FIFA 19 Career Mode: Best Bargain Players to Sign

Not all clubs are blessed with stacks of cash, and that is certainly reflected in FIFA 19’s Career Mode. Outside the top-flight, most clubs will have minimal transfer budgets, meaning you need to be smart with your transfer business. Everyone loves a bargain, so RealSport looks at the best players on the game that can be bought for less than £10 million, £5 million, £2 million and £1 million. 

What makes a bargain buy on FIFA 19?

You will see with these cheap signings that they are coming towards the end of their careers, which making them a bargain as they do not have the potential to improve. Many still have the quality to be first team players however, and can be a reliable member of your side for a season or two. We have not included any players in the last year of their contracts as they can be snapped up on a contract expiry signing.

FIFA 19 bargains under £10 million

Although transfer prices have ballooned since Neymar’s astronomical £194 million move to PSG, £10 million is still a significant fee for most clubs. Although these players are past their peak, they still have the quality to compete in the top tier. All of these men have a rating of 77 or higher.

Pepe Reina (OVR 83)

Age: 36

Positions: GK

Club: AC Milan

Country: Spain

Best stats: 83 GK handling, 82 GK positioning, 82 GK reflexes

Cost: £6.3 million

Wage: £49,000 a week

Still a quality goalkeeper, Pepe Reina came to the fore at Liverpool, spending nine years at Anfield. The Spaniard won the UEFA Super Cup, FA CUP, League Cup and the Community Shield there before heading on to Napoli and later Bayern Munich. The 36-year-old moved to AC Milan in the summer to challenge the young Gianluigi Donnarumma (OVR 82) for the number one spot.

Stats of 83 GK handling, 82 GK positioning and 82 GK reflexes take Reina to an 83 overall. You will need a reasonable £6.3 million so sign the veteran, but you must hold off until January to do so with wages of £49,000 a week. 

Everton Andrao (OVR 80)

Age: 34

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Fluminense

Country: Brazil

Work rate: High/High

Best stats: 89 stamina, 81 aggression, 81 standing tackle

Cost: £5.2 million

Wage: £30,000 a week

Due to the lack of Brazilian player licenses on FIFA 19, some fake players appear to fill out the national team. Fluminense’s Everton Andrao is one of them, and with an 80 rating you should take advantage of his £5.2 million price. Wages of £30,000 a week will get you the 34-year-old’s 89 stamina, 81 aggression and 81 standing tackle. 

Enzo Perez (OVR 78)

Age: 32

Positions: CM, CDM

Club: River Plate

Country: Argentina

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 89 stamina, 86 aggression, 83 short passing

Cost: £8 million

Wage: £23,000 a week

Enzo Perez was a great servant for both Benfica and Valencia, representing both clubs for three seasons. In Portugal, the central or defensive midfielder won two league titles and reached the Europa League final on two occasions.

32-year-old Perez has a 78 overall on the game, comprised of stats of 89 stamina, 86 aggression and 83 short passing. £8 million is a decent price for the River Plate man with wages of £23,000 a week.

Andriy Pyatov (OVR 78)

Age: 34

Positions: GK

Club: Shakhtar Donetsk

Country: Ukraine

Best stats: 82 GK kicking, 81 GK reflexes, 80 GK positioning

Cost: £5.8 million

Wage: £880 a week

Andriy Pyatov has been a staple in the Shakhtar Donetsk net during a very successful period in their history. The Ukraine international has won the league title eight times in the past ten years and has been named the division’s best goalkeeper on five occasions.

Pyatov, who has 82 caps for his country, costs £5.8 million and wages starting at just £880 a week. The 34-year-old still offers stats of 82 GK kicking, 81 GK reflexes and 80 GK positioning. 

Niklas Moisander (OVR 78)

Age: 33

Positions: CB

Club: Werder Bremen

Country: Finland

Work rate: High/Medium

Best stats: 80 interceptions, 80 marking, 78 reactions

Cost: £6.5 million

Wage: £24,000 a week

Niklas Moisander has a great reputation, and at the age of 33 still can offer a few years of service for your club. The former Finnish international has played in the Eredivisie for Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, Serie A with Sampdoria and now the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, so he comes with plenty of experience. 

