Football Manager 2024: Best Budget Defenders

Key Takeaways

• In
  Football Manager 2024
  , finding cheap defensive options is crucial for managers to strengthen their team’s backline without breaking the bank. Here are some budget-friendly defenders to consider:
• Maqsim Gurbanov – A high Work Rate right-back with good attributes for only £200k.
• Sebastian Boselli – A cheap defensive option on the right side for £7.2M with good tackling, acceleration, and pace stats.

Defenders are one of the most crucial positions to focus on in Football Manager 2024. Their integral purpose is to keep the team’s clean sheet and gain points from the match. This makes a good defender essential for any team.

Due to their new importance in attacking build-ups, many other attributes that were previously unimportant become integral to this position. However, the best defenders are sometimes priced quite high due to their versatility and rarity. Therefore, players on a budget should consider these defenders a priority to buy from the market.

Updated on October 29, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Scoring goals is the key to success in Football Manager 2024 and comes as the highest priority for every manager, but if those goals are not protected properly, all the money and focus invested in the attacking third will be in vain.

That’s why having solid defenders who can intercept the opponent’s passes, neutralize threats, and kick the aerial balls away from the goal is as important as having good strikers. However, not every team is rich enough to bring over the likes of Virgil Van Dijk or Dani Carvajal. And that leads most managers toward the budget options.

Only players with a transfer value of below $5 million have been considered in this list to fit into the budget definition.

17 Alessandro Circati

Price: $3.1M – $9.3M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 19

Although the current stats that he has do not guarantee a bright future of being a Wonderkid, Alessandro Circati could represent a cheap defensive option while also having a high re-sale value in the future thanks to his young age and cheap value at just 19 years old. AI managers in Football Manager 2024 can be fickle whenever they see a young player perform at the highest level with a consistently high rating, and thus securing Circati’s signature while playing good football can be a very valuable investment.

His current stats also allow him to shine as one of the rotation options at the back to both increase his attributes and keep the team earning clean sheets in matches. Most notably, his Heading, Marking, and Jumping Reach enable him to be competitive in the air both in the present and future. Potentially, he will also be able to increase his Tackling and Positioning to an even greater level, enabling him to dominate even the most seasoned veteran players in the game.

16 Maqsim Medvedev

Price: $75K – $230K

• Best Position: Right Defender (Full-Back)
• Age: 35

Sometimes, a player will need to navigate a heavy budgetary challenge while playing as one of the lower-ranked teams in the league due to various circumstances, such as a disastrous financial situation. Due to this, a player can sometimes be needed to enforce their team’s backline with a budget defender, and Maqsim Medvedev can be just the right person.

With a price of only £200k, Maqsim is able to contribute to the team from the right side of the pitch with his high Work Rate, making him able to put a shift on that side of the pitch in every game he plays. Combined with a rather good Pace, Concentration, Tackling, Passing, and Anticipation, a manager can be assured of the solidity of the pitch’s right side with him in the team.

15 Sebastian Boselli

Price: $5M – $16M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 20

Due to the tactical system revamp in Football Manager 2024, managers will need to be aware of the looming threats on either side of their pitch. Having an enforcer in the form of a right-back will create a sense of security, allowing the team to progress forward without worrying about goals.

Sebastian Boselli’s profile as an enforcer on the sides of the pitch makes it easier to have a total lockdown on the right side of the pitch. For a mere £7.2M, Boselli will be able to lock down any wingers with his high Tackling, Acceleration, and Pace stats.

14 Yerry Mina

Price: $1.2M – $6M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 28

The Colombian defender was once one of the top-notch defensive players across the globe, especially when playing for Everton in the Premier League. Hopefully, Mina still has more than a few years ahead in his football career, and regarding the stats he delivers, Mina is a viable option at a decent price to invest in for at least a few seasons.

Mina comes with significant Jumping and Strength scores that make him a solid defender to win the battle over the ball both on the ground and in the air. The player’s Natural Fitness is lower than normal, but a little care in his training sessions could keep injuries away.

