The FMDB
FM26 26.2.0

DM, M (C) · Doncaster Rovers

Ben Close

Born 8 Aug 1996 · Portsmouth (age 28)

  • England
  • Right Only foot
  • 180 cm
  • Player

Best position calc

  • Defensive Midfielder

Personality calc

  • Fairly Professional

Record at game start, 1 Jul 2025

Current ability
86 of 200
Potential ability
120
Value (calc)
£111,310
Best role (calc)
86 Deep-Lying Playmaker
World reputation
2,2501 of 5 stars calc
Caps / goals
0 / 0
Wage
£2,500 p/w

Positions

GK — D (L) — D (C) — D (R) — DM 20 M (L) — M (C) 20 M (R) — AM (L) — AM (C) — AM (R) — ST (C) — WB (L) — WB (R) —
  • Natural 18–20
  • Accomplished 15–17
  • Competent 12–14
  • Unconvincing 9–11
  • Awkward 5–8
  • Makeshift 2–4
  • Ineffectual 1
  • — Not stored
Position ratings and stored familiarity, best familiarity first
PositionLevelFamiliarityRating calc Potential calc
DM Natural 20 62 69
M (C) Natural 20 62 69
GK Not stored — — —
D (L) Not stored — 50 57
D (C) Not stored — 46 52
D (R) Not stored — 50 57
M (L) Not stored — 49 55
M (R) Not stored — 49 55
AM (L) Not stored — 49 56
AM (C) Not stored — 46 53
AM (R) Not stored — 49 56
ST (C) Not stored — 48 55
WB (L) Not stored — 46 52
WB (R) Not stored — 46 52

Familiarity is stored, 1–20. Position ratings are calculated by fm-reader, 0–100; a dash means the build does not have enough stored attributes to calculate that rating.

Attributes

  • 1–5 poor
  • 6–10 weak
  • 11–14 decent
  • 15–17 good
  • 18–20 excellent
  • — not stored

Technical 14

  • Corners·8
  • Crossing·8
  • Dribbling·8
  • Finishing·9
  • First touch·12
  • Free kicks·9
  • Heading·9
  • Long shots·12
  • Long throws·5
  • Marking·10
  • Passing·12
  • Penalty taking·8
  • Tackling·10
  • Technique·11

Mental 14

  • Aggression·10
  • Anticipation·12
  • Bravery·10
  • Composure·12
  • Concentration·10
  • Decisions·11
  • Determination·14
  • Flair·7
  • Leadership·11
  • Off the ball·9
  • Positioning·12
  • Teamwork·12
  • Vision·11
  • Work rate·11

Physical 8

  • Acceleration·9
  • Agility·9
  • Balance·11
  • Jumping reach·9
  • Natural fitness·13
  • Pace·9
  • Stamina·13
  • Strength·10

Feet

  • Left foot·7
  • Right foot·20

Goalkeeping

All 11 attributes
  • Aerial reach—
  • Command of area—
  • Communication—
  • Eccentricity—
  • Handling—
  • Kicking—
  • One on ones—
  • Punching (tendency)—
  • Reflexes—
  • Rushing out (tendency)—
  • Throwing—

Hidden 5

  • Consistency·11
  • Dirtiness·8
  • Important matches·11
  • Injury proneness·12
  • Versatility·12

Personality 8

  • Adaptability9
  • Ambition10
  • Controversy3
  • Loyalty14
  • Pressure10
  • Professionalism15
  • Sportsmanship13
  • Temperament14
Personality (calc)
Fairly Professional
Media handling (calc)
Reserved

Attributes are stored values, 1–20. Missing attributes stay blank; an out-of-range stored value is displayed without a colour band. Arrows compare with FM26 26.0.0, the previous build of this game: + newly stored, − no longer stored.

