.jpg)
2 hours ago
3
Building a solid defense is the foundation of any championship run in EA FC 26, and it starts with finding the right young talent. Whether you are managing a powerhouse or a club on a strict budget, securing a wonderkid center back can secure your backline for a decade. The market is full of options, but filtering through them to find the gems with the highest ceilings is key to long-term success.
I have compiled a list of the top young defenders who are destined for greatness. These players range from established starters ready to slot into your first team immediately to raw prospects who need a few seasons of development. Here is everything you need to know to make the smart defensive acquisitions in your save.
Best EA FC 26 young Center Backs with high potential to sign
Below is the definitive list of the top 50 young center-backs, ranked by their potential to help you dominate the pitch.
Name | Position | Age | Overall | Potential | Team | Contract | Value | Wage | Defending / Pace |
D. Huijsen | CB | 20 | 82 | 89 | Real Madrid | 2025 ~ 2030 | €56M | €125K | 82 |
Pau Cubarsí | CB | 18 | 82 | 88 | FC Barcelona | 2023 ~ 2029 | €40.5M | €64K | 84 |
J. Hato | LB CB CDM | 19 | 78 | 88 | Chelsea | 2025 ~ 2032 | €29M | €65K | 75 |
C. Lukeba | CB LB | 22 | 80 | 88 | RB Leipzig | 2023 ~ 2029 | €44.5M | €48K | 81 |
J. Mokio | CDM CM LB CB | 17 | 69 | 88 | Ajax | 2024 ~ 2027 | €3.3M | €5K | 68 |
F. Jeltsch | CB | 18 | 72 | 87 | VfB Stuttgart | 2025 ~ 2030 | €5M | €15K | 73 |
L. Vušković | CB | 18 | 74 | 87 | Hamburger SV | Jun 30, 2026 On loan | €9M | €41K | 72 |
O. Diomande | CB | 21 | 80 | 87 | Sporting CP | 2023 ~ 2027 | €40M | €17K | 79 |
J. Ordoñez | CB | 21 | 76 | 87 | Club Brugge KV | 2022 ~ 2029 | €15.5M | €20K | 75 |
E. Bitshiabu | CB | 20 | 75 | 87 | RB Leipzig | 2023 ~ 2029 | €12.5M | €29K | 74 |
P. Comuzzo | CB | 20 | 74 | 86 | Fiorentina | 2023 ~ 2028 | €9.5M | €26K | 77 |
Murillo | CB | 22 | 82 | 86 | Nottingham Forest | 2023 ~ 2029 | €40M | €90K | 82 |
A. Khusanov | CB | 21 | 78 | 86 | Manchester City | 2025 ~ 2029 | €29.5M | €69K | 78 |
M. Smets | CB | 21 | 76 | 86 | KRC Genk | 2024 ~ 2028 | €15.5M | €17K | 77 |
A. Gray | CDM CB RB CM | 19 | 75 | 86 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2024 ~ 2030 | €11.5M | €48K | 73 |
António Silva | CB | 21 | 78 | 86 | SL Benfica | 2022 ~ 2027 | €29.5M | €15K | 78 |
L. Yoro | CB | 19 | 78 | 86 | Manchester United | 2024 ~ 2029 | €28.5M | €49K | 79 |
G. Scalvini | CB | 21 | 77 | 86 | Atalanta | 2021 ~ 2028 | €22M | €39K | 80 |
Z. Debast | CDM CB CM | 21 | 78 | 86 | Sporting CP | 2024 ~ 2029 | €30M | €15K | 77 |
Yarek | CB LB CDM | 20 | 74 | 85 | PSV | 2025 ~ 2030 | €8.5M | €13K | 75 |
J. Simić | CB | 20 | 70 | 85 | Al Ittihad | Jun 30, 2026 On loan | €3.6M | €12K | 70 |
W. Goes | CB | 21 | 77 | 85 | AZ Alkmaar | 2020 ~ 2028 | €22M | €15K | 77 |
K. Koulierakis | CB | 21 | 76 | 85 | VfL Wolfsburg | 2024 ~ 2029 | €15.5M | €28K | 76 |
Pubill | RB CB RM | 22 | 74 | 85 | Atlético Madrid | 2025 ~ 2030 | €9M | €37K | 71 |
L. Querfeld | CB | 21 | 75 | 85 | 1. FC Union Berlin | 2024 ~ 2029 | €12M | €21K | 76 |
Cristhian Mosquera | CB | 21 | 77 | 85 | Arsenal | 2025 ~ 2030 | €22M | €69K | 78 |
Z. Van Den Bosch | CB | 21 | 75 | 85 | Royal Antwerp FC | 2022 ~ 2026 | €12M | €16K | 75 |
I. Zabarnyi | CB | 22 | 80 | 85 | Paris Saint-Germain | 2025 ~ 2030 | €29.5M | €68K | 81 |
J. Acheampong | CB RB CDM CM | 19 | 73 | 85 | Chelsea | 2024 ~ 2029 | €7M | €45K | 73 |
