Somogyi and Patai rank among top European under-20 defensive midfielders in CIES analysis

Source reporting: 20 October 2026. Added to ScoreTransfer on the publication date shown above.

The CIES Football Observatory has released a new analysis ranking under-20 defensive midfielders in European top divisions. The study evaluates players based on their performance relative to their teammates during the current season.

To qualify for inclusion in the list, players were required to have played at least 360 minutes in the current season. This threshold ensures that the sample size is sufficient for a meaningful statistical comparison.

The observatory uses a performance index to measure individual output. A value of 1.00 represents the average performance level of a player's teammates. Scores above this baseline indicate performance superior to the team average.

Somogyi Ádám of Kispest-Honvéd achieved a high placement in the rankings. He ranked third with a relative performance index of 1.35.

This index value indicates that Somogyi performs 35 percent better than the average of his Honvéd teammates. His result places him near the top of the continental list for his age group and position.

Patai Dávid of Debrecen (DVSC) also featured prominently in the analysis. He ranked tenth with a relative performance index of 1.26.

Patai’s score shows he performs 26 percent better than the average of his Debrecen teammates. Both Hungarian players secured spots in the top ten of the European ranking.

Abdoulaye Doumbia of BK Häcken leads the overall ranking. He recorded a performance index of 1.49, which is the highest value in the dataset for under-20 defensive midfielders.