When it comes to FIFA's insanely popular Ultimate Team mode, Premier League team builds are by far the most popular choice among both newcomers and long-time veterans of the series. After all, it's the richest domestic competition in the footballing world, with some of the world's most talented players plying their trade in the English top flight.

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Getting the budget together to finance the purchases of the very best Premier League players is quite the challenge for those who are just starting their FUT journey and don't want to put their hard-earned money into microtransactions. While the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah may be a bridge too far, there are some cheap Premier League players that can still work wonders in the right hands.

Updated on January 16, 2022, by Jack Pursey: FIFA's Ultimate Team continues to be one of the most popular online modes in gaming. Ultimate Team's unique idea of combining FIFA gameplay with trading cards was an instant hit back on FIFA 09 where it originated, and it has grown from strength to strength since.

One issue with the game mode, however, is that it's difficult to compete with top players without spending real money. Ultimate Team's "pay to win" aspect is understandably controversial, with some even branding it as gambling. Thankfully, for those who don't want to dish out real money or grind hundreds of hours into the game, there are plenty of excellent cheap Premier League players available, so we've expanded this article to look at a few more options.

14 Fred

fred stats fifa22

Position: Defensive Midfield

Average Price: 1,600

To say that Fred has been a divisive player at Manchester United would be an understatement. The Brazilian midfielder has shown flashes of quality and will occasionally go on a good run of games, though his frequency to misplace passes frustrates fans, and he doesn't seem to be United's solution to their defensive midfield issues.

In FIFA 22, however, Fred is a solid option that players can set and forget in the defensive midfield position. Fred's card doesn't have any stand-out strengths, though his High Defensive and Attacking work rates are invaluable, and his well-rounded stats make him easy to use in the all-important CDM position.

13 Nicolas Pépé

pepe stats fifa22

Position: Right Midfield

Average Price: 1,500

Like Fred, Pépé is a player who has struggled to impress in real-life, having spent much of his time at Arsenal on the bench despite moving for a whopping £72 million ($99m) in 2019.

Pépé's difficulties in real-life seem to have affected his price in FIFA 22, as an average cost of 1,500 is dirt cheap for a player as dangerous as he is on the wing. For his price, the Ivory Coast international has a great range of pace and dribbling stats that allow him to cut inside from the right-wing onto his favored left foot and potentially slot in a teammate or hit the top corner.

12 Diogo Jota

jota stats fifa22

Position: Left Wing

Average Price: 1,700

Diogo Jota has been in incredible form for Liverpool this season, finding the back of the net plenty of times, with heading surprisingly being a dangerous weapon for the 5 ft 8 Portuguese international.

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With 84 Shot Power, 84 Finishing, and 85 Attacking Position, Jota is incredibly effective at getting into goalscoring positions from the left-wing, arriving at just the right time to tuck away crosses.

11 Dominic Calvert-Lewin

calvert lewin stats fifa22

Position: Striker

Average Price: 1,100

At just 1,100 coins, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is an absolute steal for anyone utilizing wing-play tactics with the intent of pumping numerous crosses into the box. With 84 Attacking Position, 89 Heading Accuracy, and 91 Jumping, Calvert-Lewin is able to convert bucket-loads of crosses while soaring over defenders in spectacular fashion.

The Englishman's 76 Acceleration and 65 Balance do harm his ability to break defensive lines, but for those willing to build their attack around Everton's forward and prioritize crosses, Calvert-Lewin will soon prove his worth.

10 Dan James

james stats fifa22

Position: Right Midfield

Average Price: 1,000

As has been the case in FIFA games for well over a decade now, Acceleration is the first stat that players look at for almost any position. Granted, Acceleration isn't as overpowered as it was in games like FIFA 12, where players would be condemned for scoring a "sweaty goal" similar to using Oddjob in GoldenEye 007, but it's still an incredibly important stat in the latest game.

Consequently, players with high pace are highly sought after. This is why Dan James is a great budget option, as although his end product is lacking, his 96 Acceleration and 95 Sprint Speed let him stretch the play and get in behind opposition lines.

9 Nick Pope

nick-pope-fifa-22-goalkeeping

Position: Goalkeeper

Average Price: 2,000 coins

Burnley's goalkeeper is a no-brainer for all FIFA players who want someone they can rely on at the back without shelling out too much cash on a footballer they'll rarely ever take direct control of. One of Pope's most noticeable attributes is his height. While it doesn't really have an effect on his in-game statistics, it surely impacts the range of his saves during actual gameplay.

Aside from being tall, Nick Pope is also quick on his feet (84 reflexes) and has fantastic positioning (83). At just 2,000 coins on average, his services can be secured by simply playing out two or three matches! With such attractive attributes and pricing, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Pope can be found in so many players' line-ups.

