Best Cheap CDM FIFA 23 Career Mode (Defensive Midfielders)

Here is our best cheap CDM FIFA 23 guide. These are the finest cheap defensive midfielders with high potential to sign in FIFA 23 Career Mode.

In the world of football, there aren’t many players who can be considered truly exceptional defensive midfielders, but many young and promising players have embraced the position.

By signing one of the finest high-potential CDMs in FIFA 23, you can now fill the position that is becoming more and more vital. Notwithstanding, you don’t always have to shell out a ton of money to acquire a star player.

You can sign the young players in the list below as they have good potential for a modest price in Career Mode.

Guide Contents

Raphael Onyedika (OVR 71, POT 82)

Age: 21
Nationality: Nigerian
Club: Club Brugge KV
Value: €4M
Wage: €10K
Height: 6′
Best Qualities: 86 Stamina, 77 Acceleration, 76 Aggression, 75 Strength

Onyedika is a skilled player who excels in aerial balls. He is powerful and has received accolades for his flare, pace, ball-holding skills, and physical strength. Many elite European clubs were interested in him, and he came very close to signing with the Serie A champions AC Milan last summer.

Raphael Onyedika stands out from his competitors in FIFA 23 due to his extraordinary physical ratings. Onyedika is significantly more useful than his €4 million valuation or 71 overall rating, thanks to his 86 stamina, 76 aggression, 77 acceleration, and 75 strength. The Nigerian sportsman also has a 75 sprint speed, 73 jumping, 73 composure, 73 balance rating, and other exciting ratings that make him worth more than the bargain.

Tomás Händel (OVR 67, POT 82)

Age: 21
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Vitória de Guimarães
Value: €2.4M
Wage: €2K
Height: 5’11”
Best Qualities: 74 Acceleration, 73 Agility, 72 Ball Control, 72 Balance

Tomás Händel is a professional football player from Portugal who presently plays as a left-footed defensive midfielder for Vitória de Guimarães.

The 5’11” 21-year-old, rated at €2.4M and has a good 74 acceleration, will provide some much-needed cover for your backup defensive options. His 74 acceleration, 73 agility, 72 ball control, and 72 balance can help your FIFA 23 team in a manner few others can.

Although some Career Mode managers might prefer having him as a backup CDM, he will still make a solid impact if fixed in the starting IX.

Tim Iroegbunam (OVR 63, POT 82)

Age: 19
Nationality: English
Club: Queens Park Rangers
Value: €1.2M
Wage: €7K
Height: 6′
Best Qualities: 69 Jumping, 69 Short Passing, 68 Strength, 68 Shot Power

Iroegbunam, 19, is a defensive midfielder by specialty, but he has the quickness and versatility to excel all over the field.

Tim Iroegbunam, a promising young player for Aston Villa who is now on loan at QPR, is one of the best high-potential players to sign cheaply in Career Mode due to his 63 overall’s ability to increase to an 82 potential rating. Even if the CDM is only worth €1.2 million, Iroegbunam already boasts several impressive quality ratings. The Englishman is excellent at getting the job done thanks to his 69 jumping, 69 short passing, 68 strength, and 68 shot power.

Enzo Loiodice (OVR 71, POT 83)

Age: 21
Nationality: French
Club: Unión Deportiva Las Palmas
Value: €4.4M
Wage: €5K
Height: 5’9″
Best Qualities: 82 Balance, 78 Stamina, 76 Short Passing, 75 Ball Control

Loiodice will be a smart signing as he embodies all the qualities of a top defensive midfielder. He is very tricky with the ball and has the drive and ambition to move across the field. His physical maturity allows him to withstand attempts to rough him up consistently.

The qualities that Loiodice possesses that make him the top CDM in FIFA 23 are his 82 balance, 78 stamina, 76 short passing, and 75 ball control. They all contribute to Loiodice being a fierce rival in the middle of the park and a challenging CDM to get past.

Lucas Gourna-Douath (OVR 72, POT 83)

Age: 19
Nationality: French
Club: FC Red Bull Salzburg
Value: €4.6M
Wage: €5K
Height: 6’1″
Best Qualities: 80 Stamina, 78 Acceleration, 74 Sprint Speed, 73 Ball Control

Model defensive midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath excels in his position. The teenager, who was well-liked at Saint-Étienne, played 65 senior matches in his two seasons there, earning himself a spot in the starting lineup for Les Verts. He moved to RB Salzburg in Austria during the just-closed summer transfer window.

As if possessing a powerful, agile, and 6’1 defensive midfielder wasn’t alluring enough, Gourna also emerges as a favorite prospect for Career Mode managers as one of the greatest affordable high-potential CDMs in FIFA 23. Although he is young, the 19-year-old already has numerous positive FIFA attribute ratings and a potential rating of 83. Gourna’s 78 acceleration, 74 sprint speed, 80 stamina, and 73 ball control are among his strongest qualities.

The French wonderkid is physically capable of competing with more seasoned opponents while displaying game-reading skills, maturity, and vision both with and without the ball. His 72 overall rating shows he’s good to go if you want him as a mainstay in your FIFA 23 Career Mode team.

Eliot Matazo (OVR 72, POT 83)

Age: 20
Nationality: Belgian
Club: AS Monaco
Value: €4.8M
Wage: €21K
Height: 5’9″
Best Qualities: 82 Strength, 81 Balance, 77 Agility, 76 Dribbling, 76 Short Passing

As a first-team player for AS Monaco, Eliot Matazo is one of the rare defensive midfielders to have attracted the attention of top elite clubs when he was just 16 years old.