13 Felipe Sanchez

Price: $3M – $9.3M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 20

Seeking out a cheap defensive option for the future is also a viable strategy to use in Football Manager 2024, as players with this specific designation can be a valuable investment to be resold in the future or, alternatively, become a rock in the team’s defensive lineup while being acquired for a relatively cheap value. Felipe Sanchez represents such an option, as he can be signed relatively cheaply while carrying potential attributes to become a good center back in the future.

His potential Concentration becomes a focal point for his potential as a consistent defender in the future, although his other attributes might need specialization to realize his potential as a good center back, such as Tackling, Marking, and Jumping Reach. However, once he manages to fulfill his potential, Sanchez can become a consistent dominating presence in the back for a team that believes in his potential.

12 Juan Bernat

Price: $850K – $8.8M

• Best Position: Left Defender (Wing-Back)
• Age: 30

Bernat is not a bad option, but he is just not as defensive-minded as the other players listed here. Played for Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain during his peak years, Bernat is a solid wing-back with considerable attacking abilities.

The player comes with eye-catching stats for Workrate, Balance, Dribbling, and Aggression, all of which are great for an attacking wing-back, but when it comes to the defensive duties, he is just not as effective. A Natural Fitness of 5 is Bernat’s biggest vulnerability, showing how capable he is of getting injured for a long time and staying off the pitch.

11 Stefano Sabelli

Price: $1.9M – $5.6M

• Best Position: Right Defender (Full-Back)
• Age: 31

In higher-level leagues such as the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga, players will often struggle to both defend the side of a pitch and attack it. A single winger occupying the space is a sign of trouble, and a supporting right-back is crucial to help overload the opposition’s defense.

Luckily, Stefano Sabelli will be able to cover that tactical side of the match with his low price tag of £4M. His above-average Crossing, Tackling, Acceleration, and Pace stats make him an all-rounder who is able to contribute to both phases of the match.

10 Eric Dier

Price: $4.4M – $8.6M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 29

The English star moved to Bayern Munich along with Harry Kane, though he has not been as successful as his teammate since then. Dier does seem to be slightly away from his peak days at Tottenham, and that makes him an ideal option for anyone looking for a cheap player with potential for growth.

Dier’s defensive stats are impressive all around. A Tackling and Strength of 16 makes him ideal for intercepting the opponent’s attacks and claiming the possession of the ball back without getting booked by the referee. He also has a high Natural Fitness to avoid injuries in the long run.

9 Luca Pellegrini

Price: $2.1M – $6.5M

• Best Position: Left Defender (Wing-Back)
• Age: 24

Outcasts are players who are transfer-listed due to various reasons, such as injury problems, disciplinary issues, or a lack of ability from the footballers themselves. Luckily, Luca Pellegrini only has one of those disadvantages, as he is rather prone to injuries that can be managed easily with rotations.

Other than that, Pellegrini will be able to contribute to many stages of the game on the left side with his above-average attributes. High Aggression, Tackling, and Work Rate stats allow him to function as a left-side destroyer while still contributing to attacks with his Dribbling and Balance attributes.

8 Valentin Gomez

Price: $2.4M – $7.1M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 21

Thanks to his potential and relatively cheap price, a manager will need to secure Valentin Gomez’ signature as soon as possible while racing against other AI managers in Football Manager 2024. He represents a new generation of Argentinian players who will be able to strengthen both the nation he represents and the team that believes in his potential, as seen in his already strong defensive attributes.

One notable example would be his already high Bravery and Aggression, which allow him to fearlessly challenge for the ball without any hesitation, making him the perfect candidate for a destroyer in the backline of the team. Moreover, his potential Tackling, Decisions, Concentration, and Pace will allow him to become a complete defender. This can almost be called a guarantee thanks to his above average Work Rate and Determination pushing him to reach his full potential in the future.

