The best central midfielders to sign in FC25 Career Mode

SCOUTED is a magazine about youth football. Turns out, all that knowledge is pretty useful for FC25 Career Mode, who'da thought?

We’ve picked out a few of our favourite young central midfielders that would be suitable signings on your EA FC 25 Career Mode saves. From Arda Güler to Franco Mastuantono, these are some of the best young midfielders in the game.

If you’re looking for older players, we have you sorted too - we've put together a collection of the ten highest overall central midfielders at the start of your save.

Who are the best Central Midfielders (CMs) in FC 25 Career Mode?

The best central midfielders in FC 25 Career Mode are those with the highest overall rating. Here's a handy list, including their overall at the start of the game, and their highest possible potential rating (in brackets):

• Kevin de Bruyne - 90 (90)
• Martin Ødegaard - 89 (90)
• Federico Valverde - 88 (91)
• Bernardo Silva - 87 (88)
• Frenkie de Jong - 87 (88)
• Nicolò Barella - 87 (87)
• İlkay Gündoğan - 87 (87)
• Pedri - 86 (90)
• Alexis Mac Allister - 86 (88)
• Luka Modrić - 86 (86)

You've probably noticed the lack of potential for growth among these players - they're all at their peaks already, and that's no way to play FC 25 (unless you're swimming in cash).

At SCOUTED, we're interested in the future of football more than we are the present. As such, when recommending Career Mode transfers we like to go with the youngsters - those players you can sign young and cheap and transform into world beaters. Here we go.

The six best young Central Midfielders (CMs) to sign and develop in FC 25 Career Mode

For easy reference, here's our list. Don't worry - we'll dive into detail momentarily. As before, their rating is included alongside their potential (in brackets).

• Warren Zaïre-Emery - 80 (90)
• João Neves - 79 (88)
• Lucas Bergvall - 68 (87)
• Tygo Land - 64 (86)
• Lewis Miley - 72 (86)
• Pablo Barrios - 76 (86)

That's much better. Let's get into the details, and explain why these are the best young central midfielders to sign in your Career Mode.

Warren Zaïre-Emery

Position: CM, CDM
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Nation: France
Market Value: €44.5 million

21 outfield players have a Potential Rating of 90 or above. Four of them can play CDM: Rodri, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Warren Zaïre-Emery.

You know all about PSG’s 18-year-old prodigy by now. Luis Enrique said that he is exemplary wherever he plays. If you are fortunate enough to sign him on FC 25, you will be saying the same thing.

74 Agility is his lowest Physical attribute. 76 Aggression and 76 Attacking Position are his lowest Mental attributes. He was 82 Ball Control, 82 Long Passing, 80 Standing Tackle and 79 Dribbling. His PlayStyles include Tiki Taka, First Touch, Press Proven and Quick Step.

His release clause is €93.5m and if anyone was able to sign him for that in real life, it would be cheap. WZE is simply one of the best midfielders on the planet at 18 years old and no one talks about it. If you want an elite technician with an explosive, dominant physical profile, here’s your guy.

• Overall: 80
• Potential: 89
• Potential Growth: +9

João Neves

Position: CM, CDM
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Nation: Portugal
Market Value: €38 million

João Neves is an anomaly. His 5’9” frame belies an elite physicality that catapulted him to the very top. His compact shape, chunky thighs and low centre of gravity gives him a good grounding, almost sucking him to the floor, making him much more difficult to bump off the ball than spectators and opponents would initially think. And he leaps like a salmon.

His Jumping is rated as 82 on FC 25. In fact, the only Physical attribute that is not at least 80 is Strength. Even then, 76 is decent and will improve given his 88 Potential Overall Rating.

Neves has the technical fundamentals that you’d expect of a player that’s come through an elite academy like Benfica’s Seixal. Everything about his on-ball skillset is rock solid, from his quick scanning and positive first touches to his body shape and approach angles and the way he strikes through the ball. The high-level basics of his game are the basis of his high-level skillset.