On FIFA 19, the centre back has 80 interceptions, 80 marking and 78 reactions to take him to a 78 overall. That costs £6.5 million, with a £24,000 a week wage. 

All FIFA 19 bargains under £10 million

FIFA 19 Signings under £5 million

We drop down to players available for £5 million. These again can provide squad depth to top clubs, and should be in budget for slightly lesser clubs to pick up some experienced starters for the season ahead. These players are rated 76 or higher.

Diego Lopez (OVR 80)

Age: 36

Positions: GK

Club: Espanyol

Country: Spain

Best stats: 81 GK positioning, 81 GK handling, 78 reactions

Cost: £2.8 million

Wage: £15,000 a week

Diego Lopez was the man who displaced Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, being brought back to the club after an injury to the Spanish international. Lopez would become a fantastic force in the net at the Bernabeu, making 62 appearances over two seasons and winning the Copa del Rey and Champions League. 

Now at Espanyol after a stint at AC Milan, Lopez has abilities of 81 GK positioning, 81 GK handling and 78 reactions on the game, taking his overall to 80. He can be signed for an absolute bargain £2.8 million, with a reasonable £15,000 a week wage. 

Maikel Catarino (OVR 79)

Age: 34

Positions: RB, LM

Club: Atletico Mineiro

Country: Brazil

Work rate: High/Medium

Best stats: 85 stamina, 83 acceleration, 82 agility

Cost: £4.1 million

Wage: £33,000 a week

Another invented Brazilian player, Maikel Catarino applies his trade on FIFA 19 for Atletico Mineiro. The right back can also operate at left midfield, and holds useful stats of 85 stamina, 83 acceleration and 82 agility. That takes the 34-year-old to a 79 overall rating, costing £4.1 million and wages of £33,000 a week. 

Claudio Bravo (OVR 79)

Age: 35

Positions: GK

Club: Manchester City

Country: Chile

Best stats: 85 GK kicking, 79 GK reflexes, 79 GK handling

Cost: £3.4 million

Wage: £49,000 a week

Claudio Bravo was meant to be a key component to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City – a goalkeeper who can play with his feet. Unfortunately, former Barcelona man Bravo let himself down with his shot stopping abilities, forcing City to dive back into the market and sign the £33 million Ederson (OVR 86). 

The 35-year-old Bravo is still a useful ‘keeper, as shown by his 79 overall. You can sign the Chilean international for £3.4 million with wages of £49,000 a week, getting you his 85 GK kicking, 79 GK reflexes and 79 GK handling. 

Karim El Ahmadi (OVR 78)

Age: 33

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Al Ittihad

Country: Morocco

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 83 composure, 83 aggression, 82 stamina

Cost: £4.9 million

Wage: £33,000 a week

Premier League fans may remember Karim El Ahmadi from his time with Aston Villa, but the defensive or central midfielder enjoyed most of his success in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord. The Moroccan international won the league title as well as two Dutch cups in Holland, but now plays for Saudi outfit Al Ittihad.

Stats of 83 composure, 83 aggression and 82 stamina take El Ahamdi to a 78 overall. He will set you back a reasonable £4.9 million with wages of £33,000 a week. 

Javi Fuego (OVR 78)

Age: 34

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Villarreal

Country: Spain

Work rate: Medium/High

Best stats: 86 composure, 83 aggression, 82 interceptions

Cost: £4.4 million

Wage: £27,000 a week

A great servant of Spanish football, Javi Fuego has played for Sporting Gijon, Levante, Rayo Vallecano, Espanyol and now Villarreal. Over those five clubs the defensive and central midfielder has racked up 272 La Liga games, but it was at Valencia where he received the most praise, representing the Mestalla club for four seasons.

