Best young players in EA FC 25

EA FC 25 is the second iteration of EA Sports' leading football video game in the absence of FIFA branding and it's the most ambitious release yet.

Ultimate Team and Career Mode will once again dominate EA FC discourse, with a significant chunk of the discussion surrounding player ratings. In a footballing world where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo reign supreme, a generation of fearless young superstars are beginning to take over.

Some of EA FC 25's highest-rated players are no older than 23 and here are the young guns you'll be wanting to build your Ultimate Teams or fantastical Career Mode outfits around.

Highest rated youngsters in EA FC 25

Highest rated young goalkeepers in EA FC 25

Getting the right goalkeeper between the sticks can be the difference between glory or failure in Ultimate Team or Career Mode. Thankfully, there are plenty of top prospects to go for in search of those much-desired clean sheets.

Giorgi Mamardashvili comes in with a high 85 rating in EA FC 25, while Manchester City Women star Khiara Keating sits at 80 at just 20 years of age.

Highest rated young right-backs in EA FC 25

After a ridiculously influential season for Bundesliga title-winning Bayer Leverkusen, it's little surprise Jeremie Frimpong has enjoyed a sharp boost to his rating for EA FC 25.

The Dutchman can fly up and down the right wing with impressive stats in both defence and attack, while the likes of Odilon Kossounou, Maya Le Tissier and Alejandro Balde are also strong options at full-back.

Highest rated young centre-backs in EA FC 25

When it comes to young EA FC 25 centre-backs, one player stands head and shoulders above the rest. Rated as low as 75 in FIFA 22, William Saliba has enjoyed a remarkable few years of growth and now comes in at 87 at only 23 years of age.

He's the leading young defender in the Premier League but there are solid options to consider elsewhere, too. Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol is good in the middle and at left-back, while speed cheat code Micky van de Ven will be picked up by plenty of Ultimate Team players.

Highest rated young left-backs in EA FC 25

Full-backs are so highly sought-after in the modern game and some of the highest rated specialists have devastating stats both in defence and attack.

Lyon Women and France star Selma Bacha is one such talent, boasting strong finishing and physical attributes alongside her rapid pace. Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes offers plenty of gusto from left-back, while midfielder by trade Eduardo Camavinga is also capable of filling in out wide.

Highest rated young midfielders in EA FC 25

This is where things start to get truly special. There are a number of incredible young midfielders in EA FC 25, with 21-year-old Jude Bellingham the leading light with an outrageous 90 rating after winning a La Liga and Champions League double in his first season with Real Madrid.

The England star will be a much-desired youngster, but he won't be the only one. Bundesliga aces Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz have some brilliant stats, while Lauren James is also able to play in central attacking midfield.

The likes of Pedri, Cole Palmer and Gavi will also have plenty of admirers.

Highest rated young right wingers in EA FC 25

Bukayo Saka has been Arsenal's leading man in attack ever since breaking into their starting XI in 2019/20. His development has been incredibly consistent and his brilliant 2023/24 campaign has been rewarded with an 87 rating, the highest base card of his young career so far.

He's pipped some brilliant youngsters to be the best fledgling right winger in EA FC 25. Lauren James, Rodrygo, Cole Palmer, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nico Williams are all brilliant options if Saka proves too difficult to acquire in-game.

Highest rated young left wingers in EA FC 25

Having only boasted a 79 rating last year, a brilliant season in La Liga and a wonderful Euro 2024 means Nico Williams is the top young left winger in EA FC 25.

The 22-year-old has bags of pace and is a wonderful dribbler, making him an ideal candidate for any La Liga-based Ultimate Team sides. In the Premier League, stars like Gabriel Martinelli, Savinho and Anthony Gordon all offer speed with decent finishing and creative stats in the final third.

Highest rated young strikers in EA FC 25

Most positions have some standout young players in EA FC 25, but there's a bit more of a dearth of options in the striker role. That said, there are still some players who'll be able to offer decent finishing qualities for a snip of a fee.

Lyon forward Melchie Dumornay is a quick candidate, while Naomie Feller is also rapid. Goncalo Ramos, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Santiago Gimenez and Rasmus Hojlund are some of the leading candidates in the men's game.

Real Madrid and Brazil youngster Endrick has also picked up his first EA FC rating, being given a 77 card. His in-game stats could increase quickly over the next few years if he lives up to his real life potential.

Best cheap young players on EA FC 25

For players on Career Mode looking for a cheap youngster who can become a world-beater over time, look no further.

