Is your defensive line struggling to stop attacks? Is there a gaping hole in your team where a brick wall should be? Or do you need some young players to develop for the future of your squad?

Well this list of the top 15 under 21 year old centre backs will definitely give you food for thought to help your squad towards ultimate success.

So, what is a CB and why is it important?

Well the centre back is the heart of the defence, the core that holds it together and keeps its teammates in check, manages the back line and quite often wears the captain's band to guide the whole team. The role is vital to any team, so it’s incredibly important that you pick your middle two carefully.

So, let's get into our top picks of young centre backs.

15. Jorrel Hato - Netherlands - Ajax (Eredivisie) - CB, LB - 18 years old - Overall 73 - Potential 88 - Transfer Cost £6m

Jorrel Hato Real World Highlights

Our first pick on the list at number 15 is the Dutch CB, Jato. As a member of the Ajax youth academy, Hato has risen through the ranks to become a key member of the starting squad for the last season and a half, even putting on the captains armband for the club, showing his importance in the team.

Although the lowest on our list, Hato has the joint highest potential overall at 88, making him an exciting prospect for long term career modes. That said, in the short term, Hato is a great CB for mid range teams and is a fantastic option as a LB with his preferred left foot and a pace of 78.

• Future Prospect - A definite option for long term career modes, Hato’s potential of 88 makes him one of the future bests.
• Back up LB - Already having an alternate position of LB, Hato’s pace of 78 makes him a great option to cover the left if needed.
• Jumping Ability - With a standout stat of 85, Hato’s jumping is his strongest asset at the start of season one, making him a great defender in the air.

Jorrel Hato Full Details

14. Callum Doyle - England - Leicester (Championship) - CB - 20 years old - Overall 72 - Potential 84 - Transfer Cost £3.8m

Callum Doyle Real World Highlights

Still a member of the Manchester City youth academy, Doyle is currently on loan at Leicester, following several other successful loans to Coventry and Sunderland where he was a central part of their defences. Doyle’s loan spell at Leicester has seen him yet again as a key part of the defence, only being sidelined due to a knee injury.

At only £3.8m, Doyle is one of the cheapest on the list, making him an absolute steal. With a 65 vision, 73 short passing and 72 long passing making his overall passing rating of 65, Doyle is the second highest scoring in this area, making him a great centre back to start an attack.

• Mounting the Attack - With such strong passing stats, Doyle can pick a pass out exceptionally well, making him a great player if you like building attacks from the back line.
• Bargain Buy - Doyle is extremely accessible for any team in career mode with such a low price tag of £3.8m, meaning that as a starting player or an investment, he’s well worth the money.
• Aerial Play - At the height of 6’2”, Doyle already is a towering player, but with a jumping stat of 78 and heading accuracy of 71, he is a master in the air.

Callum Doyle Full Details

13. Maxime Esteve - France - Burnley (Premier League) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 74 - Potential 82 - Transfer Cost £8m

Maxime Esteve Real World Highlights

Currently on loan at Burnley, Esteve’s hometown team of Montpellier aren't keen on losing the services of one of their youth academy graduates. Joining the main squad in 2021, Esteve was a regular starter for the french side, before catching the eye of Burnley who have brought him in for the remainder of the season in an attempt to strengthen their back line.

Esteve brings a definite presence to any game, with his towering stature of 193cm, his height plays into his aerial game incredibly well, supporting his jumping stat of 81. Not only great in the air, but relaxed with the ball at his feet, Esteve has an impressive composure of 73, meaning he can take the time to start a new attack well.

• Goliath at the Back - With his impressive height, and his strength of 84, Esteve is a force to be reckoned with and odds on favourite to hold his own in any attack.
• Master of the Skies - Supporting his great height, his jumping ability of 81 and heading accuracy of 71 allow him control in the air for any battle.
• Composed in Control - On the ball, with reactions of 70 and composure of 73, Esteve is calm and collected, making him a reassuring player to win back control.

