The best centre-backs to sign on Football Manager 2024

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

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.

Axel Witsel
A. Madrid

Definitely more of a DM than a CB, Witsel has transitioned into a deeper role as his career has progressed and he's now an excellent option at the back for £2.9m.

Matteo Darmian
Inter

Another who isn't exactly a natural in the role, Darmain is a reliable option whose price tag of £5m seems steep, but is actually a really reasonable price.

Rafael Toloi
Atalanta

You can always rely on Atalanta to sell you a bargain. Toloi brings 16 marking and 16 anticipation, making him a smart buy at £4.6m.

Simon Kjaer
AC Milan

Kjaer is 34 and doesn't have the best physicals anymore, but he's still a great pound-for-pound defender and won't break the bank at £1.7m. (Tip: the accent in his name means you should search for him through his club)

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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 £3.8m.

David Lopez
Girona

A smart buy in both midfield and defence, Lopez is a really smart buy at just £2.3m. That's a top signing in two different positions.

Felipe
Nottingham Forest

Felipe's £4.2m price tag comes from his presence in the Premier League but it's actually a pretty nice price for a player with 18 aggression and 16 marking.

Doria
Santos Laguna

Doria isn't going to take over a top division anytime soon but he's a reliable defender whose £1m price tag makes him a really smart buy for smaller teams trying to take the next step.

Luis Romo
Monterrey

Romo was an excellent bargain last season, and although he's lost some of his value this year, he's still worth a shot at £3.3m.

Reasonable options

Nikola Milenkovic
Fiorentina

Milenkovic's wages are hefty but not outrageous, just like his £16m asking price. The giant defender stands out with his 16 heading.

Nacho
R. Madrid

Nacho is an elite defender. He's good enough for any team on the game but his status as a fringe player in Madrid sees him valued at just £6.25m. That's a seriously good deal.

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.

Gustavo Gomez
SEP

Long heralded as one of the best defenders outside of Europe, Gomez will cost you £16m. It's a pretty hefty fee but you can be confident of his ability to justify it.

Gabriel Paulista
Valencia

£8m is an excellent price for Gabriel. The former Arsenal man boasts some great work rate and determination stats to go alongside his 15 tackling.

90min recommends

Sebastian Coates
Sporting CP

Coates, 32, doesn't bring much when it comes to pace but excells in every other aspect of being a centre-back. He's statistically one of the best defenders on the game but will cost you just £11.5m.

Hiroki Ito
Stuttgart

Ito is only 24 and boasts some really nice potential. He lives up to his £10m price tag already but that'll soon feel like an unreal bargain if you can help him grow.

Alejandro Catena
Atletico Pamplona

The towering Catena is 28 but still has plenty of years left as a top centre-back. He'd start for mid-table teams and offers nice cover for an elite team, and he's all yours for just £7.25m.

Mario Hermoso
A. Madrid

Hermoso's wages are high but his £7m asking price certainly isn't. With 16 tackling, 15 marking and 15 pace, you're getting a really reliable defender.

Robin Knoche
Union Berlin

£5.5m is a great price for Knoche. He won't set the world on fire but he's a dependable defender for any team.

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.

Thiago Silva
Chelsea

Silva is on some high wages but the 38-year-old remains one of the best defenders around. If you're looking for a short-term fix, you can pick him up for as little as £11m.

Alessio Romagnoli
Lazio

One of Italy's finest defenders, Romagnoli's price tag of £30m is incredible value. 16 marking is the 28-year-old's best stat.

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.

Stefan Savic
A. Madrid

The bargains keep coming from Atletico. Savic may be 32 but, with 15 stamina, he's still got a few years left in the tank and is an excellent pick-up at £15m.

90min recommends

Andreas Christensen
Barcelona

Financial woes mean Barcelona have added Christensen's name to the transfer list, and that's something you should be all over. He's a truly elite defender who can be picked up easily for £38m, and if you take the risk and wait a little, you might be able to land him for even cheaper.

Willi Orban
RB Leipzig

Orban is a physical defender who thrives on tackles and heading. If that's your kind of player, you could do a lot worse than signing the 30-year-old for £22m.

Edmond Tapsoba
Bayer Leverkusen

Tapsoba is one of the Bundesliga's best young defenders who still has room to grow into a top talent. For £34m, you can't really go wrong.

Fabian Schar
Newcastle

Schar's real-life resurgence has been rewarded with a huge boost in stats on FM24. He's a top defender these days and more than worth his £30m price tag.

Matthias Ginter
Freiburg

Top teams are looking at Ginter at the start of the game. He's available for £22m, which is a great price for a really nice defender.

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