Having a powerful centre-back in the heart of your defence is one of the most desired things in EA FC 24 career mode. This list of players will highlight the most promising wonderkids with great defensive attributes in this year’s rebranded FIFA 24 that has mixed reviews.
Joško Gvardiol (Overall 82 – Potential 88)
Having begun his career playing for Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol gathered a lot of attention and swiftly moved to RB Leipzig in Germany, where he made 59 appearances and managed to score three goals, even going back on loan to his former side during the 2020-21 season. After a successful showcase in the German side and his World Cup appearances for Croatia at the 2022 World Cup, Gvardiol became a hot target for Premier League winners Manchester City, who bought him in the 2023 summer transfer window for a mighty £77.6m.
In the game, Gvardiol has a substantially impressive stat line with a bohemian potential of 88, making him one of the best in the world. Defensively speaking, he starts with a well-rounded stat line, including 81 in defensive awareness, 84 in standing tackle, and 84 in sliding tackle. While not a strike, Gvardiol’s weakness is his finishing, which is only 42. However, if you get a header with him, you can score as he rates 78 heading accuracy. Indeed, a good player to start a list.
Arnau Martinez (Overall 80 – Potential 86)
Martinez of Spain began his career in 2020, starting for Girona B, the second side of Girona, which currently plays football in Tercera Federación. However, it didn’t take long for him to power up and move to the main squad after only seven appearances for the B side. Currently, Martinez has made over 90 appearances and scored six goals as a centre-back and right-back. He has also made 12 appearances for the mighty Spain U21 side.
Game-wise, Martinez is no joke, as he starts with an overall rating of 80 and a potential of 86. He is a credible player who would fit in any top La Liga, Premier League, or even Bundesliga side. His best attributes are present in the movement category, with acceleration being 82, while sprint speed not falling far behind at 78. Regarding defensive qualities, his standing tackle stands at 79 and sliding tackle at 77, with a slightly low strength of only 66. Though he is primarily a right-back in real life, this is pretty much the same — depending on where you position him on your career mode side.
Gonçalo Inácio (Overall 79 – Potential 86)
Starting his career at Sporting CP, Inácio hasn’t shifted anywhere since his debut in 2020. Since then, he has made over 96 appearances for the side and managed to bag seven goals. For his international career, Inácio has made quick progress through the youth ranks, quickly progressing into the senior Portugal side in 2023, making five appearances and scoring two goals.
Reflective of real life, Inácio ranks well in the game with a potential 86. His most prominent attribute, as expected, is his defence, in which he has 81 for defensive awareness and 82 for standing tackle. Moving on, Inácio also has excellent movement attributes for a centre-back, as he has an acceleration of 78 and a sprint speed of 81. That might be impressive and works well with counter-attacking teams that need defenders who can push quickly on the offence and pull back when needed.
António Silva (Overall 78 – Potential 88)
One of the most prominent youngsters on the list is another Portuguese wonderkid, António Silva. He has a potential of 88 in the game and currently plays football for Primeira Liga’s Benfica in Portugal. Like Inácio, Silva began his career in Portugal with his side and has maintained his position in his home country. Silva has made over 45 appearances for Benfica, scoring four goals. Like Inácio, he has also made seven appearances for the Portugal national team since 2022.
In the video game, Silva has excellent strength, which is at 82, stamina at 83, and standing tackle at 81. He is a well-rounded player with a release clause of €62.7 million, making him a steal if you’re willing to grow him into the starting 11 players you hope to have. Sadly, even though he is a prominent player in football, he doesn’t have a real face within the game.
Jorrel Hato (Overall 73 – Potential 88)
Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is another superb wonderkid in the game. He started his career in 2022 with the second team of Ajax, most commonly known as Jong Ajax (or Ajax II). For the second team, Hato made 13 appearances and scored 1 goal before he moved to the main team. He currently has 27 appearances with 1 goal. His international career has also grown from when he started to play for the Netherlands U16 side in 2021 to 2023, where he played for the Netherlands senior team, making his debut against Gibraltar in a UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying match.
As a 17-year-old, Hato has a heap of potential within the game that reaches an astounding 88. The craziest thing about his player in the game is the release clause, which is only €13.2 million, making him one of the must-have players, especially if you like building up your teams. Stat-wise, he has a superb acceleration of 82 and a sprint speed of 88. his defensive stats are not too shabby either, with 72 defensive awareness and 74 standing tackles. In our honest opinion, Hato is undoubtedly the best player to buy on this list. He is a sound investment and can make your team into the next Champions League winning side.
Giorgio Scalvini (Overall 75 – Potential 86)
Last but certainly not least on our list is Italian centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, who is rapidly growing for the Seria A side Atalanta, who has currently made 67 appearances, scoring three goals. Scalvini made his pro debut in 2021 after joining the Atalanta youth sector, which he has been part of since 2015 after moving from Brescia. Scalvini has also appeared for the Italian national team, making seven apps since 2022.
Much-like other talent on this list, Scalvini isn’t a shy defender holding well-rounded defensive stats with 80 in standing tackle and 78 in a sliding tackle. His strength could do some work with it only being 68, and speed-wise, he isn’t the fastest but can certainly hold up well with 78 in interceptions and 74 in reactions.