8 Alex Telles

alex-telles-fifa-22-1

Position: Left Back

Average Price: 1,600 coins

This Brazilian left-back may not get too much game time at Manchester United in real life, but he is still a top player who should not be slept on by any FUT enthusiast with a tight budget. At just 1,600 coins, Telles can be a true menace in the right hands.

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With an overall rating of 82, he is in the top tier of EPL's left defenders, while also being much cheaper than many of his peers, simply due to his position in Man United's pecking order. Aside from being defensively reliable, he also has plenty of attacking potential with a pace rating of 83 and 82-rated passes.

7 Antonio Rudiger

antonio-rudiger-fifa-22-1

Position: Center Back

Average Price: 2,500 coins

In most FIFA releases, there are one or two footballers that can be found in the vast majority of teams simply because of how cheap their cards are and how well they perform on the field. Everybody knows about them, and everybody always tries to snatch them up as soon as possible. In the case of FIFA 22, it's slightly too early to call who these meta players are for sure, but Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger is certainly a viable candidate.

With an average price of 2,500 coins, an 83 OVR rating, and very solid physicality and defense stats (84), he can be a true "wall" in every defense. Given how difficult it is to find reliable, cheap defenders with an overall rating of above 81, Rudiger should definitely be on the radar of any FIFA player who doesn't want to splurge too many coins on their backline.

6 Ismaila Sarr

watford-team-fifa-22-1

Position: Right Winger

Average Price: 1,200 coins

Having spent the last season fighting for Watford to get promoted back to the Premier League, Ismaila Sarr is back in the English top-flight and arguably in the best form of his life. After ripping up the second division with his pace and dribbling skills, he is surely one of the most valuable offensive assets in Watford's line-up.

At just 1,200 coins, Premier League fans can pick up a footballer with blistering pace (94), and decent dribbling skills (80). Combined with 4-star skill moves and 76-rated shooting, Sarr is the perfect wing option for players seeking a winger that defenders simply can't catch up with.

5 Tomas Soucek

fifa-22-tomas-soucek-1

Position: Central Defensive Midfielder

Average Price: 1,100 coins

Despite not really fitting the stereotype of a football star, Tomas Soucek is the central component of David Moyes's well-oiled machine that is West Ham United. Over the last two seasons, the Scottish manager has turned this struggling London club into a Europa League participant, and much of that was made possible thanks to Soucek's ability to control the middle of the pitch.

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He may not be the flashiest of players, with dribbling and passing ratings of 74, but he more than makes up for it with his strength and dominant presence on the field (82 defending, 85 physicalities). He's best used as a CDM, but he'll also do just fine as a regular CM, too.

4 Jesse Lingard

jesse-lingard-fifa-22-1

Position: Central Attacking Midfielder

Average Price: 1,100 coins

In all honesty, Jesse Lingard may not be the best long-term option for the highly-coveted CAM position, but players trying to get a decent player for that spot as soon as they start their FUT adventure won't find a cheaper alternative. At just 1,100 coins, his 79 OVR rating is a bargain, and just like in real-life, Jesse can still stun opponents with moments of brilliance.

A dribbling rating of 80, 79-rated shooting, and decent pace (76) allow Lingard to easily transition the play from the center of the pitch to the final third, as well as surprise the opposition's goalkeeper with a long-distance shot.

3 Raphinha

fifa-22-raphinha-1

Position: Right Midfielder

Average Price: 1,600 coins

The Leeds United main man isn't only one of the fastest players in the Premier League (91 pace) but he is also a very talented dribbler (84).

Raphinha's passing and shooting stats of 76 are not stunning by any means, but they allow him to get the job done. With his speed and dribbling abilities, it's easy to get him to a position where taking that key final pass or shot doesn't require too much precision, anyway.

2 Bukayo Saka

Saka in Fifa 22

Position: Right Midfielder

Average Price: 1,200 coins

Bukayo Saka has been one of Arsenal's most promising young players in recent years and is a cost-effective alternative to the Brazilian Leeds United player.

Priced at just 1,200 coins, Saka's 84-rated pace and a solid dribbling skill (82) place him just a step below players like Raphinha. He can breeze through defenses with ease and will link up well with players like Richarlison or Jesse Lingard, who share a similar, creative approach towards attacking play.

1 Richarlison

fifa-22-richarlison-1

Position: Striker

Average Price: 1,500 coins

When it comes to converting opportunities into goals in FIFA, Richarlison is as reliable as it gets. While he may struggle with making the right decisions in real-life matches, he's one of the best FUT cards for players who can't splurge on the highest-rated players in the game.

Pace and dribbling ratings of 83 are more than enough for skilled gamers to get Richarlison over to the opponent's penalty area, and with a 78-rated shooting, scoring should be a formality (well, unless Nick Pope is between the goalposts). The Everton star is probably the cheapest striker with stats that make him a serious threat to the opposition. FIFA fans should have no qualms about spending 1,500 coins on him, even if it's just for a bench option.

FIFA 22 is out now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5

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