Cercle Brugge striker Paris Brunner may start EA FC 25 rated at just 65, but the teenager can hit a score as high as 87 if developed correctly. Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall can improve to the same rating starting from 68, while Julien Duranville, Mustafa Erhan Hekimoglu, Adrian Liso and Ethan Nwaneri are great attacking prospects.

Our top 10 best young players

10. Lena Oberdorf - 86 OVR

Lena Oberdorf will be donning new colours in EA FC 25 having swapped Wolfsburg for Bayern Munich over the summer. The young midfielder has rose to stardom in Germany despite her tender age and will certainly be one of the leading female footballers over the next decade.

However, she has actually received a small downgrade in EA FC 25, moving from 87 overall to just 86. Regardless, she's still a physical enforcer at the base of midfield who isn't to be messed with.

9. Pedri - 86 OVR

There has been no change to Pedri's already excellent rating in this year's game. The classy Barcelona midfielder still comes in at 86 overall, with a good blend of stats that make him an excellent all-rounder in the engine room.

The Euro 2024 winner can also play LW, although he would be wasted out wide, and boasts four-star weak foot and skill moves. A proper technician.

8. Rodrygo - 86 OVR

While eyes are naturally drawn to Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, the youngest member of that terrifying triumvirate, Rodrygo, is still an astonishing footballer.

Another excellent campaign with Real Madrid has seen him boosted a single rating, now coming in at 86 overall. With 89 pace, 88 dribbling and 81 shooting, the young Brazilian is certainly worth utilising in EA FC 25.

7. Lauren James - 86 OVR

After an impressive campaign with Women's Super League champions Chelsea, Lauren James has understandably been upgraded in this year's iteration of EA FC. She's gone from 83 to a well-deserved 86 overall and can play in RW, RM or CAM.

A versatile option with great pace and five-star skill moves, James is guaranteed to be a handy addition to most squads and can now be signed on Career Mode following the introduction of women's football in the game mode.

6. Selma Bacha - 86 OVR

Selma Bacha will be a popular option in EA FC 25, especially in Ultimate Team. With an 86-rated card that boasts 87 pace, 85 passing, 82 dribbling, 79 defending and physical, and 73 shooting, she's versatile enough to play at LB and LW.

The Lyon and France defender offers great links to her compatriots and will be a difficult full-back to conquer - even for the game's most dazzling wingers.

5. Jamal Musiala - 87 OVR

Bayern Munich may have underwhelmed last season but Jamal Musiala certainly didn't. The attacking midfielder enjoyed another fruitful campaign despite walking away without any silverware to show for it and has been rewarded with an 87 rating in EA FC 25.

Able to play in CAM, CM and LM, the German is another all-rounder who offers great speed, agility and dribbling. He's a five-star skiller, too.

4. Bukayo Saka - 87 OVR

Bukayo Saka may be 87-rated but it still feels as if he's been underappreciated by EA. With just 85 pace, 83 shooting and three-star skill moves, those who chose the Arsenal winger's stats may have Tottenham allegiances.

Still, he's an excellent addition to any team, especially in Career Mode where he will only get better considering he's just 23 years of age.

3. William Saliba - 87 OVR

Good luck getting past William Saliba in EA FC 25. The Frenchman will certainly prove a controller-smasher in this year's game, with an upgraded rating taking him from 83 to 87 overall.

The defender has 87 defending, 83 physical and, most worryingly, 82 pace, meaning he's more or less impenetrable. Partner him with Virgil van Dijk or Antonio Rudiger and you may never concede again.

2. Florian Wirtz - 88 OVR

Besting his international teammate Musiala by one overall rating, Florian Wirtz's exceptional season with Bayer Leverkusen has handed him an impressive upgrade.

Now 88 overall, the silky CAM is the Bundesliga's highest-rated player not called Harry Kane, which is fitting considering he won the competition's Player of the Season award en route to the Meisterschale in 2023/24.

1. Jude Bellingham - 90 OVR

There was only going to be one winner, wasn't there?

Of course, England and Real Madrid's superstar midfielder Jude Bellingham is the highest-rated player aged 23 or younger, with EA giving him a mammoth upgrade in this year's game.

After helping Los Blancos to La Liga and Champions League titles, Bellingham has gone from 86 to 90 overall - with only four players in the game boasting higher ratings than the fearless youngster.

90min EA FC 25 Knowledge

90min's EA FC 25 knowledge has been provided by our Spanish edition editor Miguel Delucio Arredondo, who has played the game since its release and made all the discoveries reported above.

EA have a comprehensive list of player ratings on their website, while SoFIFA is another great source for checking player potential for possible Career Mode transfer targets.

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