Alphonso Davies FIFA 21Getty/EA Sports

FIFA 21 best young defenders: The top 50 DEFs on career mode

You can't lose games if you don't concede goals. Many defensive-minded managers have lived and died by this approach in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

In reality and especially in FIFA 21, this is easier said than done. Defending is an art in FIFA and the new improvements to dribbling and forward runs in this year's game make it even more difficult to keep a clean sheet.

Signing the best defenders is crucial in Career Mode, with world-class centre-backs and full-backs costing top dollar.

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There are bargains to be found if you want to sign cheap young defenders with high potential and are willing to put the effort in to turn them into superstars.

Players with high current ratings like Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies will be too expensive for the majority of teams, but Sporting CP duo Nuno Mendes and Eduardo Quaresma might be cheaper alternatives that will eventually reach similar heights.

Game time and training is crucial to player growth in FIFA 21, so if you do sign some of these cheap wonderkids, make sure you give them enough minutes to develop properly and become superstars.

Here are all the best young defenders in FIFA 21 Career Mode, ordered by their potential rating in the game.

PO. = Position(s)

CR = Current Rating

PR = Potential Rating

VA. = Value

*Clubs listed are the clubs the players are assigned to in FIFA 21 Career Mode, while ages shown are the age at the start of Career Mode

FIFA 21: Best young defenders

#NameAgeClubPO.CRPRVA.
1M de Ligt20JuventusCB8592£44.6m
2A Davies19Bayern MunichLB, LM, RM8189£20.3m
3S Dest19BarcelonaRB7588£11.7m
4J Gvardiol18RB LeipzigCB, LB7387£5.9m
5R James20ChelseaRB, RWB8086£27.5m
6L Stergiou18St GallenCB6786£2.2m
7O Kabak20SchalkeCB7785£11.7m
8W Saliba19ArsenalCB7485£9m
9Nuno Mendes18Sporting CPLWB, LM7285£5.4m
10O Wijndal20AZ AlkmaarLB7785£11.3m
11J Todibo20BarcelonaCB7585£9.5m
12Eduardo Quaresma18Sporting CPCB7285£5.4m
13R Ait Nouri19AngersLB7185£4.2m
14J Frimpong19CelicRB, RWB7085£3.2m
15L Netz17Hertha BSCLB, LM6385£675k
16B Arrey-Mbi17Bayern Munich IICB, LB6085£385k
17N Perez20Atletico MadridCB7585£9m
18B Williams19Man UtdLB, LWB7585£8.6m
19M Kumbulla20RomaCB7585£9m
20Tomas Tavares20BenficaCB7385£5.9m
21Nuno Tavares20BenficaLB7285£5m
22Eric Garcia19Man CityCB7285£5m
23T Kouassi18Bayern MunichCB, CDM7185£4.1m
24J Vagnoman19HamburgRB, LM, LB6985£1.9m
25N Williams19LiverpoolRB6785£1.4m
26M Kana17AnderlechtCM, CDM, CM6585£900k
27O Rekik18Hertha BSCCB6385£700k
28P Schuurs20AjaxCB7584£8.6m
29T Malacia20FeyenoordLB7584£8.6m
30E Ndicka20Eintracht FrankfurtCB, LB7484£7.7m
31Alex Centelles20ValenciaLB7484£7.2m
32Z Vanheusden20Standard LiegeCB7384£5.9m
33L Cacace19Sint-TruidenseLB, LWB7384£5.4m
34N Katterbach19KolnLB7084£3.2m
35E Ampadu19ChelseaCB, CDM6784£1.4m
36L Pirola18InterCB6384£700k
37K Hoever18WolvesRB, CB6384£700k
38C Riad17BarcelonaCB5984£300k
39D Bradaric20LilleLB7583£8.1m
40M Aarons20NorwichRB7383£5.4m
41J Bogle19Sheffield UnitedRB7283£4.2m
42W Fofana19Saint-EtienneCB7183£3.4m
43David Carmo20BragaCB7183£3.5m
44A Bernabei19Atletico LanusLB, LW, LM7083£2.7m
45F Agu20Werder BremenLB, RB, RM7083£2.8m
46Guillamon20ValenciaCB, CDM6983£2m
47J Beyer20Borussia M'gladbachRB, CB6983£1.9m
48M Karbownik19Legia WarsawLB, CM6883£1.6m
49I Kabore19Man CityRB6883£1.6m
50Tiago Djalo20LilleCB6883£1.6m
51M Bard19LyonLB6783£1.4m
52K Sardella18AnderlechtRB, LB6683£1.1m
53C Richards20Bayern Munich IICB, RB6683£1.2m
54E Laird18Man UtdRB6683£1.1m
55T Lamptey19BrightonRB, RM6683£1.2m
56T Mengi18Man UtdCB6583£900k
57N Armini19LazioCB6583£990k
58T Pembele17PSGRB, LB, CB6383£600k
59K Calhanoglu17SchalkeLB, LM6283£575k
60D Cirkin18SpursLB6183£475k
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