In Football Manager 2024, midfielders are more than often the lifeblood of a team and the pendulum that decides how the team will function during a game. They can either be a defense workhorse that works to pick off any attempt to infiltrate the team's midfield or a maestro that decides the tempo of the match with his skillful passing.
Football Manager 2024: Best Center Midfielders, Ranked
Players should use the following center midfielders to the best of their abilities in Football Manager 2024.
Due to their importance, teams without an adequate midfield will often struggle to contain their opponents and control the match to their liking. Some of these midfielders can sometimes cost astronomically, while the others can be cheap yet properly utilized to become an integral part of the midfield.
Updated on June 29th, 2024, by Evan Arnoldi: Although having a midfield spine in Football Manager 2024 can be tough, it is ultimately necessary as neglecting to pay close attention to this particular part of the team can result in an early dismissal for any new manager, especially after they lose a string of games. Therefore, identifying the cheap options for this integral part of the squad is necessary. Moreover, the players in this position will be able to play a part in both the defensive and offensive phases of the game, making them effectively responsible for any goals made in the game both by the team and its opposition. Some of these players can also be an investment for the future thanks to their relatively young age, which can be crucial for any lower-ranked teams who are restricted by budgetary obstacles.
9 Alvaro Fidalgo
Cheap Maestro To Dictate The Flow Of The Game
- Price: £1,000,000
- Currently plays for America
Having a midfield player that is perfectly capable of dictating the flow of the game while being cheap can be tough to find, but Alvaro Fidalgo quickly becomes a viable target thanks to his relatively cheap price, which is backed with immense attributes that allow him to become a maestro of the game. Fidalgo is able to dictate the flow of the match easily thanks to the select attributes that he has in a high number, such as his Passing and Vision.
In addition, Fidalgo also has a relatively high Dribbling, Anticipation, First Touch, and Agility, making him able to glide off the midfield with his great dribbling technique without being caught by the opposition's midfield destroyer. Although his other physical attributes can not be relied on, as long as his midfield partners are able to contribute to his share of defensive duties, Fidalgo is a bright spot to have in the midfield who can be acquired rather cheaply, even by teams in the lower division such as Championship in the English Football League.
8 Nicolas Dominguez
A Bargain For Both The Present And Future
- Price: £7,900,000
- Currently plays for Bologna F.C.
A bargain midfielder who is able to function both as the present option and the future is a rarity, especially in Football Manager 2024. Fortunately, keen players will find themselves rewarded should they be able to secure Nicolas Dominguez's signature from Bologna F.C. at the £7.9M price.
Football Manager 2024: Best Wonderkids, Ranked
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By acquiring Dominguez, a manager can expect to have a young workhorse capable of hounding the opposition's players while also supplying the team's forwards with pinpoint passes. Unfortunately, players who play in "Real World" mode will have to wait for at least a year before acquiring him, as he will be joining Nottingham Forest on 1st September 2023. However, once he is acquired, a manager can expect him to perform great in the top division.
7 Flynn Downes
Tireless Midfield Enforcer
- Price: £5,200,000
- Currently plays for West Ham United
Modern football tactics typically require a specific midfield enforcer to hound the opposition players and hunt for the ball in the midfield before they are able to reach the defense. Flynn Downes is capable of both enforcing the team's tactics and physical presence in the midfield, only for a small price of £5.2M.
Football Manager 2024: Best Center Backs, Ranked
Though it largely comes down to the player's preference and playstyle, these are arguably the best center-backs in Football Manager 2024.
His above-average Aggression and Tackling stand out as important statistics for a ball-winning Defensive Midfielder to have. Moreover, his high Stamina and Work Rate will also support a high-energy pressing playstyle that might be played by a manager.
6 Dani Garcia
Workhorse Veteran With A Wealth Of Experience
- Price: £14,700,000
- Currently plays for Athletic
Fielding only young and upcoming players on the field typically will translate to a disastrous performance as they might be lacking in some of the mental attributes, such as Determination and Teamwork. Fortunately, having a midfield general such as Dani Garcia will help the team calm down and composed in the face of adversary.
His high Leadership and Teamwork will enable him to follow the manager's instructions to a tee, coupled with his above-average Tackling, Aggression, and Positioning. However, a player can expect to have him in the first team for only 1–2 years of his remaining career as he is already in the twilight years of 33.
5 Alejandro Zendejas
Cheap All-Rounder Rotation Option In The Midfield
- Price: £400,000
- Currently plays for America
A rotational option that can be acquired on the cheap in the midfield position is a great way to strengthen a lower team's strength when competing in a competitive division, such as the Championship in the English Football League, during a game of Football Manager 2024. With his relatively above-average abilities, Alejandro Zendejas provides such options as he is able to be acquired at a cheap price while also being able to be relied on during matches both as a starter and substitute.
His above-average stats of Dribbling, Passing, Decisions, Off The Ball, and Vision enable him to become a good attacking midfielder to keep the pressure on the opposition's side of the pitch. To top it off, Zendejas is also able to play in multiple positions, making him a flexible choice on the bench to be unleashed once the game hits the 60th-70th minutes.
4 Barry Bannan
Experienced Midfield Maestro
- Price: £2,600,000
- Currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday
Having a midfield maestro who is capable of both dictating the match's tempo and pinging pinpoint passes to take opposition players out of the game can sometimes be quite pricey. However, a budget option is available with Barry Bannan, an experienced midfield playmaker for the price of £2.6M from the Championship team Sheffield Wednesday.
Bannan's high passing statistics such as Crossing, Passing, and Vision will enable him to be a threat when allowed to dwell with the ball. Moreover, his twilight age of 33 did not prevent him from also putting an effort into pressing with his high Work Rate stats.
3 Jonas Meffert
Calm "Water Carrier" For The Midfield
- Price: £2,200,000
- Currently plays for Hamburg SV
A high-performing team will always have a certain player who is able to be a passing option under heavy pressure to get out of the press in transition and start an attacking sequence. Although these types of players are usually on the more expensive side, Jonas Meffert is available to do the role for the mere price of £2.2M.
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With his high Balance, Composure, Concentration, and Passing, Meffert will be able to seamlessly transition the ball from the defense into the forwards and follow tactical instruction diligently with his high Teamwork stats.
2 Bryan Heynen
Consistent All-Rounder Midfielder
- Price: £10,400,000
- Currently plays for KRC Genk
A jack-of-all-trades is usually crucial for a team to have for both tactical reasons and an option for the squad, with only a few players that are able to do the role quite consistently and efficiently. Bryan Heynen is able to provide that option with a budget price of £10.4M from the Belgian club KRC Genk.
His stats are rather above-average for almost all midfielder's essentials such as Passing, Tackling, Vision, and Work Rate. Coupled with his high consistency, Heynen will be able to do a fine job for both lower teams in the Premier League and also a consistent backup option for the higher teams such as Manchester United.
1 Maxence Caqueret
Tireless Playmaker With High Potential
- Price: £17,300,000
- Currently plays for Olympique Lyonnais
Although his price is not exactly in a budget range, Maxence Caqueret could potentially become an important cog for any team in difficult leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga due to his high technical stats in First Touch, Passing, and Technique. With a price of £17.3M, a team can be safely assured in the passing department.
Moreover, his playmaking skill is complemented by his high potential for Positioning, Teamwork, and Work Rate, making him able to do the dirty work in the midfield as well. His high Stamina and relatively young age will also enable him to function consistently for the full 90-minute duration without being tired, enabling him to become a consistent first-teamer both in the present and in the future as well.
Football Manager 2024
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- November 6, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Sega
- Genre(s)
- Management , Simulation , Sports
