Best FIFA 23 Career Mode defenders: Highest-rated & top wonderkids

Luca Di Marzo
Antonio Rudiger FIFA 23

In FIFA 23’s Career Mode, utilizing an impenetrable defensive wall will make winning titles much easier. Here’s our list of the best defenders and most promising young stars in Career Mode.

FIFA 23 players who prefer single-player modes flock to Career Mode to discover the game’s top talent. The realism in FIFA 23 kicks things up a notch and managing your favorite club feels as close to reality as possible.

If you want your club to succeed and stave off an early dismissal, you’ll need a solid back line to depend upon. The best defenders will bail you out in difficult situations, which is why we’ve listed the best CBs, RBs, and LBs you can buy in Career Mode as well as the crop of best young defenders in FIFA 23.

Keep in mind that Career Mode player ratings are updated throughout FIFA 23’s cycle. Therefore launch ratings can differ from current ratings. The ratings below were updated on March 29.

Liverpool’s van Dijk is as sturdy as they come in FIFA 23.

Best defenders in FIFA 23 Career Mode

The best defenders in FIFA 23 will come at a steep cost, but they’re sure to immediately improve your club’s defensive prowess on the pitch.

In order to purchase these superstars, you’re going to need to manage a club with a massive transfer budget. However, several of these clubs already boast some of the best defenders in FIFA 23.

Taking charge of Manchester City for example could be a dream Career Mode scenario, as you look to add another top defender alongside Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte.

Player NamePositionAgeClubValueWageStarting OVRPotential OVR
Virgil van DijkCB31Liverpool€70.5M€220K8989
MarquinhosCB28PSG€92M€170K8890
Ruben DiasCB25Manchester City€107.5M€230K8891
Joao CanceloLB28Bayern Munich€72M€110K8787
Antonio RudigerCB29Real Madrid€66.5M€250K8787
Andrew RobertsonLB28Liverpool€61.5M€170K8686
Thiago SilvaCB37Chelsea€12M€115K8686
David AlabaCB30Real Madrid€55.5M€220K8686
Milan SkriniarCB27Inter Milan€68.5M€105K8687
Aymeric LaporteCB28Manchester City€64.5M€195K8687

Best young defenders in FIFA 23 Career Mode

If you’re looking to avoid the world’s elite clubs as you prefer to take on more of a challenge, the best young defenders in FIFA 23 are sure to add a ton of value to your Career Mode experience.

These wonderkids should be affordable for most clubs, and with a little patience and game time, you can nurture them into the next best defenders in FIFA 23.

The list consists of seven full-backs and four center-backs. You’ll have to identify which part of your back line needs a youthful surge of energy.

Player NamePositionAgeClubValueWageStarting OVRPotential OVR
Destiny UdogieLB19Udinese€17M€8.3K7689
Antonio SilvaCB18Benfica€20.5M€3.7K7788
Alex BaldeLB18Barcelona€15M€26.5K7687
Giorgio ScalviniCB18Atalanta€4.1M€6.9K
7186
Rico LewisRB17Manchester City€2.9M€1.6K6886
Micky van de VenCB21 Wolfsburg€15.5M€26K7685
Castello LukebaCB19Lyon€15M€25K
7686
Malo GustoRB19Lyon€11.5M€24K7585
Bjorn MeijerLB19Club Brugge€4.3M€7.3K7185
Quentin MerlinLB20FC Nantes€3.7M€9K7084
Devyne RenschRB19Ajax€8.5M€6.7K7484

For more FIFA 23, check out our guides highlighting the best players in each position on Ultimate Team.

Goalkeepers | Full-backs | Center-backs | Midfielders | Wingers | Strikers

Image Credit: EA Sports