The Teams With the Highest Budgets in FIFA 21 Career Mode

Career Mode has all new features in FIFA 21
Career Mode has all new features in FIFA 21 / Xavier Laine/Getty Images
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There are always tough decisions to be made when starting a Career Mode save. Do you start with your favourite team? Do you pick the club with the highest budget? Do you pick a struggling side and try to rebuild them? Or do you simply just do all of the above?

The options are limitless, but with the all new features in FIFA 21, Career Mode is now more intriguing than ever before. Sure, it may be appealing to pick a club in the second or third tier and work your way up with them, but let's be honest, it's always best having some money in the bank when getting started so that you can work your magic.

Here, we take a look at the 30 teams with the highest starting transfer budgets in FIFA 21 Career Mode...


30. Milan

Milan have been in excellent form in more recent times
Milan have been in excellent form in more recent times / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Budget: £32.6m

Milan are back, baby! Starting this list off strong, Milan are very much worth considering in Career Mode.

Not only do the Italian giants posses great quality and experience, the likes of Ismael Bennacer and Theo Hernandez - who have been critical to their side's resurgence - are still only 22 and 23 respectively. Oh, and why not enjoy Zlatan while you can, eh?


29. LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy could be an intriguing option
LA Galaxy could be an intriguing option / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Budget: £32.6m

Starting with just a slightly higher budget than Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy are an option for those who are looking to try something different.

It would be a breakaway from the more traditional choices and there would be challenges in luring players to the club, but that's all part of the adventure with LA Galaxy.


28. Aston Villa

Aston Villa made an excellent start to the 2020/21 season
Aston Villa made an excellent start to the 2020/21 season / Visionhaus/Getty Images

Budget: £33m

After battling their way to survival in 2019/20, Villa decided to back Dean Smith and made some real improvements to the squad. The likes of Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ross Barkley and Ollie Watkins have helped transform the Villans into a good outfit.

Considering Cash is only 23, Watkins is 24, Barkley is 26 and Bertrand Traore is 25, there is plenty of time for development and growth. Not to mention a certain Jack Grealish as well. With their £33m transfer budget, Villa are quite appealing.


27. Atlanta United

Barco has high potential in FIFA 21
Barco has high potential in FIFA 21 / Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Budget: £33.7m

For many FIFA players, Atlanta United is typically associated with one player - Ezequiel Barco. The youngster remains a very exciting talent in the game with huge potential.

Similar to LA Galaxy, signing bright youngsters from around Europe may be a challenge, but with £33.7m to work with, there are plenty of shrewd deals to be made.


26. Lazio

Lazio have a number of exciting players to play with in FIFA
Lazio have a number of exciting players to play with in FIFA / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Budget: £34.3m

If we're being completely honest, having Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in your side is reason enough to start a career with Lazio. But if you need more than that, there's also the quality around him, such as Luis Alberto and Ciro Immobile.

With the right acquisitions, Lazio could quietly but quickly develop one of the most exciting squads in the game. Just get rid of Lucas Leiva - who is rated 84 - as soon as possible to receive the most money for him while you can.


25. Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen have a number of players with great potential
Leverkusen have a number of players with great potential / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Budget: £34.3m

It may appear as though the appeal of starting a career with Bayer Leverkusen vanished when Kai Havertz departed, but this isn't the case. Far from it.

With players still yet to reach anywhere near their full potential, Leverkusen could be just the club for those looking to develop and nurture young talent.


24. Flamengo

Gabigol is lethal in FIFA
Gabigol is lethal in FIFA / Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Budget: £37.3m

If you've covered most leagues and most teams over the years in FIFA and are looking for that new challenge that still brings the same excitement and entertainment, Flamengo could be just the club.

Featuring in the Conmebol Libertadores, Flamengo compete with the likes of Sao Paulo, Santos, River Plate and Boca Juniors. As well as having some well-known names - Gabigol, Mauricio Isla, Gerson and many more - users may also stumble across some hidden gems in South America.


23. Olympique Lyonnais

Cherki and Aouar have huge potential
Cherki and Aouar have huge potential / Pool/Getty Images

Budget: £38.6m

The options are limitless with Lyon. With countless young stars coming through the ranks, a Career Mode with the Ligue 1 outfit would bring the perfect balance of developing youth and financial support.

The likes of Houssem Aouar, Maxence Caqueret, Rayan Cherki and Bruno Guimaraes all have the potential to develop into excellent players in the game, forcing a decision as to whether to keep or to move them on for what is sure to be a hefty sum. With all the talent in the world at your disposal and with a healthy transfer sum to get you going as well, why not start your save in Ligue 1?


22. Wolves

The options are endless at Wolves
The options are endless at Wolves / Pool/Getty Images

Budget: £39.6m

Do you fancy starting a career in the Premier League, but don't want to choose a typical 'big six' side? Well, look no further. Already brimming with quality in Rui Patricio, Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez, Wolves have just about every exciting Portuguese youngster on their books as well.

