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14 best young FIFA 19 full-backs for any budget
Whether you've got a huge transfer kitty or are searching for bargains, this list will help you find the best young right-back or left-back that you can afford.
When looking for the perfect full-back to introduce to your team, there are a few different aspects you need to consider. A full-back’s main job is to defend the wings, so having solid Tackling and Defending stats is crucial. They need to contribute to attacking play much more frequently than centre-backs, so having decent Pace is important, as is Stamina so they can surge up and down the touchline all game. Finally, if they are going to be frequently overlapping your wide midfielders, look for those with decent Crossing and Long Passing so that they can be a key component of your attacks.
Here are 14 left=backs and right-backs to look out for in FIFA 19's Career Mode.
Best Young Full Backs - Free Agents
If you’re seriously skint, then pick up one of these two for absolutely nothing.
Reeve Frosler (RB/LB)
Hailing from South Africa, Reeve Frosler is one of two 20-year-old free agents you can pick up right at the start of your career mode. Of course, he won’t be as impressive as the costly ones we’re going to list but he’s a solid fill in if you’re in dire need. With a 67 current overall and 81 potential, you really can’t go wrong picking him up on a free. He’s boasting 73 Pace and 66 Defending stats, along with 71 Stamina – three of the most important attributes for a full-back. On top of that, he’s got a four-star weak foot so he can fit in at either RB or LB. Frosler is a great versatile option.
Cristian Manea (RB)
The other free agent we’ve found is Cristian Manea. In real life, the Romanian is on loan at CFR Cluj from Apollon Limassol but in FIFA 19, he’s unsigned. With 72 Pace, 70 Physicality and 67 Defending, Manea is another great option for no money at all. He’s also rocking 85 Stamina which means he’s an absolute workhorse, although he’s limited to RB since he only has a two-star weak foot. Take note of his high attacking work rate too – he’ll always be up the pitch ready to contribute to any attacking play.
Best Young Full Backs – £0 - £1 million
Josha Vagnoman is a bargain considering his 83 potential
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These three full backs aren’t expensive and they can become solid players for top tier clubs later down the line.
Josha Vagnoman (RB/LB, Hamburger SV)
At just 17-years-old, Josha Vagnoman still has a lot of growing to do. Valued at £440k, his best stat is his 78 Pace followed by 73 Strength and 72 Stamina. He’s only rated at a 61 overall right now but in a few years he’ll eventually reach his 83 potential when he can be a fantastic full-back for a club in the world’s top leagues. He prefers his right foot but Vagnoman is another with a four-star weak foot so he can play on either side.
Luca Pellegrini (LB, AS Roma)
It’ll cost you £912k to pry Luca Pellegrini away from AS Roma, but in return you’ll be getting his 65 overall and 83 potential. He’s a well-rounded player, with 73 Pace, 69 Crossing, 69 Balance, 68 Sliding Tackles and 66 Standing Tackles. He doesn’t have a lot of Stamina though and his Strength needs work, so consider that before you nab him for cheap.
Tom Edwards (RB/RWB, Stoke City)
Hands up if you think you should sign Tom Edwards in FIFA 19
© EA Sports
Interestingly enough, despite 19-year-old Tom Edwards only being 5ft 9”, his best stat is his ridiculous 81 Jumping. As a full-back that’s not ideal, but set up your custom tactics and get him in the box for long free kicks and corners and this chap can be a great asset at both ends of the pitch. He’s also got 76 Pace and 73 Strength, along with a high/high work rate. He’s also worth £912k with the same overall as Pellegrini, but he has one less potential at 82 so on paper, he’s very slightly worse. It all depends on what your team’s weak points are.
Best Young Full Backs: £1 million – £5 million
Kevin Rüegg will only cost £1.5m
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If you want one of these three, make sure you pick them up before they sign new contracts because they’re three of the most promising youngsters.
Gian-Luca Itter (LB, VfL Wolfsburg)
Gian-Luca Itter is one of the most well-rounded full backs we’ve found. All of his important stats are between 60 and 70 right now; 70 Dribbling, 69 Pace, 68 Crossing, 68 Standing Tackle, 67 Stamina, 67 Marking… if you need someone that doesn’t have many weaknesses at all, Itter is your man. He’s currently got a 67 overall with 85 potential, but he’s only going to cost you £1.3m - a great price, especially considering his high attacking work rate.
Kevin Rüegg (RB, FC Zurich)
For an extra £200k, you could get Rüegg – he’s got the same potential as Itter but with one higher overall currently. Rüegg’s strengths lie in his 82 Pace, 80 Strength and 79 Stamina along with solid Defending and Passing skills. He’s also currently on less than half of Itter’s wages, so while you’d be paying slightly more up front, in the long run he could end up much cheaper.
