It’s that time of the year again when we’re blessed with another FIFA game. Therefore, we’ve decided to update our old Best Young CB FIFA 22 list with the latest young wonderkid centre backs in the world. These ratings are predicted for now; however, some have been leaked by EA as well. With that said, let’s delve into our new Best Young CB FIFA 23 guide!
FIFA 23 is looking to be one of the more exciting FIFA additions in recent memory. With the new changes and updates to Career Mode, players have more options than ever to create a squad that is uniquely their own. But who should they put in this squad?
Looking to pick up a bargain? Check out our best cheap CB FIFA 23 guide.
If you’re looking to add some firepower to your defense, look no further. This list covers the best young centre back wonderkids in FIFA 23, a group of players under 21 that will keep your goalie bored!
Centre backs are traditionally the pillars of their defense, shoring up the opposition’s attacks and making sure they’re keeping clean sheets. Some Centre backs over the last couple of generations have evolved to be much more attacking minded, being willing to come forward and have a shot at goal themselves!
Whatever kind of centre back you’re looking for, this list is full of some of the best!
Noah Mbamba (64 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: Club Brugge
- Age: 17
- Nationality: Belgium
- Value: £3.6M
Coming in at only 17 years old, Noah Mbamba may have the most potential of any central defensive midfielder on this list. Mbamba started his youth career in Belgium with Genk and moved to European regulars Club Brugge. He’s not wasting any time; Mbamba actually started his first game for Club Brugge when he was only 16!
He’s also seen the bright lights of the Champion’s League, getting his debut in a match against English champions Manchester City on November 3rd, back in 2021. Mbamba has played for Belgium’s youth international squad as well.
A young player with heaps of potential, don’t let Noah Mbamba fly under your radar!
Eric Martel (67 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: FC Köln
- Age: 20
- Nationality: Germany
- Value: £2.7M
The first player on our list is Eric Martel, a German defender currently playing in his native country for Bundesliga club 1. FC Koln. He’s very tall and strong, defending corners is a whole lot easier with this absolute rock of a defender!
Eric Martel played for RB Leipzig’s youth teams growing up, learning from some of the best at a very young age. He’s the type of defender to either let the ball pass him or the opposing player, but never both.
If you want a solid, young centre back who has all the basics down pat, look no further than Eric Martel!
Levi Colwill (69 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: Brighton & Hove Albion
- Age: 19
- Nationality: England
- Value: £9M
An incredibly exciting English prospect, Levi Colwill could very well be leading the Three Lions back line for years to come. Currently on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion, this wonderkid is making everyone’s heads turn with his smart decision making and sharp tackles. He’s so good many supporters of his home club, London powerhouse Chelsea, were upset to hear they wouldn’t see him feature for the Blues for the 22/23 season!
Levi Colwill is monstrously tall and a behemoth at the back. His work rates are something to be noted, not many players will work harder to get to a ball than this man. If you want a young English defender to defend your corners, Colwill is the man for the job!
Morato (74 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: SL Benfica
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Brazil
- Value: £9M
There aren’t many other players on this list that have seen the same meteoric rise in recent months as Morato. Going from the Benfica B squad to a pillar in the main squad’s defense, Morato is not one to be messed with.
His two greatest attributes have to be his overwhelming aggression and unwavering strength. If he’s fighting for a corner in your box, you should be sure he’ll win. His ball skills are nothing to scoff at either, this defender is well rounded to say the least!
Morato is the perfect player for any FIFA Career Mode manager looking for some aggression in their backline, get him transferred to your club today before he terrorizes your attackers!
Odilon Kossounou (75 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Ivory Coast
- Value: £18M
One of the best players on our list who has Champion’s League experience, Odilon Kossounou, is certainly one to watch! He’s currently playing for Bayer 04 in the German Bundesliga. Internationally, he has represented his home country of the Ivory Coast 14 times, which is impressive for any 21-year-old!
Kossounou is an extremely tall player who loves to fight for the ball in the air; with him in your squad, defending corners will be easy! He is physically strong, adding to his defensive abilities. He times his tackles with more precision than most midfielders have for their passes!
