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Best Cheap CB FIFA 23 – Best Centre Backs to Sign in Career Mode

An inexpensive centre back with a lot of potential will do wonders for your starting lineup while giving you room to expand your transfer money in the future.

Best Cheap CB FIFA 23

We’ve compiled the top 10 cheap centre backs with excellent potential ratings in our best cheap CB FIFA 23 guide. This is to help you build a strong defensive line for the future at the lowest possible cost to your transfer budget. The players are ranked in an ascending order based on their potential ratings.

Scroll to the bottom of the page for a complete list of players.

10

Fabio Chiarodia (OVR 60, POT 83)

  • Age: 17
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Club: Werder Bremen
  • Value: €725K
  • Wage: €500
  • Height: 6’1″
  • Best Qualities: 71 Jumping, 67 Sprint Speed, 64 Defensive Awareness, 64 Acceleration

With Chelsea and Juventus among those who are reportedly keeping tabs on Fabio Chiarodia’s development, he is already the youngest player in Werder Bremen history. Along the way to his promotion to the senior ranks, the teenager has captained Werder’s numerous age-group teams.

He is a very great asset to every FIFA 23 manager. Although his 60 overall rating might call for immediate concern, it is still an impressive rating for a 17-year-old up-and-coming talent. His 83 potential rating shows how much of a massive defense prospect he is. Having a meagre €725K worth and getting a ridiculously cheap €500 wage value, he is a steal for everyone!

Despite being natively left-footed, the 17-year-old center-back is at ease with either foot and demonstrates the composure in the air that more and more current coaches are looking for in their defenders.

9

Leonidas Stergiou (OVR 67, POT 84)

  • Age: 20
  • Nationality: Swiss
  • Club: FC St. Gallen
  • Value: €2.5M
  • Wage: €3K
  • Height: 5’10”
  • Best Qualities: 88 Jumping, 74 Strength, 71 Standing Tackle, 71 Stamina

With a value of just £2.5 million, a 67 overall rating, and an 84 potential rating, Leonidas Stergiou is the model of a low-cost centre defender with massive potential in FIFA 23. The Swiss player, 20, competes for FC St. Gallen in the Switzerland Super League (1).

His current salary of £3,000 is also extremely inexpensive, and despite just being a 67-overall CB at the age of 20, the Swiss player already has some stellar ratings. His 88 Jumping rating shows how good he is at aerial clearance, a quality every manager would want from a CB.

Despite still being young, Stergiou has long been a dependable center defender for FC St. Gallen. And in the upcoming years, he can still get much better.

8

Jarrad Branthwaite (OVR 68, POT 84)

  • Age: 20
  • Nationality: English
  • Club: PSV
  • Value: €3M
  • Wage: €10K
  • Height: 6’5″
  • Best Qualities: 74 Sprint Speed, 74 Jumping, 72 Standing Tackle, 71 Strength.

When he had the ground, Jarrad Branthwaite showed excellent defensive traits, tremendous versatility, and positional knowledge, despite lacking a lot of senior team experience. He is capable of playing both in midfield and the back line.

Jarrad Branthwaite sparks a distinct level of interest when looking for cheap players to sign in FIFA Career Mode, even though his starting overall rating still overs around the mid-60s. To cut to the chase, he is the tallest center back among the top inexpensive high potential players. His 6’5″ height, added to his 74-jumping rating, makes him a terror to attackers in aerial duels.

Since making his Toffees debut, he has frequently been a reserve player before joining prominent Dutch club PSV Eindhoven on a season-long loan. If he has enough game time, his potential rating of 84 might be a walkover.

7

Eric Martel (OVR 67, POT 84)

  • Age: 20
  • Nationality: German
  • Club: FC Köln
  • Value: €2.5M
  • Wage: €6K
  • Height: 6’2″
  • Best Qualities: 80 Stamina, 74 Aggression, 73 Jumping, 70 Strength

German-born professional footballer Eric Martel competes for FC Köln in the German Bundesliga as a center-back. His contract with the club runs through 2026, and he just joined them in the just concluded summer transfer window.

His 80 Stamina and 74 Aggression show how much of a no-nonsense CB he is. He is a regular player for his team, and his potential rating of 84 shows that it won’t be long before the young talent becomes a top target for big clubs.

