Top Football Manager 2024 Prospects and Emerging Young Talents

Introduction

Wondering who the top Football Manager 2024 wonderkids are? Look no further! Whether you're managing a club in the top division or aiming to achieve greatness through promotions, these young players will take your team to the next level.

Football Manager 2024 wonderkids explained

What defines a wonderkid in FM24? In simple terms, they are the most talented players under the age of 21 (as of the beginning of the 2023/24 season's pre-season in England). Football Manager utilizes a hidden rating system to assess potential ability. With a maximum rating of 200, any player with a potential of 150 or higher is considered a wonderkid.

Check out a selection of wonderkids in Football Manager 2024, or explore the complete list below. It's important to note that these are the top 10 players under 21 in their respective positions worldwide, so genuine bargains are not to be expected. This compilation caters to managers with a reasonable budget, ranging from $5m to over $100m. Additionally, if you're unable to locate any of these players, ensure that you have loaded the region they currently compete in for your managerial career.

And now, without any further delay, presented here are the finest FM24 wonderkids and young talents, categorized by position and ranked from best to least.

Best young goalkeepers

In the realm of net guardians, we have an exceptional group of goalkeepers aged 20 and below. Among them, Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro stands out as the most impressive. Displaying his skills at AZ Alkmaar, this 19-year-old possesses remarkable abilities in areas such as aerial reach (16), one-on-ones (14), and throwing. Currently valued at $6.6m-$10m but earning a modest wage of $650 per week, he would serve excellently as a backup keeper for a top-tier team or as a starting keeper in the second division of most prominent nations.

For those with a vision for the future, consider acquiring either Jack Thompson or Spike Brits. Thompson, who plays for Derby County, is the more attainable option at a valuation of approximately $300k, compared to Brits' $3m valuation. However, both 16-year-olds possess the potential to evolve into the world's best goalkeepers within the next 5-10 years.

Best young right backs

In the realm of young right-backs, a few well-known names stand out. Rico Lewis and Tino Livramento, who both compete in the prestigious Premier League, are highly sought-after but come with a hefty price tag.

If you delve deeper into the list, you'll discover Elias Jelert, who offers a more reasonable option, priced at approximately $9m. His presence in the renowned Danish league contributes to his affordability. With over 40 appearances for FC Kobenhavn, Jelert proves himself to be a dependable all-rounder, making him a surefire starter for most teams if you decide to acquire his services.

Best young center backs

Martim Fernandes stands near the bottom of the list, yet his price tag makes him the most exciting option. Valued at only $1m by FC Porto and earning a wage of just $1.9k per week, this 17-year-old may not be first-team ready for a while, but he is the top choice for managers focused on the long-term.

Best young center backs

In terms of center defense, Levi Colwill is practically untouchable, with a price tag of around $150m. Scalvini comes at about half that price, which is still incredibly high, while Silva and Riad are both priced around $55m.

The majority of these players are all above the $40m mark. Just like Elias Jelert, if you want a more affordable option, you'll have to look for a player in a lesser-known league. That's the case with Martin Vitik from Sparta Prague. However, you'll have to act fast and pay $10m for this 194cm powerhouse, as he has impressive stats with 16 strength, 15 jumping reach, and 14 heading.

Despite being in the Premier League, Murillo from Nottingham Forest is valued at only around $20m. Alternatively, you can consider Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split, who comes at a price of around $15m. But, similar to Vitik, big clubs tend to show interest in him quite quickly.

Best young left backs

When it comes to left backs, Alejandro Balde is undeniably one of the most exceptional options available in the game. In fact, he could be considered the very best right from the start. Unfortunately, acquiring his services may prove to be an impossible task as Barcelona has made it clear that he is not for sale. To solidify this stance, they have set a staggering release clause of $536 million on him.

However, if you have the means to spend lavishly, Destiny Udogie could be a viable alternative. While he comes with a hefty price tag of $70 million, he has established himself as a starting left back for a top six Premier League team. What more could you expect? Udogie possesses a well-rounded skill set, excelling as a versatile wing-back with impressive attributes in terms of speed, crossing, dribbling, passing, tackling, and technique.

At the younger end of the spectrum, Lucas Jetten is the ideal option, although his price tag remains high at approximately $10m due to Ajax's renowned youth development program. On the more affordable side, Omar Campos is available for around $5m, while Patryck Lanza from the Brazilian league comes at a higher cost, roughly double the price.