Maxime Esteve Full Details

12. Martin Vitik - Czech Republic - Sparta Praha (Rest of the World) - CB, RB - 21 years old - Overall 74 - Potential 82 - Transfer Cost £5.5m

Martin Vitik Real World Highlights

Another youth academy turned starting 11 player, Vitik rose through the Sparta Prague youth squads, shining at every step until he was promoted to the first team in 2019 ad becoming a regular first team player in 2021. 104 games, 8 goals and 2 assists later, Vitik has gone on to earn his first cap in November 2023 for the Czech national team.

Vitik is another player who demands focus on the pitch, both with his consistently high defending attributes and with his incredible height of 6’4”. It’s fair to say that with a defending range of 71 to 75 and a strength of 78, Vitik is a rock in the heart of defence.

• Towering Presence - Standing at 193cm tall, Vitik is an opposing figure for any player to be attacking, especially in the air, with a jumping stat of 82.
• Right Back Option - With the alternate position of RB, Vitik provides another option at the back to support with substitution options in any game.
• Consistently Strong - Vitik has an impressively small range with his defending stats between 71 and 75, making him one of the most consistent in the list in all aspects of defence.

Martin Vitik Full Details

11. Riccardo Calafiori - Italy - Bologna (Series A) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 73 - Potential 83 - Transfer Cost £3.6m

Riccardo Calafiori Real World Highlights

Although a product of the Roma youth academy, Calafiori only saw two seasons at the Italian capital before moving to Switzerland with FC Basel in 2022. A year later Calafiori moved back home to Italy, this time pulling on the Bologna shirt, and he has been unstoppable, supporting the team to fourth position in Serie A.

Calafiori is our first player on the list to have a distinct Play Style. The Intercept trait gives him increased reach and improves his chances of winning the ball back on its way to finding a pass. However, Calafiori’s strongest attributes are his physicality starts with an overall of 79, ranging between 76 and 80, bringing a strength to his game.

• Interceptor - His already high interception stat of 69 is only heightened by his Intercept Play Style, making him great at picking off stray balls.
• Impressive Engine - With the second highest stamina on the list, rated 80, Calafiori rarely will suffer from fatigue, making him one less player to worry about when it comes to substitutions.
• Investment Option - Calafiori is our cheapest on the list at only £3.6m, making him a great price for his ability and his potential of 83. So he is definitely one to consider for the future success or finances of your club.

Riccardo Calafiori Full Details

10. Illia Zabarnyi - Ukraine - Bournemouth (Premier League) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 75 - Potential 82 - Transfer Cost £6m

Illya Zabarnyi Real World Highlights

Coming in at number 10, we have our most capped player, with 33 appearances for his national side of Ukraine. A homegrown talent until 2023, Zabarnyi joined his local youth academy, Dynamo Kyiv, and remained with them through the youth and reserve teams right through to becoming a stand out player in the first squad. Moving to England in 2023, Bournemouth acquired his services and he has been instrumental to their Premier League campaign.

Zabarnyi brings a brilliant set of Play Styles to his game, with Jockey and Block, allowing him to put pressure on the attackers before he’s even put a tackle in. That said, even his tackles are impressive at 75 and 72 for standing and sliding tackles at the start of season one. At only £6m, he’s a great player to buy in for the short term success of the club.

• Applying Pressure - With his distinct Play Styles, Zabarnyi is great at jockeying the attacks to hold off any attempt at playing the ball, having a higher success rate of blocking anything that does try to come through.
• Consistent Defending - Having a range of his defending stats from 72 to 75, Zabarnyi is an all round defender, having few weak spots to his game.
• Short Term Success - Zabarnyi is a great option to buy in as a mid range team or top tier fighting to avoid relegation, as starting off with a rating of 75, he fits into any team.

