EA Sports FC 24 wonderkids: The 20 best young defenders

Cameron Smith

Updated: 29 Sept 2023 18:17 BST
5 min read

Josko Gvardiol, William Saliba, Destiny Udogie — © ProShots

Arsenal’s William Saliba and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde have the highest-rated potential of any wonderkid defender in EA Sports FC 24.

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The pair both have a potential rating of 89, which is the joint-highest of any defender currently aged under 23. Saliba’s base rating in EA FC 24 Career Mode is 83, meaning he is able to increase by six, while Balde can grow by eight courtesy of his initial 81 rating.

EA Sports FC 24, which has rebranded from its famous title of 'FIFA', is the first game that will see male and female footballers in the same game mode, with players able to use both men and women in EA FC 24 Ultimate Team.

However, while female players have been added to Ultimate Team in a historic moment in football video game history, they will not be available for use in the popular Career Mode.

Career Mode will remain focused on the men’s game, with EA FC players able to choose a player career or a manager career as usual. Career Mode was one of the most popular game modes in FIFA and it’s expected to have a similar level of interest in EA FC 24.

As always, players will strive to develop their team and watch young stars reach their potential.

Each year, players are given a ‘potential’ rating in Career Mode to go alongside their regular rating in Kick Off and Ultimate Team. This makes Career Mode a unique experience as EA FC 24 players are able to see young stars increase in rating every season.

There are four under 23 defenders with a potential rating of 88 in EA FC 24 Career Mode, namely Jeremie Frimpong, Alphonso Davies, Josko Gvardiol and Antonio Silva.

© ProShots - Josko Gvardiol has a potential rating of 88 in EA FC 24

They narrowly edge out Nuno Mendes (PSG), Arnau Martinez (Girona), Fabiano Parisi (Fiorentina) and Jorrel Hato (Ajax) in the potential rating standings. They all have 87 potential in EA FC 24 Career Mode..

Wesley Fofana, Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, Goncalo Inacio, Destiny Udogie, Giorgio Scalvini and Rico Lewis have a potential Career Mode rating of 86.

Benoit Badiashile (Chelsea), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham) and Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig) complete the top 20 highest potential-rated defenders in EA FC 24.

The 20 wonderkid defenders with the highest potential in EA FC 24 Career Mode

Player	Club	Overall Rating	Potential Rating
1. William Saliba	Arsenal	83	89
= Alejandro Balde	Barcelona	81	89
3. Jeremie Frimpong	Bayer Leverkusen	83	88
= Alphonso Davies	Bayern	83	88
= Josko Gvardiol	Man City	82	88
= Antonio Silva	Benfica	78	88
7. Nuno Mendes	PSG	82	87
= Arnau Martinez	Girona	80	87
= Fabiano Parisi	Fiorentina	77	87
= Jorrel Hato	Ajax	68	87
11. Wesley Fofana	Chelsea	79	86
= Jurrien Timber	Arsenal	79	86
= Piero Hincapie	Bayer Leverkusen	79	86
= Goncalo Inacio	Sporting CP	79	86
= Destiny Udogie	Tottenham	77	86
= Giorgio Scalvini	Atalanta	75	86
= Rico Lewis	Man City	73	86
18. Benoit Badiashile	Chelsea	78	85
= Micky van de Ven	Tottenham	78	85
= Castello Lukeba	RB Leipzig	77	85