Summary
Defenders are one of the most crucial positions to focus on inFootball 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 June 17, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:While strikers are always more popular and more expensive than defenders, even in real-life football, without a solid defensive line it would be quite difficult to secure the scored goals. So, every team need a bunch of good defenders to take a good care of what strikers achieve on the offensive line.
Thankfully, there is no need for bags of money to sign a good defender in Football Manager 2024, as there are many considerable options available at fair price points that hold the line for the team.
Only players with a minimum transfer value of below $6 million have been considered in this list to fit into the budget definition.
20Kaelan Casey
Price: $240K - $2.4M
Of course, a Natural Fitness of 6 is a red flag for Kaelan Casey, but as an 18-year-old player he has a lot of time to improve. He is not a wonder kid, but the numbers still look promising. The player doesn’t share strong physical stats, which is crucial for a defender, but good training programs can help to improvem them.
On the other hand, Casey comes with significant Jumping Reach that makes him a great option for intercepting the aerial balls coming into the penalty area. Also, he has amazing Passing score of 16 and a Work Rate of 12, which means he can be a key player to transition the ball from defense to attack.
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19Harry Toffolo
Price: $3.6M
Coaches that are looking for a balanced defender that comes with decent stats in almost every aspect, might consider signing Harry Toffolo before he becomes older. As a 27-year-old full-back, Toffolo delivers decent stats that can fit into any playstyle.
With a Pace of 12 and an Acceleration of 13, he is good enough carry the ball along the pitch. The player also has good enough Passing and Vision stats to send significant crosses into the penalty area, especially if used as a wing-back instead of a full-back.
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18Alessandro Circati
Price: $3.1M - $9.3M
Although the current stats that he has do not guarantee a bright future of being aWonderkid,Alessandro Circaticould 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 inFootball Manager 2024can 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.
17Maqsim Medvedev
Price: $75K - $230K
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, andMaqsim Medvedevcan 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.
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16Sebastian Boselli
Price: $5M - $16M
Due to the tactical system revamp inFootball 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 theteam to progress forwardwithout worrying about goals.
Sebastian Boselli’sprofile 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.
15David Affengruber
Price: $5.6M - $6.8M
A solid defender at an early age that still has room for improvements! David Affengruber could be an amazing sign for any growing squad, especially with a low budget. The player shares very balanced stats all across the board. While he is a fast defender, he is also good at aerial intercepting.
Positioning is the strongest stat for Affengruber with a score of 16, which means he does know where to stand to keep the offside trap on. He is not too aggressive, but he comes with a significant Bravery stat that allows him to take risks.
14Yerry Mina
Price: $1.2M - $6M
The Colombian defender was once one of the top-notch defensive players across the globe, especially when playing for Everton in thePremier 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.
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13Felipe Sanchez
Price: $3M - $9.3M
Seeking out a cheap defensive option for the future is also a viable strategy to use inFootball 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 Sanchezrepresents 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.
12Juan Bernat
Price: $850K - $8.8M
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.
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11Stefano Sabelli
Price: $1.9M - $5.6M
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 Sabelliwill be able to cover thattactical side of the matchwith 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.