As you can see, Press Proven, Relentless and Solid Player are all PlayStyles that reflect is IRL ability. He offers the complete package at 19 years old: the malleable, multi-phase mentality monster. We’re huge fans. You should be too.

• Overall: 79
• Potential: 88
• Potential Growth: +9

Lucas Bergvall

Position: CM
Club: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Nation: Sweden
Market Value: €3 million

You’ve probably never heard of IF Brommapojkarna. But they have one of the most prolific – and largest – youth academies in Europe. It has helped develop the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Viktor Gyökeres. Lucas Bergvall might be one of their best ever.

Bergvall is a pretty big boy for his age. He has the makings of an athlete that can more than hold his own at the elite level. On FC 25, he should develop a strong set of Physical attributes to compliment his 6’1” frame. Note the 76 Acceleration and 73 Balance at the start of the game.

Technically, he reads the space around him quickly and has a broader awareness of the pitch, his touches are clean, he opens up the game by taking the ball comfortably on both sides and on the back foot, his passing is crisp and controlled too.

His passing in general is among the most impressive aspects of his skillset. He connects play through the thirds with composure and accuracy, often picking line-breaking passes that progress play—his Incisive Pass and Long Ball Pass PlayStyles in-game reflect this.

Despite just joining Tottenham Hotspur in real life, Bergvall has a €7.6m release clause on FC 25 Career Mode. Activate it if you can. You could end up with an 87-rated Playmaker by the time you’re done.

• Overall: 68
• Potential: 87
• Potential Growth: +19

Tygo Land

Position: CM
Club: PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Nation: Netherlands
Market Value: €1.9 million

Tygo Land is a Frenkie de Jong regen: the elusive mobility, carries, dribbles and passes are eerily similar.

The 2006-born midfielder has a profile that fits the demands of the elite level – he’s a connector through the thirds, a game-builder and move-developer, a deceptively mobile athlete, and an edgy ball-winner.

He’s just as exciting on FC 25. The 18-year-old has a Potential Rating of 86, as well as 4 Star Skill Moves and 4 Star Weak Foot. His standout attributes include 78 Agility, 75 Sprint Speed and 74 Ball Control; we told you he was like FDJ.

The best bit is that you can activate his release clause for just €4.6m. PSV Eindhoven have a really good one. Make him yours on FC 25.

• Overall: 64
• Potential: 86
• Potential Growth: +24

Lewis Miley

Position: CM
Club: Newcastle United (ENG)
Nation: England
Market Value: €5.5 million

If you are looking for a box-to-box midfield project, Lewis Miley will tick plenty of boxes.

His 77 Stamina in-game is a foundation to build from. Beyond that, his in-game stats stand out for how well-balanced they are, rather than possessing any game-breaking attributes. That being said, his 74 Dribbling could develop very nicely.

In game, Miley’s 86 Potential Rating should mean that by the end of your Career Mode, you will have a 6’2”, relentless, ball-carrying powerhouse.

• Overall: 72
• Potential: 86
• Potential Growth: +14

Pablo Barrios

Position: CM, CDM
Club: Atlético Madrid (ESP)
Nation: Spain
Market Value: €17 million

Pablo Barrios did the reverse Raúl. He spent six years at Real Madrid before moving to city rivals Atleti in 2017. Since then, he has gone from UEFA Youth League stalwart to one of Diego Simeone’s most-trusted midfield generals.

On FC 25, he has the attributes to excel in either an attacking or defensive role. 79 Vision, 77 Ball Control and 75 Dribbling give him a solid base to act as a playmaker. On the other hand, 78 Interceptions and 71 Standing Tackle suggest he could be useful as a ball-winner.

Either way, his 86 Potential Rating is indicative of a 21-year-old establishing himself as a regular start for one of the best teams in Europe. If you want to prize him away from El Cholo on FC 25 Career Mode, you will have to trigger his €39.1m release clause.

• Overall: 76
• Potential: 86
• Potential Growth: +10

There you have it! Those are our best young central midfielders to sign for you FC 25 Career Mode save. For more great reading on real-life wonderkids, stick with SCOUTED.