You might create the best goalscoring tactic the Football Manager world has ever seen, but without a good centre-back or two, you won't get anywhere on FM24.
Building a solid base is among the key parts of squadbuilding and, even if you're working with a small budget, you can find some excellent defenders to sign and build your team around.
Here are 90min's picks for the best centre-backs to sign on FM24 with any budget.
Cheap options
Willyan Rocha
CSKA Moscow
Rocha is a no-frills defender with 16 marking and 16 heading, along with some really high mental stats. At £4.5m, you can't really go wrong.
Walter Kannemann
GRE
While Kannemann might immediately appear not for sale, his club will accept a bid of £4m for the 32-year-old. He's another defender whose primary goal is just to clear the ball.
Dante
OGC Nice
Dante is about to turn 40 and has 5 pace, but if you can look beyond that, you'll get some outrageous mental stats, 16 heading, 16 tackling and 16 passing. Spend £800,000 and then figure out how to build around him.
Raul Albiol
Villarreal
At 37, Albiol still has some decent physical stats about him and he's a defensive specialist, thanks to his 16 marking, 16 tackling and 16 positioning. He'll cost you £3.9m.
Omar Alderete
Getafe
What sets Alderete apart from most in this price range is the fact he's only 26. You'll have to spend £6.75m for that longevity.
Warmed Omari
Rennes
We're ending this section with 23-year-old Omari, who looks like a potential star of the future. £7.25m might end up being a steal.
Reasonable options
Nikola Milenkovic
Fiorentina
Milenkovic's wages are hefty but not outrageous, just like his £16.5m asking price. The giant defender stands out with his 16 heading.
Mats Hummels
Borussia Dortmund
You'll have to be a pretty big club to convince Hummels to join, but the 34-year-old will set you back just £8.25m if you can get a deal done.
Leo Ostigard
Parthenope
Former Brighton defender Ostigard is a handy player these days and he's still only 23. His 18 heading is mental and his high work rate and determination will see him blow past his current £17.5m asking price.
Pepe
FC Porto
Pepe is really, really good, even at 40 years old. He's a short-term signing but, at just £2.4m, it absolutely one to consider.
Alessandro Buongiorno
Torino
At £9.5m, Buongiorno is a solid buy. His stats page is full of 14s and 15s, and the 24-year-old also has room to grow too.
Nicola Casale
Lazio
Lazio have a few defensive bargains this year. Casale, 25, is available for £11m, which is a nice price for a player of his ability.
Gustavo Gomez
SEP
One of the best defenders outside of Europe, Gomez has just turned 30 but can still hang with the best, thanks to his 16 positioning and 16 heading. He's a smart buy at £16m.
Expensive options
Jean-Clair Todibo
OGC Nice
Todibo is a top defender now but the 23-year-old is destined to become one of the best on the game in just a few years. He won't be available for £39m for long.
Harry Maguire
Manchester UFC
Maguire is on the transfer list when the game begins and can be signed for £19.5m. Despite what the memes might suggest, he's actually a really good defender and that price is excellent.
Amir Rrahmani
Parthenope
Napoli know how to cook up a good centre-back. Rrahmani has some brilliant stats and is a comparative bargain at £37m.
Juan Foyth
Villarreal
Foyth and his £36m release clause bring you real versatility. He's one of the best right-backs available as well.
Fikayo Tomori
AC Milan
At £55m, Tomori is the most expensive player on this list. The 25-year-old lives up to that billing, however, and his 17 pace makes him a unique sort of defender.
Joe Gomez
Liverpool
The versatile Gomez can help out anywhere in defence. With 15s everywhere you look on his stats page, you can be satisfied with a £44m spend.
Eder Militao
R. Madrid
One to watch here. Militao is out injured for the next calendar year and so you can't sign him right now, which is a shame because Madrid will accept a bid of just £40m for his services. If that price tag holds, that's the bargain of the year.
READ MORE ON THE BEST SIGNINGS & TEAMS TO START A SAVE WITH ON FM24
This article was originally published on 90min as The best centre-backs to sign on Football Manager 2024.
