Football Manager 2024's most overpowered, but fairly affordable, holding midfielders

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Giacomo Faticanti

Gabriel Moscardo

Adam Wharton

Elio Rufener

Vicente Pizarro

Marc Bernal

Yunus Emre Konak

Players that narrowly missed out:

We’ve all seen just how vital a good holding midfielder is in recent weeks, not in Football Manager, but in the real world. Just take a look at Manchester City without Rodri. Sure, he’s a Ballon d’Or-winning, once-in-a-generation talent, but this position is absolutely crucial. I’d even argue it’s the most important spot in most starting XIs. If you’ve got a rock-solid presence at the heart of midfield, you’re golden. If you’ve got a walking liability shielding your back four, it’s going to be a long 90 minutes every weekend.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the best defensive midfielders you can grab on Football Manager. Like last time, I’ll keep the list affordable and steer clear of players already snapped up by the crème de la crème. So, no, Manchester City players are not making the cut here. If you’re also looking to buff up your team of strikers, look right here.

Giacomo Faticanti

Here’s what we love to see: a wonderkid with ridiculous potential stuck at a bottom-tier Serie A club. Giacomo Faticanti is the dream. You know they’re skint, and you’ll probably pick him up for peanuts. With his club currently in the relegation zone, you might even grab him for less next year. Mentally, he’s already a perfect defensive midfielder. Develop those physicals a little, and you’ve got a midfield monster.

Gabriel Moscardo

It wouldn’t be a wonderkid list without a South American, would it? Gabriel Moscardo is a beautifully well-rounded holding midfielder who could even double as a box-to-box dynamo if you fancied. He’s the kind of player who instantly gets the dreaded “WNT” tag (Wanted by 10 elite clubs), so you’ll want to snap him up before the vultures swoop in.

Adam Wharton

In your save, Adam Wharton will be at one of two clubs: Blackburn or Crystal Palace. If it’s Blackburn, perfect—you can likely nab him, and he’s worth building your squad around. If it’s Palace, he’ll be pricier, and only the top six English clubs might afford him. But he’s worth every penny. Not only does he tick that pesky homegrown quota, but he’s one of the few midfielders who’ll rival Rodri or Declan Rice over the next decade. Buy him, and that’s your midfield sorted. Job done.

Elio Rufener

Think you’ve missed the boat on the Adam Whartons of this world? Enter Elio Rufener. This Swiss wonderkid is just 16 and available for pennies. Unless he’s already at Real Madrid, he’s practically begging to be signed. Sure, his physicals need a bit of work to meet the Football Manager META, but his technical and mental attributes are ridiculously good for his age. Picture him bossing that half-back role—absolute carnage.

Vicente Pizarro

Having just been to Chile, I couldn’t leave this beast off the list. If you’re an FM veteran, you’ll know Colo Colo is the South American equivalent of a wonderkid factory, rivaling River Plate. Remember Arturo Vidal? Vicente Pizarro looks like their next big export. His mental attributes are perfectly suited for the role, and his work rate and stamina mean he’ll be busting a gut deep into stoppage time.

Marc Bernal

Wait, you say. Marc Bernal plays for Barcelona—you can’t include him! Fair point, but hear me out. He’s only 16, and thanks to Barcelona’s financial troubles, they’re often happy to cash in. Grab him early, and you’ll get him for a steal. Imagine a Barcelona academy graduate running your midfield like a maestro in a vertical tiki-taka setup by the time he’s 26. Perfection.

Yunus Emre Konak

Brentford’s recruitment team strikes again. Yunus Emre Konak, snapped up from Sivasspor, already looks like a star in the making. At just 17, his mental attributes are unreal, and his technical stats are equally promising. He’s the perfect fit for a sitting midfield role. Brentford will want to turn a profit, so he won’t be cheap, but if you’re managing a top-half side, he’s worth the investment. Who wouldn’t want a Turkish wonderkid commanding their midfield for the next decade?

Did I miss anyone? Got a defensive midfield gem you think deserves a shoutout? Drop it in the comments!

Players that narrowly missed out:

Liam Gibbs – Norwich

Alessandro Bianco – Fiorentina

Lucas Gourna-Douath – FC RB Salzburg

Iker Munoz – Atletico Pamplona

Ezequiel Fernandez – Boca Juniors

William Clem – FB Kobenhavn

For more FM coverage, read about whether or not the games are too easy or too hard. As it turns out, they may be just right.

About the Author

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.