FIFA 22 Career Mode best bargains: Top players for small budgets
There’s no shortage of superstars to draft into your team in FIFA 22 Career Mode, but the Mbappe’s of the world will take up a big chunk of your transfer budget. So, we’ve put together the best bargains forwards, midfielders, defenders & goalkeepers to make your club a success.
FIFA 22 is finally here and fans are diving into yet another season of EA’s football franchise. This year, Career Mode has seen a significant revamp, letting players build their own clubs from the ground up.
After the club’s kits and stadiums are designed, it’s all about putting together a squad of talent to start climbing the ladder. At the start, funds might be hard to come by, especially if you’re looking to sign the top-rated players in the world.
It can be hard to find a good ideal in the transfer market. Many of the clubs in major leagues will demand high transfer fees for their players, especially the ones in their first team.
That’s why it can be a much savvier move to make an offer for someone outside of Europe’s top leagues, as they tend to ask for more modest deals. Or, at the very least, aim for players that are nowhere near a club’s starting XI.
- Read more: Best FIFA 22 Ultimate Team starter squad
We’ve focused our lists on younger players of 24 or under, as these will make great long-term options who can grow alongside your club.
These are some of the top bargains you can bag in FIFA 22 Career Mode.
FIFA 22 Career Mode bargain forwards
There are a whole host of cheap forwards in this year’s game that EA has awarded bags of potential.
Premier League youngsters like Manchester City’s Liam Delap and Kayky, in particular, are players that will rise in rating very quickly, meaning they can be sold within a few seasons for a tidy profit.
| Player Name | Age | Club | Position | Rating | Potential | Price |
| Dane Scarlett | 17 | Spurs | ST | 63 | 86 | £450k |
| Fode Fofana | 18 | PSV | ST | 64 | 84 | £1.4 million |
| Antwoine Hackford | 17 | Sheffield United | ST | 59 | 84 | £650k |
| Liam Delap | 18 | Manchester City | ST | 64 | 85 | £1.6 million |
| Rodrigo Gomes | 17 | Braga | RW | 63 | 83 | £1.3 million |
| Kayky | 18 | Manchester City | RW | 66 | 87 | £800k |
| Dario Sarmiento | 18 | Girona | LW | 65 | 83 | £1.8 million |
| Luca Oyen | 18 | Genk | LW | 65 | 83 | £1.8 million |
FIFA 22 Career Mode bargain midfielders
The midfield is a vital area of the pitch, so you’ll want to invest here pretty early on in your career.
Granada’s Eteki may seem like a big investment in the first few seasons, but he has a high enough starting rating that he can slip straight into the first team, while still having room to improve.
| Name | Age | Club | Position | Rating | Potential | Price |
| Fabio Carvalho | 20 | Fulham | CAM | 67 | 86 | £2.4 million |
| Kacper Kozlowski | 17 | Pogoń Szczecin | CAM | 68 | 85 | £1.1 million |
| Caden Clark | 18 | RB Leipzig | CAM | 66 | 86 | £2.1 million |
| Yan Brice Eteki | 24 | Granada CF | CM | 75 | 83 | £10.5 million |
| Xavi Simmons | 19 | PSG | CM | 65 | 84 | £1.8 million |
| Romeo Lavia | 17 | Manchester City | CDM | 62 | 85 | £300k |
| Rodrigo Fernandes | 20 | Sporting Lisbon | CDM | 68 | 83 | £2.8 million |
| Largie Ramazani | 20 | UD Almería | RM | 67 | 83 | £100k |
| Shola Shoretire | 17 | Manchester United | RM | 62 | 84 | £1 million |
| Anthony Gordon | 20 | Preston North End | LM | 67 | 83 | £2.7 million |
| Talles Magno | 19 | New York City | LM | 67 | 85 | £2.6 million |
FIFA 22 Career Mode bargain defenders
Solid defenders are generally hard to come by, especially in the full-back positions. Their rarity usually means that you have to pay big money to sign a quality one.
However, Jesus Alejandro Gomez of Malaga is a steal at just £1 million and has the potential to be one of the world’s best.
It’s best to grab him as early as possible and place him in the starting XI. That way you’ll see a big return on your investment within a few years.
| Name | Age | Club | Position | Rating | Potential | Price |
| Cesar Montes | 24 | Monterrey | CB | 75 | 83 | £10.5 million |
| Morato | 20 | Benfica | CB | 68 | 84 | £1.1 million |
| Malick Thiaw | 19 | Schalke | CB | 66 | 84 | £1.8 million |
| Rav van den Berg | 17 | PEC Zwolle | CB | 59 | 83 | £170k |
| Braian Cufre | 24 | Malaga | LB | 74 | 81 | £7 million |
| Jesus Alejandro Gomez | 19 | Atlas | LB | 63 | 87 | £1.2 million |
| Killian Sardella | 19 | Anderlecht | RB | 67 | 83 | £2.1 million |
| Ki-Janer Hoever | 19 | Wolves | RB | 63 | 83 | £1.3 million |
FIFA 22 Career Mode bargain goalkeepers
Keeper is the one position on the pitch that you have no control over, so be sure to invest in a quality stopper at the earliest possible opportunity.
Genk’s Maarten Vandevoordt is the go-to if you want a possible starter straight away, but with a little more patience, the free agent Charis Chatzigavriel is an ideal long-term buy.
| Player Name | Age | Club | Position | Rating | Potential | Price |
| Gavin Bazunu | 19 | Portsmouth | GK | 63 | 82 | £1 million |
| Charis Chatzigavriel | 17 | Free Agent | GK | 58 | 84 | £130k |
| Bart Verbruggen | 18 | Anderlecht | GK | 65 | 83 | £1.6 million |
| Gavin Bazunu | 19 | Portsmouth | GK | 64 | 83 | £1.2 million |
| Maarten Vandevoordt | 19 | Genk | GK | 71 | 87 | £1.3 million |
Those were our picks for the best bargains you can secure yourself in this year’s career mode. There’s guaranteed to be plenty more hidden gems, so make sure to make use of your scouting network to uncover them.
For more on FIFA 22, check out our guides on the fastest players in this year’s game, and the best strikers you can buy in Career Mode.
Image credits: EA