EA FC 25: Best CDMs in Ultimate Team
See a list of the best CDMs you can use in EA FC 25.
This is part of the ‘EA FC’ directory
Directory contents
Defensive Midfielders have finally got their flowers in recent years, and their importance is definitely understood in EA FC 25 - that's why we've got a list of the best CDMs you can buy for your Ultimate Team squad.
Best CDMs in EA FC 25
- Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
- Nicolò Barella (Inter)
- Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
- Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid)
- N'Golo Kanté (Al Ittihad)
- Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
- Ismaël Bennacer (Milan)
- Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund)
The role of Centre Defensive Midfielder is a bit of a tricky one to fill in EA FC, as Pace is almost as important as Passing, Defending, and Physical. This is due to the fact that you'll likely want the player to chase the ball in most scenarios, and low-pace players will be bypassed far too easily.
This does, in turn, rule out not only the highest-rated CDM but also the joint highest-rated player in Rodri, as 66 Pace is tough to work with despite his other impressive stats and PlayStyles.
Once the player has the right stats though you'll want to turn your attention to PlayStyles and Player Roles, as these can definitely make or break their performance in your team.
Best Defensive Midfielder PlayStyles
As the requirements of the three CDM Player Roles vary wildly, it's only natural that you'll want different PlayStyles for each. As always, + versions of each PlayStyle only enhance their performance on the pitch, so keep your eyes peeled for certain combinations.
Holding
- Block
- Bruiser
- Intercept
- Jockey
- Slide Tackle
- Anticipate
- Relentless
Deep-Lying Playmaker
- Pinged Pass
- Long Ball Pass
- Tiki Taka
- Press Proven
- Intercept
- Anticipate
Centre-Half
- Block
- Bruiser
- Intercept
- Slide Tackle
- Anticipate
- Aerial
Best CDM Player Role
For most Ultimate Team players I'd recommend going for the Holding Player Role for your CDMs, as this will give you the greatest chance of success when it comes to tackles, interceptions, and blocks.
This is what a lot of the top-level players look for in their CDM, and it'll be key in preventing transitions and counter-attack opportunities. If performed correctly, the opposition will feel like any pass or forward run is mopped up by your trusty Defensive Midfielder.
I'm going to be playing around with the Deep-Lying Playmaker this year though, as the opportunity for driving runs and support in midfield is appealing. Only two players currently have this Role++ though (Rodri and Xhaka) so the options are somewhat limiting.
About The Author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
This is part of the ‘EA FC’ directory
Directory contents