Around £40m is a good amount for the first window, while offloading the likes of Patricio, Moutinho and Jimenez fairly sharpish - as their values are likely to drop considering their ages - would also increase the budget and put you in a very strong position. Oh, and you'd also have Adama Traore, too! Doesn't get much better than that, does it?


21. Leicester City

Leicester are an excellent option
Leicester are an excellent option / Pool/Getty Images

Budget: £39.6m

Another option that steers clear of the typical 'big six' choice in England is Leicester. With a number of players in the latter stages of their careers, there is plenty of money to be raised with the Foxes and, in turn, this means more for you to play with.

A team filled with exciting players to play with on FIFA, Leicester are always worth starting a save with.


20. Roma

Roma started the 2020/21 season well
Roma started the 2020/21 season well / Paolo Rattini/Getty Images

Budget: £40.5m

Roma are a good idea for any user who is looking to stay in Europe and, while not the most obvious choice, have solid foundations from which they can build upon.

Somewhat of a rebuilding job may be required should you start a career with them, but with £40.5m available immediately, it won't take long before your team begins to take shape.


19. RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig have a very exciting squad
RB Leipzig have a very exciting squad / Pool/Getty Images

Budget: £44m

Alright, alright, alright, let's just put aside the fact that we're meant to strongly dislike RB Leipzig for the moment and think about this objectively.

Do they have a strong squad? Yes. Do they have young and exciting talent to develop? Yes. Do they have a fairly sizeable transfer budget? You betcha! It makes a lot of sense to start a career with Leipzig.


18. Everton

James' range of passing makes him extremely useful in FIFA
James' range of passing makes him extremely useful in FIFA / Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Budget: £44.9m

Look, Everton's thee big summer signings (Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez) have drastically improved the Toffees, but they aren't exactly the best players to be stuck with in FIFA - especially Allan and Doucoure.

James may not be the quickest, but his range of passing and skill always makes him a good player to have in your squad. There's plenty of work to do at Everton, considering the vast number of ageing players within the squad, but who doesn't love a project?


17. Napoli

Napoli have a blend of youth and experience
Napoli have a blend of youth and experience / MB Media/Getty Images

Budget: £49.3m

With Kalidou Koulibaly at the back, Fabian Ruiz in midfield and Hirving Lozano and Victor Osimhen in attack, what more could you want? Oh, and you would also have Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne too!

If users are able to negotiate good fees for a number of players to depart, they'll be able to bring in quality additions to strengthen this already dangerous team.


16. Valencia

Gaya has been a popular choice in Career Mode for a number of seasons
Gaya has been a popular choice in Career Mode for a number of seasons / Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Budget: £52.8m

Valencia have been looking to sell just about every player they own in more recent times, but thankfully for Career Mode users, they haven't managed to ditch everyone just yet.

And with £52.8m to work with, they could be quite the project, helping them climb the table and battle it out with Real Madrid and Barcelona.


15. Hertha BSC

Why not start a career with Hertha?
Why not start a career with Hertha? / Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Budget: £52.8m

Wait, what? The same Hertha that finished the 2019/20 season in tenth in the Bundesliga? Yep, that's the one.

If you're feeling courageous, set yourself a challenge and try and get Krzysztof Piatek to fire you to Champions League glory. Don't worry though, as with £53m available, strengthening won't be an issue. Simple, eh?


14. Borussia Dortmund

There are too many wonderkids at Dortmund to count
There are too many wonderkids at Dortmund to count / Lukas Schulze/Getty Images

Budget: £52.8m

Jadon Sancho. Erling Haaland. Gio Reyna. Jude Bellingham. Do we need to say anything else?

There are few teams who will be quite as exciting to start a Career Mode save with than Dortmund. Make it happen.


13. Atletico Madrid

Joao Felix is shining for Atletico
Joao Felix is shining for Atletico / Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Budget: £60.3m

Joao Felix is ridiculously good and considering his age and current value already, it will be quite the challenge to get hold of him in FIFA 21.

So why not just start a career with Atletico instead? After all, they also have a number of other star names - such as Saul and Jose Gimenez - who are yet to even reach the prime years of their careers.


12. Tottenham

Kane has taken his game to new heights
Kane has taken his game to new heights / Pool/Getty Images

Budget: £66m

Gareth Bale may not be the smartest purchase on FIFA 21 given his age. But users who opt to start a Career Mode save with Tottenham will be able to enjoy the luxury of having him in their squad for the season until his loan expires.

Works out well, doesn't it? Spurs not only have a number of players who have the potential to grow into top players in the game (yes, Dele is still one of them), but they also have world class talents within the squad as well such as an 88-rated Harry Kane. With £66m as a starting figure to spend as well, you could make them a real force and y'know, maybe even win the league.


