M	€37K

Players we recommend

• Matteo Prati
• Nico Gonzalez
• Romeo Lavia

There is a long list of up-and-coming central midfielders and central attacking midfielders, but the same can’t be said about central defending midfielders. Massive European giants already have most of the best options signed to long contracts, but we have a few names in mind to keep an eye on.

Matteo Prati has 85 potential and is available from a small Italian club for around €7M. Porto has produced several world-class players and sold them to larger European clubs. Nico Gonzalez could be the next in line and also has 85 potential.

Chelsea already has its midfield pivot set in stone for the next few seasons with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. Romeo Lavia will still earn plenty of playtime, but he could eventually ask for a move and would be an excellent addition to any other side.

Best young Central Attacking Midfielders (CAM)

Name	Age	Overall Rating	Potential	Team	Contract	Value	Wage
Jude Bellingham	21	90	94	Real Madrid	(2023 ~2029)	€174.5M	€280K
Jamal Musiala	21	87	93	Bayern Munich	(2020 ~2026)	€128M	€87K
Florian Wirtz	21	88	92	Bayer Leverkusen	(2020 ~2027)	€133.5M	€115K
Arda Guler	19	78	90	Real Madrid	(2023 ~2029)	€33.5M	€95K
Xavi Simons	21	83	89	RB Leipzig	On loan from PSG	€58.5M	€79K
Franco Mastantuono	16	69	87	River Plate	(2023 ~2026)	€3.5M	€7K
Assan Ouedraogo	18	69	87	RB Leipzig	(2024 ~2029)	€3.5M	€20K
Claudio Echeverri	18	71	87	River Plate	On loan from Man City	€4.8M	€48K
Kendry Paez	17	72	87	ndependiente del Valle	Joins Chelsea in 2025	€5.5M	€500
Oscar Gloukh	20	76	87	Salzburg	(2023 ~2027)	€16.5M	€15K
Bejan Gruda	20	74	87	Brighton	(2024 ~2028)	€10M	€47K
Fares Chaibi	21	77	87	Enitracht Frankfurt	(2023 ~2028)	€23.5M	€28K
Sancet	24	82	87	Athletic Club	(2017 ~2032)	€46M	€40K
Can Uzun	18	72	86	Eintracht Frankfurt	(2024 ~ 029)	€5.5M	€18K
Sverre Nypan	17	66	86	Rosenborg	(2022 ~2026)	€2.3M	€3K
Heorhii Sudakov	21	77	86	Shakhtar Donetsk	(2019 ~2028)	€23.5M	€850
Bilal El Khannouss	20	76	86	Leicester City	(2024 ~2028)	€16.5M	€37K
Rodrigo Mora	17	66	86	Porto	(2023 ~2027)	€2.3M	€6K

Players we recommend

• Franco Mastantuono
• Oscar Gloukh
• Fares Chaibi

For around €3.5M, Career mode players can sign their central attacking midfielder of the future. Since Franco Mastantuono is still only 16 years old and 69 overall, you must send him on loan for one or possibly two seasons. However, 87 potential means he will be in your starting 11 in no time.

Surprisingly, no European giant went in for Oscar Gloukh over the summer transfer window. The dynamic playmaker is already 76 overall and has eye-catching potential.

As mentioned, Eintracht Frankfurt has something special brewing this season, and Fares Chaibi has been critical to that early success. Luring the star away won’t be easy, but the move won’t be too expensive unless you wait too long.

For more on FC 25 Career mode, check out our guides on the best young wingers with potential and the best defenders to scout.