Defence is always the most difficult position to sign for, especially if you're looking for a young star. Centre backs in particular peak later than other players, so you really need to do your research on FIFA 18’s Career Mode to find the high potential gems you are looking for. Don’t worry as we have collated all the best high potential centre backs you can get on the cheap.
READ: FIFA 19: Best cheap high potential centre backs (CB)
How to choose the best cheap high potential players in FIFA 18 Career Mode
We are looking at the best cheap high potential centre backs on FIFA 18’s Career Mode. These players all have the potential to hit at least 81 on the game, and they can all be signed for less than £5 million. They are centre backs that can grow with the stature of your club, and can go on to become first team regulars later in their careers. We have compiled our top 10 by looking at player potential, age and player stats.
For a full list of our cheap high potential centre backs, look at the table at the bottom of this page.
Advantages of cheap high potential players
The main advantage is simple. You can save a barrel load of cash by buying these players because you are buying them around 10 years before their peak. If you are worried that these players will never get a chance in the first team at your club, don’t panic. You can still use them in training and you can send them out on loan.
Juan Foyth (OVR 68 – POT 86)
Age: 19
Positions: CB
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Country: Argentina
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 74 acceleration, 74 balance, 73 jumping
Cost: £3.9 million (release clause)
Wage: £18,000
Despite just nine appearances for Estudiantes, 19-year-old made the big move to Tottenham last summer. The centre back made his debut for Spurs in the Carabao Cup, and with Mauricio Pochettino’s side in four competitions this season, we will see a lot more of Foyth in the coming months.
74 acceleration, 74 balance and 73 jumping help make up Foyth’s 68 overall rating on FIFA 18. Despite minimal senior football, his 12 caps for Argentina U20s have granted him with an 86 potential. £3.9 million is a bargain for a player of that quality, with his current wages at £18,000 a week. You will need to wait until January to sign him though.
Dael Fry (OVR 68 – POT 83)
Age: 19
Positions: CB
Club: Middlesbrough
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 76 jumping, 71 standing tackle, 69 heading accuracy
Cost: £3.9 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
Someone who is a bit more established is Middlesbrough centre back Dael Fry. The 19-year-old made his breakthrough during ‘Boro’s promotion to the Premier League in 2015/16, but was sent out on loan to Rotherham last season. Now back in the fold on Teesside, Fry looks to have secured a regular starting spot as his side look to get back to the top flight.
Fry has a 68 overall with a potential of 83. His best stats are his 76 jumping, 71 standing tackle and 68 heading accuracy. The England U21s international can be yours for just £3.9 million and £5,000 a week in wages.
Kik Pierie (OVR 65 – POT 83)
Age: 16
Positions: CB, LB
Club: Heerenveen
Country: Netherlands
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 73 jumping, 72 sprint speed, 72 acceleration
Cost: £1.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £880
Dutch defender Kik Pierie has made the breakthrough at Heerenveen despite being just 16 years old. With nine appearances for the Dutch U17s side, centre or left back Pierie looks to have bags of talent.
The teenager has 73 jumping, 72 sprint speed and 72 acceleration which make up his 65 overall. He's also got a potential of 83. His price of £1.8 million is fantastic and you probably won’t believe his £880 a week wages. However, you'll have to wait until January to sign the youngster.
Dan-Axel Zagadou (OVR 64 – POT 83)
Age: 18
Positions: CB, LB
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Country: France
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 82 strength, 68 heading accuracy, 68 standing tackle
Cost: £1.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £6,000
An injury crisis at Borussia Dortmund means 18-year-old defender Dan-Axel Zagadou has been thrust into the starting line-up. With Marcel Schmelzer and Raphael Guerreiro side-lined, Frenchman Zagadou has come in at left back, making eight appearances so far this season.
The centre back joined from PSG in the summer, so you will need to wait until January to make a move for him. With 82 strength, 68 heading accuracy and 68 standing tackle, Zagadou has the core skills required to make it to the top, so we will wait and see if his 64 overall will reach his 83 potential.
Ethan Ampadu (OVR 57 – POT 83)
Age: 16
Positions: CB, CDM
Club: Chelsea
Country: Wales
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 75 jumping, 67 balance, 63 strength
Cost: £527,000 (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
Heads were turned last season as 16-year-old Ethan Ampadu made 13 assured performances for Exeter City in League Two. Chelsea got in their first, and they snapped up the Welsh centre back or defensive midfielder in the summer. Ampadu has already featured for Chelsea under Antonio Conte, so expect the youngster to be one of the shining lights of British football over the coming years.
Don’t be put off by Ampadu’s 57 rating, with the defender having the potential to hit 83. His low early rating means he will only cost you £527,000, for which you will get his 75 jumping, 67 balance and 63 strength. His wages of £3,000 a week shouldn’t be a problem, but once again you will need to wait until January for him.
Joe Worrall (OVR 69 – POT 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CB
Club: Nottingham Forest
Country: England
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 82 strength, 75 jumping, 72 standing tackle
Cost: £4 million (release clause)
Wage: £10,000
A more established man is Nottingham Forest centre back Joe Worrall. The 20-year-old made 21 appearances for the Championship club last season and earned himself a call-up to the England U20s side in the summer, where he won the Toulon Tournament.
His 69 overall rating has the potential to hit 82 on FIFA 18, with Worrall’s best stats being his 82 strength, 75 jumping and 72 standing tackle. At £4 million and £10,000 a week wages he is slightly more expensive than others, but he is still definitely worth a move.