Best roles (calc)

RolePositionRatingPotentialStars calc
Deep-Lying Playmaker DM 86 120 5 of 5 stars
Central Midfielder M (C) 85 118 4.5 of 5 stars
Defensive Midfielder DM 84 117 4 of 5 stars
Wide Central Midfielder M (C) 84 117 4 of 5 stars
Midfield Playmaker M (C) 82 115 4 of 5 stars
Box-to-Box Midfielder DM 82 115 4 of 5 stars
Advanced Playmaker M (C) 80 112 3.5 of 5 stars
Half-Back DM 79 111 3.5 of 5 stars
29 more recorded roles
RolePositionRatingPotentialStars calc
Attacking Midfielder M (C) 78 109 3.5 of 5 stars
Channel Midfielder M (C) 78 109 3.5 of 5 stars
Box-to-Box Playmaker DM 41 116 1 of 5 stars
Inside Full-Back D (R) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Inside Winger M (R) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Playmaking Wing-Back D (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Full-Back D (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Inside Wing-Back D (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Second Striker AM (C) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Channel Forward ST (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Inside Forward AM (R) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Ball-Playing Centre-Back D (C) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Wing-Back D (R) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Wide Midfielder M (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Poacher ST (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Target Forward ST (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Centre Forward ST (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Deep-Lying Forward ST (C) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Centre-Back D (C) 26 36 0.5 of 5 stars
No-Nonsense Centre-Back D (C) 26 36 0.5 of 5 stars
Overlapping Centre-Back D (C) 26 36 0.5 of 5 stars
Winger M (R) 26 36 0.5 of 5 stars
Wide Centre-Back D (C) 26 36 0.5 of 5 stars
Advanced Centre-Back D (C) 13 19 0.5 of 5 stars
Wide Forward AM (R) 13 18 0.5 of 5 stars
Playmaking Winger M (R) 13 18 0.5 of 5 stars
False Nine ST (C) 13 18 0.5 of 5 stars
Advanced Wing-Back WB (R) 13 18 0.5 of 5 stars
Free Role AM (C) 13 18 0.5 of 5 stars

Calculated by fm-reader on the current-ability scale (1–200); stars as FM shows role suitability. Up to 60 recorded roles, highest rating first.

Out-of-possession roles (calc)

RolePositionRatingPotentialStars calc
Defensive Midfielder DM 86 120 5 of 5 stars
Pressing Central Midfielder M (C) 85 118 4.5 of 5 stars
Central Midfielder M (C) 85 118 4.5 of 5 stars
Pressing Defensive Midfielder DM 85 118 4.5 of 5 stars
Screening Defensive Midfielder DM 84 117 4 of 5 stars
Wide Covering Central Midfielder M (C) 83 116 4 of 5 stars
Screening Central Midfielder M (C) 83 116 4 of 5 stars
Wide Covering Defensive Midfielder DM 83 116 4 of 5 stars
22 more recorded roles
RolePositionRatingPotentialStars calc
Dropping Defensive Midfielder DM 83 116 4 of 5 stars
Tracking Attacking Midfielder AM (C) 28 40 0.5 of 5 stars
Attacking Midfielder AM (C) 28 40 0.5 of 5 stars
Tracking Centre Forward ST (C) 28 40 0.5 of 5 stars
Centre Forward ST (C) 28 40 0.5 of 5 stars
Wing-Back WB (R) 28 40 0.5 of 5 stars
Splitting Outlet Attacking Midfielder AM (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Splitting Outlet Centre Forward ST (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Wide Midfielder M (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Tracking Wide Midfielder M (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Winger AM (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Tracking Winger AM (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Inside Outlet Winger AM (R) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Central Outlet Centre Forward ST (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Centre-Back D (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Central Outlet Attacking Midfielder AM (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Holding Wing-Back WB (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Pressing Wing-Back WB (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Holding Full-Back D (R) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars
Pressing Full-Back D (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Full-Back D (R) 27 38 0.5 of 5 stars
Wide Centre-Back D (C) 27 37 0.5 of 5 stars

Calculated by fm-reader on the current-ability scale (1–200). Up to 30 recorded roles.

Player traits

  • Dictates Tempo
  • Tries Long Range Passes

Key attributes in context

Key attributes against players with the same best position Key attributes against players with the same best position: 12 of 12 values recorded, plotted on a 0 to 100 scale. Key attributes against players with the same best position: 12 of 12 values recorded, plotted on a 0 to 100 scale.
12 of 12 recorded

The site’s own figure: the percentile of each stored attribute among 29,769 players with the same calculated best position. A spoke is left out where the attribute is not stored.

