FC 27: Best Premier League Defenders for Ultimate Team

If you're building an Ultimate Team squad around the Premier League in EA Sports FC 27, your defenders' physicality will determine your ability to win aerial duels, hold a press, and defend in depth without getting eaten alive by the opposition's pace. Here's the ranking of players eligible at the defender position with the best physical rating, from weakest to strongest. Some of them don't even play centre-back at club level.

Handy reminder

Physical combines jumping, stamina, strength, and aggression. A high number doesn't mean the player is good in every department, so we're also giving you the weak points to watch out for before you blow your credits on the Transfer Market.

The lower-mid table of the ranking (83-84 physical)

• Murillo (83 phy, 82 overall) - Nottingham Forest. An overall step down compared to FC 26 (pace and defending both down), but his shooting has gained seven points, making him a threat at set pieces. At 79 pace, he's still playable while you wait for better upgrades.
• Nikola Milenkovic (84 phy, 80 overall) - the steepest drop in the bunch: minus three overall, minus four pace, minus two physical compared to last year. His awkward national chemistry might see him get pushed aside in favour of other cards on this list.
• James Tarkowski (84 phy, 80 overall) - Mr Consistency. Rated between 78 and 81 since FIFA 18. His pace has dropped to 41 this year, but his physical climbs to 84, exactly the profile suited for playing at the back of a three-man defence, where pace matters less than the ability to win duels.
• Dan Burn (84 phy) - his first rare gold card since FIFA 21. Loses one point of physical but remains an aerial beast: 90 strength, 79 heading, 71 jumping, all backed by his 6'6" frame. Don't underestimate him in build-up either, with 75 short passing and 77 reactions.
• Gabriel (84 phy, 89 overall) - one of the best-rated players in the game, full stop. Gains one point of dribbling and three of defending this year. A very defensive profile that's worth boosting further through chemistry or upgrades.

The top 5: the real walls of the Premier League

• Calvin Bassey (85 phy, 78 overall) - Fulham are being tipped for a tough season, but Bassey won't be a gift for opposing attackers. Good physical/defending/pace combo despite losing two points of physical and four of pace compared to FC 26.
• Virgil Van Dijk (85 phy, 88 overall) - the most uncertain card in the ranking. Down from 90 to 88 overall, minus three pace, minus two dribbling, minus one defending, minus two physical. Age and Liverpool's difficult season are taking their toll. It remains to be seen in-game whether he stays a priority pick for your Premier League or Netherlands squads.
• Cedric Kipre (87 phy, 74 overall) - Ipswich's newly-promoted man takes third place all on his own. A silver card that lacks finesse in build-up play, but ideal if you're just looking to stack clean sheets and physically dominate the opposition. Bonus: perfect for Silver Stars challenges.
• Ousmane Diomande (88 phy, 81 overall) - the first Premier League newcomer on the list, Forest's new centre-back. Gains two points of physical and one of passing/defending compared to FC 26. His shooting is dreadful (26) and his overall passing is concerning (52), but his short and long passing are both at 73, more than enough for a centre-back who won't hamper your build-up play.
• Caleb Yirenkyi (89 phy, the total surprise) - the most physical defender in the entire Premier League in FC 27, and he isn't even a natural defender. Coventry City's midfielder can play as CB, CDM, or CM. His defensive stats are logically weaker than the rest of the ranking, but with 75 pace, 70 defending, 67 passing, and 73 dribbling, he has everything needed to become a progressive defender capable of carrying the ball forward. His Festival of Football: Phenoms card, rated 94 last year, offers a glimpse of his potential once the right upgrades are applied. Keep an eye on this one, this card is going to get people talking.

In short, if you're after a pure brute who wins everything in the air, head for Yirenkyi or Diomande. If you want a balanced profile capable of playing high up the pitch and distributing cleanly, Gabriel and Dan Burn remain safe bets for building a coherent Premier League defence.