
Check best defenders in FIFA 22, including centre-backs, left-backs and right-backs capable of turning his leaky backline into a bus parking lot José would be proud of.
Firstly, let's list the highest-rated defenders overall in FIFA 22. While these stars will only fit the highest budgets, with the likes of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane making big plays this summer, you can't really say any transfer is unrealistic. most.
Next, we'll round up the most potential defenders who may not be ready for the first team but have plenty of room to grow in Career Mode.
Finally, we'll look at some suggestions for who to sign on for their first season of career mode. No one likes to hear that their primary target "just moved and won't move again," but these gems are available immediately.
Also check out best FIFA 22 players and best FIFA 22 players.
Highest overall defense in FIFA 22
These strongholds of defense improve the quality of any line of defense on the planet. Although some of them may have passed their best, their talent is indisputable.
Best overall defense in FIFA 22 – centre-backs, left-backs, right-backs
Player's name | Era | Team | Overall | Potential |
Virgil van Dijk | 29 | Liverpool | 89 | 89 |
Sergio Ramos | 35 | PSG | 88 | 88 |
Ruben Dias | 24 | Man City | 87 | 91 |
Trent alexander-arnold | 22 | Liverpool | 87 | 92 |
Andrew Robertson | 27 | Liverpool | 87 | 88 |
Marquinhos | 27 | PSG | 87 | 90 |
Milan Skriniar | 26 | Inter | 86 | 88 |
Aymeric Laporte | 27 | Man City | 86 | 89 |
João Cancelo | 27 | Man City | 86 | 87 |
Raphael Varane | 28 | Man Utd | 86 | 88 |
Kalidou Koulibaly | 30 | Nápoles | 86 | 86 |
Jordi Alba | 32 | Barcelona | 86 | 86 |
Mats Hummels | 32 | Dortmund | 86 | 86 |
Giorgio Chiellini | 36 | Juventus | 86 | 86 |
Matthijs de Ligt | 21 | Juventus | 85 | 90 |
Achraf Hakimi | 22 | PSG | 85 | 88 |
Dani Carvajal | 29 | Real Madrid | 85 | 85 |
Stefan from Vrij | 29 | Inter | 85 | 85 |
Kyle Walker | 31 | Man City | 85 | 85 |
Leonardo Bonucci | 34 | Juventus | 85 | 85 |
Thiago Silva | 36 | Chelsea | 85 | 85 |
According to Hernandez | 23 | Milan | 84 | 90 |
Marcos Acuna | 29 | Sevilha | 84 | 84 |
Jose Maria Gimenez | 26 | Atletico Madrid | 84 | 88 |
Ricardo Pereira | 27 | Leicester | 84 | 84 |
Most potential defenders in FIFA 22
With some of the best-known defenders entering their peak years or the twilight of their careers, the next generation is gearing up to conquer the world.
Most potential defenders in FIFA 22
Player's name | Era | Team | Overall | Potential |
Trent alexander-arnold | 22 | Liverpool | 87 | 92 |
Ruben Dias | 24 | Man City | 87 | 91 |
Matthijs de Ligt | 21 | Juventus | 85 | 90 |
According to Hernandez | 23 | Milan | 84 | 90 |
dayot upamecano | 22 | Bavaria | 82 | 90 |
Marquinhos | 27 | PSG | 87 | 90 |
Jules Kounde | 22 | Sevilha | 83 | 89 |
Pau Torres | 24 | Villarreal | 82 | 89 |
Eder militao | 23 | Real Madrid | 82 | 89 |
Alessandro Bastoni | 22 | Inter | 80 | 89 |
Alphonso Davies | 20 | Bavaria | 82 | 89 |
Nuno mendes | 19 | PSG | 78 | 88 |
Edmond tapsoba | 22 | Leverkusen | 81 | 88 |
Achraf Hakimi | 22 | PSG | 85 | 88 |
Milan Skriniar | 26 | Inter | 86 | 88 |
Joe Gomez | 24 | Liverpool | 82 | 88 |
Jose Maria Gimenez | 26 | Atletico Madrid | 84 | 88 |
Josko Gvardiol | 19 | RB Leipzig | 75 | 87 |
Marc Cucurella | 22 | Brighton | 81 | 87 |
Cristian Romero | 23 | Spurs | 82 | 87 |
Aaron Wan-Bissaka | 23 | Man Utd | 83 | 87 |
Niklas Sule | 25 | Bavaria | 82 | 87 |
Goncalo Inácio | 19 | Sporting | 76 | 86 |
Ronald araujo | 22 | Barcelona | 77 | 86 |
Jurrien Timber | 20 | Ajax | 75 | 86 |
The best FIFA 22 defenders to sign in season one
- Lucas Verissimo – Benfica – £23m Valor – 26 – 26 years old and threatening to be the next great defender to break out of Liga NOS, Lucas Veríssimo is an option you may have never heard of with excellent physical stats – including 80+ steps. What's more, your top defensive stats are around 80 as well, so with 84 potential to grow, a defensive training program can quickly turn you into a total beast.