J. Gadou | CB | 18 | 66 | 85 | FC Red Bull Salzburg | 2024 ~ 2029 | €2M | €4K | 66 |
T. Ramírez | CB | 18 | 69 | 85 | Argentinos Juniors | 2024 ~ 2026 | €3.3M | €5K | 69 |
Lucas Beraldo | CB | 21 | 78 | 84 | Paris Saint-Germain | 2024 ~ 2028 | €20.5M | €49K | 79 |
J. Jacquet | CB | 19 | 75 | 84 | Stade Rennais FC | 2022 ~ 2029 | €11.5M | €16K | 75 |
A. Anselmino | CB | 20 | 73 | 84 | Borussia Dortmund | Jun 30, 2026 On loan | €6M | €48K | 73 |
Jon Martín | CB | 19 | 73 | 84 | Real Sociedad | 2023 ~ 2030 | €6M | €18K | 73 |
N. Mendy | CB LB | 20 | 72 | 84 | Rayo Vallecano | Jun 30, 2026 On loan | €5.5M | €13K | 69 |
M. Sarr | CB | 19 | 76 | 84 | RC Strasbourg Alsace | Jun 30, 2026 On loan | €15M | €57K | 77 |
Renato Veiga | CB LB CDM | 21 | 77 | 84 | Villarreal CF | 2025 ~ 2032 | €20M | €25K | 75 |
C. Mawissa | CB LB | 20 | 75 | 84 | AS Monaco | 2024 ~ 2029 | €11.5M | €19K | 75 |
D. Prpić | CB | 21 | 73 | 84 | FC Porto | 2025 ~ 2030 | €6.5M | €8K | 72 |
V. Gómez | CB LB CDM | 22 | 76 | 84 | Real Betis Balompié | 2025 ~ 2030 | €15.5M | €22K | 76 |
L. Colwill | CB | 22 | 80 | 84 | Chelsea | 2020 ~ 2029 | €27.5M | €95K | 81 |
N. Collins | CB RB RM | 21 | 74 | 84 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 2023 ~ 2030 | €9M | €18K | 73 |
E. Bayram | CB | 22 | 73 | 84 | KVC Westerlo | 2024 ~ 2028 | €6.5M | €9K | 74 |
V. Milosavljević | CB | 18 | 71 | 84 | AFC Bournemouth | 2025 ~ 2030 | €4.1M | €24K | 71 |
T. Tati | CB | 17 | 69 | 84 | FC Nantes | 2025 ~ 2028 | €3M | €5K | 70 |
A. Kinteh | CB | 18 | 67 | 84 | Tromsø IL | 2025 ~ 2029 | €2.4M | €2K | 63 |
R. Nijstad | CB | 17 | 65 | 84 | FC Twente | 2025 ~ 2027 | €1.7M | €2K | 64 |
Vitor Reis | CB | 19 | 71 | 84 | Girona FC | Jun 30, 2026 On loan | €4.2M | €37K | 71 |
A. Tape | CB | 17 | 67 | 84 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 2025 ~ 2030 | €2.4M | €11K | 69 |
D. Huijsen, with 82 defending and an incredible 89 potential, tops the list. He is followed by 18-year-old Pau Cubarsí, who is already a Barcelona starter with an 84 defending. J. Hato and C. Lukeba, both with an 88 potential rating, are very versatile since they can play in different positions, either on the backline or in the midfield. Ajax's J. Mokio is another 17-year-old wonderkid with an 88 potential, is the top long-term investment.
If you are on the lookout for smart deals, F. Jeltsch and L. Vušković are great choices, as they both have 87 potential and are available for less than €10M. J. Gadou at €2M with 85 potential is particularly recommended for those who want the most for a very small budget. At the same time, T. Ramírez offers the cheap entry point of €3.3M while still having a high potential. Thus, these budget picks allow you to redirect your funds to other areas while ensuring that you have a future world-class defender.
Getting one of these players will provide your team with defensive stability, so hurry up to secure them before their market value skyrockets in your EA FC 26 Career Mode save.
Read more EA FC 26-related articles:
- 50 Best EA FC 26 young wingers with high potential in Manager Career Mode
- 50 Best EA FC 26 young strikers with high potential in Manager Career Mode
- EA FC 26 Career Mode guide: Best countries to send Youth Academy scouts
Why did you not like this content?
- Clickbait / Misleading
- Factually Incorrect
- Hateful or Abusive
- Baseless Opinion
- Too Many Ads
- Other
Was this article helpful?
Thank You for feedback
Are you stuck on today's Wordle? Our Wordle Solver will help you find the answer.
Edited by Ripan Majumdar
English (US)