When attempting to climb the ranks in EA FC 26, it will quickly become clear how necessary a good CDM can be, whether you like it or not.
But no, that does not mean going on the red for a 500k+ pick is worth it. After all, in true FC fashion, you also have a good array of budget and middle-of-the-table beasts to choose from. To show you that firsthand, here are the best CDMs under 10K, 25K, and 200K in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team.
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The Best Budget CDMs Under 10K In EA FC 26
Although not the best on paper, his ability to excel and linking potential with many budget powerhouses make Gold Rare Eduardo Camavinga the best under 10K CDM in EA FC 26. He is also by far the best future investment within the class, as his potential already saw him become a fan-favorite and an absolute menace when paired with the 25K The Big Fella evolution.
We then have in Gold Rare Aurélien Tchouaméni the best partner for Camavinga on the cheap, while Gold Rare Grace Geyoro is a highlight via her high stats and mean pairing of Relentless+ and Anticipate. You can check out an overview of all of the mentioned players, as well as an extra pick below:
| Player | Face Stats | PlayStyles | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Rare Eduardo Camavinga (83 OVR / CM) | 80 PAC, 68 SHO, 81 PAS, 84 DRI, 78 DEF, and 80 PHY | Jovkey, Block, Technical, and Bruiser | 3K+ on consoles and PC |
| Gold Rare Grace Geyoro (86 OVR / CM) | 89 PAc, 73 SHO, 82 PAC, 83 DRI, 82 DEF, and 80 PHY | Relentless+, Incisive Pass, Inventive, and Anticipate | 7K+ on consoles / 8K+ on PC |
| Gold Rare Aurélien Tchouaméni (84 OVR / CDM) | 71 PAC, 69 SHO, 79 PAS, 78 DRI, 81 DEF, and 82 PHY | Precision Header, Jockey, Intercept, Anticipate, Aerial Fortress, Relentless, and Bruiser | 1.6K+ on consoles and PC |
| Gold Rare Ryan Gravenberch (85 OVR / CDM) | 76 PAC, 76 SHO, 81 PAS, 85 DRI, 81 DEF, and 81 PHY | Intercept and Press Proven | 4.5K+ on both consoles and PC |
The Best CDMs Under 25K In EA FC 26
When looking for an under-25K CDM in EA FC 26, Gold Rare Patri Guijarro is for me the best and only choice, given her high DRI, DEF, and ability to kick-start play through her Deep-Lying Playmaker+ role, Long Ball Pass+, Incisive Pass, and Tiki Taka combo. To make the deal even better, she also has excellent synergy with meta picks such as Alexia Putellas, Claudia Pina, and Aitana Bonmati.
Cornerstones Kim Little also shines through her Press Proven+, PAS, and DRI, while Gold Rare Mariona’s offensive-focused kit makes her Patri’s ideal duo. Lastly, Cornerstones Ryan Yates can be seen as the best pick when looking for a defensively solid Premier League link. Here’s an overview of our CDM picks, as well as an extra alternative:
| Player | Face Stats | PlayStyles | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Rare Patri Guijarro (89 OVR / CDM) | 78 PHY, 82 SHO, 83 PAS, 87 DRI, 86 DEF, and 83 PHY | Long Ball Pass+, Incisive Pass, Tiki Taka, Inventive, Aerial Fortress, First Touch, and Press Proven | 26K+ on consoles / 28k+ on PC |
| Gold Rare Mariona (89 OVR / CM) | 78 PAC, 84 SHO, 86 PAS, 90 DRI, 76 DEF, and 79 PHY | Relentless+, Incisive Pass, Long Ball Pass, Tiki Taka, Inventive, Technical, and First Touch | 25K+ on both consoles and PC |
| Cornerstones Kim Little (87 OVR / CDM) | 79 PAS, 78 SHO, 87 PAS, 89 DRI, 81 DEF, and 73 PHY | Press Proven+, Power Shot, Incisive Pass, and Aerial Fortress | 20K+ on consoles / 45K on PC |
| Cornerstones Denise O’Sullivan (85 OVR / CDM) | 85 PAS, 75 SHO, 75 PAS, 80 DRI, 81 DEF, and 83 PHY | Jockey, Block, Intercept, Anticipate, and Slide Tackle | 13K on consoles / 16K on PC |
| Cornerstones Ryan Yates (85 OVR / CDM) | 74 PAC, 70 SHO, 80 PAS, 76 DRI, 85 DEF, and 88 PHY | Long Ball Pass, Intercept, Aerial Fortress, Bruiser, and Enforcer | 13k+ on both consoles and PC |
The Best CDMs Under 200K In EA FC 26
The quintessential Box Crasher, Base Icon Frank Lampard is the best under 200K CDM in EA FC 26 and the ideal pick for those looking to score from those hard-to-telegraph manual runs. Just make sure to keep in mind that he might leave you hanging in the defensive department and must not be used in solo CDM formations.
Boasting the sought-after Intercept+ and an enviable pairing of 88 DEF and 89 PHY, Cornerstones Millie Bright is then both our second pick and the ideal Holding/Centre-Half CDM, no matter her chemistry level. A member of the prestigious Gullit gang featuring the Press Proven and Relentless combo, Khéphren Thuram also deserves a mention here, even if I wouldn’t recommend picking him over the previously mentioned Gold Rare Patri Guijarro. You can check out two extra alternatives perfect for the Holding and Deep-Lying Playmaker roles, as well as an overview of the stats, PlayStyles, and price of all of our picks, below:
| Player | Face Stats | PlayStyles | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Hero Frank Lampard (87 OVR / CM) | 77 PAC, 88 SHO, 86 PAS, 84 DRI, 71 DEF, 80 PHY | Power Shot+, Dead Ball, Low Driven Shot, Incisive Pass, Pinged Pass, Tiki Taka, and Press Proven | 185K on consoles / 190K on PC |
| Gold Rare Frenkie de Jong (87 OVR / CM) | 82 PAC, 71 SHO, 85 PAS, 87 DRI, 78 DEF, and 77 PHY | Tiki Taka+, Incisive Pass, Inventive, and Press Proven | 94K on consoles / 100K+ on PC |
| Cornerstones Millie Bright (88 OVR / CB) | 75 PAC, 52 SHO, 71 PAS, 67 DRI, 88 DEF, and 89 PHY | Intercept+, Pinged Pass, Anticipate, Aerial Fortress, and Bruiser | 65K+ on consoles / 80K on PC |
| Cornerstones Khéphren Thuram (85 OVR / CM) | 82 PAC, 80 SHO, 81 PAS, 84 DRI, 85 DEF, and 85 PHY | Pinged Pass, Press Proven, and Relentless | 150K+ on consoles and PC |
| TOTW Ryan Gravenberch (86 OVR / CDM) | 78 PAC, 78 SHO, 82 PAS, 86 DRI, 82 DEF, and 82 PHY | Incisive Pass, Intercept, and Press Proven | 190k+ on consoles / 160K on PC |
With the best CDMs taken care of, make sure to also take a look at who the best CMs under 10K, 50K, and 100K are in FC 26. Trust me, you will need it when looking to change things up mid-game.