Illya Zabarnyi Full Details

9. Jarrad Branthwaite - England - Everton (Premier League) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 75 - Potential 85 - Transfer Cost £8m

Jarrad Branthwaite Real World Highlights

A member of the Carlisle youth academy from a young age, Branthwaite was quickly picked up by Everton upon being promoted to the main squad. Moving away from his hometown, it’s clear Branthwaite is a part of Everton’s long term plans, being loaned out to Blackburn and PSV to get game time before returning to Goodison Park as a starting CB, essential to their season.

For me, Branthwaite is a great option for mid table teams in top divisions. With a starting overall of 75, he has a great foundation to be building off, and in no time at all will rise through to his potential of 85. Being only £8m as well, he’s definitely affordable compared to other defenders and can definitely see you through the short term.

• All Round Defender - Branthwaite starts season one with a really good base level of stats, 72 defending and 71 physicality, making him a really strong CB for any mid range team.
• Taller than Tall - With a gargantuan height of 6’5”, Branthwaite is ridiculously tall, making him stand out on the pitch and allows him to bring a jumping stat of 79 to the forefront of his game.
• What Weak Foot? - A little party trick of Branthwaites is his lack of a weak foot. Having 5-star weak foot ability, he’s able to use either side with an impressive ability making him hard to box in or hold off.

Jarrad Branthwaite Full Details

8. Leny Yoro - France - Lille (Ligue 1) - CB - 18 years old - Overall 75 - Potential 85 - Transfer Cost £7.5m

Leny Yoro Real World Highlights

Another homegrown talent, Yoro has proven himself through the Lille youth academy and reserve squads to earn his spot in the first team. As a key player in the Lille back line, Yoro has been vital to their successful run this season, currently sitting in fourth place in the league table.

At only 18, Yoro is a star in the making, and already having a starting rating of 75, he is a worthwhile investment for any team. With a price tag of £7.5m, £500k less than Branthwaite, he is an incredibly cheap buy for the impressive years he has ahead of him. Yoro, either as a starting player, super sub or as an investment player, is definitely worth scouting out and buying for any team.

• Consistent Defending - With a defensive range of 3 from 71 to 74 across his stat, Yoro is well rounded to all areas of the defensive game, allowing him to fit into any game plan.
• Reactionary - One of Yoro’s stand out stats is that of his reactions of 72, making him able to respond to those around him with the ball at his feet.
• Back up CDM - Not only a great CB, but Yoro also provides potential depth in the team, being able to double up as a backup CDM as well.

Leny Yoro Full Details

7. Giorgio Scalvini - Italy - Atalanta/Bergamo Calio (Series A) - CB - 19 years old - Overall 75 - Potential 86 - Transfer Cost £10.5m

Giorgio Scalvini - The Future of Italy - 2022ᴴᴰ (youtube.com)

Adding to the many homegrown talents on the list, Scalvini has risen through the Atalanta youth academy, shining enough to be signed to the first squad. Now, he’s a key defender for the team, even pulling off 3 assists so far.

Scalvini is an absolute unit in the centre of the back line. With a strong defending stat of 78 and physicality of 71 and two unique defensive play styles, he is a great option for any developing team.

• Bruiser - The Play Style of Scalvini makes  his physical tackles even stronger. . 
• Natural Interceptor - With an interception rating of 78 and the Intercept Play Style, Scalvini has an increased capability to stretch out and win the ball back with interceptions, making him a difficult man to get past.
• Extremely Aware - Scalvini is ever present in the back with a strong awareness in the heart of the defensive line, with a rating of 79, which only supports his ability to intercept incoming balls and pick off any attacking runs.

Giorgio Scalvini full details

6. Ousmane Diomande - Ivory Coast - Sporting (Liga Portugal) - CB - 19 years old - Overall 76 - Potential 85 - Transfer Cost £14m

Ousmane Diomande Real World Highlights

A member of the OS Abobo youth club in his home country of the Ivory Coast before moving to Denmark,  Diomande joined Midtjylland in 2020, having a brief loan spell at Mafra before moving to Portugal permanently in 2023 to play for Sporting CP. Since joining Sporting, Diomande has established himself as the main CB for the squad, only missing games for international selection for the Ivory Coast national squad.