The 34-year-old Fuego can still perform a shift for your club with his 78 overall rating. 86 composure, 83 aggression and 82 interceptions abilities will set you back £4.4 million and £27,000 a week in wages, but you must wait until January. 

All FIFA 19 bargains under £5 million

FIFA 19 Signings under £2 million

Moving on to players who are more valuable to have around the squad rather than in the starting lineup. These cheap players should be used in rotation but can still offer something off the bench, with them all rated 72 or higher.

Stefano Sorrentino (OVR 80)

Age: 39

Positions: GK

Club: Chievo Verona

Country: Italy

Best stats: 82 GK handling, 82 GK positioning, 81 GK diving

Cost: £1.1 million

Wage: £9,000 a week

Aged 39, Stefano Sorrentino is still a reliable goalkeeper, and with heaps of experience. The goalkeeper made his professional debut during the 1998/199 season for Torino and went on to play for AEK Athens and Palermo but is a Chievo legend due to two spells at the club, amassing 247 appearances.

Sorrentino’s 80 overall contains stats of 82 GK handling, 82 GK positioning and 81 GK diving. You will only need £1.1 million to snap him up, with wages of £9,000 a week. 

Beto (OVR 76)

Age: 36

Positions: GK

Club: Goztepe

Country: Portugal

Best stats: 79 GK diving, 79 GK positioning, 75 GK reflexes

Cost: £1.4 million

Wage: £10,000 a week

Still a Portuguese international, Beto has had a fantastic career, winning three Europa Leagues, one Portuguese title and finishing third at the Confederations Cup. The 36-year-old came to the fore for Sevilla over two-and-a-half seasons, but now is out in Turkey with Goztepe.

£1.4 million and £10,000 a week wages will get you Beto’s 76 overall, which contains abilities of 79 GK diving, 79 GK positioning and 75 GK reflexes. 

Brad Jones (OVR 75)

Age: 36

Positions: GK

Club: Al Nassr

Country: Australia

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 80 GK positioning, 75 GK diving, 75 GK reflexes

Cost: £1.1 million

Wage: £15,000 a week

Brad Jones had a reputation as a back-up goalkeeper, playing 70 times for Middlesbrough over nine years at the club. There were seven loan spells during that period, with the Australian international then heading to Liverpool to 2010. After stints at Derby, Bradford, NEC Breda and Feyenoord, Jones has headed to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

Having just moved to the Middle East, you will need to hold off until January to move for Jones, where he will cost £1.1 million and weekly wages of £15,000. His 75 overall contains abilities of 80 GK positioning, 75 GK diving and 75 GK reflexes. 

Fernando Seoane (OVR 74)

Age: 35

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Lugo

Country: Spain

Work rate: Medium/High

Best stats: 80 strength, 78 aggression, 76 short passing

Cost: £1.5 million

Wage: £5,000 a week

A servant of the Spanish second division, Lugo’s Fernando Seoane has never played in the top flight. The defensive or central midfielder is enjoying his second spell at Lugo, where he is one of their favourite sons, representing the club over 250 times. 

Now 35, Seoane holds stats of 80 strength, 78 aggression and 76 short passing to give him a 74 overall. To sign him you will only need £1.5 million with a wage of £5,000 a week. 

Jose Maria Basanta (OVR 73 – 73)

Age: 34

Positions: CB

Club: Monterrey

Country: Argentina

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 77 heading accuracy, 76 interceptions, 76 strength

Cost: 1.4 million

Wage: £27,000 a week

Out in Mexico we have former Argentine international Jose Maria Basanta. The 34-year-old earned 12 caps for his country despite only spending two years of his entire career outside Mexico. The centre back was part of the squad that came runner-up to Germany in the 2014 World Cup, but has still secured two league titles and three CONCACAF Champions Leagues in his club career.

Basanta’s 73 overall consists of 77 heading accuracy, 76 interceptions and 76 strength. £1.4 million can get you the defender along with wages of £27,000 a week. 

