FIFA 21 best cheap defensive midfielders
Probably the most important position in your team. The FIFA 21 best cheap defendensive midfielders have amazing stats. Ideally high defensive work rates and the more power the better. Depending on your style of play they are usually the busiest players in your team so high stamina is also good to have. As always player prices under 20k so everyone can afford them.
FIFA 21 best cheap defensive midfielder Radja Nainggolan
The best bargain CDM for us in FIFA 21 is Nainggolan. Even though a CAM by default. A 91 rated defensive midfielder with powerhouse chemistry style. High defensive and attacking work rates with 89 stamina. In our Serie A squad is one of the stand out players. Every game he wins the ball against higher rated players and icons. Then rather than giving a simple pass he surges forward driving the team forward. Can also launch long through balls with 95 vision and 92 long passing. High stats in all areas and 96 interceptions with 99 standing tackle. Great shot taker with long shot trait and outside of foot shot. We love a defensive player who can also help if needing to attack. Serie A is a good league for bargains and also Belgian can link well.
Allan FIFA 21 bargain defensive midfielder
Another brilliant CDM in FIFA 21 is Allan. 92 rated CDM with powerhouse style and even has 4 star skills. Lots would have him as their number 1 and we can see why. One of the best cheap players on the game. Impressive winning the ball in lots of games we played with 98 interceptions and 99 standing tackle. With 92 stamina and 90 aggression Allan can continuously close down players. If you are controlling other players you know he will be there ready to cover and break down attacks. Only our 2nd best CDM due to slightly less attacking. Was difficult to choose between the two.
Paulinho beast cheap defensive midfielder FIFA 21
3rd favourite cheap CDM is Paulinho. Very hard to put a top 10 in order of preference but we decide based on lots of games. Reminded us of Nainggolan every game so we can tell that stats and work rates do create a type of player. Everywhere in defence and attack never tiring with 92 stamina. Becomes an 88 rated CDM with powerhouse chemistry style. High stats everywhere so if you do need to change to more attacking he gives that option too. Very high balance against quick agile attackers to keep up with their turns. 4 star skills and weak foot with good traits. Not in an easy league to link but luckily Brazil gives lots of options. Next to Allan you have a Brazilian wall opponents need to get through.
Wilfred Ndidi bargain premier league CDM FIFA 21
4th is Ndidi who is an absolute beast for winning the ball. 89 CDM with powerhouse giving him 99 interceptions and 99 standing tackle. You can’t get higher than those stats and with 92 stamina you know he will keep going even into extra time. With good pace and reactions you can rely on the AI to use him wisely before switching to him. Then when you put that tackle in he doesn’t fail often. Use hard tackle for more effect. If you just need a ball winner without needing much more Ndidi is your man in English Premier League.
Emre Can great bargain CDM FIFA 21
Number 5 is a Bundesliga beast 90 rated CDM with powerhouse. You can build a very strong team in this league and Can has all round excellent stats. As mentioned putting the top 10 in order isn’t easy and we really enjoyed using CAN. Wins the ball and wins headers which is an added bonus. Thought about moving him higher for that reason alone. 99 standing tackle and 94 interceptions with lots of high passing and vision stats. Flair and attacking stats with great long shots mean he can join the attack and score goals too. Just lacks that bit of acceleration but one of the best cheap midfielders in the game.
Konrad Laimer cheap CDM with pace FIFA 21
Pace is king in FIFA right? Not many defensive midfielders have pace and are actually any good. With powerhouse chem style Laimer becomes an 88 rated CDM with 86 sprint speed. 89 stamina and 85 aggression with 94 interceptions so he can really break up those attacks. Defensive awareness not quite as high as others at 88 but 94 standing tackle making him a boss. Purely down to the extra pace becomes our number 6 cheap CDM. Bundesliga has lots of good bargains as we are seeing. Enjoyed dropping him between defenders if needed with his pace.
Premier league cheap beast CDM Thomas Partey
Another Premier League CDM rated 91 with powerhouse chem style. With a bit more pace and balance would have been as good as anyone but with 92 stamina you can push him to the limit. 99 standing tackle and 94 interceptions with 99 vision and top rated passing Partey can stop and create. Anywhere around edge of box he has a rocket of a shot too if you need a last minute goal pushing on. 7th choice on our list we played a lot of games with him at CM and CDM.
Thomas Delaney bargain CDM FIFA
Every year we like using Delaney in FIFA. His high defensive low attacking work rate means he is always waiting to win the ball. Strong all round as so many on this list with powerhouse, 96 standing tackle and interceptions. Often gets informs in FIFA so look out for them when more coins. Leadership trait too which we set for captains if a player in team with it. With 91 jumping and 83 heading he can be dropped into defence or between defenders if really needing to defend hard. Very useful for a CDM. Good passing too making our top 10 at number 8.
Denis Zakaria cheap CDM FIFA21
9th another Bundesliga cheap CDM and with pace too. We know what a lot of you will do with Zakaria and Laimer available. Only has medium work rates so not as high up the list but still a great player. This is a top 10 not 100 remember. An 89 rated CDM with powerhouse and 99 standing tackle. 91 interceptions and vision and almost 90 defensive awareness. Very strong and aggressive too which can help against certain powerful opponents. 6ft 3 but strangely not very good at jumping or heading.
Axel Witsel bargain CDM FIFA21
Finally Witsel makes the top 10 but we found it hard to choose between him and Gueye at PSG. Especially given all the Bundesliga players on the list. However the decision is based on how they played over a number of games. Witsel just had more to his play and dominated more games. Even alone as the only defensive midfielder. If looking for a ligue 1 CDM then Gueye is a great option. Witsel has 92 composure and with powerhouse 99 short passing and 95 long passing. 4 star skills and weak foot and his leadership and solid player traits obviously make a difference. Only medium work rates and not the quickest but we just loved using him.
Check out the other player sections for strikers, wingers, attacking midfielders and defenders on our best cheap fifa 21 players page