The 2024-25 season is over. So fans are turning to EA Sports FC 25 for their football fix.
While Ultimate Team is the main focus, especially with its silly season, Career Mode still has freshness. That’s because you can start again whenever you want. Even deep into June.
Manager Career — as it’s officially called now — has had a revamp this year, including the introduction of Women’s Football. But the premise and aim remains the same. Winning the league and potentially the Champions League.
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Now attack is important, there’s no denying that. But defences win you titles. What’s the point of scoring 101 goals if you’re going to concede 50, losing out on a title by two points. A great team is often built off the back of a strong spine, of which a top quality centre-back is crucial.
So who do you go for on EAFC 25? We’ve taken a look at some of the top centre-backs available to buy in your first window, across an array of transfer fees to make your job a tad easier.
We’re just looking at players available in Men’s Career Mode here, with finances in Women’s Career Mode much different.
Values and presence of release clauses may vary per save, while availability may vary depending on strictness of transfers.
EAFC 25 best centre-backs to sign on Career Mode – Under £5m
Andrea Natali (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 58
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 83
- Value: £525k
We start off with a player who has already represented some big clubs, despite only being a teenager.
Andrea Natali has spent time in the academies of both AC Milan and Barcelona, before joining Bayer Leverkusen. He starts EAFC 25 Career Mode aged 16, with a low overall of 58. Of course, this is one of those lower down teams, to get you up and running. There’s nothing outstanding about Natali’s stats, but he does have 58 Pace and 58 Dribbling, which includes 56 Defensive Awareness. Natali also boasts three-star Weak Foot and 59 Jumping. This will all grow as he reaches his potential of 83, which is a decent level for his price.
Despite only joining Leverkusen in the summer window, Natali is valued at 525k and can be bought for around 480k.
Jorthy Mokio (Ajax)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 65
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 86
- Value: £1.8m
Moving over to Ajax, there’s a very interesting Belgian prospect by the name of Jorthy Mokio.
Mokio starts EAFC 25 with an overall of 65, which is respectable for a 17-year-old just starting his game. He’ll make a decent signing at many lower levels with that overall. Mokio’s top attribute is his Pace at 73, very nice for a centre-back of his level. He has 65 Defensive Awareness and 71 Stand Tackle, alongside 72 Strength. His 72 Jumping will also help to cover the fact that Mokio is “only” 6’0″. We’re here for the potential though, with Mokio capable of growing to 86 overall!
Even with his potential, Mokio is only valued at £1.8m and Ajax will accept around £1.5m if you’re happy to include a sell-on.
Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 70
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 85
- Value: £2.9m
Back to Germany, this time with Stuttgart and Finn Jeltsch.
The 18-year-old starts Career Mode with an overall of 70, boasting some decent attributes. Jeltsch’s best is his Physical of 72, including 75 Jumping and 75 Strength. His Defending is almost at that level too at 71, with 74 Stand Tackle and 72 Slide Tackle. His Short Passing of 66 is manageable, while his four-star Weak Foot will intrigue many a manager. Standing 6’1″, Jeltsch has the potential to grow to 85, becoming one of the better centre-backs.
Jeltsch has a value of £2.9m, but Stuttgart can be persuaded to part with their star for around £2.7m.
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EAFC 25 best centre-backs to sign on Career Mode – £5m – £20m
El Chadaille Bitshiabu (RB Leipzig)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 73
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 85
- Value: £6m
Moving into the next price bracket, there aren’t too many options — with centre-backs either being cheap or very expensive. Nonetheless, El Chadaille Bitshiabu kicks this section off.
The Frenchman is currently at RB Leipzig, with an initial overall of 73. This includes 78 Physical, with a whopping 91 Strength! His 72 Defending is good too, including 74 Stand Tackle and 72 Defensive Awareness. You will need to get him on the training pitch to sort out that Pace of 57, though, with just 35 Acceleration. But you can work on that as you get Bitshiabu to his potential of 85.
Given his higher initial overall, Bitshiabu is valued at £6m, but RB Leipzig will accept around £5.5m.
Joel Ordonez (Club Brugge)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 74
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 85
- Value: £7.5m
Joel Ordonez plies his trade in Belgium with Club Brugge and has been linked with big moves so far this year.
The 20-year-old starts with an overall of 74, which includes 77 Physical. In this, Ordonez has 83 Strength and 81 Jumping, helping him be strong in the air and tough to beat. He’ll be hard to beat on the floor too, with 75 Stand Tackle and 75 Defensive Awareness. Ordonez’s Pace of 73 doesn’t look too bad, but you’ll want to work out the 78-68 split between Sprint Speed and Acceleration. Like those before him, Ordonez has the potential to reach 85 overall.
Valued at £7.5m, Club Brugge will accept around £8m.
Valentin Gomez (Velez Sarsfield)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 75
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 84
- Value: £10m
Moving continents to Argentina, Valentin Gomez looks an interesting prospect at Velez Sarsfield.
Gomez is slightly older than a lot of the centre-backs on this list, starting Career Mode aged 21, but that helps with his overall rating of 75. The Argentine boasts 76 Physical including 86 Aggression and 80 Stamina. Gomez also has 73 Defending and 78 Agility, while his 73 Short Passing will do well. In terms of Pace, Gomez works at 80 with both Acceleration and Sprint Speed close. He also has the potential to grow to 84 overall.
Gomez is valued at £10m, but Velez Sarsfield will take around £11m.
EAFC 25 best centre-backs to sign on Career Mode – £20m and above
Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 78
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 88
- Value: £24.5m
Onto the big boys, Giorgio Scalvini will continue to be in these lists until he’s retired. We love him!
Now 20, the Italian has an initial overall of 78, slowing growing in the real world. His Defending has now hit 80, with 81 Interceptions, 79 Defensive Awareness and 82 Stand Tackle. Scalvini also boasts 73 Physical, which includes 81 Aggression and 76 Jumping — alongside his 6’4″ frame. His other Attributes are a little low, including 57 Passing, but you can improve those on the training ground. Or on the pitch, as you take Scalvini to his potential of 88.
Scalvini is now valued at £24.5m, and Atalanta — or Bergamo Calcio — will accept around £29.5m.
Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 78
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 87
- Value: £24m
Another name you won’t be surprised to see here is Dean Huijsen – before his move to Real Madrid.
The Spaniard starts Career Mode aged 19 but has an initial overall of 78. He’s already going to be good enough for some top-tier sides. His Defending is the selling point, again already at 79 with 77 Stand Tackle and 79 Defensive Awareness. Huijsen also boasts 84 Jumping and 75 Short Passing. You’ll want work up his Stamina, though, slightly lower at 68. One of the best young centre-backs right now, Huijsen has the potential to grow to 87 overall.
Huijsen is valued at £24m and it’ll around £30m for Bournemouth to budge.
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
- Initial EAFC 25 overall: 81
- Potential EAFC 25 overall: 89
- Value: £42m
If you were following football in 2024-25, you probably wouldn’t be surprised. Pau Cubarsi is the future.
The Barcelona teenager now has an initial overall of 81, with 83 Defending very nice at his age. That includes 84 Interceptions, 82 Defensive Awareness and 83 Stand Tackle. In fact, all of his defensive attributes are at least 81. Cubarsi also has 85 Jumping as part of his 75 Physical, and 83 Short Passing with 84 Long Passing — don’t be put off by his 65 Passing overall. He’s got decent pace too. Of course, the selling point here is Cubarsi’s potential to grow to 89 overall!
Naturally, Cubarsi is valued quite highly at £42m. And Barcelona won’t entertain any offers unless you flash around £55m in front of them, with a sell-on clause.