11. Arsenal

Arsenal have a number of promising youngsters
Arsenal have a number of promising youngsters / Julian Finney/Getty Images

Budget: £70.4m

At first glance, it may appear as though Arsenal would be a 'boring' Career Mode choice. But actually, a rebuilding job is required for any user who selects the Gunners.

Sure, there is squad depth, but there are a large number of players who could be used to raise even greater funds, allowing you to reinvest elsewhere. But with a number of youngsters leading the way, you'd have a solid foundation to build on.


10. Chelsea

Havertz has incredible potential on FIFA
Havertz has incredible potential on FIFA / Michael Regan/Getty Images

Budget: £74.8m

How is Chelsea's squad so big? Seriously?! The Blues added Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy to their ranks during the 2020 summer window, and now have one of the most impressive squads in FIFA 21.

Money and an outrageously good and young squad? It doesn't come much better than that.


9. Liverpool

Liverpool have a world class squad
Liverpool have a world class squad / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Budget: £79.2m

This one's fairly obvious, isn't it?

As well as having £80m at your disposal to start off with, you would also have one of the best goalkeepers in the game, one of the best right backs, the best centre back, one of the best midfielders and, just to cap it all off, two of the very best forwards.


8. Inter

This would be a frightening strike partnership in FIFA
This would be a frightening strike partnership in FIFA / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Budget: £87.6m

Despite their obvious reputation and history, Inter don't necessarily jump out as many people's first choice when choosing a team in Career Mode. But this must change.

Inter have the perfect blend of youth and experience, while there are also players who can be offloaded to raise even greater funds if needed. Oh, and did we mention Lautaro Martinez has a potential rating of 92? No? Well, there's that as well.


7. Bayern Munich

Bayern are the best side in Europe
Bayern are the best side in Europe / LEON KUEGELER/Getty Images

Budget: £88m

Bayern Munich are simply ridiculous in real life - and the same applies to them in FIFA 21.

They take the phrase 'strength in depth' to new levels and users will have an obscene amount of money to spend if they decide to let go of just a few of Bayern's squad players, who perhaps don't have quite as much potential as others. It's a no-brainer.


6. Piemonte Calcio

Piemonte Calcio have strength in depth all over the pitch
Piemonte Calcio have strength in depth all over the pitch / Giampiero Sposito/Getty Images

Budget: £92.4m

There's only one problem about starting a career with Juven...wait, no, Piemonte Calcio - you'd be getting rid of Andrea Pirlo as manager.

If you have it in you to do this, then the Italian giants are an excellent choice, considering the outstanding young talent within the squad as well as the number of already world class players.


5. PSG

PSG aren't short of money
PSG aren't short of money / Xavier Laine/Getty Images

Budget: £114.4m

Considering the eye-watering amount of money PSG have spent in recent years, the Ligue 1 champions don't actually have that big a transfer budget in FIFA 21 Career Mode.

Y'know, relatively speaking. But there's more than enough money available to make PSG simply unplayable in the game. Kylian Mbappe on his own would likely do this as his 90 rating continues to go up and up.


4. Manchester City

The City squad is filled with players who are yet to reach the peak years of their careers
The City squad is filled with players who are yet to reach the peak years of their careers / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Budget: £154.9m

Yes, City is filled with star names like Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero, all of whom have been key to the club's success.

But because of this, the number of bright young stars they have on their books often goes largely unnoticed. With Ruben Dias and Ferran Torres the leading starlets, City have a very exciting squad.


3. Manchester United

Man Utd are always an interesting project in Career Mode
Man Utd are always an interesting project in Career Mode / Pool/Getty Images

Budget: £155.8m

Staying in Manchester, United have a slightly larger budget than their city rivals. The Red Devils are always a classic choice in Career Mode for any user (unless you're a rival fan), considering their record of bringing through academy products.

The likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Facundo Pellistri have huge potential in the game, making United a typically exciting choice. The outgoings do need to be managed, however.


2. Barcelona

Messi is one of the most challenging players to try and buy in FIFA
Messi is one of the most challenging players to try and buy in FIFA / Eric Alonso/Getty Images

Budget: £158.8m

Barcelona are a mess and have been for a while. But guess what? That doesn't matter in the slightest on FIFA. Instead, all that matters is the quality that exists within the squad.

Lionel Messi aside, the chance to develop Ansu Fati and see him become one of the best players in the game is enough of a reason to start a career with Barça. But Ousmane Dembele, Frenkie de Jong and Francisco Trincao also have extraordinary potential in the game.


1. Real Madrid

Real Madrid have the highest budget
Real Madrid have the highest budget / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Budget: £165.8m

That's quite a lot of money. Madrid are the most obvious choice in Career Mode, not simply because you would have the money to buy whoever you want almost immediately, but also because of the endless amount of talent that already exists.

The likes of Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde both have the potential to reach a 90 and above rating - comfortably.


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