FC 27 Best CDMs: Build an Unstoppable Defensive Midfield

Central Defensive Midfielders are the pivot points of most of the modern-day football formations. They also might act as the primary controller of a game's tempo, especially in their own half. These players generally have the upper hand while creating chances for their team from deep in the midfield area. They sometimes fill the void of a center-backs and provide the necessary cover. These anchor players can either opt for long-ball passes or through balls to put threats to the opponent's final third.

Meanwhile, these anchors also have the freedom to roam around the field and sometimes even make late runs inside the opponent's penalty box to put extra pressure. While they're bound with so many responsibilities in real life, FC 27's virtual field is not an exception. It's important for you to choose the best CDM FC 27 to strengthen your midfield area. From Rodri to Tonali, let's take a look at the top 10 list of best CDM FC 27 Career mode.

Top 10 Best CDMs in FC 27 Career Mode

The following Best CDM FC 27 list contains some of the best deep-lying and holding midfielders. Most of the players have CDM as their primary, while the rest have it as a secondary position. Let's check out the list:

10. Sandro Tonali

The Tottenham star has been a Premier League sensation in recent times. Unlike the top-rated defensive mids, the Italian doesn't have any PlayStyle+. He, however, does have 82 Passing and 84 Physical, which makes him quite versatile in the virtual field. It clearly means that he can be a holding midfielder, as well as a deep-lying playmaker.

9. Georgia Stanway

Georgia Stanway, the Arsenal female star, has always been one of the fan-favourite CDMs in Ultimate Team. The primary reason is that she's quite affordable in the transfer market. Even though she lacks Shooting and Physical attributes, her 80 Passing and 86 Dribbling make her a great defensive mid. She also has the Pinged Pass+ PlayStyle, which can help players to utilise the likes of Stanway as a deep-lying playmaker in EA FC 27.

8. Nicolò Barella

Inter Milan star Nicolò Barella is another great example in our Best CDM FC 27 list. The Italian star doesn't feature any PlayStyle+, but can be utilised as a deep-lying playmaker. And his 84 Passing and 86 Dribbling attributes justify the fact. He's the best budget CDM one can get for their Ultimate Team. Apart from that, his 78 Shooting and 81 Defending should be enough to nullify threats from the opponent's forwards. Check out our recent coverage of FC 27 Serie A Player Ratings to see other players.

7. Moisés Caicedo

Moises Caicedo is one of the best controlled-type defensive midfielders you can get in the early meta. Unlike Barella, Caicedo excels as a holding player. His Intercept+ PlayStyle, along with the combination of 84 Defence and 82 Physical, is the right mixture which help him outplay the top-rated strikers. Apart from this, he lacks Pace and Shooting, which restricts players like Caicedo to defensive duties only.

6. Declan Rice

The 2025/26 Premier League winner, Declan Rice, is also a great holding midfielder. The lengthy Englishman has a Relentless+ PlayStyle, which gives the potential to utilise him as a deep-lying playmaker. We, however, would suggest that he mostly excels as a holding player due to his 85 Defence and 84 Physical. He's one of the best options in both Career and Ultimate Team modes to intercept the key passes from Classic #10s. His AI positioning can also be utilised to control the game's tempo in the user's final third area. Make sure to go through our recent coverage of FC 27 Arsenal Player Ratings.

5. Yui Hasegawa

The Manchester City WFC star Yui Hasegawa is number five in our best CDM FC 27 Career mode list. While she lacks Physicality and Pace in the virtual field, her rest of the attributes certainly make up for it. Even though she comprises an Intercept+ PlayStyle, her 88 Dribbling and 86 Passing help her to be the top-rated deep-lying playmaker from the deep in the backline area.

4. Joshua Kimmich

The Classic #6 of Bayern Munich has always been one of the top choices for Ultimate Team grinders. Gamers like to utilise his Long Ball Pass+ and 90 Passing attribute to create those pivotal chances and beat the opponent's defenders. It's quite evident that everyone can utilise Joshua as a deep-lying playmaker in both Ultimate Team and Career modes. He features the highest passing attribute among all CDMs in our best FC 27 CDM list. The likes of Kimmich, however, lack Shooting and Physical attributes.

3. João Neves

The 2025/27 UEFA Champions League winner is third on our best CDM EA FC 27 Career mode list. He is also the best deep-lying playmaker in FC 27, and his Tiki-Taka+ PlayStyle simply justifies the fact. Even though Pace & Shooting aren't his forte, the Portuguese can outplay anyone with his 87 Dribbling and 84 Passing attributes. Meanwhile, if someone wants to utilise this PSG star as a holding midfielder, 86 Defence and 82 Physicality might come in handy for them. Check out our recent coverage of FC 27 PSG Player Ratings.

2. Patri Guijjaro

The Barcelona femeni star has always been in the best CDM FC 27 list for the last couple of iterations. The controlled defensive midfielder mostly excels in a holding role. And that clearly complements her Intercept+ PlayStyle, along with 84 Defence and 88 Physical. Guijjaro is a beast in terms of holding the midfield area in a pivot position. Meanwhile, if someone wants to utilise her as a box crasher, she does have 82 Shooting and 88 Dribbling to outperform the opponent's defenders. Check out our FC 27 Liga F Player Ratings to see other players.

1. Rodri

Rodri is the Best CDM FC 27 with a massive 90 OVR. The World Cup winner and the star of the 2026/27 Summer transfer features a Tiki-Taka+ PlayStyle. Therefore, the Barcelona star can easily be utilised as a deep-lying playmaker in the virtual field. The tiny passes can help anyone's team to make pivotal transitions from the deep midfield area to the opponent's final third. Meanwhile, his 86 passing and 85 defending can also come in handy to anticipate key passes from the opponent's number 10 positions.

That completes everything we had to discuss about the best CDM EA FC 27 Career mode. Most of the gold items here feature CDM as their primary position, but a few don't. We, however, can confirm that those cards are the best fit for the Defensive mid position in Ultimate Team.

Nevertheless, it's your choice on how you can utilise these cards, either as a deep-lying playmaker or a holding one. It'll be interesting to see what the new meta brings to gamers, especially how it affects the CDM role.

If you've liked our coverage so far, check out our recent piece on Best CB EA FC 27 to strengthen your backline even more right off the bat.