EA SPORTSLooking for the best young defenders in EA FC 24 Career Mode? Our shortlists of best young CB, LB, RB, RWB, and LWBs with high potential will help you find wonderkids when the transfer window opens.
While your Global Scouting Network uncovers numerous defensive prospects in-game, several lesser-known players are in EA SPORTS FC’s database and we have done the hard yards to unearth them for you.
These players, carefully scouted for their future growth, could not only bolster your defense but also wear the captain’s armband someday.
Courtesy of the EA FC database, we have shortlisted the best defenders in the game, noting down their age (under 24), overall rating, potential, value, and when their contract runs out in Career Mode.
Best young Center-Backs (CB)
| NAME | POSITION | AGE | OVERALL RATING | POTENTIAL | TEAM | CONTRACT | VALUE | WAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Saliba | CB | 22 | 83 | 89 | Arsenal | (2019 ~ 2024) | €53M | €105K |
| Josko Gvardiol | CB | 21 | 82 | 88 | Manchester City | (2023 ~ 2028) | €46M | €93K |
| António Silva | CB | 19 | 78 | 88 | Benfica | (2022 ~ 2027) | €28.5M | €8K |
| Piero Hincapié | CB | 21 | 79 | 86 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | (2021 ~ 2027) | €33M | €36K |
| Ousmane Diomande | CB | 19 | 75 | 85 | Sporting CP | (2023 ~ 2027) | €11.5M | €6K |
| Gonçalo Inácio | CB | 21 | 80 | 87 | Sporting CP | (2019 ~ 2027) | €40M | €11.5K |
| Micky van de Ven | CB | 22 | 79 | 86 | Tottenham Hotspur | (2023 ~ 2029) | €26.5M | €59K |
| Jorrel Hato | CB | 17 | 73 | 88 | Ajax | (2022 ~ 2025) | €6.5M | €550 |
| Giorgio Scalvini | CB | 20 | 76 | 86 | Atalanta | (2021 ~ 2027) | €11.5M | €19K |
| Dayot Upamecano | CB | 24 | 82 | 86 | FC Bayern München | (2021 ~ 2026) | €39.5M | €59K |
| Mohamed Simakan | CB | 23 | 79 | 86 | RB Leipzig | (2021 ~ 2027) | €32.5M | €43K |
| Jurrien Timber | CB | 22 | 79 | 86 | Arsenal | (2023 ~ 2028) | €33M | €80K |
| Jorne Spileers | CB | 18 | 69 | 85 | Club Brugge | (2022 ~ 2026) | €3.3M | €3K |
| Wesley Fofana | CB | 23 | 79 | 86 | Chelsea | (2022 ~ 2028) | €33M | €80K |
| Alessandro Buongiorno | CB | 24 | 77 | 86 | Torino | (2018 ~ 2028) | €22M | €33K |
| Alessandro Bastoni | CB | 24 | 85 | 90 | Inter | (2017 ~ 2028) | €73.5M | €95K |
| Matthijs de Ligt | CB | 24 | 85 | 89 | Bayern Munchen | (2022 ~ 2027) | €83M | €84K |
| Sven Botman | CB | 24 | 83 | 87 | Newcastle United | (2022 ~ 2027) | €47M | €105K |
| Ibrahima Konate | CB | 24 | 82 | 87 | Liverpool | (2021 ~ 2026) | €37M | €90K |
| Nico Schlotterbeck | CB | 23 | 83 | 88 | Borussia Dortmund | (2022 ~ 2027) | €49.5M | €51K |
Players we recommend
- Josko Gvardiol
- Jorrel Hato
- Gonçalo Inácio
The Manchester City player, Gvardiol, might be a little expensive, but his already high OVR at such a young age, makes him a very interesting option. Mostly because it has the potential to reach a solid 88. Besides being really fast, he has outstanding defending and physical stats, which are a must to keep your side of the pitch clear.
Jorrel Hato is a classy center-back with an incredible pace that will help him block all the players that dare cross to your side of the field. For such a young player, he already has the stats of a very experienced star, but he can develop further, reaching an outstanding 88 OVR.
The Portuguese Defender, Gonçalo Inácio, has amazing pace, physical, defensive, and passing stats at only 21 years old, which is key. Plus, the fact that he is a left footer and the possibility to train Inácio all the way up to 87 makes him even more appealing.
