In our series on FM26 bargains, the next position we are covering is defence, where we will look at five bargain defenders, whether that be full-backs or centre-backs. So, here are five defensive bargains:
Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim)
The Turkish international is a bargain buy, as his stats are solid and he is a helpful asset to most teams, even if it’s only as back-up if you are an elite team.
However, he will start with many mid- to low-level Premier League teams or the equivalent in other major European leagues. The reason why the 25-year-old is such a bargain is that you can buy him for less than £5m.
However, there is a caveat to signing Kabak, as he is injured at the start of the game, but it’s an injury that will only keep him sidelined for a couple of months. If you can sign him despite the injury, then he turns out to be a shrewd investment for his fee.
Jamie Lawrence (WSG Tirol)
The 22-year-old may not be the most technically gifted player in the world, but his defensive stats are solid enough. He has 15 plus for tackling, heading and bravery, which are all highly desirable attributes to have as a centre-back.
The German is more of a no-nonsense centre-back than a ball-playing defender, so you can’t expect him to fulfil the ball-playing defender role.
However, if you are a mid-low team in many of Europe’s top tiers, Lawrence can be a valuable player to have in your squad. He is especially useful, as he can cost just £3m, which is a bargain for a player who is ready to step up into the first team, even if he may never become a star player.
Brandon Williams (Hull City)
The former Manchester United player seems to have been around for an age. However, he is still only 24 and plying his trade in the Championship with Hull City.
Just like in all recent versions of the game, Williams has decent stats, and the fact that he can play in both full-back positions only adds to his appeal.
He will never be a star in the top European leagues, but he is a solid backup player who can fill in when needed and not really look out of place.
You can sign Williams for a fee of around £4m, payable in an initial £2m and an additional £2m in instalments. That sounds like a reasonable fee for such a versatile player.
Jesus Gallardo (Toluca)
The experienced Mexican international may have the best all-around stats of any player on our list. He is the sort of player who wouldn’t look out of place in most top-tier squads.
The fact that he can also play on the wing is just a bonus. Considering his decent stats for crossing and technique, it’s not a major surprise that he would be effective in a more forward role.
Obviously, Gallardo is not one for the future at 30, but he can still play at the top level for a few seasons. His price tag of just over £6m is not a lot to pay for a player with all his attributes.
Max Aarons (Bournemouth, on loan at Rangers)
In previous editions of the game, Aarons was something of a favourite with many fans. During his Norwich days, he was a youngster with immense potential who could be bought for a relatively small fee.
He hasn’t quite lived up to his FM potential after a move to Bournemouth. In fact, he is on loan at Rangers for the first season of the game. However, you can still sign the right-back on a permanent deal for the summer of 2026 for a fee of around £4.8m.
For that fee, you get a full-back who has strong stats for a player at that price range, including tackling, technique, determination and composure. Once again, stats-wise, he won’t be a star player for a top team in European football’s biggest leagues.
However, he would be a useful player for clubs in the mid- to lower levels of the Premier League or its equivalent. He could even be a useful backup for the team closer to the top of the table.
