FIFA 22 Career Mode gives you the chance to build the most formidable side around.
Signing top quality defenders can give you a solid foundation that lets your attacking talents shine, and there are some brilliant young centre backs playing at the moment.
Find out who the best young centre-backs to sign are on FIFA 22, and have your defence sorted for the next decade.
Looking for something cheaper?
If you're working on a tight budget and find that all the players on this list are just a bit too pricey, then don't worry, we've got you covered.
Check out the best wonderkid centre-backs in the game, and bring in a new signing for a much cheaper price.
They may not be at the same level as some on this list just yet, but within a couple of seasons, they can be and will help take your side to the next level.
Defining Best Young Centre Backs
These centre backs will all be aged 23 or under at the start of your FIFA 22 Career Mode save.
They may be expensive but will be worth every penny if they fulfil their potential and grow into the world-class players they could become.
Matthijs de Ligt (OVR 85 - POT 90)
Age: 21
Club: Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
Position(s): CB
Value: £65 million (Release clause: £115 million)
Wage: £70,000 a week
Matthijs de Ligt is rightuflly the most expenisve player in this list, with a potential of 90 OVR.
If you want to sign the Dutchman in FIFA 22 Career Mode, it could be worth waiting a few seasons for his contract to run down before approaching the player.
Eder Militao (OVR 83 - POT 90)
Age: 23
Club: Real Madrid
Position(s): CB
Value: £58 million (Release clause: £131 million)
Wage: £125,000 a week
It may be hard to convince Real Madrid to sell Eder Militao in FIFA 22, with the Brazilian becoming a key member of the defence after Ramos and Varane both left.
If you can manage to sign Militao, the centre back will provide great cover in defence with his outstanding pace.
Jules Kounde (OVR 83 - POT 89)
Age: 22
Club: Sevilla
Position(s): CB
Value: £46 million (Release clause: £105 million)
Wage: £28,000 a week
Jules Kounde is one of the most sought after centre backs in Europe right now, with Chelsea missing out in the summer for the 22-year-old.
The Frenchman has brilliant pace and defending stats in FIFA 22, which are key for any top defender in the game.
Alessandro Bastoni (OVR 82 - POT 88)
Age: 22
Club: Inter
Position(s): CB
Value: £38 million (Release clause: £73 million)
Wage: £77,000 a week
A mainstay at the back for title winners Inter Milan, Alessandro Bastoni received a massive +5 upgrade to his previous rating, which has increased +2 during the season as well.
He lacks a bit of pace but is solid apart from that, and at 6'3" can tower above most strikers.
Fikayo Tomori (OVR 82 - POT 88)
Age: 23
Club: AC Milan
Position(s): CB
Value: £37 million (Release clause: £71 million)
Wage: £36,000 a week
Fikayo Tomori has excelled in Serie A since his move away from Chelsea to AC Milan, seeing his overall rating increase +3 from the start of the season.
Just what you want from a CB on FIFA, he is solid defensively, quick, strong, and good in the air.
Dayot Upamecano (OVR 82 - POT 88)
Age: 22
Club: Bayern Munich
Position(s): CB
Value: £38 million (Release clause: £71 million)
Wage: £60,000 a week
If you want to sign Dayot Upamecano in FIFA 22 you'll have to wait a season, given the Frenchman has recently moved to Bayern Munich.
Despite some top performances he has actually seen his potential rating reduced from 90 OVR!
Cristian Romero (OVR 82 - POT 87)
Age: 23
Club: Tottenham Hotspur (on loan from Atalanta)
Position(s): CB
Value: £36 million
Wage: £44,000 a week
Currently on loan at Spurs, Cristian Romero is more of an old school CB.
He isn't the best on the ball, but where he lacks there he makes up for with solid defending stats, including a lot of Argentinian aggression!
Gabriel (OVR 81 - POT 87)
Age: 23
Club: Arsenal
Position(s): CB
Value: £32 million (Release clause: £67 million)
Wage: £64,000 a week
Arsenal had a stuttering start to the season but turned that around to have an eight-game unbeaten run, which just happened to coincide with Gabriel making the team, his presence a big factor in their changing fortune.
He has been rewarded with an upgraded rating, increasing +1 a couple of times so far this season, giving him a new rating of 81 OVR.
Edmond Tapsoba (OVR 80 - POT 87)
Age: 22
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position(s): CB
Value: £34 million (Release clause: £65 million)
Wage: £40,000 a week
Edmond Tapsoba has seen a slight downgrade in rating on FIFA 22 Career Mode, however, the tall defender should still dominate in defence for years!
The Leverkusen player has been subject to interest across Europe this summer, so you'll need to get in quick before somebody snaps him up.
Ronald Araujo (OVR 80 - POT 87)
Age: 22
Club: Barcelona
Position(s): CB
Value: £34 million (Release clause: £79 million)
Wage: £90,000 a week
Ronald Araujo has been at Barcelona for a few years now and has established himself as a first choice CB.
He has seen his rating increase by +3 since the start of the game, and with top sprint speed, jumping, strength and defensive abilities, Araujo could be dominant if you choose to sign him.