Diomande is a versatile player, with four Play Styles to his game, Diomande is an incredibly difficult player to get past. Great control on the ball, strong defensive awareness, insanely impressive strength and great passing make him an incredible all round force to be reckoned with.

• Defiant Tackler - Diomande’s stats and abilities make him an absolute unit when making a tackle. With standing tackles and sliding tackles of 77 and 75, as well as a strength of 86 and the Bruiser Play Style, Diomande is insanely strong when making any type of tackle.
• Picking out a Teammate - Diomande has an impressive ability for a CB to pick out a pass, near or far. His Long Ball Pass Play Style only supports his already high stat of 74 and his short pass of 72 to make him a great distributor.
• Strong in the Air - Either on the defence or attack, Diomande is the favourite in any aerial battle with a jumping rating of 81, his strength and a heading accuracy of 70.

Ousamane Diomande full details

5. Malick Thiaw - Germany - AC Milan (Series A) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 77 - Potential 85 - Transfer Cost £20m

Malick Thiaw Real World Highlights

Making his way through multiple German youth squads before settling with Schalke, Thiaw broke into the first squad in 2020 and a year later was rewarded with a regular starting spot at the back. In 2023, after lighting up the German second league for a full season, AC Milan bought the young CB and he has been vital to their league run so far this season, going so far to be awarded 3 caps for the German national side.

Thiaw, as an out and out defender, is a fantastic option in the centre of the defensive line. His defending options are the most consistent of the list ranging from 74 to 78 making him more than capable to defend against any kind of attack.

• Natural Tackler - With a starting standing and sliding tackle of 78 and 77, Thiaw is ready to stand tall or to slide in to win any ball coming his way.
• Unstoppable in the Air - At 6ft 3in, Thiaw towers above others anyway, but being able to jump with a rating of 84 and a heading accuracy of 74 make him an absolute master of the skies.
• Composed at the Back - With a lot of plays now starting from the back, Thiaw is great in this role. With a composure and reactions of 71 and 77, as well as a short passing of 72, Thiaw is able to take his time and pick out the pass to start any new attack.

Malick Thiaw full details

4. Piero Hincapie - Ecuador - Leverkusen (Bundesliga) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 79 - Potential 86 - Transfer Cost £30m

Piero Hincapié Real World Highlights

Spending his youth years in his home country of Ecuador, Hincapie moved to Argentina for a year before joining Leverkusen in 2021. Instantly he became a key part of the defence and has been vital in all competitions, even racking up 4 goals, 3 assists and now having 30 caps for his national squad.

Another all round defender, Hincapie brings a strong presence to any team as well as a surprising pace for a CB of 82, and not to mention his ability to fly through the air with a jumping of 88.

• Ultimate Slide Tackle - With the Slide Tackle Play Style on top of a rating of 84, Hincapie is relentless sliding across the floor for the ball, being able to stop the ball at the attacking player’s feet and retain possession.
• All Round Defender - Hincapie’s other defending ratings range from 77 and 79 making him a well rounded player, able to block, intercept, tackle and win aerial battles. His jumping stat of 88 makes him extremely capable in the air in any capacity.
• Surprising Pace - Hincapie is remarkably fast for a CB, with a pace rating of 82, he is able to switch to the defence and chase down any counter attack.

Piero Hincapie full details

3. Castello Lukeba - France - RB Leipzig (Bundesliga) - CB - 20 years old - Overall 78 - Potential 85 - Transfer Cost £19.5m

Castello Lukeba Real World Highlights

A product of the Lyon youth system, Lukeba played for his hometown team for two years , being absolutely vital to their back line before joining Red Bull Leipzig in 2023. Since joining the German club, Lukeba has continued to show his capabilities and solid performances at the back, supporting the squad in their successful run in the Bundesliga.

