Securing the best Centre-Defensive Midfielders (CDMs) in EA Sports FC 27 can significantly bolster a team's defensive strength and ball recovery, regardless of the chosen formation. While a solid backline is crucial, having support from CDMs can reduce pressure and facilitate transitions to offense.
This guide details the top CDMs available in FC 27, focusing on their defensive, passing, and physicality attributes. The rankings prioritize the 'Defence' stat, but also consider other key attributes to provide a comprehensive view of player effectiveness.
Top CDMs by Defensive Rating
Players in the CDM role are vital for specialized defensive strategies. The following list is ranked primarily by each player's defending capability:
| Name | Team | Age | Defending / Passing / Physicality | PlayStyles | Value / Wage | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Rodri (M) | FC Barcelona | 30 | 85 / 86 / 81 | Tiki Taka+, Aerial Fortress, Bruiser, Power Shot, Press Proven | £32 million / £258K | | Lena Oberdorf (W) | FC Bayern München | 24 | 85 / 77 / 84 | Bruiser+, Aerial Fortress, Anticipate, Intercept, Power Shot, Press Proven, Slide Tackle | £850K / £3.5K | | Declan Rice (M) | Arsenal | 27 | 85 / 86 / 84 | Relentless+, Dead Ball, Press Proven, Whipped Pass | £87 million / £281.4K | | Moisés Caicedo (M) | Chelsea | 24 | 84 / 77 / 82 | Intercept+, Anticipate, Long Ball Pass, Pinged Pass, Press Proven | £94 million / £211.1K | | Taylor Flint (W) | Rac. Louisville | 27 | 84 / 75 / 91 | Intercept+, Aerial Fortress, Anticipate, Precision Header | £250K / £5.2K | | Patri Guijarro (W) | FC Barcelona | 28 | 84 / 83 / 88 | Intercept+, First Touch, Incisive Pass, Inventive, Press Proven, Tiki Taka | £900K / £6.1K | | Boubacar Kamara (M) | Aston Villa | 26 | 83 / 78 / 78 | Block | £49 million / £175.9K | | N'Golo Kanté (M) | Fenerbahçe | 35 | 83 / 73 / 79 | Intercept, Press Proven, Relentless | £5.2 million / £211.5K | | João Palhinha (M) | FC Bayern München | 31 | 83 / 74 / 84 | Slide Tackle+, Bruiser, Jockey | £3.5 million / £13K | | Kaishū Sano (M) | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | 25 | 83 / 68 / 76 | Intercept+, Aerial Fortress, Anticipate, Relentless | £11 million / £16.3K | | Aurélien Tchouaméni (M) | Real Madrid | 26 | 83 / 79 / 82 | Intercept+, Aerial Fortress, Anticipate, Bruiser, Jockey, Slide Tackle | £51 million / £240.4K | | Casemiro (M) | Inter Miami CF | 34 | 83 / 80 / 78 | Precision Header+, Block, Bruiser, Long Ball Pass, Slide Tackle | £1.3 million / £13K | | Saki Kumagai (W) | London City | 35 | 82 / 72 / 78 | Anticipate, Intercept, Long Ball Pass, Press Proven | £140K / £2.1K | | Sjoeke Nüsken (W) | Chelsea | 25 | 82 / 77 / 77 | Anticipate, Bruiser | £1 million / £4.3K | | Elliot Anderson (M) | Manchester City | 23 | 81 / 83 / 78 | Anticipate+, Aerial Fortress, Block, Relentless, Technical | £116 million / £293.2K | | Hakan Çalhanoğlu (M) | Lombardia FC | 32 | 81 / 85 / 68 | Tiki Taka+, Dead Ball, Gamechanger, Relentless | £10 million / £213.7K | | Damaris Egurrola (W) | OL Lyonnes | 27 | 81 / 82 / 82 | Aerial Fortress, Incisive Pass, Intercept, Long Ball Pass, Precision Header | £1 million / £6.7K | | Yui Hasegawa (W) | Manchester City | 29 | 81 / 86 / 68 | Intercept+, Inventive, Press Proven, Tiki Taka | £1.2 million / £7.3K | | Fabinho (M) | Trabzonspor | 32 | 81 / 77 / 84 | Block, Bruiser, Power Shot, Press Proven, Slide Tackle | £4.8 million / £76.9K | | Joshua Kimmich (M) | FC Bayern München | 31 | 81 / 90 / 79 | Long Ball Pass+, Anticipate, Press Proven, Relentless, Whipped Pass | £26 million / £384.6K |
Top CDMs by Overall Rating and Specific Stats
Beyond defensive prowess, passing and physicality are crucial for CDMs. The following players excel in these areas or boast high overall ratings.