Diogo Dalot (RB/LB, Manchester United)
Diogo Dalot cost Manchester United £19m in real life
© EA Sports
Diogo Dalot signed for Manchester United from FC Porto over the summer and it seems like United have their next star on their hands. The majority of his stats are over 70, giving him a 72 overall and 84 potential. His high attacking work rate, 79 Stamina, 73 Pace, 73 Dribbling and 74 Ball Control means he’s fantastic on either side of the pitch, though he favours the right. His impressive stats match the price though, as he’s valued at £4.1m with £23k wages, almost five times as much per week as the other two in this category.
Best Young Full Backs: £5 million -– £10 million
Kieran Tierney rocks 89 pace
© EA Sports
The next three players will set you back a considerable amount, and for good reason – each one of them is outstanding.
Achraf Hakimi (RB/LB, Borussia Dortmund)
When looking at Hakimi’s stats, you can understand why he’s worth £7.9m. The 19-year-old has 86 Pace and a high attacking work rate, so he is up and down either side of the pitch like it’s nobody's business. His Tackling stats are solid with 73 and 75 for Standing and Sliding respectively, while he also has 77 Ball Control and 71 Dribbling. He’s even got three-star skill moves, so he can roulette past midfielders and defenders when needed. The only caveat is that right now, he’s on loan from Real Madrid at Borussia Dortmund, so you may need to wait until the end of the season before you pick him up, by which point his 75 overall will likely be slightly closer to his 85 potential.
Marcelo Saracchi (LB, RB Leipzig)
Another player with 75 overall and 85 potential, Marcelo Saracchi is similar to Hakimi in more ways than one. He’s incredibly fast with 88 Pace and also has three-star skills. He’s only got three stats below 60; Volleys, Curve and Penalties, so you can instantly tell he’s a jack of all trades. He’s a fantastic attacking wing-back due to his high attacking work rate, 73 Dribbling, 76 Agility, 79 Stamina and 76 Crossing. It’ll cost you £8.4m to tempt him away from RB Leipzig, though, and you'll need to fork out for his £24k wages.
Kieran Tierney (LB/LWB, Celtic)
Celtic fans will know all about Tierney as the 21-year-old has been regularly featuring for the Scottish giants since the 2015/16 season. With a 76 overall and 86 potential, you’ll need to spend £9.7m to get the young Scot, though with 89 Pace and 87 Stamina, we all know he’s worth it. High/high work rates mean he’s boasting the Engine trait, working non-stop on the left side of defence. He’s got 82 Aggression with 73 Standing and 74 Sliding Tackles, along with 75 Crossing and Dribbling. Tierney is undoubtedly our pick of the bunch for value because of how crucial he can be in a five-man defence.
Best Young Full Backs: £10 million or more
Pablo Maffeo is a great wing-back
© EA Sports
There are no super-expensive young stars in this category, so instead here are three players you can invest in for just north of £10 million.
Davide Calabria (RB, AC Milan)
Calabria just finds his way into the category of young players with a December 1996 birthday and it’s a good thing too because he is a top full-back. 77 overall with an 87 potential, Calabria’s highlights come pretty much everywhere. With 81 Stamina, 79 Pace, 78 Crossing, 78 Marking, 77 Standing & Sliding Tackles, 76 Interceptions & Aggression, there’s a reason he’s AC Milan’s first choice right-back. £11m is what you’ll need to pony up to be in with a shot of signing him, but it’s worth it for his consistency and ability to slot into your first team right away.
Pablo Maffeo (RWB, VfB Stuttgart)
The only player here who’s only defensive position is as a wing-back, Pablo Maffeo is a great choice for those five-man defensive formations. £11.4m will net you his 78 overall and 86 potential, comprised of his 83 Pace, 80 Dribbling, 81 Standing Tackles, 80 Sliding Tackles, 81 Ball Control and 79 Crossing. On top of that, he can also fit in at RM for when you need him going forward.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB, Liverpool)
Easily the most well known player on the list, Trent Alexander-Arnold shines with a 78 overall and 88 potential. Almost all of his stats are above 70, most notably his 83 Crossing and 82 Acceleration, which are fantastic for his high attacking work rate. He’s even a solid dead ball specialist, and with his Early Crosser trait, he’ll overlap on the wings all the time to put lethal balls into the box. He is the most expensive at £12.3m, though paying that price should be a no brainer.
Check out more of FIFA 19's best young players below