Best young Full-Backs (RB/LB)
| NAME | POSITION | AGE | OVERALL RATING | POTENTIAL | TEAM | CONTRACT | VALUE | WAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnau Martínez | RB | 20 | 80 | 86 | Girona | (2020 ~ 2025) | €30.5M | €21.5K |
| Lutsharel Geertruida | RB | 22 | 79 | 84 | Feyenoord | (2017 ~ 2025) | €25M | €16.5K |
| Malo Gusto | RB | 20 | 76 | 85 | Chelsea | (2023 ~ 2030) | €15.5M | €53K |
| Rico Lewis | RB | 18 | 73 | 86 | Manchester City | (2022 ~ 2028) | €7M | €20K |
| Alejandro Balde | LB | 19 | 81 | 89 | FC Barcelona | (2021 ~ 2024) | €53M | €70K |
| Alphonso Davies | LB | 22 | 82 | 87 | FC Bayern München | (2019 ~ 2025) | €43.5M | €58K |
| Nuno Mendes | LB | 21 | 82 | 87 | Paris Saint Germain | (2021 ~ 2026) | €43.5M | €63K |
| Destiny Udogie | LB | 20 | 77 | 86 | Tottenham Hotspur | (2022 ~ 2027) | €22M | €46K |
| Fabiano Parisi | LB | 22 | 77 | 87 | Fiorentina | (2023 ~ 2028) | €22.5M | €39K |
| Sacha Boey | RB | 22 | 80 | 85 | Bayern Munchen | (2024 ~ 2028) | €30M | €50K |
| Reece James | RB | 24 | 83 | 85 | Chelsea | (2017 ~ 2028) | €50.5M | €120K |
| Milos Kerkez | LB | 19 | 75 | 85 | AFC Bournemouth | (2023 ~ 2027) | €11.5M | €20K |
| Bjorn Meijer | LB | 20 | 73 | 84 | Club Brugge | (2022 ~ 2026) | €7M | €12K |
| Patrick Dorgu | LB | 18 | 64 | 85 | Lecce | (2022 ~ 2027) | €1.8M | €1K |
| Achraf Hakimi | RB | 24 | 84 | 86 | Paris Saint Germain | (2021 ~ 2026) | €50.5M | €90K |
Players we recommend
- Alejandro Balde
- Alphonso Davies
- Arnau Martinez
With an already high 81 OVR, Alejandro Balde is considered one of the best full-back players available. Despite being only 19, he has an enviable pace, and great dribbling and defending, though his shooting needs work. Balde is a very versatile player who can be placed on both left and right sides, and his full potential escalates to 89.
The Canadian Alphonso Davis has great pace and dribbling stats, so it’s sure to say the ball is safe at his feet. More so, he has four stars on his Skill Moves and two PlayStyles focused on speed. Even though he’s costly, at 22 he boasts an incredible 82 OVR with the possibility to increase it up to 87.
Arnau Martínez, the player from Girona, might be young but his attributes ensure he’s a solid addition to any team. As the cheapest option out of our three suggestions, Martinez’s stats are a bit lower, but with a little bit of time and training, he can go from an 80 to a really strong 86.
Best young Wing-Backs (RWB/LWB)
| NAME | POSITION | AGE | OVERALL RATING | POTENTIAL | TEAM | CONTRACT | VALUE | WAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremie Frimpong | RWB | 22 | 84 | 88 | Bayern 04 Leverkusen | (2021 ~ 2028) | €57M | €63K |
| Fresneda | RWB | 18 | 72 | 82 | Sporting CP | (2023 ~ 2028) | €4.7M | €2.5K |
| Vanderson | RWB | 22 | 77 | 84 | AS Monaco | (2023 ~ 2028) | €20.5M | €36.5K |
| Agustin Giay | RWB | 19 | 71 | 83 | San Lorenzo de Almagro | (2020 ~ 2026) | €4.3M | €4.5K |
| Joe Scally | RWB | 20 | 74 | 80 | Borussia M’gladbach | (2021 ~ 2027) | €6M | €15.5K |
| Emil Holm | RWB | 23 | 73 | 80 | Atalanta | (2021 ~ 2026) | €6M | €26.5K |
| Miguel Maga | RWB | 20 | 72 | 82 | Vitoria de Guimaraes | (2020 ~ 2027) | €4.9M | €5.3K |
| Costinha | RWB | 23 | 74 | 81 | Rio Ave | (2020 ~ 2026) | €8M | €7.3K |
| Andrea Cambiaso | LWB | 23 | 77 | 84 | Juventus | (2022 ~ 2027) | €20M | €66K |
| Hugo Bueno | LWB | 20 | 73 | 81 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | (2021 ~ 2028) | €6.5M | €29.5K |
| Nicola Zalewski | LWB | 21 | 75 | 82 | Roma | (2020 ~ 2025) | €11M | €32K |
| Luca Netz | LWB | 20 | 75 | 80 | Borussia M’gladbach | (2021 ~ 2026) | €8M | €16.5K |
| Rayan Ait-Nouri | LWB | 22 | 75 | 82 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | (2021 ~ 2026) | €11M | €41.5K |
| Lukas Ullrich | LWB | 19 | 62 | 79 | Borussia M’gladbach | (2023 ~ 2027) | €1K | €2.3K |
| Tom Rothe | LWB | 18 | 70 | 83 | Holstein Kiel | (2022 ~ 2026) | €3.5M | €3.5K |
Players we recommend
- Jeremie Frimpong
- Vanderson
- Tom Rothe
Jeremie Frimpong might be a little older, but he comes with an 84 rating that can grow into an 88. More so, he’s good at attacking and has both PlayStyles and Skill Moves developed. His 93 pace and 84 dribbling make him stand out and even though he’s a little bit more expensive than Balde, he comes with way more experience.
Talk about growth! The RWB Vanderson can take his regular 77 OVR all the way up to a strong 84, and he costs less than half the price of Jeremie Frimpong. He might have only one PlayStyle and his stats are all under 80, but with some work, Vanderson can become one of the best Defenders in the game.
Tom Rothe is very young, but he is one of the players with the most potential. Rothe starts with a 70 OVR but can grow 13 points to end up with a solid 83. If you’re struggling with your budget but want a good LWB to protect your goal, at 3.5 million, this young player is just what you need.
There are options for all budgets and age brackets above, so have a look around and see if something catches your eye.
In a few seasons, the younger players on this list will all feature for the biggest teams around the world – so getting in early could give you a huge advantage.
Now that you have secured your next top star for this role, check out all of the best young players in every position here.