Top 10 CDMs Ranked by Overall Stat
- Rodri (M) - OVR: 90 / PAS: 86 / DEF: 85 / PHY: 81
- Patri Guijarro (M) - OVR: 88 / PAS: 83 / DEF: 84 / PHY: 88
- Yui Hasegawa (W) - OVR: 88 / PAS: 86 / DEF: 81 / PHY: 68
- Joshua Kimmich (M) - OVR: 88 / PAS: 90 / DEF: 81 / PHY: 79
- Declan Rice (M) - OVR: 88 / PAS: 86 / DEF: 85 / PHY: 84
- Moisés Caicedo (M) - OVR: 86 / PAS: 77 / DEF: 84 / PHY: 82
- Georgia Stanway (W) - OVR: 86 / PAS: 80 / DEF: 78 / PHY: 78
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu (M) - OVR: 85 / PAS: 85 / DEF: 81 / PHY: 68
- Erin Cuthbert (W) - OVR: 85 / PAS: 84 / DEF: 80 / PHY: 75
- Rúben Neves (M) - OVR: 85 / PAS: 87 / DEF: 78 / PHY: 80
Best CDMs for Passing
Players with exceptional passing abilities include Joshua Kimmich, Rodri, Declan Rice, Yui Hasegawa, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and:
- Rúben Neves (M) - PAS: 87 / DEF: 78 / PHY: 80
- Kim Little (W) - PAS: 85 / DEF: 78 / PHY: 69
- Granit Xhaka (M) - PAS: 85 / DEF: 78 / PHY: 81
- Erin Cuthbert (W) - PAS: 84 / DEF: 80 / PHY: 75
- Angelo Stiller (M) - PAS: 84 / DEF: 76 / PHY: 72
CDMs with High Physicality
In addition to Taylor Flint, Patri Guijarro, and Fabinho, other CDMs noted for their physicality are:
- Frank Boya (M) - PHY: 87 / PAS: 61 / DEF: 68
- Natalia Ramos (W) - PHY: 87 / PAS: 69 / DEF: 73
- Federico Fattori (M) - PHY: 86 / PAS: 69 / DEF: 73
- José Florentín (M) - PHY: 86 / PAS: 65 / DEF: 69
- Stanko Jurić (M) - PHY: 85 / PAS: 57 / DEF: 68
Notable Players
Rodri stands out as an exceptional all-around CDM, not only possessing the highest defending stat but also leading in overall performance. Declan Rice is a close competitor in defensive capabilities, but Rodri edges him out in overall ratings.
For teams prioritizing ball distribution, Joshua Kimmich is a top choice with a passing stat of 90, significantly higher than other players in his position, with Rúben Neves being the next closest.
In women's football, Lena Oberdorf is a standout for defensive strength. Yui Hasegawa rivals her in overall rating and excels in passing, while Oberdorf maintains an edge in physicality. For passing, Yui Hasegawa, Kim Little, and Erin Cuthbert are top contenders.
The combination of high stats and specialized PlayStyles, such as 'Intercept+' for improved ball retention and 'Long Ball Pass+' for accurate long passes, offers diverse options to suit any tactical setup.
A player tackling another player in EA Sports FC 27.
