FIFA Ultimate Team is one of the most popular game modes in video game history, and also one of the most lucrative in terms of generating revenue for EA Sports as thousands of people spend their money opening packs of virtual players in the hopes of finding Ronaldo, Messi, or Ibrahimovic inside.
But the reality is that those players are 1 in a million, and instead you are far more likely to have Joe Allen or Gareth Barry staring back at you when you open a pack, so there are also a lot of players who don't spend money on improving their teams. For these players, in game coins are generated from playing matches and working the transfer market, so a bargain signing is always welcome.
Having played FIFA 15 Ultimate Team a lot in the past week, and having tried out numerous different squads from different leagues in a host of different formations, here are my 7 bargain buys to include in your Ultimate Team.
These guys are incredibly effective, and all can be got for less than 1000 coins, most can be got around discard price of 300-400 coins. If you are building a squad around the league that they play in, then you might want to give them a shot and free up some coins for a big signing elsewhere.
Michy Batshuayi
Batshuayi is everything you want in an Ultimate Team striker. Quick, strong, and a clinical finisher, the big Marseille man is a great shout for a Ligue 1 team. Pair him with the also very cheap Martin Braithwaite for a seriously sweatty partnership that will get you goals in any division. He goes for discard price at around 350 coins, which is a music to the ears of Ultimate Team managers on a budget.
Nicolas N'Koulou
Michy Batshuayi's team-mate at Marseille is another non-rare gold beast that can be got for near discard price at 350-450 coins. N'Koulou is the best defender from Ligue 1 in Ultimate Team, apart from David Luiz and Thiago Silva who are far, far more expensive. Quick on the ground and strong in the air, he is good at dealing with the dreaded lofted through ball and even loves a goal from a corner. Invest.
Nigel De Jong
Everybody knows who Nigel De Jong is, but did you know that because of his excellent World Cup performances EA Sports decided to make him one of the most effective centre-defensive-mids in FIFA 15? Because they bloody well did. Just look at his stats, De Jong is an all round beast. Put him in at CDM in your Serie A side and watch him dominate the midfield, he's honestly like a magnet to the ball. A truly great buy at less than 500 coins.
Federico Marchetti
His price is starting to creep up now that many are realising what a good keeper he is, but Marchetti can still be got for around 500 coins and is a remarkably solid goalkeeper. With no real weaknesses, and a knack for a stunning save, Marchetti is the only option for a budget Serie A squad.
Mauro Zarate
Premier League players are ridiculously over-priced in the FIFA 15 Ultimate Team market. They always have been, but this year the price for common players seems to be unusually high, that is why Mauro Zarate is probably going to be the most expensive player on this list, at around 750-800 coins, but trust me, he's worth it. Pace, dribbling, and lethal finishing are the new West Ham man's strengths and he wouldn't be out of place in any Premier League squad.
Fabian Delph
Another guy who seems to have flown under the ridiculously over-priced Premier League player radar is Aston Villa's Fabian Delph. His great pace and dribbling get him into all sorts of scoring positions, and his shooting is better than the stats suggest. Delph is a constant goal threat through the middle and will out-perform players who are higher rated and cost a whole lot more than the 400 coins you can snap him up for.
Valon Behrami
The sole Bundesliga representative on this list in what is a disappointing year for Bundesliga squads in FIFA 15 Ultimate Team, Behrami is an absolute must buy for any Bundesliga budget squads. Similar to Nigel De Jong, Behrami's high defensive work rates make him a brilliant ball winner, and his good stats across the board mean he can use the ball when he wins it. At discard price of 350 coins he's a must have.
