BEST FIFA 22 CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
BRIEF PROFILES ON SOME OF THE BEST YOUNG CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS IN FIFA 22 CAREER MODE
We cover youth football. For all you FIFA players, we’ve picked out a few of our favourite young central midfielders that would be suitable signings on your Career Mode saves. From Declan Rice to Eric Martel, these are some of the best young CMs in FIFA 22.
You can find our best and most detailed reports in the Scouted Football Handbook, our quarterly magazine in which we profile 25 of the world’s best up-and-coming talents, with additional features and interviews also included.
Of course, if you are looking for older players, we have you sorted too, with a collection of the ten highest overall CMs at the start of your save.
OUR LISTS OF THE BEST FIFA...
OUR LISTS OF THE BEST YOUNG TALENTS
WHO ARE THE BEST CMs IN FIFA 22?
| NAME | AGE | CLUB | OVERALL | POTENTIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin De Bruyne | 30 | Manchester City | 90 | 90 |
| Leon Goretzka | 26 | Bayern Munich | 88 | 89 |
| Toni Kroos | 31 | Real Madrid | 88 | 88 |
| Frenkie de Jong | 24 | Barcelona | 87 | 92 |
| Marco Verratti | 28 | Paris Saint-Germain | 87 | 87 |
| Luka Modrić | 35 | Real Madrid | 87 | 87 |
| Dani Parejo | 32 | Villarreal | 86 | 86 |
| Thiago | 30 | Liverpool | 86 | 86 |
| Paul Pogba | 28 | Manchester United | 86 | 86 |
| Nicolò Barella | 24 | Inter Milan | 85 | 89 |
WHO ARE THE BEST YOUNG CMs IN FIFA 22?
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FIRST-TEAM CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS IN FIFA 22
JUDE BELLINGHAM
- 29/06/2003
- Borussia Dortmund (GER)
- England
Jude Bellingham is a similar age, but a different player to Pedri. Slightly less technical, but more of an all-rounder with a more developed physical skillset, Bellingham has the potential to bring a hard edge to your midfield in FIFA 22 Career Mode, without sacrificing a huge amount of on-ball quality.
High/High work rates, 4* weak foot and 4* skills are added positives, while his high stamina will ensure he will be able to see out 90 minutes consistently. He will not come cheap, but he is worth every penny.
- 81 OVERALL
- 90 POTENTIAL
RYAN GRAVENBERCH
- 16/05/2022
- AFC Ajax (NED)
- Netherlands
Coming in at a slightly cheaper price than Bellingham and Pedri, without much of a substitution of quality, is Ajax’s Ryan Gravenberch. He comes in at a slightly lower base when starting your FIFA 22 Career Mode save but has the most potential to grow too.
Like the other two players on this list, he has 4* skills and 4* weak foot, all encapsulated in a hefty 6’3” frame. If you can develop him to his maximum potential, expect him to play like the second coming of Paul Pogba.
- 78 OVERALL
- 90 POTENTIAL
PEDRI
- 25/11/2002
- FC Barcelona (ESP)
- Spain
Still just 18 when you start your FIFA 22 Career Mode save, Pedri is already one of the best midfield players on the planet. Astonishingly, he can still get much better, despite being one of the most technically proficient players in the game right from the start.
High level dribbling, passing and decent speed are the fulcrum of his skillset, as well as strong weak foot, stamina and high work rates. However, he does have some developing to do physically.
- 82 OVERALL
- 91 POTENTIAL
YOUNG CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS FOR THE FUTURE IN FIFA 22
CHARLIE PATINO
- 17/10/2003
- Arsenal (ENG)
- England
Charlie Patino is Arsenal’s most hyped youth academy product in quite a while. With an expiring deal when you start your FIFA 22 Career Mode save, there is potential for you to snap up the English youngster on a cut-priced deal early on.
Like Sertdemir, he will not be a player you will want to integrate into your team from the start, but there are obvious qualities to build on, especially his passing and dribbling.
- 64 OVERALL
- 85 POTENTIAL
SAMUELE RICCI
- 21/08/2001
- Torino FC (ITA)
- Italy
Torino picked up a steal when they acquired Samuele Ricci in January. Ricci is a strong all-rounder that, despite his low overall rating at the start of your save, has a good skillset that should help him at least play a role in your team as a squad player from the jump.
His only glaring weakness is front of goal, so consider how you are going to use him before integrating him into your team. You might even consider playing him as a CDM as he continues to develop his game.
- 71 OVERALL
- 86 POTENTIAL
ZIDAN SERTDEMIR
- 04/02/2005
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
- Denmark
Yet another talent off the FC Nordsjælland production line, Zidan Sertdemir is now plying his trade with Bayer Leverkusen after a move in the summer of 2021. Having started the season at just 16, he has already made three sub appearances in the Bundesliga for this exciting Leverkusen team.
Sertdemir is definitely one to consider as a buy-to-loan option, starting with just a 62 overall and a lacklustre skillset. But with the potential to develop over 23 points, with the right playing time and training, he should blossom into a regular starter in a few years.
- 62 OVERALL
- 85 POTENTIAL
WHAT ARE FIFA WONDERKIDS?
Wonderkids are what every Career Mode manager looks for in FIFA. They’re young prospects – usually aged 16 to 19 – that have elite-level potential in the game. Freddy Adu is a prominent example for older managers, while Youssoufa Moukoko is a current case. They’re the superstar youngsters that are must-buys on every save.
But it’s also subjective. A wonderkid at Accrington Stanley is completely different to a wonderkid at Manchester City. Essentially, the surroundings dictate the status.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CENTRAL MIDFIELDER IN FIFA 22?
The answer to this question depends on your team, its style, and the role you want the central midfielder to fulfill. You may want a ball-winner, ball-player, ball-progressor, a goal threat, or a unicorn that combines all of those aspects into one player.
The basis remains fairly similar across all three roles, though – you want a central midfielder that is mobile and intelligent, capable of executing the basic responsibilites of the CM.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE BEST CENTRAL MIDFIELDER IN FIFA 22?
You can do so by utilising the player search tool, which enables you to specify the certain variables you’re looking for in your player – from age to specific attributes.
Make the most of your scouts, too. Send them to look for the best young central midfielders by defining their criteria – specifying under-23, four-start potential, etc. Alternatively, just scour the Scouted Football website.
HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUNG CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS IN FIFA 22?
As always, pathways are paramount. You have to make sure that your youngsters have access to meaningful minutes at the appropriate levels. If you have a first-team ready talent, phase him into the team gradually, during pre-season ideally.
If your prospect needs a bit more polishing, the loan system is a valuable tool. But pathways to senior level minutes are key. Assess your youngsters on a case-by-case basis, decide what they need, and enact your decision.
The highest rated central midfielders in FIFA 22 are Kevin de Bruyne, Toni Kroos, Leon Goretzka, Paul Pogba, Frenkie de Jong, Marco Verratti, Luka Modrić and Thiago Alcântara.
Federico Valverde, Pedri, Jude Bellingham, Ryan Gravenberch, Houssem Aouar, Eduardo Camavinga, Ismaël Bennacer and Aurélien Tchouaméni are the best under-23 central midfielders in FIFA 22.