- Lucas Klosterman – RB Leipzig – £26,5m Valor – 25 – Despite the high-profile matches of Upamecano and Konate, there are still plenty of defensive talents in Leipzig ready to plunder. Capable of playing as a centre-back or on the right side of a 4 or 5 defender, Lukas Klostermann has great pace and defensive stats, as well as enough stamina to play 90 minutes week after week. He also has better-than-average short passes to break into midfield, while you can improve even further with his +4 growth potential.
- Maxence lacroix – Wolfsburg – £33m Valor – 21 – Already destined to be the bane of FUT players the world over, for teams with the budget to afford it, Maxence Lacroix looks like an incredibly powerful centre-back. With an impressive 93 sprint speed, 83 strength and standing at 6 ft 3, only the fastest or tallest forwards will be able to get close to the ball against Lacroix. While his tackling stats aren't the best, this can easily be corrected with a defensive training regimen and his +7 growth potential.
- Jeremiah St. Just – Mainz – £9,5m Valor – 24 – Lacroix without the pricetag, Jeremiah St. Juste is incredibly fast with decent strength, defense and height to back him up. At 76 overall and a lower value and release clause, St. Juste is more affordable for clubs with more modest budgets, but still has +4 growth potential to build up your tackle and strength with training.
- Becir Omeragic – Zurich – £2,5m Valor – 19 – Whether you’re working on a smaller budget or want a younger replacement for an already established duo, Becir Omeragic has decent physiques and passable defensive stats for his 67 total. Put the training to use to your 83 potential for a cheap price.
- Leonidas Stergiou – FC St Gallen – £2,5m Value – 19 – Another cheap option with plenty of room to grow is Swiss league Leonidas Stergiou. His stats aren't the best to start with, but he will grow quickly with 86 starting potential.
The best FIFA 22 left-backs and right-backs signed in the first season
- Released Cacace – LB – Sint-Truidense VV – £4,9 million Valor – 20 – New Zealander Liberato Cacace has incredible physical stats including around 80 for speed, jumping, stamina and most impressive strength. With a relatively cheap price and the potential to grow and improve his defensive stats, Cacace is a great addition to any team, whether as a potential starter or on the bench.
- Pervis Estupinan – LB – Villarreal – £26 million worth – 23 – With Unai Emery preferring Pedraza as a left-back, Pervis Estupinan is a reasonably realistic, albeit expensive, option for top teams thanks to his fast pace, stamina, strength and defensive stats . While he's been pretty good from the start of career mode, 85 potential means he'll get even better quickly.
- Fabien Centonze – RB – FC Metz – £13 million – 25 – Highly rated in France over the past two seasons, Centonze equips good physiques with decent technical ability and stamina to climb up and down the pitch as a full-back.
- Felix agu – RB/LB – Werder Bremen – £3,8m – 21 – For what you pay, Felix Agu looks like a fantastic pickup for just about any team. With 83 potential and LB and RB at his listed positions, Agu has good dribbling but incredible moves and power stats. His strength and defense definitely leave a lot to be desired, but at just 21 he has time to bolster his rank with intensive training.
- Devyne Rensch – RB – Ajax – £7m Value – 18 – With a 5-star weak foot and 85 potential, Devyne Rensch has been a solid all-rounder from a young age and can be had for a reasonable price.
- Josha Vagnoman – RB/LB – Hamburger SV – £3,9m Valor – 20 – Taller than your midfielder but with pace to burn and 87 strength, Josha Vagnoman is another player who can break into both LB and RB , while improving his passable defense stats with 82 potential.
To complete your defense, here are the best FIFA 22 goalkeepers.