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FM20 wonderkids: the best young players and future prospects

The bright sparks to look out for in Football Manager 2020

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Do you want to know who the best FM20 wonderkids are? The newest entry in the football management games series, like previous years, has a wealth of potentially world-class players to keep tabs on. Sifting through these future prospects to find the best ones to sign can take a long time, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll find the right ones to bring to your club.

That’s where we come in. We’ve put in the work on the training ground so you don’t have to. In our FM20 wonderkids guide, you’ll find plenty of superb starlets to run the rule over and sign for the future. You wouldn’t want to get dragged into any bidding wars or miss out on the next global star now, would you?

We’ve picked out a few players you’ll certainly have heard of, as well as some under-the-radar youngsters who you’ll certainly want to invest in. We’ve earmarked our stand-out player in each category too but, if you’d prefer to sign any of the others listed below, we won’t judge you.

FM20 wonderkids: goalkeepers

It would be remiss of us to include Gianluigi Donnarumma in this list. He’s been FM’s wonderkid goalie for years, after all, but his price might be too high for your club. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, you should check out Diogo Costa. The teenage Porto shot-stopper already has remarkable stats for his age, and you can pick him up for a relatively cheap fee. A couple of loan spells away will do wonders to bring his attributes on and turn that potential into world-class ability. At just 19 years of age, this chap has the world at his feet and can lead you to glory.

Name Age Club Nation Valuation Current Ability Potential Ability
Diogo Costa 19 Porto Portuguese £1.5m 121 166
Alessandro Plizzari 19 Milan Italy £575,000 110 166
Alban Lafont 20 Fiorentina France £4m 130 164
Marcus Dewhurst 18 Sheffield United English £140,000 80 164
Gianluigi Donnarumma 20 AC Milan Italy £29m 155 161
Manuel Gasparini 17 Udinese Italy £105,000 89 158

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FM20 wonderkids: full-backs

There are one or two names you may recognise here, and one of them has the potential to be the best full-back in the game. Barcelona’s Moussa Wague is already frighteningly good, but you might be fearful about that ominous looking price tag. Worry not, managers, for the 20-year-old is available to loan at the start of any save game. Try and sign him up for two or three season-long loan spells in a row, convince him to fall in love with your club, and then tempt the Catalan giants with an offer they can’t refuse. Sure, you’ll be playing the long game here. For such a versatile, potentially magnificent player, however, it’s worth it.

Name Age Club Nation Valuation Current Ability Potential Ability
Moussa Wague 20 Barcelona Senegal £19m 145 171
Trent Alexander-Arnold 20 Liverpool England £42.5 154 170
Juan Miranda 19 Barcelona Spain £2.9m 125 168
David de la Vibora 16 Real Madrid Spain £14,000 71 161
Luan Candido 18 RB Leipzig Brazil £110,000 90 160
Jesus Vazquez 16 Valencia Spain £64,000 75 160

FM20 wonderkids: centre-backs

Want a centre-back option who’ll be a top player for over a decade? Atletico Madrid’s Nehuen Perez is the one for you. He won’t be cheap, and he’s out on loan at the start of every save. However, you can negotiate with Atletico straight away and agree to buy him at the end of the season. With solid numbers in all of the typical centre-back attributes, the 18-year-old is one to keep an eye on. He has great determination too so he’s certain to improve. Defenders are increasingly pricey, so this really isn’t a bad investment. Make sure you don’t fall foul of non-EU or work permit rules, depending on which league you’re managing in, though.

Name Age Club Nation Valuation Current Ability Potential Ability
Dayot Upemecano
20 RB Leipzig France £6.5m 135 172
Jean-Clair Todibo
19 Barcelona France £5.5m 130 170
Zinho Vanheusden
19 Standard Belgium £9m 122 168
Matthijs de Ligt
19 Juventus Netherlands £34.5m 154 161
Nehuen Perez
19 Atletico Madrid Argentina £750,000 120 160
Paolo Gozzi 18 Juventus Italy £215,000 101 160

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FM20 wonderkids: midfielders

There are lots of wonderkid midfielders this year, but Eduardo Camavinga is our number one choice. The 16-year-old defensive midfielder, who can also play in the centre of the park, is a superb all-rounder and you’ll be able to mould him into any player you want. He’s on £10,000-a-week at Rennes, so he might be a tad expensive to sign. He’s also doesn’t possess the best potential ability on our list. If you land him, though, he’ll run your engine room for the next 20 years – and come cheaper than some of his counterparts.

Name Age Club Nation Valuation Current Ability Potential Ability
Kai Havertz
20 Leverkusen German £38m 153 180
Ryan Gravenberch 17 Ajax Netherlands £975,000 115 177
Ilaix Moriba 16 Barcelona Guinea £500,000 105 177
Nicolo Zaniolo 19 Roma Italy £19m 143 174
Florentino Luis 19 Benfrica Portuguese £14.75m 140 172
Eduardo Camavinga 16 Rennes France £5.25m 116 170

FM20 wonderkids: wingers

Wingers are normally the second most-expensive players to buy in real life and Football Manager. There are tons of wonderkid wide men in the game, though, and if you grab them early enough they’ll be cheaper than more established players. You’ll do well to find a better deal than one for Ajax’s Naci Unuvar. The 16-year-old inverted winger needs work to refine his game but, with a driven personality and plenty of football, he’ll be the crown jewel in your team for a long time. At £175,000, you have to snap him up.

Name Age Club Nation Valuation Current Ability Potential Ability
Jadon Sancho 19 Dortmund England £30m 150 178
Ansu Fati 16 Barcelona Spain £825,000 120 173
Naci Unuvar 16 Ajax Netherlands £175,000 90 171
Ebrima Colley 19 Atalanta Gambia £300,000 96 167
Pedri 16 Barcelona Spain £575,000 105 166
Pelayo Morilla 16 Sporting Gijon Spain £180,000 99 165

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FM20 wonderkids: strikers

You’ll know most names in this section, but those household names will cost eye-watering amounts to lure away. Try and get your hands on Inter’s Sebastiano Esposito instead. The powerful frontman is already a decent striker and, with the right guidance, will be a defender’s nightmare for seasons to come.

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Get him now while there’s no bidding wars for his services and you’ll get a marksman with superb physical and mental attributes for his age.

Name Age Club Nation Valuation Current Ability Potential Ability
Kylian Mbappe 20 Paris-Saint Germain France £91m 181 196
Erling Haaland 18 RB Salzburg Norway £11.75m 143 180
Sebastiano Esposito 16 Inter Milan Italy £1.6m 110 179
Amine Gouiri 19 Lyon France £1.5m 118 170
Fiete Arp 19 Bayern Munich Germany £2.8m 118 167
Pietro 18 AS Monaco Italy £1.2m 114 165

And there’s the complete list of FM20 wonderkids to start acquiring for your whatever team you start with. It goes without saying that, unless you’re Real Madrid, Manchester City, or PSG, you won’t be able to stump up the cash for the superstars above. We’ve done our best to give you some cheaper – but just as good – options too, just in case a lower league save is right up your alley. A perfect group of chaps to compliment your FM 20 tactics.

Undecided? Check out our FM20 review

Either way, you’ll look like you know your Brasileiro Serie B from your PostNord-ligaen among your mates. You’re welcome in advance, and don’t forget to check out our other FM 20 guides including how to get the best out of your Development Centre after you’ve scooped up some potential superstars.