6

Noah Mbamba (OVR 64, POT 84)

Noah Mbamba
  • Age: 17
  • Nationality: Belgian
  • Club: Club Brugge
  • Value: €1.5M
  • Wage: €500
  • Height: 6’2″
  • Best Qualities: 77 Jumping, 76 Sprint Speed, 74 Stamina, 67 Acceleration

Currently, Noah Mbamba-Muanda competes for Club Brugge. Despite being young, the Belgian made 21 appearances for Brugge last season, and the promising defender is expected to play a far larger role in the new campaign.

At 17, he is already making waves in his team, and it doesn’t seem like he is stopping anytime soon. With the ridiculous €1.5 million value placed on him and his current wage of €500, he is simply one of the best potential CB choices you can make. His 77 Jumping capability also makes him a threat in the air for defensive purposes and to head some set-pieces home.

The right-footed Centre Back remains one of the best additions you can make in FIFA 23 Career Mode despite receiving a very harsh potential rating reduction before the game’s release. He can be used right away in lesser teams thanks to several respectable stats, and you can’t complain about a price that low for such great potential!

5

Levi Colwill (OVR 70, POT 84)

  • Age: 19
  • Nationality: English
  • Club: Brighton & Hove Albion
  • Value: €3.5M
  • Wage: €22K
  • Height: 6’1″
  • Best Qualities: 78 Strength, 76 Jumping, 73 Standing Tackle, 70 Sprint Speed.

Levi Colwill’s potential has long been recognized by supporters of Chelsea’s academy teams, who dubbed the center-back “The next John Terry” as he grew up in west London. Colwill had the chance to prove why he had earned such a moniker while playing first-team football when he signed a season-long loan deal with Huddersfield Town in the summer of 2021.

Colwill felt certain he could accomplish it, and it appears he could do just that. No wonder he got a sleek 70 overall rating with the potential to garner more in the coming years. The English left-footer has the strength of a mule, earning him a 78 rating, and his 70 sprint speed does not justify how fast a player he is!

Making his Premier league debut this season for Brighton & Hove Albion at 19, Levi Colwill is a star set to break out!

4

Micky van de Ven (OVR 69, POT 84)

  • Age: 21
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Club: VfL Wolfsburg
  • Value: €3.2M
  • Wage: €12K
  • Height: 6’4”
  • Best Qualities: 88 Sprint Speed, 81 Strength, 72 Sliding Tackle, 71 Heading Accuracy

Micky van de Ven enters FIFA 23 as one of the finest budget centre-backs to sign, valued at just £3.2 million with an 84 potential rating. He also appears like one who’d give attackers a tough time as he advances in Career Mode.

The Dutchman is a regular at Wolfsburg, rocking an intimidating 6’4″ height. His 88 sprint speed tells how much of a threat he poses to the opponents while attacking. And his impressive 71 heading accuracy, coupled with his tall height, will give the opponents a tough time during set pieces.
For his overall rating, Micky van de Ven possesses respectable defending abilities as well as exceptionally good sprint speed and strength. Picking him up at such a low cost is your advantage as you advance through the leagues.

3

Alessandro Fontanarosa (OVR 67, POT 84)

  • Age: 19
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Club: Inter Milan
  • Value: €2.5M
  • Wage: €8K
  • Height: 6’1”
  • Best Qualities: 77 Acceleration, 74 Sprint Speed, 71 Aggression, 70 Shot Power

When preseason training got underway, young players from Inter’s youth academy were allowed to practice with the team’s first squad. Fontanarosa went one step further by playing for the team in a friendly.

With a strong left foot and outstanding speed, Fontanarosa is more than good enough to play at the left-back position, despite his regular position being a center-back.
The young player has played in two games this season, so his future seems promising.

2

Giorgio Scalvini (OVR 79, POT 86)

  • Age: 18
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Club: Atalanta
  • Value: €3.8M
  • Wage: €6K
  • Height: 6’4”
  • Best Qualities: 73 Standing Tackle, 72 Defensive Awareness, 72 Reactions, 71 Interceptions

Giorgio Scalvini didn’t join Gasperini’s first-team squad until October of 2021, but since then, he has been a key member and has started almost every game since mid-March. He played 31 times, which was the most of any player born in 2003 or later, and as a result, he was occasionally given a spot on the first team bench throughout the season.

