EA FC 25's Most Promising Young Defensive Stars You Need to Know

Each year, the EA FC series (previously called FIFA) gains more traction among gamers, delivering numerous enhancements with every new release—including EA FC 25, which launched in September 2024.

Whether you prefer Ultimate Team gameplay, Career Mode adventures, or Pro Clubs competition, there's something engaging for everyone—even if this isn't the most recent version.

Regardless of which game mode you enjoy most, understanding who the top-tier players are remains crucial—and in EA FC, promising young talent represents one of the most precious resources available.

Keeping this in mind, let's examine the finest young central defenders (23 years old or younger) featured in EA FC 25.

Top Young Centre Backs in EA FC 25

We're considering any player whose primary position is centre back in EA FC 25, with one clearly dominating the competition.

Arsenal's defender William Saliba stands as the most dominant young centre back in the game, earning an impressive 87 overall rating from the French international. Many believe this rating remains undervalued. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven showcases a solid 82 rating—representing a four-point increase from EA FC 24.

The top young women's centre back is Colombia's Manuela Vanegas, who also achieves an 82 rating for Real Sociedad Femenino. Her potential reaches 88.

The outstanding displays of Piero Hincapié for 2023-24 Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen earned him an 81 rating, while his colleague Odilon Kossounou—currently on loan at Atalanta—shares the same rating. Both possess 86 potential and can evolve into elite players with strong physical characteristics.

Something special exists in Lisbon's football scene, with four Sporting CP talents and one Benfica player featuring among the 20 highest-potential young centre backs in EA FC 25. Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma and Zeno Debast all represent the 2023-24 Primeira Liga winners.

Manchester United boasts two high-potential young centre backs—one from the men's squad and one from the women's team—with Leny Yoro and Maya Le Tissier both showing enormous potential. The latter can achieve as high as 88 overall.

Young Centre Backs with Highest Career Mode Potential in EA FC 25

Budget Wonderkid Centre Backs in EA FC 25 Career Mode

Barcelona's exceptional wonderkid Pau Cubarsí carries a market value of only £4.6 million despite possessing 88 potential, though he'll likely demand more in EA FC 25. Nevertheless, numerous other defenders priced under £15 million deserve consideration.

Westerlo's Luka Vušković and FC Nürnberg's Finn Jeltsch merit immediate scouting in Career Mode, featuring modest current ratings but tremendous potential. Both are available for as little as £1.4 million and represent intelligent investments for long-term development.

If you're exploring women's football—available in Career Mode for the first time—then Chelsea's Maelys Mpomé is priced at £14 million and boasts an 85 overall potential rating. The French defender already performs strongly at 76 overall.