Odilon Kossounou is a phenomenal player for Bayer Leverkusen, pick him up in Career Mode, and he could be a monolith at your club as well!
Piero Hincapié (76 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Age: 20
- Nationality: Ecuador
- Value: £15.3M
The first South American to feature on this list, Piero Hincapié is one to watch. He’s an Ecuadorian playing for German club Bayer Leverkusen, and his pace is something to be noted.
Piero Hincapié already has enough European experience through playing in the Europa League to get into bigger clubs. He even scored his first goal for Leverkusen in a 4-0 Europa League demolition of Scottish club Celtic.
Hincapié is rapid and a tank defensively, wingers coming down his flank learn quickly not to try and take him on. Pick him up if you’re looking for an expert at winning the ball back, at only 19 years of age!
Eric García (77 OVR / 84 POT)
- Club: FC Barcelona
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Spain
- Value: £16.2M
A product of the wonder academy La Masia, current Barcelona defender Eric García has passing abilities better than some midfielders! Nianzou is not the only player on this list with a gilded CV as well, García started his career in his native Catalan club of Barcelona before securing a move to English champions Manchester City. After learning under legendary coach Pep Guardiola, García decided it was time to return to his home club.
Returning to Barcelona, Eric García has secured his position as a young player with potential. While not being the tallest centre back on the pitch, what Garcia lacks in height he more than makes up for in his great technical ability.
If you’re looking for a defensive maestro, a player who can win a tackle then pass with accuracy, Eric García is the man!
Benoît Badiashile (77 OVR / 85 POT)
- Club: AS Monaco
- Age: 21
- Nationality: France
- Value: £27M
Captain of the French U21 squad, defender Benoît Badiashile is a major force for his country’s backline. Clubwise, Badiashile currently plays for French giants Monaco in Ligue 1, regularly playing in the prestigious Europa League as well. He is also left footed and more than happy to use his feet to create glorious passing sequences.
Benoît Badiashile is very tall, contributing to his physical prowess. That prowess differentiates him from most centre backs, giving him the power he needs to win tough balls from good opponents.
Badiashile may be a traditional centre back in the best ways possible, buy him today if your team needs an old school style destroyer!
Tanguy Kouassi (73 OVR / 85 POT)
- Club: Sevilla FC
- Age: 20
- Nationality: France
- Value: £8.10M
There may not be another player on this list with a CV as impressive as Tanguy Nianzou. Nianzou started his career with PSG where he scored the club’s 4,000th goal, moved to Bayern Munich on a free transfer, and has since completed a £14.40m move to Spanish giants Sevilla. Not too shabby, and all by the age of 20!
Internationally, Nianzou has featured for the French U16s, U17s, U18s and U20s. Like fellow midfielder Charlie Patino, it’s only a matter of time before Nianzou sees the highest level of international football.
Tanguy Nianzou’s list of clubs reflects his potential; he’s a solid choice for any midfield now, with a ton of promise for the future!
Wesley Fofana (79 OVR / 86 POT)
- Club: Chelsea FC
- Age: 21
- Nationality: France
- Value: £58.5M
The 22nd most expensive transfer of all time, Wesley Fofana is worth the price tag, at least to his new club Chelsea. Coming in at an astounding £70 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, this defender surely has big shoes to fill in London. Internationally, Fofana represents Les Bleus, or France, and has picked up 5 caps at a youth level.
Why would a club like Chelsea splash so much cash on a 21 year old defender? Simple, Fofana has promise. His defending is downright intelligent and his ability to move the ball up the pitch makes him a real threat on the counter.
Wesley Fofana is an emerging talent, football fans the world over have at least heard his name when his transfer was completed. If you aren’t familiar with the lad, you’ll wish you were as he is one to watch for the future!
Castello Lukeba (76 OVR / 86 POT)
- Club: Olympique Lyon
- Age: 19
- Nationality: France
- Value: £18M
Castello Lukeba, aka Castello Jr., plays for his hometown club Lyon in Ligue 1. This wonderkid already has a large pricetag on his name, and for good reason.
Giorgio Scalvini (70 OVR / 86 POT)
- Club: Atalanta
- Age: 18
- Nationality: Italy
- Value: £9M
Giorgio Scalvini currently plays for Atalanta in his native home of Italy. He’s a very tall CB that’s great in the air. With a maximum potential of 86, he’s definitely a player worth investing in for the future.