His massive 6’4″ height and his defensive prowess prove that the Italian talent is on the road to becoming another Roman wall like his Italian predecessors. Having a 72 defensive awareness, a 71 interception, and a 73 standing tackle rating, nothing is holding back the 18-year-old from becoming a master of the game.
All eyes are on the young player, who made his international debut for Italy against Germany in June of this year. He is regarded as a budding defense rock.

1

António Silva (OVR 69, POT 87)

  • Age: 18
  • Nationality: Portugal
  • Club: Benfica
  • Value: €3.3M
  • Wage: €2k
  • Height: 6’1″
  • Best Qualities: 82 Strength, 79 Sprint Speed, 78 Reactions, 78 Stamina

António Silva is a strong, powerful, and dominant central defender who combines these qualities with excellent passing and technique. He is developing into a defensive beast thanks to his healthy body mass ratio, as well as his physical prowess, stamina, power, and natural fitness.

The 18-year-old has almost all the qualities you want in a cheap centre-back. His strength, pace, and skills are great assets for everyone in FIFA 23 Career Mode. His 69 overall rating vaguely shows how much influence he has for Benfica at the moment, but with an incredible 87 potential rating, the Portuguese youngster is showing signs of becoming the next big thing in modern football!

Best Cheap CB FIFA 23

Here’s a complete list of the best cheap centre backs with the highest potential in FIFA 23.

PlayerOVRPOTAgeClubValueWage
António Silva698718SL Benfica€3.3M€2K
Giorgio Scalvini708618Atalanta€3.8M€6K
Alessandro Fontanarosa678419Inter€2.5M€8K
Micky van de Ven698421VfL Wolfsburg€3.2M€12K
Levi Colwill708419Brighton & Hove Albion (On Loan)€3.5M€22K
Noah Mbamba648417Club Brugge KV €1.5M€500
Jarrad Branthwaite688420PSV (On Loan)€3M€10K
Leonidas Stergiou678420FC St. Gallen 1879€2.5M€3K
Simo 628317RCD Espanyol de Barcelona€1.2M€500
Tomás Araújo678320Gil Vicente FC 9 (On Loan)€2.5M€3K
Fabio Chiarodia608317SV Werder Bremen 2€725K€500
Mattia Viti718320OGC Nice €4.2M€16K
Mario Vušković728320Hamburger SV €4.8M€7K
Radu Drăgușin688320Genoa (On Loan)€2.7M€20K
Isaak Touré678319Olympique de Marseille€2.5M€6K
Malick Thiaw728320AC Milan €4.8M€24K
Bećir Omeragić688320FC Zürich€2.7M€5K
Diego Coppola678218Hellas Veron€2.2M€2K
Valentín Gómez678219Vélez Sarsfield€2.3M€2K
Cristhian Mosquera668218Valencia CF€2M€2K
Ashley Phillips598217Blackburn Rovers€675K€500
Linus Gechter688218Hertha BSC €2.6M€3K
Maxime Estève728220Montpellier Hérault SC€4.8M€11K
Andrew Omobamidele708220Norwich City €3.6M€15K
Luke Mbete638218Huddersfield Town (On Loan)€1.1M€5K
Soumaila Coulibaly638218Borussia Dortmund€1.1M€2K
Martin Vitík728219AC Sparta Praha€4.7M€500
Mees Hilgers708221FC Twente€3.7M€5K
Bright Arrey-Mbi628219Hannover 96 (On Loan)€1.1M€4K
Márton Dárdai718220Hertha BSC€3.8M€12K
Nnamdi Collins618218Borussia Dortmund €1M€2K
Jon Pacheco698221Real Sociedad €3.2M€9K
Strahinja Pavlović718221FC Red Bull Salzburg€3.9M€11K
Leo Hjelde658218Leeds United€1.7M€2K
Taylor Harwood-Bellis708220Burnley (On Loan)€3.6M€33K
Eduardo Quaresma708220TSG Hoffenheim (On Loan)€3.6M€5K
Mujaid Sadick718222KRC Genk€3.9M€9K
Anel Ahmedhodžić728223Sheffield United€4.9M€16K

Conclusion

You can’t get it wrong with giving one of these prospects a shot on your FIFA 23 Career Mode. They all cost below €5 million and are currently earning affordable wages compared to high-profile players.

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EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 can be pre-purchased on Steam.