A great centre back for any team, Lukeba is a strong player both physically with a rating of 78 and by having a range of abilities on the pitch. Lukeba excels with his tackling ability with both tackles rating 79, not to mention his Jockey Play Style allowing him to shadow any attacking player well to make the tackle or to block any attempted pass.

• Jockeying - Lukeba’s Play Style of Jockey allows him to track players faster and transition from jockey to sprint much more quickly making him a great player for man marking.
• In the Way - With a jumping stat of 83, and 78 for both interceptions and defensive awareness, not to mention the Intercept Play Style, Lukeba is brilliant at blocking the ball from getting through the defensive line.
• Controlled Feet - Having the ball at his feet, Lukeba is in complete control with ratings for composure, ball control and reactions of 80, 72 and 78. This is only further supported by his ability to pick a pass, allowing him to mount a counter attack after winning the ball.

Castello Lukeba full details

2. Goncalo Inacio - Portugal - Sporting (Liga Portugal) - CB - 21 years old - Overall 79 - Potential 86 - Transfer Cost £30m

Gonçalo Inacio Real World Highlights

Another Sporting player, Inacio joined the main squad in 2020 after years in the youth academy. Ignacio became a regular starter a year later in 2021, featuring in all competitions, making regular appearances on the score sheet as well with 15 goals and 8 assists, which in turn have got him 5 caps for Portugal, turning in 2 goals for the national side.

One of our top players on the list, Inacio is a modern day centre back with great defending and pace both rated at 80 and passing skills of 78 and 76 making him a great distributor too. With a potential end overall of 86, Inacio is a great asset to any squad.

• Solid Distributor - Having the Pinged Pass and Long Ball Pass Play Styles, Inacio can deliver the ball in the air or to feet with great accuracy and speed.
• Interception King - Inacio rules the air. With the Aerial Play Style, Ignacio can jump higher than his already high rating of 82, and paired with the Intercept Play Style, he is great at picking out the pass on route to its destination.
• Natural Tackler - When in defence, Inacio’s tackling game is strong, having a standing and sliding rating of 82 and 79 making him extremely versatile at winning the ball back.

Goncalo Inacio full details

1. Antonio Silva - Portugal - Benfica (Liga Portugal) - CB - 19 years old - Overall 78 - Potential 88 - Transfer Cost £26m

António Silva Real World Highlights

Silva, having stuck it out with his youth side, has worked his way through the ranks to the main squad. In 2022 Silva joined Benfica’s main squad and instantly became one of the main men in the team, having been a starting centre back since his debut. This consistency has helped him to get a total of 7 call ups to the Portuguese national side.

Much like his Portuguese team mate Inacio, Silva is a brilliantly rounded CB, with his youth and lower price tag causing him to best his countryman.. At 19 years old he is younger than his teammate with a very similar starting overall, and he’s £4m cheaper making him a bit of a bargain.

• Incredible Investment - Having a potential overall of 88 and a low cost of £26m, Silva is impressively cheap for his ability and can walk into any squad whilst being a goldmine for years to come.
• Neverending - Silva’s stamina of 83 means that he just keeps going and can cause difficulties for the attackers all game, making him a reliable option at the back.
• Top Defender - Silva is my best pick as he has the best starting defending and physicality stats in the list with 80 and 79, with a really impressive room of growth going forwards.

Antonio Silva full details

So, that rounds up my list of the top 15 young centre backs in EA Sports FC 24. I hope it helps you with some options to give you a more solid back line to stop any incoming attack.

Best of luck for the seasons to come and happy gaming.

You may also be interested in;

• [Top 15] EAFC 24 Best Young GK (15 Amazing Goalkeepers for Career Mode)
• [Top 15] EAFC 24 Best Young Defenders (15 Amazing Defenders for Career Mode)
• [Top 15] EAFC 24 Best Young RB (15 Amazing Right Backs for Career Mode)