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The best centre-backs to sign in FC 25 Career Mode

From Pau Cubarsí to Giorgio Scalvinia, here's a curated of the best young centre-backs to sign on your FC25 Career Modes

SCOUTED

SCOUTED

— 7 min read
The best centre-backs to sign in FC 25 Career Mode

SCOUTED is a magazine about youth football. Turns out, all that knowledge is pretty useful for FC25 Career Mode, who'da thought?

We’ve picked out a few of our favourite young centre-backs that would be suitable signings on your EA FC 25 Career Mode saves. From Giorgio Scalvini to Ousmane Diomandé, these are some of the best young centre-backs in the game.

If you are looking for older players, we have you sorted too, with a collection of the ten highest overall centre-backs at the start of your save. We scout players IRL, if you're a budding Director of Football - have a browse through the rest of our website for more young players to sign.

Who are the best centre-backs in FC 25 Career Mode?

The best centre-backs in FC 25 Career Mode are those with the highest overall rating. Here's a handy list, including their overall at the start of the game, and their highest possible potential rating (in brackets):

  • Virgil van Dijk - 89 (89)
  • Rúben Dias - 88 (88)
  • Antonio Rüdiger - 88 (88)
  • William Saliba - 87 (89)
  • Alessandro Bastoni - 87 (89)
  • Marquinhos - 87 (87)
  • Bremer - 86 (89)
  • Gabriel - 86 (87)
  • Jonathan Tah - 86 (87)
  • Ronald Araujo - 85 (90)

Look, we say the best, but this is SCOUTED - and you know us. We're not so interested in who's the best right now, but who's going to conquer the world in the next five years.

The magic of career mode is finding the next big thing on the cheap, before the blow up, and handcrafting them into one of the best players on the planet. To that end, here's our list of the real best centre-backs to sign: the youngsters with massive space to grow.

The six best young Centre-Backs to sign and develop in FC 25 Career Mode

For easy reference, here's our list. Don't worry - we'll dive into detail momentarily. As before, their rating is included alongside their potential (in brackets).

  • Pau Cubarsí - 72 (88)
  • Giorgio Scalvini - 78 (88)
  • António Silva - 79 (87)
  • Ousmande Diomandé - 78 (86)
  • Finn Jeltsch - 65 (84)
  • Luka Vušković - 64 (86)

That's more like it. Let's get into the detail.

Barcelona's Pau Cubarsí, one of the best wonderkid centre-backs on EA FC 25

Pau Cubarsí

Position: CB
Club: FC Barcelona (ESP)
Nation: Spain
Market Value: €5.5 million

Pau Cubarsí exploded into the zeitgeist last season when he started 18 La Liga games for Barcelona, fresh from the La Masia academy. That he did so at just 17 years old – and at centre-back – makes him truly remarkable.

The defensive yin to Lamine Yamal’s yang, Cubarsí is simply the perfect modern centre-back. He starts FC25 at 72 overall, meaning he’s no slouch from the off – but a ceiling of 88 potential could see him become one of the best defenders in the game. His passing stats are unreal and at a market value of just €5.5m, Cubarsí is a no-brainer for managers who like to have the ball.

  • Overall: 72
  • Potential: 88
  • Potential Growth: +16
Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini, one of the best wonderkid centre-backs on EA FC 25

Giorgio Scalvini

Position: CB
Club: Atalanta BC (ITA)
Nation: Italy
Market Value: €29 million

A SCOUTED favourite, Giorgio Scalvini is already an established centre-back in Serie A for Atalanta, and is beginning his third full season in the first team at just 20. That’s reflected in his price: Scalvini is an expensive pick-up at a market value of €29m and release clause of €55.1m.

But at 78 starting overall, Scalvini is plug-and-play as he grows towards his colossal potential of 88. A traditional Italian centre-back, Scalvini’s strengths are in aggression, interceptions and tackling, making him a defensive stalwart and one of the best pure stoppers money can buy.

  • Overall: 78
  • Potential: 88
  • Potential Growth: +10
Benfica's António Silva, one of the best wonderkid centre-backs on EA FC 25

António Silva

Position: CB
Club: SL Benfica (POR)
Nation: Portugal
Market Value: €36 million

If you have the money for Scalvini but fancy something a little different, consider António Silva, Benfica and Portugal’s 20-year-old centre-back. He’s even more expensive than Scalvini at a market value of €36m, but his different profile – and especially his athletic traits, with a starting sprint speed of 81 and acceleration of 78 – will make him a popular buy.

Don’t let some high-profile mistakes last season for Benfica put you off. All young defenders face speed bumps, and as a speedy, robust tackler and powerful athlete, you won’t go wrong shelling out for Silva’s potential of 87.

  • Overall: 79
  • Potential: 87
  • Potential Growth: +8
Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomandé, one of the best wonderkid centre-backs on EA FC 25

Ousmane Diomandé

Position: CB
Club: Sporting CP (POR)
Nation: Côte d'Ivoire
Market Value: €29 million

As popular in real life as he is in-game, Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomandé has been on many club’s shortlists for years. As such, he’s pricey: a market value of €29m and release clause of €63.8 mean he’ll take some prising from Portugal.

But the hype is real. Diomande can play on either side of a centre-back pairing and in defensive midfield. His passing is very solid and he’s quick – his sprint speed is 81 – and powerful – his strength is 86 and jumping 89. Pick him up and you’ll get one of the game’s most well-rounded defenders at a starting overall of 78 and potential of 86.

  • Overall: 78
  • Potential: 86
  • Potential Growth: +8
Nurnberg's Finn Jeltsch, one of the best wonderkid centre-backs on EA FC 25

Finn Jeltsch

Position: CB
Club: 1. FC Nürnberg (GER)
Nation: Germany
Market Value: €1.7 million

For a much cheaper option, Finn Jelstch has emerged as one of Germany’s most exciting defensive talents. Starting every week for Nürnberg in 2. Bundesliga at just 17-years-old, Jelstch stands out in FC 25 for his speed, jumping and strength, and high potential of 84.

At a starting overall of 65, Jelstch is a pick-up for those managers looking to develop players – but at a market value of just €1.7m is low-risk, high-reward. A mainstay of Germany’s youth teams, expect to hear much more from Jelstch both in-game and out over the next few years.

  • Overall: 65
  • Potential: 84
  • Potential Growth: +19
Spurs' Luka Vuskovic, one of the best wonderkid centre-backs on EA FC 25

Luka Vušković

Position: CB
Club: Tottenham Hotspur (on loan at KVC Westerlo)
Nation: Croatia
Market Value: €1.7 million

For a cheaper, under-the-radar option, consider Luka Vušković. On loan to Westerlo in Belgium from Croatian side Hajduk Split, Vušković is turning heads for two reasons: his goalscoring from defence, and being 6’4” at just 17 years old. This kid is an absolute unit.

At a market value of €1.7m, Vušković is a bargain buy. He’s very young and his starting overall is just 64, so he’ll require time and patience. But his overall potential in FC25 is 86, so with a little effort he could grow into a truly world-class centre-back – and with 83 strength already, you won’t be losing many duels. Throw him up front in a pinch and let him bully his way to a winner.

  • Overall: 64
  • Potential: 86
  • Potential Growth: +22

There you have it! Those are our best young centre-backs to sign for you FC 25 Career Mode save. For more great reading on real-life wonderkids, stick with SCOUTED.

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