All FIFA 19 bargains under £2 million

FIFA 19 Signings under £1 million

If you are really on a shoestring budget, perhaps managing a side towards the bottom of the Football League, it is a real task to find decent players, especially with the lack of quality in FIFA 19 free agents. There are a couple of veterans however, who can do the business for you during the campaign thanks to their ratings of 71 or higher.

Andres Perez (OVR 75)

Age: 38

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Deportivo Cali

Country: Colombia

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 88 aggression, 84 composure, 81 interceptions

Cost: £900,000

Wage: £2,000 a week

A former Colombian international, the 38-year-old Andres Perez has never spent any time in his career outside his homeland of Argentina. A defensive or central midfielder, the Deportivo Cali captain has played for the club over 200 times, but silverware has always eluded him.

Stats of 88 aggression, 84 composure and 81 interceptions make Perez a very tempting signing, especially with a price of just £900,000. That fee plus wages of £2,000 a week can get you his 75 overall for the season.

Jose de Jesus Corona (OVR 75)

Age: 37

Positions: GK

Club: Cruz Azul

Country: Mexico

Best stats: 79 jumping, 78 GK positioning, 77 GK handling

Cost: £510,000

Wage: £10,000 a week

A much more established international footballer is Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Corona who has earned 53 caps for his country. On the club scene, Corona has won the Copa MX and CONCACAF Champions League, adding to his Gold Cup and Olympic gold medal with the national team.

£510,000 with wages of £10,000 a week will get you the goalkeeper who has a 75 overall. With stats of 79 jumping, 78 GK positioning and 77 GK handling you should consider Corona, despite his age of 37.

Christian Maggio (OVR 75)

Age: 36

Positions: RB

Club: Benevento

Country: Italy

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 91 jumping, 79 volleys, 77 ball control

Cost: £875,000

Wage: £4,000 a week

Christian Maggio was a regular for the Italian national team between 2008 and 2014, earning 34 caps for the Azzurri. Domestically, he enjoyed success with Napoli over ten seasons, winning the Coppa Italia on two occasions. 

The 36-year-old Maggio joined Serie B side Benevento in the summer, so you will need to hold fire until January to move for him, where he will cost just £875,000 with a wage of £4,000 a week. Remarkable 91 jumping, 79 volleys and 77 ball control take the right back’s overall to 75. 

Allan McGregor (OVR 74)

Age: 36

Positions: GK

Club: Rangers

Country: Scotland

Best stats: 78 GK reflexes, 74 GK positioning, 72 GK diving

Cost: £900,000

Wage: £18,000 a week

The international footballers just keep coming, with Allan McGregor representing Scotland 39 times and counting. Most will remember the goalkeeper from his time with Hull in the Premier League, but he has represented Rangers the most over two spells. The 36-year-old enjoyed six full seasons with the Gers before their financial turmoil, but returned in the summer. 

His recent move means you must also wait until the turn of the year to snap up McGregor for a price of £900,000. Wages of £18,000 a week will get you his 78 GK reflexes, 74 GK positioning and 72 GK diving take him to a 74 overall. 

Luciano Pocrnjic (OVR 73)

Age: 37

Positions: GK

Club: Atletico Aldosivi

Country: Argentina

Best stats: 74 GK positioning, 73 GK diving, 73 GK reflexes

Cost: £550,000

Wage: £4,000 a week

We finish with another goalkeeper, the 37-year-old Luciano Pocrnjic. The Argentine enjoyed a fantastic spell at former club Newell’s Old Boys, conceding just 58 goals in 57 games and notching 20 clean sheets. He has since joined Atletico Aldosivi, linking up with the club in the summer.

74 GK positioning, 73 GK diving and 73 GK reflexes take Pocrnjic to a 73 overall. £550,000 is all you need to snap him up, but you must wait until January to move for him and his £4,000 a week wages. 

All FIFA 19 bargains under £1 million

Have an opinion on this article? We'd love to hear it!

Join the conversation