With FM23 now with us, it is time to round up the best ball winning midfielders you can get early on in the game.
They will not come cheap. However, with some good timing and some luck, you might manage to snag one or two of them towards the end of their current contracts when players in the game are normally considerably cheaper.
Without further ado, here are the best ball winning midfielders you can sign in FM23 at the start of the save;
- Eduardo Camavinga
- Yves Bissouma
- Bruno Guimarães
- Aurélien Tchouameni
- Warren Zaire-Emery
- Declan Rice
- Jurrien Timber
- Moises Caicedo
- Youri Tielemans
- Nicolas Seiwald
I have deliberately avoided listing players who are close to the age of 30, to ensure you get maximum service out of these players I’ve settled upon, or a nice transfer fee should one of the bigger clubs come after them.
1. Eduardo Camavinga
Barely into his twenties, Camavinga is one of the best talents in FM23 in the middle of the park.
Florentino Perez brought him to Real Madrid at the start of last season to learn under the great talents of Toni Kroos and Luca Modric before eventually replacing them in the near future.
Camavinga did more than that, playing an important role in the UCL knockout games, coming in place of Kroos and turning the games around with his impressive work rate and sharp passing.
Camavinga is equally capable as a roaming playmaker, and carrilero offering you much-needed versatility should you need him to cover other roles for injured players.
2. Yves Bissouma
Bissouma has not had the best of starts for Tottenham Hotspurs, often finding himself on the bench unable to displace Hojberg or Bentancur.
Despite this, he is still a highly capable player, as he had already proved so at Brighton before his move to the London-based club.
Possessing impressive physical and technical attributes, Bissouma is comfortable in the defensive midfield position as a ball winning midfielder and further forward as a box to box midfielder in central midfield.
Monitor his game time at the start of your FM23 save, and if by chance he becomes unhappy, move in for him swiftly, as he is an impeccable talent in his prime years.
3. Bruno Guimarães
The rumour mill had Guimarães being favourites to sign for Arsenal, however, for one reason or another that move did not materialize.
The Brazilian midfielder still got his move to the Premier League from Olympique Lyon and now plays for Newcastle United, where he has breathed new life into their midfield.
The hard-working midfielder is also part of the Brazilian squad for the Qatar 2022 World Cup as a testament to the talent that he possesses.
Should you manage to pry him away from Newcastle despite their newfound money, Guimarães is a wonderful talent at only 25 years old, and he will only get better.
He can play multiple roles in the middle of the park, including offering cover for your defence as a deep lying playmaker and hounding the opposition for quick turnovers as a ball winning midfielder.
4. Aurélien Tchouameni
Tchouameni is another young talent brought in by Perez to take after when Toni Kroos and company hang up their boots in a season or two.
But just like Camavinga, he is also playing at a very high level, and it might not be a surprise seeing both of them start for France at the World Cup.
He has the right attributes for a ball winning midfielder, but he can also play a more adventurous central midfield role like a mezzala and also much deeper as deep lying midfielder on defend duty.
He will also cost quite a lot, but with Real Madrid hoarding some great midfield talents, you might get him at a bargain if he lacks the required game time at Los Blancos.
5. Warren Zaire-Emery
Zaire-Emery is very much an unknown talent in FM23 compared to the other names on this list.
He is only 16 years old at the start of this year’s football manager edition, and very much a talent for the future.
He plays for PSG as a defensive midfielder, but he is also a natural in central midfield, making him a very natural ball winning midfielder.
If you are unable to pry him away from the French champions, getting him on loan to your club when he turns 18 is a solid way of getting the services of a wonderkid and future world beater
6. Declan Rice
Long touted for a big move to one of the Premier League’s big hitters, Declan Rice is a hot commodity in FM23 and for good reason.
He can comfortably play in defensive midfield, central midfield and even in defence as a libero.
His talents, however, are best used just in front of the defence, protecting the backline as a deep lying playmaker or a ball winning midfielder depending on how you set up your team
He has the passing range and technique needed for the roles, as well as being solid out of possession.
However, being young and an English international, be prepared to fight it out against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool for his signature. He will not come cheap.
7. Jurrien Timber
Timber had a busy transfer window being linked with a move to Manchester United which did not materialize.
The 21-year-old Dutch international is primarily a centre back, but he can cover a few other positions, including right back and defensive midfield as a ball winning midfielder.
Plying his trade in the Eredivisie, he will not cost as much as the other names on this list, but you have to move fast before he gets a move to one of the richer clubs.
His decent technique and impressive passing range for a central defender also make him a good candidate to train as a Libero should you wish to have a central defender being the focal point of your attacking play.
8. Moises Caicedo
21-year-old Caicedo has grown in leaps and bounds over the past year at Brighton under the tutelage of Graham Potter, who has now departed for Chelsea.
He can comfortably play as a ball winning midfielder in central midfield and also deeper in defensive midfield as an anchorman
Caicedo will definitely cost a pretty penny, but playing for Brighton, it is much easier to sign him up than convincing the likes of Camavinga and Tchouameni to leave Real Madrid.
Be sure to go after him immediately, as the bigger clubs will be in for him after the first season.
9. Youri Tielemans
Tielemans did not have an impressive 2021/22 season, but has the talent and potential to turn things around this year.
Still wearing Leicester City colours, Tielemans is already proven at the highest level and is a regular in the Belgian National Team.
The 25-year-old is comfortable in a number of roles in central midfield including deep lying playmaker, ball winning midfielder and also in more creative ones like an advanced playmaker and roaming playmaker.
With his contract expiring in June 2023, you can offer him a pre-contract agreement in January if you are managing a side outside England.
10. Nicolas Seiwald
At only 21 years old, Seiwald is a talent for the future, and at such a young age you can mould him to play different roles in your team.
Right off the bat, he can play in the right midfield position, central midfield and defensive midfield.
His attributes, however, make him a good candidate for a carrilero, ball winning midfielder or box to box midfielder to make runs into the opposition’s final third
As he currently plays for RB Salzburg, he will also not cost as much as the other names on this list.
