Football's coming home! (Possibly, one day, if we have a quality center-back partnership...)

Us English folk have been crying out for top-quality center-backs since the likes of Ferdinand, Terry, and Campbell. Lucky for us, a new crop might not be too far away. On FIFA, the youth of English center-backs lend themselves to Career Mode managers looking out for new talent. 

15. Ben Wilmot (Swansea) 

Starting in Wales (via Watford), with a team that plays in the English leagues... If you're not from the UK - even we don't understand it.

A good number of these players are ones for the future of Career Mode playthroughs. Wilmot is the first of many cheap, young English center-backs with great potential. He’s a cheap but powerful presence at the back.

Wilmot's stat highlights:

• 67 Strength, 68 Aggression, 66 Jumping. 
• 66 Heading Accuracy, 68 Interceptions, 67 Marking. 
• 66 Stand Tackle, 62 Slide Tackle. 

What makes Wilmot an amazing CB:

• He's 6'2" and only 18.
• Career Mode potential is a very handy 81.
• Grab him for under £1m.

14. Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United) 

Something about this guy is just so likable. It's either his passion and drive or his lovely fade.

Lascelles needs a national call-up. He has all the goods to be adequate cover in a trouble spot for England. His FIFA stats reflect how good he is, even if he may not get the real-life recognition. 

Lascelles' stat highlights:

• 83 Aggression, 85 Jumping, 84 Strength. 
• 75 Reactions, 73 Composure, 78 Interceptions. 
• 79 Heading Accuracy, 79 Marking, 77 Stand Tackle. 

What makes Lascelles an amazing CB:

• Medium/High work rates, perfect for a defender. 
• 6'2" with a three-star weak foot. 
• 82 potential, and at a 78 already he can do a job immediately. 

13. James Tarkowski (Burnley) 

A forgotten man at the national level, but not at FIFA 20 Career Mode level! His parents will be thrilled.

An unfortunate bout of big-club bias has kept Tarkowski from many more England caps, in my opinion. He provides a dependable defensive player for both Career and FUT veterans. 

Tarkowski's stat highlights:

• 81 Heading Accuracy, 80 Marking, 82 Stand Tackle. 
• 84 Aggression, 82 Jumping, 82 Strength.
• 78 Composure, 77 Reactions, 74 Short Pass. 

What makes Tarkowski an amazing CB:

• Very nice four-star weak foot. 
• 80-rated with 82 potential in Career Mode. 
• A cheap and usable 84 FUT SIF.

12. Zech Medley (Arsenal) 

Already an imposing presence on FIFA 20.

A young Arsenal prodigy that is cheap enough for pretty much any club you step into management with. Medley has the tools to be a useful option for you. Zech is also a cool name, in my opinion, which matters little to gameplay but I like it.

Medley's stat highlights:

• 72 Strength, 70 Jumping. 
• 70 Stand Tackle, 63 Slide Tackle, 62 Heading Accuracy. 
• 68 Sprint Speed, 60 Acceleration. 

What makes Medley an amazing CB:

• A monster 6'5" that can also play as an impassable LB.
• Next to no transfer fee or wage demands. 
• Eighteen points of growth to train in those lovely sessions. 

11. John Stones (Manchester City) 

Will this potential be matched by consistency?

Ah, John Stones. Thrown into the role of England's new Rio Ferdinand before a string of mistakes saw him a forgotten man for club and country. Still, his FIFA avatar is an excellent choice for Career Mode managers. 

Stones' stat highlights:

• 80 Ball Control, 82 Composure, 78 Reactions. 
• 81 Heading Accuracy, 84 Stand Tackle, 81 Slide Tackle. 
• 81 Jumping, 77 Stamina, 77 Strength. 

What makes Stones an amazing CB:

• That classy four-star weak foot. 
• 84 potential with a decade-plus for him still to play. 
• His current stats do a decent job in any team. 

10. Rob Holding (Arsenal) 

The fact that he has a highlight reel from as recently as last year surprised me, to be honest.

Miraculously, Rob Holding is still contracted to Arsenal, despite not being seen at the club since 1982. (That's not strictly true, and he has played two league games this season, but shush.) 

Holding's stat highlights:

• 78 Stand Tackle, 76 Slide Tackle, 77 Marking. 
• 72 Aggression, 77 Jumping, 76 Strength. 
• 71 Short Passing, 79 Composure. 

What makes Holding an amazing CB:

• An amazing and attainable target for any second-tier sides. 
• 83 potential will see you up to the top level. 
• He's still only 22, despite it feeling like he's been around for fifteen years. Don’t try to figure out my maths, just go with it.

9. Malachi Fagan-Walcott (Tottenham) 

This isn't the end of the unknowns, not by a long shot.

An announcement to all Spurs Career Mode managers: Sell Vertonghen and Alderweireld now. Get as much as you can in the bank, then throw my two teenage picks into the team instead. 

Fagan-Walcott's stat highlights:

• 71 Jumping, 67 Aggression, 66 Strength. 
• 56 Heading Accuracy, 59 Stand Tackle, 55 Slide Tackle. 
• 60 Acceleration, 68 Sprint Speed. 

What makes Fagan-Walcott an amazing CB:

• Youth. He's only 16 years old, so once you have him in your squad those long-standing managers can get twenty years out of him. 
• Potential. Fagan-Walcott will get up to an 82; that's 23 points and a whole lot of training. 
• He's quick, agile, and 6'1".

8. Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham)

Not the last club partnership here you'll see here, either.

This guy has attributes that wouldn't be out of place on the top defenders in the league. While it skews his other stats slightly, he's got a load of growing to do. Next to Fagan-Walcott you have a firm partnership.

Tanganga's stat highlights:

• 88 Jumping, 75 Strength, 68 Aggression. 
• 71 Stand Tackle, 67 Slide Tackle, 68 Marking. 
• 65 Acceleration, 74 Sprint Speed. 

What makes Tanganga an amazing CB:

• Look at those stats. No 69 rated player should be possessing 88 in anything! 
• He's got fifteen points to grow, to his 84 final rating. 
• You can use him as a full-back on either side. 

7. Chris Smalling (Roma)

He's like a better version of Phil Jones that you actually want to succeed. Sorry, Phil.

How Chris Smalling got into Roma's team of the decade recently is beyond me and every other Manchester United fan. He's always been an overpowered beast on FIFA, though. This year is no exception.

Smalling's stat highlights:

• 83 Aggression, 74 Jumping, 88 Strength. 
• 82 Heading Accuracy, 82 Stand Tackle, 81 Slide Tackle. 
• 75 Sprint Speed, 78 Reactions. 

What makes Smalling an amazing CB:

• He's a big lad at 6'4".
• A quick and strong leader. 
• Really consistent defending and physical stats. 

6. Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) 

Big, young, strong. Anything else you need from a center-back?

Somehow not the only Middlesbrough player on this list. They've certainly kept their promising young defenders under wraps for now. Fry has a bunch of standout stats that set him apart from most at his level. 

Fry's stat highlights:

• 74 Strength, 78 Jumping. 
• 71 Stand Tackle, 72 Heading Accuracy, 72 Marking. 
• 70 Composure, 70 Reactions. 

What makes Fry an amazing CB:

• Equally at home in the center or at right-back. 
• He grows into a capable 82-rated defender. 
• A brutish 6'3" with high Strength. 

5. Joe Gomez (Liverpool) 

Joe Gomez is becoming the Neymar of my English-based lists.

The future is already here in the form of Joe Gomez. As I've said before, he is a ready-made, top-class CB after learning from one of the best in Virgil van Dijk. His Career curve is phenomenal, too.

Gomez' stat highlights:

• 78 Acceleration, 85 Sprint Speed. 
• 72 Ball Control, 82 Reactions, 83 Strength. 
• 83 Interceptions, 83 Marking, 85 Stand Tackle. 

What makes Gomez an amazing CB:

• Put him straight into any team, no improvement needed. 
• He's already rapid and a superbly consistent defender.
• His 89 potential is the best among his countrymen. 

4. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City)

You may not have heard of him yet, but you will.

This young man has the second-best potential rating of all the English teenagers here. His stats are incredibly balanced, as you're about to see. Hoping for big things from this young man! 

Harwood-Bellis' stat highlights:

• 63 Heading Accuracy, 62 Stand Tackle, 60 Slide Tackle. 
• 62 Acceleration, 64 Sprint Speed. 
• 62 Balance, 68 Jumping, 65 Stamina. 

What makes Harwood-Bellis an amazing CB:

• At just 16 he has all the time in the world to reach his 83 potential. 
• High/Medium work rates make him a great ball-playing CB or CDM. 
• Pace, Defending, and Physical stats are all super consistent. 

3. Nathan Wood (Middlesbrough) 

It's not every day you can pick up a 17-year-old on the first day of a new game. Don't take that as a euphamism, please.

Man, Middlesbrough Career Mode managers are set for centre-backs aren't they? Wood and Fry are a duo for the future, good news for all you Boro fans. Premier League, here you come.

Wood's stat highlights:

• 71 Sprint Speed, 66 Composure, 61 Balance. 
• 60 Aggression, 70 Jumping, 67 Strength. 
• 64 Marking, 62 Stand Tackle, 60 Slide Tackle. 

What makes Wood an amazing CB:

• He improves to an 82-rated machine. 
• Crazy good pace for a 61.
• You can sign him for next to nothing. 

2. Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

 

Slabhead is possibly the worst affectionate nickname I've ever heard.

The new skipper of Manchester United is as dependable in-game as he has been on the pitch for the last few seasons. FUT players can bank on his SBC player pick, but Career Mode managers can pick up a gem of a defender as well. 

Maguire's stat highlights:

• 82 Reactions, 82 Composure, 76 Ball Control. 
• 86 Heading Accuracy, 82 Interceptions, 83 Stand Tackle. 
• 84 Aggression, 84 Jumping, 88 Strength. 

What makes Maguire an amazing CB:

• At 25 he still has room to grow from an 83 to an 86.
• 6'4" with that huge Strength makes him a rock. 
• Very decent on the ball. 

1. Ben White (Leeds United)

I do love a surprise winner.

An unexpected number one no doubt, but Ben White's stellar season has been rewarded with an amazing FUT card. He also has a very nice Career Mode growth path, so maybe we should have seen this coming? EA clearly did. 

White's stat highlights:

• 71 Acceleration, 72 Short Pass, 74 Reactions. 
• 76 Jumping, 76 Stamina, 74 Strength. 
• 77 Interceptions, 76 Marking, 76 Slide Tackle. 

What makes White an amazing CB:

• Career Mode potential of 84 coming in at around £7m.
• Four-star weak foot. 
• His 90-rated TOTS card is one of FUT's finest.

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