As fun as it is to score bags of goals, you won't win many games if you have a shaky defence!
Picking up any of these young centre backs will go a long way to securing many a title during your multi-season saves.
Best Young Centre Backs
These list will be comprised of all the very best young centre backs in FM21.
Whilst their current ability is obviously important to those wanting someone to step in and do a job straight away, we are focusing on those who have the potential to go on and be a world class defender.
With that in mind, here are all the centre backs aged 23 or younger with the highest potentials in FM21.
Mathias de Ligt (CA 162 - PA 185)
Age: 20
Club: Zebre (Juventus)
Country: Netherlands
Best Attributes: 18 Strength, 17 Bravery, 17 Heading
Value: £38.5M
Wage: £215k p/w
It's crazy to think that Mathias de Ligt is only 20 years old!
The former Ajax man has been a regular in Andre Pirlo's setup this season and keeps his ridiculously high potential for yet another FM year.
Given his current ability and his potential, £38.5M is a steal. Getting Juventus to give up one of their regular starters may prove tricky though.
Jean-Clair Todibo (CA 134 - PA 173)
Age: 20
Club: Barcelona
Country: France
Best Attributes: 16 Jumping Reach, 16 Tacking, 13-18 Pace
Value: £7.25M
Wage: £22k p/w
Barcelona have a plethora of young talent in the final third, but they also have young defenders capable of breaking through.
Whilst Todibo may not be anything to write home about currently, his 173 PA makes him one of the most promising young centre backs around.
READ MORE: FM21: All the Best Left Midfielders (ML, AML)
He's on loan at SLB for the first season of your save, so his CA is likely to jump up before you get the opportunity to buy him, but his value will likely do the same.
Dayot Upamecano (CA 139 - PA 172)
Age: 21
Club: RB Leipzig
Country: France
Best Attributes: 17-20 Pace, 17-20 Strength, 17 Tackling
Value: £14.5M
Wage: £42k
If FM's potentials are anything to go by, then we could see a French centre back pairing of Upamecano and Todibo in years to come.
The Leipzig man has everything you want from a modern-day centre back, pace, power and tackling skills in abundance. One to consider without question.
Ruben Dias (CA 154 - PA 171)
Age: 23
Club: Manchester City
Country: Portugal
Best Attributes: 18 Aggression, 18 Bravery, 18 Natural Fitness
Value: £37.5M
Wage: £70k p/w
Now this is one you won't be able to sign, but one that may sway you towards Manchester City if you're looking for a top European club to take charge of.
Summer signing Ruben Dias walks straight into the starting lineup with a 154 CA, and those starting minutes will see him fulfil his 171-rated PA in no time.
Tanguy Nianzou (CA 119 - PA 150-180)
Age: 18
Club: FC Bayern München
Country: France
Best Attributes: 14-18 Natural Fitness, 13-18 Balance, 13-18 Bravery
Value: £1.6M
Wage: £33.5k p/w
Yet another French centre back to consider is Tanguy Nianzou, who, at 18-years-old, has plenty of room for development.
His physical attributes lead the way in terms of the strongest area of his game currently, but with the right tutelage, the Bayern teenager could grow into a world-beater in no time.
Josko Gvardiol (CA 119 - PA 150-180)
Age: 18
Club: RB Leipzig
Country: Croatia
Best Attributes: 16-20 Natural Fitness, 15-20 Aggression, 14-20 Determination
Value: £2.2M
Wage: N/A
Leipzig were one of our picks for the best teams to use in FM21 this year, and their youth is one of the reasons why!
In Gvardiol and Upamecano you have a ready made centre back partnership that could remain in place for the majority of your save.
The Croatian will spend the first season of your save on loan at his native Dinamo, but he'll only get better.
Boubacar Kamara (CA 137 - PA 140-170)
Age: 20
Club: Marseille
Country: France
Best Attributes: 15-19 Passing, 13-18 Composure, 14-18 Pace
Value: £9.25M
Wage: £46k
The final name in the list is - yes, you guessed it - a French youngster!
Marseille centre back Boubacar Kamara has everything that you want if you're after a ball playing centre half, great passing, decent composure and pace to burn.
His potential isn't as high as others in the list, but he does have the benefit of having a better starting rating than most. One for the now and the future.
READ MORE:FM21: Why Team Reports are the Most Important Feature in Football Manager this Year
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