The CDM

The summer transfer market was again busy, and the 'CDM' position was the focus for some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, not only that, it saw a new British transfer record smashed. 

With Chelsea splashing £115m on Caicedo from Brighton and £53m on Romeo Lavia from Southampton, whilst Liverpool brought in Alexis Mac Allister for £35m and Declan Rice moved from West Ham to Arsenal for £105m. We thought we'd share exactly what a CDM actually is!

So, what Is A CDM?

CDM is an abbreviation for Central Defensive Midfielder and is positioned in the central area of midfield, typically in front of the team's defensive backline.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a CDM?

Their primary role is to provide defensive support and act as a shield for the team's backline. They are responsible for breaking up the opponent's attack, intercepting passes, tackling, and winning ball possession.

In addition, when in possession, they are often used to link the defensive unit to the attacking one.

What are the characteristics of a CDM?

A CDM often has excellent defensive skills, such as good positioning, strong tackling ability and ability to read the game well.

They also play a crucial role in distributing the ball to more attacking players once they regain possession, helping the team to transition from defence to attack, and therefore require good awareness, passing and receiving skills.

CDM Examples 

Some excellent examples of a central defensive midfielder are Declan Rice, Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Casimiro, N'golo Kante, and Claude Makelele.

CDM Practice

Download this session plan focused on intercepting, one of the critical skills of a top-quality central defensive midfielder. Click the image below.