António Silva (66 OVR / 86 POT)
- Club: SL Benfica
- Age: 18
- Nationality: Portugal
- Value: £3.6M
At only 18 years old, this Portuguese wonderkid has massive room to grow in FIFA 23. His highest potential rating of 86 is 20 higher than his overall rating of 66. António Silva currently plays for his native club Benfica in Liga Portugal.
William Saliba (80 OVR / 87 POT)
- Club: Arsenal FC
- Age: 21
- Nationality: France
- Value: £36M
One of the most promising center backs in world football, William Saliba would surely keep clean sheets for almost any club on the planet. Currently playing in London for Europa League regulars Arsenal, Saliba has real experience. He’s only 21 years of age, this Frenchman could lead the Les Bleus backline for years to come.
He has already gotten his first call up to the French senior squad as well, highlighting his skill at such a young age. For the Gunners, he’s already shown his ability to be good both in defense and going forwards, scoring a wonder goal in the Premier League against Bournemouth!
William Saliba is a center back with promise, potential and everything else a defender needs to take his team to new heights. Buy him for your team, before he’s on the opponents!
Jurriën Timber (80 OVR / 88 POT)
- Club: Ajax
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Netherlands
- Value: £40.5M
There is none other than Jurriën Timber. This guy is good, very good. He wears the #2 for Dutch champions Ajax and has been a mainstay in their defense since his arrival. Timber has so much promise fallen giants Manchester United were pursuing him heavily in the 2022 summer transfer window.
Jurriën Timber is fast at right back with springs in his feet, he can get to any ball at any time. Off the ball, Timber’s knowledge and sense of the game shines. His positioning leaves his opposition looking for spaces that just don’t exist.
If you want the most promising right back in all of FIFA career mode, you’ll want to buy Dutch wonderkid Jurriën Timber!
Gonçalo Inácio (79 OVR / 88 POT)
- Club: Sporting CP
- Age: 21
- Nationality: Portugal
- Value: £21.7M
The second most promising young centre back on this list, Gonçalo Inácio is a boulder of a defender for Sporting CP. He’s been with the Portuguese giants since 2012, and their loyalty to him has finally paid off. Making his way to the first team, Inácio has quickly proven why a mega team like Sporting would invest so much time into him.
Off the ball, his positioning is essential to Sporting’s defense as he knows exactly what gaps to fill. On the ball, Gonçalo Inácio can split the opposition with an over the top through ball or quick tiki taka-esque passing.
He’s tall and strong, the two best qualities for any centre back. If you want a defender who doesn’t lack in any one area and shines in many, Gonçalo Inácio is the centre back wonderkid for you!
Joško Gvardiol (81 OVR / 89 POT)
- Club: RB Leipzig
- Age: 20
- Nationality: Croatia
- Value: £31.5M
Josko topped the list last year, and he’s back to take his crown as the best young wonderkid centre back in the world.
Linked with Chelsea and English champions Manchester City, it’s no wonder why Joško Gvardiol is one of the most wanted players in the world at the moment. At only 20 years of age, he could potentially dominate the middle or left side of matches for over a decade as he can play as both a centre back, and a left back. He’s currently in the Bundesliga for club RB Leipzig, who are also regulars in the prestigious and competitive Champion’s League.
Joško Gvardiol can sprint with the rest of them, and the way he moves you’d be forgiven for forgetting that he’s also an absolute rock physically! Many consider him to be a solid ball playing defender as well, destroying enemy midfields with a single pass.
If you don’t get Joško Gvardiol for your FIFA Career Mode squad, someone else surely will.
Best Young CB FIFA 23: Complete List
Updated: September 29, 2022
Added FIFA 23 release players
Here’s a complete list of the best young centre back wonderkids to sign in FIFA 23 career mode. They’re all 21 years old or under, and have a potential rating of 83 or higher.
