Best Young CDM FIFA 23 Wonderkids – Best Young Defensive Midfielders to Sign in Career Mode

The release date of FIFA 23 is here! We’ve decided to update our old Best Young CDM FIFA 22 list with the latest young defensive midfielders that we think are going to have the highest POT (potential) in the game on release day. Keep in mind that these ratings are predicted and not 100% final.

To be classed as a Wonderkid, players must be 21 years old or younger.

We also have a Best Young CM FIFA 23 guide to check out as well!

With that being said, let’s get right into it! Here is our best young CDM FIFA 23 guide. Rating the top 10 best wonderkid defensive midfielders to sign in FIFA 23 career mode.

Enzo Loiodice (71 OVR / 83 POT)

• Club: UD Las Palmas
• Age: 21
• Nationality: France
• Value: €4.4M

A solid choice in anchoring any midfield, Enzo Loiodice is a solid option for managers looking for a great dribbler. He’s a French international with 9 caps for Les Bleus at a youth level; who knows how far his skills will take him!

After making his way through FCO Dijon’s youth academy in his home country of France, Loiodice made his way to UD Las Palmas in Spain. He’s skillful on the ball, more than most players in his position, and his athleticism gives him the ability to get to any ball in front of him. He can control the play with ease, winning the ball back and then beating an opposing midfielder with grace.

Enzo Loiodice is still only 21 years old with a mountain of potential, get this player for your Career Mode save before you have to play against him!

Fabricio Diaz (72 OVR / 83 POT)

• Club: Liverpool FC Montevideo
• Age: 19
• Nationality: Uruguay
• Value: €5M

Another excellent dribbler in the midfield, Fabricio Diaz is a maestro on the ball. He’s already found the back of the net twice for his native Uruguay at a youth level; this holding midfielder has an eye for goal!

Fabricio Diaz is currently playing for Liverpool FC Montevideo, in Uruguay, and is a mainstay for the first team. His stamina allows him to run all over the pitch for a full 90 minutes, forcing errors out of the opposing team while pressing them with vigor.

If you’re looking for a Kante-esque midfielder, a fast paced player who loves to go for a crunching tackle, Fabricio Diaz is your man.

Lucas Gourna-Douath (72 OVR / 83 POT)

• Club: RB Salzburg
• Age: 19
• Nationality: France
• Value: €4.6M

A more traditional central defensive midfielder, Lucas Gourna-Douath is a sturdy CDM who loves playing close to his defensive line. He’s a tall, hard working player that could easily slot in at center back, given his defensive acumen.

Lucas Gourna-Douath is currently playing for Austrian powerhouse RB Salzburg, a club known for its promising youth. He’s already gotten two Champion’s League games under his belt as well, a phenomenal achievement for any 19 year old! Beyond his club feats, Gourna-Douath also has racked up 25 caps for his native France at a youth level.

If you want a powerhouse holding down your midfield in Career Mode, look no further than Lucas Gourna-Douath!

Johann Lepenant (70 OVR / 83 POT)

• Club: Olympique Lyon
• Age: 19
• Nationality: France
• Value: €3.6M

Another up-and-comer for France, Johann Lepenant is quickly cementing himself as a pivotal figure for his national team. He came up through SM Caen’s youth academy before making a transfer to Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyon. In Lyon, he has been a guardian of his midfield, winning back important balls and quickly starting counter attacks for his teammates.

Johann Lepenant plays like he has three lungs; it’s not often that you’ll see this monster of a player out of breath. His dribbling is nothing to scoff at either, after he wins a ball with a well timed tackle he may just take it up the pitch himself!

At only 19 years old, Johann Lepenant could be a steady figure in your Career Mode for years to come!

Romeo Lavia (62 OVR / 83 POT)

• Club: Southampton FC
• Age: 18
• Nationality: Belgium
• Value: €1.2M

One of the most exciting prospects on this list, Romeo Lavia is an anchor in the midfield. Starting his career with Belgian giants Anderlecht, Lavia quickly established himself as a player with promise. His defensive skills earned him a move to Manchester City, where that promise truly began to show.

In April 2021, Lavia won the Premier League 2 championship with Manchester City and was named player of the season! He then earned himself a move to the first team, featuring on the bench for many City games. Looking for more game time, in the summer of 2022, Lavia made his way to Southampton, where he started the new campaign in form.

His first goal for the Saints was an absolute rocket in a 2-1 win over formidable opponents Chelsea. If that’s how Romeo Lavia’s first team career started, I can’t imagine where it could go!

Ezequiel Fernandez (68 OVR / 83 POT)

• Club: Tigre
• Age: 20
• Nationality: Argentina
• Value: €2.7M

An Argentine with loads of potential, Ezequiel Fernandez is a 20 year old who plays like a veteran! He’s confident and his decision making shows it, get this player for your Career Mode save if you need a CDM that can calm a game down.

Ezequiel Fernandez is currently on loan in Argentina at club Tigres, coming from Boca Juniors. He’s a two footed midfielder who can distribute the ball to just about anywhere on the pitch, making him a threat up and down the field.

Fernandez already has 13 caps for his nation at a youth level, scoring one goal. Buy this player now before he’s developed into one of the best in the world!