Injuries at game start

InjuryFromExpected return
torn knee ligaments Severity 0Base occurrence: 0.15 per season in a squad of 5030 Jan 20241 Jul 2024
sprained knee ligaments Severity 0Base occurrence: 2.5 per season in a squad of 5027 Nov 20211 Jul 2022
hamstring strain Severity 0Base occurrence: 3 per season in a squad of 5023 Oct 202127 Nov 2021

Personal

Full name
—
First name
Ben
Last name
Close
Common name
—
Date of birth
8 Aug 1996 age 28 at game start
Place of birth
Portsmouth
Nationality
England
Height
180 cm
Weight
—
Build
Mesomorph
Preferred foot
Right Only
Languages
English

Contract

Club
Doncaster Rovers
Job
Player
Contract type
Full Time
Joined club
1 Jul 2021
Contract starts
30 Mar 2024
Contract expires
30 Jun 2026
Weekly wage
£2,500
Squad numbers
#33 Doncaster Rovers
Leaves at end of contract
No
Needs work permit
No

Player profile

Positions
DM, M (C)
Best position (calc)
Defensive Midfielder
Best rated position (calc)
Midfielder (Centre) · 62
Best role (calc)
Deep-Lying Playmaker · 86
Best role at potential (calc)
Deep-Lying Playmaker · 120
Default role
—
Perceived potential (calc)
86
Current reputation
4,300
Home reputation
4,300
World reputation
2,250
Reputation scope (calc)
Regional
Fantasy draft estimate (stored)
—
Sale value (calc)
£61,220
Caps / goals
0 / 0
Favourite number
—
Injury risk
Above Average
Peak age
—
Development peak age
—
Physical peak age
—
Longevity (1–4)
—

Settling in

WithIntegrationLevel
Doncaster RoversClub squad38
EastleighClub squad16

Stored integration at game start, 0–100. Club and national-team blending are separate from settling into life in a country. Up to 50 recorded entries.

Playing career

14
SeasonTeamDivisionAppsGoalsFee
2024 Eastleigh Loan Enterprise National League 160 Unknown fee
2023 Doncaster Rovers Sky Bet League Two 203 Unknown fee
2022 Doncaster Rovers Sky Bet League Two 362 Unknown fee
2021 Doncaster Rovers Sky Bet League One 140 Unknown fee
2020 Portsmouth Sky Bet League One 221 £0
2019 Portsmouth Sky Bet League One 293 Unknown fee
2018 Portsmouth Sky Bet League One 348 Unknown fee
2017 Portsmouth Sky Bet League One 402 Unknown fee
2016 Eastleigh Loan Enterprise National League 90 Unknown fee
2016 Portsmouth Sky Bet League Two 00 Unknown fee
2015 Portsmouth Sky Bet League Two 70 Unknown fee
2014 Poole Town Loan Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division 50 Unknown fee
2014 Portsmouth Sky Bet League Two 60 Unknown fee
2013 Portsmouth Youth Sky Bet League Two 10 Unknown fee
Total (site's sum of the stored rows)23914/14 recorded1914/14 recorded

Up to 200 stored seasons. The site's sums cover the displayed rows only; missing appearances and goals are excluded separately.

Honours

WinnerVertu Trophy1×2019
Runner-UpVertu Trophy1×2021

Grouped by the site from the stored career highlights (winners, runners-up, third place, play-off winners).