His €4.8 million pricing and 83 potential place him in the top tier of the best affordable high-potential CDMs to sign in Career Mode despite the fact that he already has a 72 overall rating in FIFA 23.

With his 82 strength, 74 ball control, 76 dribbling, 74 composure, and 74 vision, the Belgian starlet is already a reliable defensive midfielder. Then, you can use his standing tackle of 70 to recover balls and his 76 short passing and 73 long passing to maintain possession.

Johann Lepenant (OVR 70, POT 83)

Age: 19
Nationality: French
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Value: €3.6M
Wage: €14K
Height: 5’9″
Best Qualities: 79 Agility, 78 Stamina, 77 Balance, 75 Short Passing

Johann Lepenant, a defensive midfielder who stands at a respectable 5’9, makes up for his stature with determination and a keen eye for the game. He excels on both sides of the ball, easily recovering it before passing it either close or far. He shares many similarities in terms of style with Marco Verratti, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder who doesn’t let bigger, stronger players bully him.

The French ranks are a favorite haunt of FIFA players looking for the next round of top midfielders. In FIFA 23, Lepenant has the key stats that your squad needs: 79 agility, 78 stamina, 77 balance, and 75 short passing.

This young Frenchman would be an incredible addition to FIFA 23 Career Mode, given that he can control the ball using his 75 short passing, 71 long passing, and 71 ball control, as well as his pace and physicality.

Ezequiel Fernández (OVR 68, POT 83)

Age: 20
Nationality: Argentine
Club: Club Atlético Tigre
Value: €2.7M
Wage: €3K
Height: 5’10”
Best Qualities: 70 Standing Tackle, 70 Stamina, 70 Short Passing, 70 Agility

Although Ezequiel Fernández already has numerous CDM ratings that are extremely appealing, his overall rating of 68 allows the Argentine to stay off the spotlight with a value of €2.7 million.

Of course, Fernández’s 83 potential is the main quality that places him among the finest cheap defensive midfielders with great potential. You can already use the CDM’s uniform 70 agility, 70 stamina, 70 short passing, and 70 standing tackle if you get him for a low price.

Romeo Lavia (OVR 62, POT 83)

Age: 18
Nationality: Belgian
Club: Southampton
Value: €1.2M
Wage: €2K
Height: 5’11”
Best Qualities: 68 Sliding Tackle, 66 Standing Tackle, 66 Ball Control, 66 Aggression

Romeo Lavia is a holding midfielder who excels at keeping possession of the ball during build-up play and can play dangerous passes to more creative players in the final third.

Romeo Lavia’s 62 overall rating in FIFA 23 will prevent him from making the top picks of elite CDMs, but his €1.2 million price tag and 83 POT make him one of the top low-cost, high-potential defensive midfielders to sign. The teenager doesn’t appear to be a great recommendation for a starting XI player with his 5’11 build and 62 overall rating, but he still has some decent ratings. The Belgian’s 68 sliding tackle, 66 standing tackle, 66 ball control, and 66 aggression all point to a player who is more impactful than the overall rating shows.

Southampton’s new man is a fierce ball-winner and distributor. He is able to be in the ideal place at the ideal time to recover the ball as soon as it is lost due to his excellent game vision and outstanding tactical awareness. In your FIFA 23 Career Mode, he will make a solid backup choice.

Eric Martel (OVR 67, POT 84)

Age: 20
Nationality: German
Club: FC Köln
Value: €2.5M
Wage: €6K
Height: 6’2″
Best Qualities: 80 Stamina, 74 Aggression, 73 Jumping, 70 Standing Tackle

Currently playing for FC Köln, Eric Martel is a ball-winning CDM. He is versatile enough to play as a central midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, a ball-winner, or a blocker.

Eric Martel ranks as the best cheap high-potential CDM to sign in FIFA 23’s Career Mode with a potential rating of 84 but a value of only €2.5 million. The German’s 67 overall rating may not seem particularly useful right away. Still, his strong ratings in key position-specific traits undoubtedly build the groundwork for a player who is better as compared to their OVR. He will be a reliable defense guardian thanks to his 80 stamina, 74 aggression, 73 jumping, and 70 standing tackle.

RB Leipzig’s defensive-midfielder made 33 appearances in all competitions while on loan at Austria Wien last campaign.

Best Cheap CDM FIFA 23

Here are the cheapest Defensive Midfielders (CDM) to sign in FIFA 23 career mode with the highest potential.

Eric Martel: €2.5M (OVR 67, POT 84)
Romeo Lavia: €1.2M (OVR 62, POT 83)
Ezequiel Fernández: €2.7M (OVR 68, POT 83)
Johann Lepenant: €3.6M (OVR 70, POT 83)
Eliot Matazo: €4.8M (OVR 72, POT 83)
Lucas Gourna-Douath: €4.6M (OVR 72, POT 83)
Enzo Loiodice: €4.4M (OVR 71, POT 83)
Tim Iroegbunam: €1.2M (OVR 63, POT 82)
Tomás Händel: €2.4M (OVR 67, POT 82)
Raphael Onyedika: €4M (OVR 71, POT 82)

Conclusion

You can choose your next cheap young player for the CDM position with the aid of this guide. For your team, this position is essential for both offense and defense. Some of the listed players are better off starting from the bench, while others can immediately fit into your team. Choose someone who will fit in nicely with the team after carefully considering their qualities.

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