Best Young CBs in FC 27 Career Mode — Top 15 High-Potential Centre-Backs
Young Centre-BacksCentre-backs rarely steal the headlines in Career Mode, but a good pairing quietly wins you more points than a flashy winger. They also age well: a centre-back you sign at 20 or 21 will usually hold his level into his early thirties, which makes the position one of the safest long-term investments in the game.
This guide pulls every centre-back aged 23 or under from the FC 27 squad file and ranks them by potential (POT). We then split them into three groups — players who can start straight away, players who need a season or two, and cheap prospects for smaller clubs.
OVR, POT and attributes come from the FC 27 squad file. Transfer fees are estimates based on overall, potential and age; the real asking price in your save will depend on the selling club and the player's contract. We mostly refer to Pace (PAC), Passing (PAS), Defending (DEF) and Physical (PHY).
Top 15 Young Centre-Backs by Potential
| Player | Age | OVR → POT | Club | Est. fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pau Cubarsí | 19 | 86 → 91 | FC Barcelona | €87M | 2029 |
| L. Vušković | 19 | 81 → 89 | Brighton & Hove Albion | €44M | 2031 |
| Pubill | 23 | 81 → 88 | Atlético de Madrid | €42M | 2030 |
| A. Khusanov | 22 | 82 → 87 | Manchester City | €45M | 2031 |
| C. Lukeba | 23 | 81 → 87 | RB Leipzig | €40M | 2029 |
| O. Diomande | 22 | 81 → 87 | Nottingham Forest | €40M | 2030 |
| D. Huijsen | 21 | 81 → 87 | Real Madrid | €40M | 2030 |
| Jon Martín | 20 | 78 → 87 | Real Sociedad | €28M | 2032 |
| F. Jeltsch | 19 | 75 → 87 | VfB Stuttgart | €19M | 2030 |
| K. Coulibaly | 19 | 73 → 87 | RC Strasbourg | €15M | 2031 |
| Murillo | 23 | 82 → 86 | Nottingham Forest | €42M | 2030 |
| G. Scalvini | 22 | 79 → 86 | Bergamo Calcio | €30M | 2028 |
| Z. Debast | 22 | 78 → 86 | Sporting CP | €26M | 2029 |
| J. Jacquet | 20 | 77 → 86 | Liverpool | €23M | 2031 |
| J. Canvot | 19 | 76 → 86 | Crystal Palace | €21M | 2029 |
Ready Now: Centre-Backs Who Can Start in Season One
If you are chasing trophies from day one, these are the names to look at first.
- Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona, 19) is the only centre-back on the list with potential above 90 (86 → 91). Defending 85 and Physical 81 are already elite, and the Pinged Pass+ PlayStyle makes him a genuine first link in your build-up. The catch is price: his estimated €87M is almost double the next most expensive player.
- A. Khusanov (Man City) has 88 Pace, the highest in the table. If you play a high line, he is the recovery defender you want covering the space behind. Jockey, Intercept and Bruiser round out a very modern profile.
- Murillo (Nottingham Forest) is already 82 OVR and carries the widest set of PlayStyles in the group: Long Ball Pass, Block, Intercept and Bruiser.
- O. Diomande (Nottingham Forest) has 88 Physical, the strongest body here, but only 52 Passing. Pair him with a ball-playing partner.
Two-Year Projects: High Ceilings, Lower Prices
These players are already squad-level but will become core starters after a season or two of minutes.
- L. Vušković (Brighton, 19) has the second-highest potential (81 → 89). Precision Header and Aerial Fortress make him dominant in the air, but his Pace is just 54. He suits a deeper block far better than a high line.
- D. Huijsen (Real Madrid, 21) has 72 Passing and Long Ball Pass — a good pick if you want a centre-back who can switch play.
- Pubill (Atlético) covers both CB and RB with 88 potential, which makes him a natural fit on the right of a back three.
- Jon Martín (Real Sociedad, 20) is contracted until 2032, so you won't be fighting renewal talks for years.
- F. Jeltsch (Stuttgart) and K. Coulibaly (Strasbourg) are both 19 with 87 potential and cost under €20M — the best ceiling-for-money on the list.
- Z. Debast (Sporting) can play CB, CDM and CM and has 76 Passing, the best in the table.
Bargain Young CBs Under €8M
| Player | Age | OVR → POT | Club | Est. fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Tape | 18 | 67 → 85 | Levante UD | €6.1M | 2030 |
| A. Bouwman | 18 | 68 → 85 | Ajax | €7.0M | 2030 |
| S. Mfuni | 18 | 69 → 84 | Coventry City | €7.7M | 2028 |
| I. Baouf | 19 | 69 → 84 | SC Cambuur | €7.7M | 2028 |
| Braithwaite | 18 | 65 → 83 | Manchester City | €4.4M | 2028 |
| E. Kakou | 21 | 67 → 83 | Cercle Brugge | €5.7M | 2027 |
| Secrétant | 17 | 60 → 83 | FC Annecy | €2.2M | 2030 |
| Mauro Furtado | 17 | 59 → 83 | Girona FC | €1.9M | 2031 |
- A. Tape (Levante) and A. Bouwman (Ajax) are both 18 with 85 potential, the highest in the budget tier. Tape is slightly cheaper and quicker (71 Pace).
- S. Mfuni (Coventry) plays CB and LB with 74 Pace, so one signing can also cover your full-back depth.
- Mauro Furtado (Girona) is the cheapest at €1.9M and has the biggest growth gap (+24). Think of him as a three-to-four-season project.
- E. Kakou (Cercle Brugge) has a contract ending in 2027, which makes him a pre-contract target.
Tips for Developing Young Centre-Backs
- Rotate them next to a starter. A 60s-rated centre-back barely grows on the bench. Give him cup games and matches against weaker sides.
- Pair pace with presence. A slow aerial specialist like Vušković works best beside a quick partner such as Khusanov or Mfuni.
- Watch contract lengths. Players with short deals, like Scalvini (2028) or Kakou (2027), are easier to negotiate for.
Summary
- Big budget: Pau Cubarsí (86 → 91). Need a recovery defender for a high line: Khusanov (88 Pace).
- Best potential for the price: Vušković (81 → 89, €44M) and Jeltsch / Coulibaly (87 POT, under €20M).
- Smaller clubs: Tape and Bouwman (85 POT, €7M or less). Long-term gamble: Mauro Furtado (€1.9M).
Check your club's budget and squad in the Career Mode helper, or see the FC 27 wonderkids by position guide for other roles.