International

NationCapsGoalsU21
England000 / 0

Transfers

2
DateFromToTypeFee
1 Feb 2025Doncaster RoversEastleighLoanLoan team: Eastleigh until 31 May 2025, 30% of wagesUnknown fee
1 Jul 2021—Doncaster RoversTransfer Unknown fee

Career highlights

5
13 Mar 2021Runner-UpPortsmouthVertu Trophy
31 Mar 2019WinnerPortsmouthVertu Trophy
24 Feb 2015First Senior Club GoalPoole TownPitching In Southern Football League Challenge Cup v Egham Town
12 Sep 2014Senior Club DebutPortsmouthVertu Trophy v Yeovil Town
2022RelegatedDoncaster RoversSky Bet League One

Favourite clubs

Portsmouth Supporter100

Homegrown status

Portsmouth3 Years Between 15 and 21
England3 Years Between 15 and 21

Similar players

PlayerClubPositionsAgeCAPAMean difference
Roberto—D (C), DM, M (C)42771181.11
Raúl Baena—DM, M (C)36921401.12
Fredrik VinjeBrattvåg ILDM, M (C)2792951.24
Imran BunjakuSC YF JuventusD (C), DM, M (C)3290981.25
Hamza HeriatAssociation Sportive d'El KhroubDM, M (C)37801151.36
Tomohiko Miyazaki—DM, M (RLC)38861221.39
Paulinho Dias—DM, M (C)37951261.39
MángelClub Gimnàstic de TarragonaD (C), DM, M (C)24991151.40
Rosario BucoloA.S.D. Sancataldese CalcioDM, M (C)36791031.46
Kohei Kiyama—DM, M (C)37861121.49

The site’s own comparison: players with the same calculated best position and current ability within ±15 (at most 300 candidates, so not a whole-database search), ranked by the mean difference over valid 1–20 attributes both players have stored (at least 30).

Across versions

VersionClubAgeCAPAValue calc
FM27 27.0.0—2986120£0
FM26 26.2.0Doncaster Rovers2886120£111,310
FM26 26.0.0Doncaster Rovers2886120£111,310
FM24 24.3.0Doncaster Rovers2696120£166,233
FM23 23.4.0Doncaster Rovers2599120£243,419
FM23 23.3.0Doncaster Rovers2599120£243,419
FM23 23.0.0Doncaster Rovers2599120£243,419
FM22 22.4.0Doncaster Rovers2499120£93,528
FM22 22.3.0Doncaster Rovers2499120£93,528
FM22 22.1.0Doncaster Rovers2499120£93,528
FM22 22.0.1Doncaster Rovers2499120£93,528
FM22 22.0.0Doncaster Rovers2499120£93,528
FM21 21.4.0Portsmouth2399130£91,062
FM21 21.3.0Portsmouth2399130£91,062
FM21 21.1.1Portsmouth23100130£96,083
FM21 21.0.1Portsmouth23100130£96,083
FM21 21.0.0Portsmouth23100130£96,083
FM20 20.4.0Portsmouth22103130£341,620
FM20 20.3.0Portsmouth22103130£341,620
FM20 20.1.0Portsmouth22103130£341,620
FM20 20.0.1Portsmouth22103130£341,620
FM20 20.0.0Portsmouth22103130£341,620
FM19 19.3.0Portsmouth2199130£256,215
FM19 19.1.0Portsmouth2198130£256,215
FM19 19.0.1Portsmouth2198130£256,215
FM19 19.0.0Portsmouth2198130£256,215
FM18 18.3.0Portsmouth2090100–130£113,858
FM18 18.1.0Portsmouth2086100–130£92,099
FM18 18.0.0Portsmouth2086100–130£92,099
FM17 17.3.0Portsmouth1983100–130£74,603
FM17 17.0.0Portsmouth1985100–130£86,098
FM16 16.3.0Portsmouth1885100–130£106,733
FM16 16.0.1Portsmouth1885100–130£106,733
FM16 16.0.0Portsmouth1885100–130£106,733
FM15 15.3.0Portsmouth176990–120£14,269
FM15 15.0.0Portsmouth176190–120£14,269
FM14 14.3.0Portsmouth173070–100£478
FM14 14.0.0Portsmouth163070–100£478
FM13 13.3.0Portsmouth1630——
FM13 13.0.0Portsmouth15———

The same FM id in each loaded database build. Values are each build's own; potential is shown as stored, value is calculated per build.

About this record

  1. calc marks a calculated figure. Position and role ratings, values, personality, job ratings and stars come from fm-reader.
  2. A dash means this build does not store the value. Numeric zero is shown as stored.
  3. Ages, employment and contracts are at game start, 1 Jul 2025.