The best centre-backs to sign on Football Manager 2023

You can score all the goals you want, but without a good defence, you won’t win anything in Football Manager 2023.

Regardless of the sort of money you’ve got to play with, there are plenty of smart signings out there which could make the difference for your side.

Here are the best centre-backs to sign in FM23.

Mateo Musacchio
Free Agent

If money is tight, turn to Musacchio. The 31-year-old is still a good option and won’t cost you a penny.

Luis Romo
Monterrey

Romo was a real gem last year. He’s more expensive this time around at £3.6m but that’s about right for a player of his ability.

Cesar Montes
Monterrey

Montes is perhaps the superior option in Monterrey’s defence but you’ll have to stretch the budget up to £5m to bring him in.

Juan Escobar
Cruz Azul

At £60,000, you won’t find better value for money than Escobar.

Ivan Marcano
Porto

Marcano is 35 and clearly not one for the future, but if you need some immediate help, his £700,000 price tag is pretty reasonable.

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Doria
Santos Laguna

The next gem in the Mexican league, Foria is an excellent pick-up at just £1.4m. The former Marseille man is one of the top players at this price tag and should be your go-to option without much thought.

Victor Ruiz
Real Hispalis

The only superior player to Doria at this price point in terms of current ability is Ruiz. He’s top-tier material and available for £3.75m, but at 33, time is not on his side.

Danilo D’Ambrosio
Inter

D’Ambrosio is on the transfer list at Inter and can be signed for a cool £1.2m. For someone with his versatility, that’s a no-brainer.

Leonardo Sigali
Racing Club

£150,000 will get you Sigali. The 35-year-old is a monster with 16 heading and marking, but make sure you’re looking for a replacement soon enough.

Paul Jaeckel
Union Berlin

Comfortable at centre-back or midfield, 23-year-old Jaeckel is a smart buy at £2.4m. You’ve got a long-term squad option with a little room left to grow.

Nacho
R. Madrid

A star at centre-back and a real force on both sides of defence, Nacho is a smart buy at £11.25m. Move quick before he signs a new contract.

Alessio Romagnoli
Lazio

He’s just signed so you can’t sign Romagnoli just yet, but his £14.5m price tag is excellent value for a player of his quality.

Djene Dakonam
Getafe

If you’re happy working with a smaller centre-back, Dakonam at £8.5m is a steal.

Pepe
Porto

Sure, he’s 39, but Pepe can give you a year or two of elite centre-back service, and at £3.6m, you can’t really complain.

Mats Hummels
Borussia Dortmund

Hummels is yours…