It's that time of year again and EA Sports FC 25 has been released and with a lot of the hype and build-up to the game being built around Ultimate Team, it's easy to forget that there's more game modes to play.
One mode that is criminally underrated and undervalued by EA has been career mode, which gives players the chance to live out a career as either a player or manager
Much like Football Manager, when you begin your manager career the first thing you should want to do is sign young, high potential players. While the likes Enderick, Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham are the obvious young players any manager would want, there's always some hidden gems and this year there is a handful of very good Irish players to pick up.
Now in this list you should note that players can exceed their potential rating if you play well with them and train them in the right categories, at the same time if the players isn't doing well they may not reach their potential much like in real life. Therefore you should take the ratings on this list as a benchmark.
The 7 Best Irish Players To Sign On EA Sports FC 25 Career Mode
1. Evan Ferguson- ST- 74 OVR- 86 POT
10 September 2024; Evan Ferguson of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
There's not surprise in top spot on this list as Evan Ferguson has the highest potential out of any Irish player in career mode. He may have had an injury-riddled season last term but the Meath man is still only 19 and he still has a lot of time to grow into the potential top striker Ireland fans hope he can be.
2. Rocco Vata- RW- 65 OVR- 83 POT
22 March 2024; Rocco Vata of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier match between San Marino and Republic of Ireland at San Marino Stadium in Serravalle, San Marino. Photo by Roberto Bregani/Sportsfile
Vata has been a much hyped name in Irish underage football for a while as he has been tearing it up for the Republic of Ireland U21s. Now at Watford after leaving Celtic on a free in the summer, Vata is hoping to finally break into first team football and fulfil the potential EA and many punters believe he has.
3. Gavin Bazunu- GK- 72 OVR- 82 POT
26 March 2024; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
It's been a rough couple of seasons for Bazunu at Southampton and it now looks like his future might not be at the Saints after they signed Aaron Ramsdale but at 22, Bazunu is still very young for a keeper. He would be the perfect keeper to sign in your career mode and help rebuild his career.
4. Nathan Collins- CB- 75 OVR- 82 POT
10 September 2024; Nathan Collins of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Collins is the best Irish defender in the game and his potential on career mode is replicated as he has the potential to reach 82. The Brentford man has shown glimpses of being a future Ireland captain and he could be your captain if you sign him for around the fairly priced €10.5 million in the first summer.
5. Caoimhín Kelleher- GK- 77 OVR- 81 POT
10 September 2024; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The highest rated male Irish player in EA Sports FC 25, Kelleher has shown that he is arguably the best backup keeper in the Premier League at Liverpool. However you can be the one to give the Cork keeper a chance in the number 1 shirt if you can prize him away from the Reds.
6. Jake O'Brien- CB- 75 OVR- 81 POT
7 September 2024; Jake O'Brien of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Now to the other side in Liverpool, O'Brien was the surprise of the season last year when he became a vital part of Lyon as they went from the relegation zone to Europa League. He's been given a massive upgrade this year and he has the potential to get even better.
7. Alex Murphy- CB- 64 OVR- 81 POT
11 June 2024; Alex Murphy of Republic of Ireland during the international friendly match between England U20's and Republic of Ireland U21's at Gradski Stadion in Zagreb, Croatia. Photo by Vid Ponikvar/Sportsfile
Probably the least known player on this list but Alex Murphy has quietly made himself one of the brightest prospects at Newcastle since joining the Magpies in 2022. The Galway native is also capable of playing at left back, giving him very useful versatile and at only €1.4 million to start he is a great bargain player to buy.
Some other players unfortunate to miss out on this list are Andrew Moran who's on loan at Stoke from Brighton, Anslemo Garcia McNulty who is now plying his trade at PEC Zwolle and Troy Parrott who is flying at AZ Alkmaar.
