FIFA 23 Review: 8 Ups & 6 Downs

2. Transfer Analysts

The final two 'Ups' are Career Mode improvements.

Firstly, your club now has a dedicated staff member who exists to tell gaffers how much value for money their latest transfer business was. This works the same way whether you're buying or selling, and it does teach players how to squeeze the most out of those protracted negotiations.

Getting an "A" rating when buying that new superstar feels lovely. On the flip side, receiving an "F" when selling unwanted players for way less cash than expected is a teachable moment that'll make you more strict during cutscenes. Anything that adds to those otherwise-flimsy scenes is a blessing these days.

Hopefully, EA will continue to develop the "Transfer Analyst" gig and turn would-be managers into hardened negotiators who know how to squeeze an extra few quid from that transfer. Add-ons like sell-on clauses finally have more of a tangible purpose too, because they play a part in your eventual score.

Here's an example: This writer's Arsenal bought Jude Bellingham from Dortmund for £80m and a 10% sell-on. The analyst gave that an "A" because of Jude's age, potential, asking price (£110m) and because he's so highly-rated. £80m upfront is high, but the 10% agreement shaved £30m off the original fee.