Ertugrul Ersoy (OVR 69 – POT 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CB, RB
Club: Bursaspor
Country: Turkey
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 79 strength, 72 jumping, 72 standing tackle
Cost: £4.2 million (release clause)
Wage: £7,000
Over in Turkey we have Bursaspor defender Ertugrul Ersoy. The 20-year-old centre or right back made his debut way back in 2014, but has had to be patient for opportunities. Two loan spells have enhanced his development, with the youngster working his way up to the Turkey U19s side.
Ersoy will cost just £4.2 million on Career Mode, a great price for his 79 strength, 72 jumping and 72 standing tackle. His 69 overall has the potential to hit 82 on the game, and for his wages of £7,000 a week you should jump at the chance to get hold of him.
Bubacarr Sanneh (OVR 69 – POT 82)
Age: 22
Positions: CB
Club: AC Horsens
Country: Gambia
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 89 jumping, 86 strength, 75 stamina
Cost: £3 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
At the age of 22, Horsens defender Bubacarr Sanneh looks like a seasoned veteran compared to others on this list. The Gambian international has played over 100 times for the Danish club since joining in 2014, and if he continues his development, he will grab the attention of bigger clubs in Europe.
The centre back has 89 jumping, 86 strength and 75 stamina helping to make up his 69 overall rating. With his potential at 82 he would be a great fit for any top-flight side, and for a price of £3 million he's an absolute bargain. His weekly wages of £5,000 shouldn’t cause any issues.
Cristian Gonzalez (OVR 69 – POT 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CB
Club: Sevilla Atletico
Country: Uruguay
Work rate: Medium/High
Best stats: 77 aggression, 76 jumping, 72 sprint speed
Cost: £3.5 million (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
Cristian Gonzalez (right) plays for Sevilla’s reserve side, Sevilla Atletico, but it won't be long before the 20-year-old makes the move up to the senior team. The centre back was a regular for Danubio back in his native Uruguay, and he made the move to Spain in August 2016.
With a 69 overall and 82 potential, Gonzalez would be a useful signing, especially for a price of £3.5 million. For his £3,000 a week wages you would get a man with 77 aggression, 76 jumping and 72 sprint speed.
Boubacar Kamara (OVR 66 – POT 82)
Age: 17
Positions: CB, CDM
Club: Olympique Marseille
Country: France
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 77 stamina, 72 strength, 70 balance
Cost: £2.5 million (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
Just 17, Boubacar Kamara is being given an opportunity at Marseille. The centre back or defensive midfielder made his debut for the club in the Coupe de La Ligue last year, and he has turned out twice for OM in the Europa League this season
With an overall of 66 at such a young age, you should consider Kamara, especially with his 82 potential. For a price of £2.5 million you will get his 77 stamina, 72 strength and 70 balance. His wages of £3,000 a week create no issues.
More cheap high potential centre backs
Player | Age | Pos. | Club | Country | OVR/ POT | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Erik Palmer-Brown | 20 | CB | Sporting Kansas City | USA | 65/ 82 | £2m | £2k |
Rick van Drongelen | 18 | CB LB | Hamburg | Holland | 68/ 82 | £3.4m | £8k |
Mamadou Doucoure | 19 | CB | ‘Gladbach | France | 62/ 82 | £1.4m | £3k |
Zinho Vanheusden | 17 | CB | Inter Milan | Belgium | 65/ 82 | £1.9m | £6k |
Nikola Milenkovic | 19 | CB | Fiorentina | Serbia | 70/ 81 | £4.4m | £16k |
Kim Min Jae | 20 | CB | Jeonbuk | South Korea | 71/ 81 | £4.4m | £5k |
Santiago Bueno | 18 | CB CDM | Barcelona B | Uruguay | 66/ 81 | £2.3m | £1k |
Ezri Konsa | 19 | CB CDM | Charlton | England | 62/ 81 | £1.3m | £1k |
Carlos Cuesta | 18 | CB | Atletico Nacional | Colombia | 59/ 81 | £686k | £880 |
Petko Hristov | 18 | CB | Fiorentina | Bulgaria | 61/ 81 | £1.1m | £4k |
Jorge Cuenca | 17 | CB | Barcelona B | Spain | 63/ 81 | £1.2m | £880 |
Lukas Muhl | 20 | CB | Nurnberg | Germany | 68/ 81 | £3m | £5k |
C = Cost
W = Wage
Looking for other cheap high potential players?
Best cheap high potential left backs (LB)
Best cheap high potential right backs (RB)
Best cheap high potential right wingers (RW) & midfielders (RM)
Best cheap high potential left wingers (LW) & midfielders (LM)
Best cheap high potential attacking midfielders (CAM)
Best cheap high potential strikers
On a tight budget?
Looking for free players?
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2018 (First Season)
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2019 (Second Season)
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2020 (Third Season)
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2021 (Fourth Season)
Looking for FIFA 18 wonderkids? Just click the link below:
Midfielders (CMs, CAMs & CDMs)
Looking for FIFA 18 young players in other positions?
Best young right wingers & right midfielders (RW & RM)
Best young left wingers & left midfielders (LW & LM)
Best young attacking midfielders (CAM)
Best young central midfielders (CM)
Best young defensive midfielders (CDM)
Looking for tall players?
Want to boost your players' stats?