You can filter them for if they have Real Face enabled and also when their contract expires.
| Player | OVR | POT | Club | Age | Contract | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josko Gvardiol | 81 | 89 | RB Leipzig | 20 | 2027 | Yes |
| Goncalo Inacio | 79 | 88 | Sporting CP | 21 | 2026 | No |
| Jurrien Timber | 80 | 88 | Ajax | 21 | 2025 | No |
| William Saliba | 80 | 87 | Arsenal | 21 | 2024 | No |
| Antonio Silva | 66 | 86 | Benfica | 18 | 2027 | No |
| Giorgio Scalvini | 70 | 86 | Atalanta | 18 | 2023 | No |
| Castello Lukeba | 76 | 86 | Olympique | 19 | 2025 | No |
| Wesley Fofana | 79 | 86 | Chelsea | 21 | 2028 | Yes |
| Tanguy Kouassi | 73 | 85 | Sevilla FC | 20 | 2027 | No |
| Benoit Badiashile | 77 | 85 | AS Monaco | 21 | 2024 | No |
| Alessandro Fontanarosa | 67 | 84 | Inter | 19 | 2025 | No |
| Noah Mbamba | 64 | 84 | Club Brugge | 17 | 2023 | No |
| Micky van de Ven | 69 | 84 | VfL Wolfsburg | 21 | 2025 | No |
| Levi Colwill | 70 | 84 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 19 | 2025 | No |
| Morato | 74 | 84 | Benfica | 21 | 2027 | No |
| Jarrad Branthwaite | 68 | 84 | PSV | 20 | 2025 | No |
| Anthony Rouault | 72 | 84 | Toulouse FC | 21 | 2024 | No |
| Leonidas Stergiou | 67 | 84 | FC St. Gallen | 20 | 2024 | No |
| Odilon Kossounou | 75 | 84 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 21 | 2026 | Yes |
| Eric Garcia | 77 | 84 | FC Barcelona | 21 | 2026 | Yes |
| Simo | 62 | 83 | RCD Espanyol | 17 | 2026 | No |
| Tomas Araujo | 67 | 83 | Gil Vicente | 20 | 2024 | No |
| Fabio Chiarodia | 60 | 83 | Werder Bremen | 17 | 2025 | No |
| Mattia Viti | 71 | 83 | OGC Nice | 20 | 2025 | No |
| Mario Vuskovic | 72 | 83 | Hamburger SV | 20 | 2025 | No |
| Radu Dragusin | 68 | 83 | Genoa | 20 | 2025 | No |
| Isaak Toure | 67 | 83 | Olympique de Marseille | 19 | 2027 | No |
| Illia Zabarnyi | 73 | 83 | Dynamo Kyiv | 19 | 2025 | No |
| Becir Omeragic | 68 | 83 | FC Zurich | 20 | 2023 | No |
| Malick Thiaw | 72 | 83 | Milan | 21 | 2027 | No |
| Armel Bella-Kotchap | 73 | 83 | Southampton | 20 | 2026 | No |
Conclusion
There we have it, the best young center back wonderkids in FIFA 23. All of these players are under 21 years of age with promise, any one of them could be a mainstay in your Career Mode defense for seasons upon seasons!
Each of these talents can fit into your squad in different ways, players like Benoît Badiashile can be a tower for your team! Or if you’re looking for a ball playing center back, Eric García can do a phenomenal job. Don’t miss out, get one of these wonderkids as soon as you can and build them up into a modern Maldini!
If you’re looking for more FIFA guides, then we’ve linked some below.
Best young players in EA FC 24:
- Best Young GK EA FC 24
- Best Young LW LM EA FC 24
- Best Young CDM EA FC 24
- Best Young RW RM EA FC 24
- Best Young CAM EA FC 24
- Best Young ST CF EA FC 24
- Best Young RB RWB EA FC 24
- Best Young LB LWB EA FC 24
- Best Young CB EA FC 24
- Best Young CM EA FC 24
Best young players in FIFA 23:
- Best young GK FIFA 23
- Best young LW LM FIFA 23
- Best young CAM FIFA 23
- Best young RW RM FIFA 23
- Best young ST CF FIFA 23
- Best young CB FIFA 23
- Best young LB LWB FIFA 23
- Best young RB RWB FIFA 23
- Best young CM FIFA 23
EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 can be pre-purchased on Steam.