7 Enzo Diaz

Price: $3.1M – $9.3M

• Best Position: Left Defender
• Age: 28

In modern times, players are required first and foremost to have a high Work Rate and Stamina to contribute to a well-defined pressing system to narrow the opposition’s field of play. One player with such qualities for a low price of £11M is Enzo Diaz, currently playing for River.

Diaz can contribute massively to a team’s winning effort with his high Aggression, Tackling, Work Rate, and Stamina. He has a rather high Crossing attribute as well, making him a powerful player that can be obtained on a budget.

6 Luca Ranieri

Price: $4.9M – $15.1M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 25

Having a well-rounded player with the potential to grow to a new height can be expensive in Football Manager 2024, especially if the player is already well-known with a high reputation, such as Pedri or Kobbie Mainoo. However, Luca Ranieri is available for a mere £9M and has a well-rounded stats as a Left Defender, coupled with the potential to grow his attributes further.

His rather good Tackling, Marking, Positioning, and Pace make him more than able to handle any winger that comes within his field of play. Moreover, he can be a unique threat during set pieces as a Left Defender thanks to his rather good Heading and Strength, making him competitive against any floating cross that comes in his path.

5 Pablo Mari

Price: $5.3M – $15.6M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 31

Budget constraints sometimes limit a manager’s choices to either veterans with little time left in their career, or an unproven young footballer that can either fulfill his potential, or fizzle to become another mediocre player. Pablo Mari can fix this dilemma, as he is available at a rather modest price of £10M for his high attributes.

Mari contributes with his above-average Tackling, Marking, and Bravery stats, making him a solid soldier to guard the backlines of a team. Moreover, his high Jumping Reach and Strength allow him to win aerial challenges with ease, securing set pieces and crossing passes from the opposition.

4 Jake Cooper

Price: $1.8M – $5.6M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 29

Clubs who prioritize set pieces and overhead passes to score goals should not look further than Jake Cooper. This center-back plays for Millwall and is available for the cheap price of £5M. With his extremely tall height of 201 cm (6′ 7″), Cooper can win every aerial challenge and either clear a ball out of defense or strike a corner into the opponent’s net. This makes him extremely useful even for teams with a high transfer budget.

To complement his height, Cooper also has high Heading and Strength attributes, which become crucial with his outstanding Jumping Reach attribute. Any manager with a player of this caliber can rest easy on every set piece, as Cooper will be at the end of it.

3 Abdülkerim Bardakcı

Price: $3.9M – $11.8M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 30

Although having a Defender who defends the center of the pitch with defined attributes is crucial, it is also important to find a player who is also able to be fearless during challenges and compete for any second ball that falls onto their field of play. This can be facilitated by mental attributes such as Aggression and Bravery.

Abdülkerim Bardakcı is the perfect player to be the enforcer of the backline with his high Aggression and Bravery, making him fearless in his challenges and tackles against the opposition. Furthermore, his rather high Heading, Strength, and Jumping Reach enable him to be quite competitive for any floating crosses that come into the trajectory.

2 Jesus Vallejo

Price: $1M – $2.2M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 26

In a club like Real Madrid with many million-dollar stars, young talents like Jesus Vallejo might not get the time they deserve to prove themselves, and that’s why signing these players is much easier, especially on loan.

At the age of 26, Vallejo is a magnificent defender to invest in. He delivers great defensive stats all around, and he can improve his abilities even more to become a shining star in the defensive line. A Tackling score of 16 and a Natural Fitness of 15 are hard to believe from a defender that only costs a few million dollars.

1 Tormena

Price: $3.6M – $11.3M

• Best Position: Center Defense
• Age: 28

A center-back who can both start an attack with a pinpoint pass and defend from the opposition’s dangerous forwards is quite rare, especially on a budget. However, Tormena is one of them, with a low price of £4M to secure his signature. With his high attributes, Tormena is a rare gem for players to acquire early in the game.

His high attributes of Jumping Reach, Strength, and Aggression make him imposing in every physical challenge in the game, both on the ground and aerially. Moreover, he has a rare above-average Passing and Vision attribute, complementing his skills as a modern center-back.