Oliver Skipp (77 OVR / 84 POT)

• Club: Tottenham Hotspur
• Age: 21
• Nationality: England
• Value: €20M

A player who could make his way into just about any midfield as it is, Oliver Skipp is one for the present and the future. With 30 caps for England at a youth level, Skipp may just be one of the most selected Englishman for the Three Lions at his age. He’s only 22 years old and already has Premier League experience, watch this wonderkid before he’s snapped up by someone else!

As a player, Oliver Skipp loves to fight for the ball. What he lacks in height he more than makes up for in tenacity, Skipp will never let an opposing player get past him with ease. He’s a solid dribbler as well with lightning fast reaction speeds, earning his place at CDM in your squad.

Already a well known player, Oliver Skipp will surely be a centerpiece for a big club very soon!

Eric Martel (67 OVR / 84 POT)

• Club: FC Köln
• Age: 20
• Nationality: Germany
• Value: €2.5M

The first player on our list is Eric Martel, a German defender currently playing in his native country for Bundesliga club 1. FC Koln. He’s very tall and strong, defending corners is a whole lot easier with this absolute rock of a defender!

Eric Martel played for RB Leipzig’s youth teams growing up, learning from some of the best at a very young age. He’s the type of defender to either let the ball pass him or the opposing player, but never both.

If you want a solid, young centre back who has all the basics down pat, look no further than Eric Martel!

Amadou Onana (74 OVR / 84 POT)

• Club: Everton
• Age: 21
• Nationality: Belgium
• Value: €8.5M

Another player with Premier League experience, Amadou Onana has seen a meteoric rise in his stock over the last season. It’s easy to see why, Everton’s #8 couldn’t have gone to a more promising young player.

Amadou Onana has already played for his home country of Belgium at a senior level twice, beginning what can only be an illustrious career. At only 21 years of age, the future looks bright for this young starlet.

He’s a tank at CDM, strong enough to fight the best of opposing attackers. Don’t let this player slip away into a big money move somewhere else, get him for your FIFA 23 Career Mode now!

Kristjan Asllani (72 OVR / 84 POT)

• Club: Inter
• Age: 20
• Nationality: Albania
• Value: €5.5M

Currently on loan at Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan, Kristjan Asllani is one to watch! At only 20 years old, it’s no wonder why the Nerazzurri wanted this wonderkid for the season. He’s starting to become a regular for his country of Albania at the senior level, with five caps to his name currently and many more to come.

As a player, Asllani is a dynamo of a central defensive midfielder. He’s well rounded, but his greatest strength is his unreal stamina. When other players slow down, Kristjan Asllani speeds up and dispossesses them!

If you want a CDM who can seemingly do it all, look no further than Kristjan Asllani. If you’re lucky, he’ll be in your squad before you have to play against him!

Samuele Ricci (74 OVR / 85 POT)

• Club: Torino
• Age: 21
• Nationality: Italy
• Value: €8.5M

One of the only defensive midfielders on the list with a senior international cap, Samuele Ricci is one to watch for the future. Ricci came up through Italian club FC Empoli’s youth system before earning a move to Serie A regulars Torino. He’s fast in the midfield and quick on the counter, not many wonderkids have stamina like Samuele Ricci.

As an Italian midfielder with some promise, many have drawn obvious comparisons with Samuele Ricci to Andrea Pirlo. These comparisons are not totally undeserved, as Ricci has gained more than enough experience playing as a Mezzala to reach the same heights as the former World Cup Winner.

One of the best Italian midfielders of his generation, Samuele Ricci is an artist of a player!

Alan Varela (75 OVR / 85 POT)

• Club: Boca Juniors
• Age: 21
• Nationality: Argentina
• Value: €11.5M

Playing for Argentina super club Boca Juniors, Alan Varela is a wonderkid who may as well be in his late 20’s! At least, according to how he plays. He’s a world-beater in the midfield, daring the opposition to try to get past him.

Alan Varela is a cool, calm CDM who can pass the ball better than most. If the ball isn’t at his feet, it will be soon. He has a strong tackle in his arsenal and is more than willing to take a player on in a dribble, beating them more often than not.

If you want a proven central defensive midfielder who will surely grow into an even better version of himself, look no further than La Selección’s Alan Varela.

Best Young CDM FIFA 23

Here’s a complete list of the best young Central Defensive Midfielders wonderkids to sign in FIFA 23 career mode. They’re all 21 years old or under and have a potential rating of 80 or higher. We usually only include players that are 83 or higher, but there aren’t enough players for that in FIFA 23.

Conclusion

I hope that this guide has helped you in making the right transfers for the CDM position in your FIFA 23 career mode playthrough. Hopefully, you’ll pick up some bargains and dominate the league with them!

If you’re looking for more FIFA guides, then we’ve linked some below.

Best young players in EA FC 24:

• Best Young GK EA FC 24
• Best Young LW LM EA FC 24
• Best Young CDM EA FC 24
• Best Young RW RM EA FC 24
• Best Young CAM EA FC 24
• Best Young ST CF EA FC 24
• Best Young RB RWB EA FC 24
• Best Young LB LWB EA FC 24
• Best Young CB EA FC 24
• Best Young CM EA FC 24

Best young players in FIFA 23:

• Best young GK FIFA 23
• Best young LW LM FIFA 23
• Best young CAM FIFA 23
• Best young RW RM FIFA 23
• Best young ST CF FIFA 23
• Best young CB FIFA 23
• Best young LB LWB FIFA 23
• Best young RB RWB FIFA 23
• Best young CM FIFA 23

EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 can be pre-purchased on Steam.