The best defensive midfielders to sign in Football Manager 2024

With Football Manager 2025 cancelled, 2024 is still the newest iteration of the game we all know and love. Here are the defensive midfield wonderkids to sign on your ageing save.

At SCOUTED, we discover the future of football - turns out, that's a pretty useful skill for FM titles. So we’ve compiled a list of defensive midfielders that can be defined as “wonderkids” in the latest game. A few of them will be familiar faces but others will, hopefully, be players you’ve never heard of.

They’re not necessarily the best; they’re players that we like in real-life that look good in FM24. If you just want the list, here you go - here are the defensive midfielders we’re recommending you to scout and sign on your saves this year.

Who are the best Defensive Midfielders (DMs) to sign in Football Manager 2024?

Here's a little list of emerging defensive midfielders for you to sign on your FM24 saves:

• Stefan Bajčetić
• Mario Dorgeles
• Gabriel Moscardo
• Federico Redondo

Of course, SCOUTED is all about detail. So, the team has put together some short profiles for those of you thirsting for more insight into your soon-to-be heart of your Football Manager midfield.

Stefan Bajčetić

Positions: DC, DM, MC
Club: Liverpool (ENG)
Nation: Spain
Transfer Value: €28-44 million

After breaking into the Liverpool first team, Stefan Bajčetić earned plenty of plaudits for his maturity and assurance in a midfield unit that was under significant pressure. FM24 has acknowledged that by rewarding him with a well-rounded profile.

Aside from some question marks about his physicality, the teenager looks more than capable of starting for a lower-half Premier League side straight away. His technical and mental foundations are excellent for his age, and he comes with the added bonus of being a natural in a number of positions through the spine – from centre-back to central midfield.

Mario Dorgeles

Positions: DM, MC
Club: FC Nordsjælland (DEN)
Nation: Ghana
Transfer Value: €4-8 million

Ghana’s Right to Dream continues to produce top-level talent, pushing a new batch through FC Nordsjælland – the top-flight Danish club that the academy own – season on season. The latest one is Mario Dorgele

The 2004-born midfielder has been a sneaky talent for the past couple of years in FM. He comes equipped with a base set of skills that are ripe for developing a couple of different ways; either as a ball-winning holder or a box-to-box runner.

You should be able to sign him for a good chunk under €10 million.

Gabriel Moscardo

Positions: DM
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Nation: Brazil
Transfer Value: €90-120 million

Gabriel Moscardo became somewhat of a hipster’s darling in 2023. Stepping into a senior role at Corinthians, the teenager caught the eye for his mature athleticism and accomplished skillset at the base of midfield. He’s even been compared to Declan Rice.

You could say the same of his FM24 profile, too. He’s a really solid athlete for his age with the shrewd understanding of the game and functional ability to impact games on both sides of the ball, as a passer and defender.

Unfortunately, Paris Saint-Germain decided to act on this potential IRL. Moscardo remains one of our favourite defensive midfielders, but now you will have to pay a premium fee to secure his signature.

Federico Redondo

Positions: DM, MC
Club: Inter Miami (USA)
Nation: Argentina
Transfer Value: €15-25 million

Another number six that hit new heights in terms of popularity in 2023 was Federico Redondo. The son of the iconic Fernando, a Real Madrid legend, the Argentina youth international is a lighthouse of a midfielder, the type that guides his teams through games.

His lanky frame stands head and shoulders above most others, as does his composed, clever reading of the game to anchor midfield and connect play. His standout attribute in FM24 is his range of passing, making him a good option for sides that dominate possession.

Like Moscardo, Redondo was snapped after soon after FM24's release. However, he remains a much more affordable option that you should be able to snap up for around €20 million.

What roles can Defensive Midfielders (DMs) play in Football Manager 2024?

Defensive midfield is one of the more flexible positions in the game, with a total of eight different roles to pick from, as follows:

• Defensive Midfielder
• Ball-Winning Midfielder
• Anchor
• Halfback
• Deep-Lying Playmaker
• Regista
• Segundo Volante

The role you choose should be dependent on the quality of players at your disposal. Poorer teams are more likely to run a Defensive Midfielder, Anchor or Ball Winning Midfielder. These roles require varying levels of technical ability, but physical and mental attributes are the most important for fulfilling their duty.

Defensive Midfielders are great for marking opposition attacking midfielders or central midfielders on attack role that look to break lines and attack the box; Anchors will sit deep and shield the defence while recycling possession with very simple passes; the Ball Winning Midfielder is more tenacious, seeking opportunities win the ball back in higher areas.

The Half Back is the ‘in-between’ role between the defensive and creative roles you can select. It will sit almost as a third centre-back in certain situations, reminiscent of the way Pep-era Sergio Busquets operated. The role generally suits possession-based systems.

The remaining four roles are more creative: Regista, Deep Lying Playmaker, Roaming Playmaker, and the mysterious Segundo Volante. The Deep Lying Playmaker is a popular pick for many coaches, with the role combining defensive solidity with playmaking from deep. You can toggle how aggressive they are on both sides of the ball by toggling the Defend and Support duty.

The Regista role is a more aggressive version of the Deep Lying Playmaker that will look to spray the ball about, while the Segundo Volante is basically a box-to-box midfielder but from deeper areas.

What attributes are important for Defensive Midfielders (DMs) in Football Manager 2024?

Unlike other positions, such as centre-back, there isn’t really a set of core attributes that every defensive midfield role requires. That said, if your player has a strong foundation of passing, tackling, work rate, stamina, positioning and decision-making, then they should suit most roles.

It varies. Ball Winning Midfielders require marking, strength, and pace. Anchors need marking and strength as well, but also composure and decision-making. Defensive Midfielders will also need marking and strength, as well as passing and first touch as they try to work the ball forward. The Half Back will need all that, plus the positioning and jumping reach you’d commonly associate with a centre-back.

For the more creative roles, good passing, vision, technique and off the ball movement are crucial. The Regista role will also require good dribbling, long shots and flair – think prime Andrea Pirlo. The Roaming Playmaker will also need dribbling, but will also be aided by pace and acceleration. The Deep Lying Playmaker is probably the most simple: give them the ball and make sure they can control it with a good first touch and adept decision-making.

The Segundo Volante needs attributes similar to the Roaming Playmaker, but subtract dribbling, technique and agility, and add finishing, strength and tackling.

Who is the best Defensive Midfielder in Football Manager 2024?

Manchester City’s Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in Football Manager 2024, closely followed by Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

Who is the best young Defensive Midfielder in Football Manager 2024?

Moisés Caicedo has the highest fixed potential of any DM that starts the game aged 21 or younger. Gabriel Moscardo and Federico Redonod are two of the best up-and-coming defensive midfielders in Football Manager 2024.

Which young Defensive Midfielder should I buy on Football Manager 2024?

We recommend signing Mario Dorgeles to play as a defensive midfielder in Football Manager 2024.