Best young defensive midfielders

For the ardent fans, there are five recognizable players on this list: Camavinga, Lavia, and Faticanti. Acquiring most of them will require a significant investment of $50m or more. However, Faticanti stands out as an exceptional choice for a remarkable defensive midfielder, with a surprisingly low valuation of around $2m.

Best young center mids

If you're looking for a South American wonderkid, Moscardo is your go-to option. In addition, Sattlberger and Gourna-Douath from the Austrian Premier Division are both excellent choices. The best part is that neither of them will demand exorbitant wages. However, Gourna-Douath stands out as the stronger of the two and is ready to regularly play for a top-flight team.

In terms of talented players in the midfield, you have a plethora of options. While Jude Bellingham is undoubtedly at the top of the list, it's unlikely that you'll be able to secure his signature. He is valued at $150 million with wages of $425,000 and is destined to become the best player in the world. Similarly, players like Pedri, Gavi, or Harvey Elliott may also be out of reach unless you manage a financially powerful team.

Instead, let's shift our focus a bit further down the list: Archie Gray commands a valuation of $17m, Sverre Halseth Nypan stands at $7m, and Ouedraogo is valued at $11m. Notably, there are numerous players deserving of mention who narrowly missed the cut, including Cesare Casadei, Charlie Patino, Mateus Fernandes, Tygo Land, Victor Eletu, Aaron Ciammaglichella, and many others.

Best young attacking mids

Similar to Bellingham, Jamal Musiala is arguably deserving of the top spot on this list, but due to his hefty price tag and already widespread recognition, we have chosen to omit him in favor of some lesser-known wonderkids. A few of these players, such as Noah Darvich, Arda Guler, and Florian Wirtz, also command valuations of around $100m, but their relative obscurity has secured their inclusion in our selection.

Best young right wingers

In terms of our top recommendations, we have Estevao who can be acquired for about $8m, Rodrigo Mora priced at $2.2m, and Claudio Echeverri available at $10.5m. However, if you desire a more advanced player, Claudio Echeverri could be obtained for around $30m.

Moving on, Lamine Yamal has recently garnered attention due to his impressive performances at just 15 years old while playing regularly for Barcelona. With a release clause of $61m, he is certainly attainable if you possess the necessary funds. Another promising player of a similar age is Shea Lacey. Although he lacks a release clause, he can still be acquired for approximately $20m at the young age of 16. It is worth noting that he already possesses impressive flair with a rating of 18, indicating his potential to become a skilled trickster in the future.

Best young strikers

Among the noteworthy players, Yeremy Pino is highly recommended, even though his price tag is colossal. Nico Williams is another player in this category, but both of them, aged 20, can seamlessly fit into your team regardless of the club you manage. For those seeking lesser-known talents, Roony Bardghji and Gianluca Prestianni are solid options, although they might cost you around $10m.

Best young strikers

Excluded from the top spot of this list is Endrick, for two reasons. Firstly, he is widely recognized already, and secondly, he is practically impossible to sign at the beginning of the game due to his prearranged transfer to Real Madrid in July 2024. However, the list still boasts several renowned goal scorers such as Youssoufa Moukoko, Evan Ferguson, Rasmus Hojlund, Mathys Tel, and Benjamin Sesko, all of whom should be familiar to most players due to their impressive real-life performances.

All of these players are well-known and consequently, acquiring them will require a significant investment. Therefore, our top recommendations are any of the three Brazilian players listed in

Best young left wingers

. While each of them comes with a price tag of approximately $15-$20 million, they are undoubtedly worth the expense as they are guaranteed to excel on the field. Alternatively, you have the option to acquire Enzo Sternal from Marseille for less than $5 million, however, due to his young age of 16, it may take some time for him to reach his full potential.

Best young left wingers

Lastly, we have the left wing position. As Mikey Moore is only 15, he presents a fantastic opportunity for lower-tier clubs to secure a loan deal in the next year or two. Alternatively, you can immediately acquire him by investing around $50 million. Ansu Fati, Andreas Schjelderup, and Alejandro Garnacho are all established talents who come at a considerable cost, yet they guarantee instant superstardom and have the ability to transform your team.

For those seeking exceptional young talents, consider Joao Rego, Kendry Paez, and Amourricho van Axel Dongen. These promising individuals come at a much more reasonable price range of $10m-$20m, and face less competition. Notably, Joao Rego stands out as a skilled winger with 16 flair and determination. Additionally, Alan Velasco presents a great value with his release clause set at just $8.75m.