What are FIFA 23 wonderkids?

Wonderkid is a cliché term that's synonymous with Football Manager. They're young prospects – usually aged 16 to 18 – that have elite-level potential in the game. Freddy Adu is a prominent example for older managers, while Youssoufa Moukoko is a current case. They're the superstar youngsters that are must-buys on every save. But it's also subjective. A wonderkid at Accrington Stanley is completely different to a wonderkid at Manchester City. Essentially, the surroundings dictate the status.

How do you search for wonderkids in FIFA 23?

You should start by getting your hands on a Scouted Football Handbook. We've profiled over 300 young players over the last three years, ranging from the lower level, like Harry Pickering, to the absolute elite like Erling Braut Haaland. We will be your external scout, and scouts are equally important in the game. Building up a good core of talent-spotters and recruitment analysts should be a priority when building your club. No scouts on the search, no wonderkids.

How do you develop young players in FIFA 23?

As always, pathways are paramount. You have to make sure that your youngsters have access to meaningful minutes at the appropriate levels. If you have a first-team ready talent, phase him into the team gradually, during pre-season ideally. If your prospect needs a bit more polishing, the loan system is a valuable tool. But pathways to senior level minutes are key. Assess your youngsters on a case-by-case basis, decide what they need, and enact your decision.

How do you loan out young players in FIFA 23?

Loans are an important tool in youth development, and they can be difficult to get right. It's all about accurately assessing the levels your prospects can play at, then finding suitable environment for them to develop in. It's especially important you consider the styles and shapes teams play, and league style is a factor too. One way to ensure greater success is by building a network of clubs, like Red Bull and Manchester City have. Get your board to find affiliate clubs.

How do you sign young players on FIFA 23?

Squad planning is crucial. Check your depth charts, keep your shortlits updated, sort them by position even, and assess which areas you need to strengthen. Once you've done that, you can start signing young players that fit your demands. Work to your budgets as well – don't overstretch your club's financial capabilities. If you're a smaller club, future incentives and clauses (like fees after milestons, sell-on percentages, and even buy-backs) are a great tools to utilise.

How do you sell young players on FIFA 23?

Again, squad planning is key. Making sure your young players are playing, whether at your club or elsewhere, is important; more minutes increases their value. Sell at the right time too, set a defined policy and stick to it. Don't be afraid to sell young players too. If you haven't got the right pathway for them, move them on (with a chunky sell-on percentage or accessible buy-back clause) to generate even more profits.

Who are the best wonderkids in FIFA 23?

Alberto Moleiro (Las Palmas) is one of them; he has incredible potential and growth.

How do you find the best wonderkids in FIFA 2023?

The best way is by building a strong scouting team, then assigning them to search for players under the age of 21 with at least four star potential.

Which player should you buy in FIFA 23?

Alberto Moleiro is a bargain signing that you can sign from Spain's second division. He can grow from 75 to a 90 overall.

Football Manager 2024 Best Central Midfielders

Some of our favourite central midfielders to sign in Football Manager 2024

Home - Best Young Players - FM24 Best Central Midfielders

We cover youth football like nobody else and love a bit of Football Manager. We’ve combined both to compile a list of the young central midfielders that you should start scouting on your Football Manager 2024 saves.

These aren’t exclusively the “best” but they’re intriguing prospects for clubs across the spectrum of football, available at a range of prices. They’re players that we like in real-life that look really good in FM24 too.

For more, check out our talent lists and player profiles. Scroll down to see our lists.

Who are the best wonderkids in Football Manager 2024?

Here are the highest potential rated players in FC 24 Career Mode.

1. Erling Haaland – Manchester City – Age 22 – ST – 91 Overall/94 Potential

2. Vinicus Jr. – Real Madrid – Age 22 – LW – 89 Overall/94 Potential

3. Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich – Age 20 – 86 Overall/93 Potential

4. Pedri – FC Barcelona – Age 20 – CM – 86 Overall/92 Potential

5. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – SSC Napoli – Age 22 – LW/RW – 86 Overall/92 Potential

6. Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen – Age 20 – CAM/CM – 85 Overall/91 Potential

7. Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid – Age 20 – CAM/CM – 87 Overall/91 Potential

8. Rodrygo Goes – Real Madrid – Age 22 – RW/LW/ST – 85 Overall/91 Potential

9. Gavi – FC Barcelona – Age 18 – CM/LW – 83 Overall/90 Potential

10. Bukayo Saka – Arsenal – Age 21 – RW/RM – 86 Overall/90 Potential

11. Phil Foden – Manchester City – Age 23 – LW/RW – 85 Overall/90 Potential

12. Alex Balde – FC Barcelona – Age 19 – LB/RB – 81 Overall/89 Potential

13. Rasmus Hojlund – Manchester United – Age 20 – ST – 76 Overall/89 Potential

14. Gabri Veiga – Al-Ahli – Age 21 – CM/CAM – 78 Overall/89 Potential

15. Eduardo Camavinga – Real Madrid – Age 20 – CDM/CM/LB – 82 Overal 89 Potential

16. Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea FC- Age 22 – CM/CDM/CAM – 83 Overall/89 Potential

17. Xavi Simons – RB Leipzig – Age 20 – CAM/LW/RW – 80 Overall/89 Potential

18. William Saliba – Arsenal – Age 22 – CB – 83 Overall/89 Potential

19. Aurelien Tchouameni – Real Madrid – Age 23 – CDM/CM – 84 Overall/89 Potential

20. Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United – Age 23 – CDM/CM – 86 Overall/89 Potential

21. Matthijs de Ligt – Bayern Munich – Age 23 – CB – 86 Overall/89 Potential

22. Warren Zaire-Emery – Paris Saint-Germain – Age 17 – CM/CDM – 75 Overall/88 Potential

23. Antonio Silva – SL Benfica- Age 19 – CB – 78 Overall/88 Potential

24. Fabio Miretti – Juventus – Age 19 – CM/CAM – 75 Overall/88 Potential

25. Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United – Age 19 – LW/LM – 75 Overall/88 Potential

26. Ansu Fati – Age 20 – Brighton – LW/ST – 78 Overall/88 Potential

Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham is on another level to almost every player on the planet. His blockbuster move to Real Madrid has seen him elevate to another tier entirely, impacting games with a speight of goals and his outstanding all-phase abilities.

Just look at his FM24 profile. It has everything – game-changing athleticism, astonishing mental attributes, plus a technical skillset that can pass, drive, dribble, create and score. Getting him out of Real Madrid will be extremely difficult and likely depend on him falling out of favour or feeling a bit homesick. If you get the chance, pull the trigger.

Javi Guerra

Another LaLiga midfielder that looks like a sure-thing for the future is Javi Guerra, the Valencia academy graduate that’s broken into a starting role at his boyhood club since the end of last season.

Similar to Bellingham, Guerra is a well-rounded presence in midfield. He’s quite big, pretty athletic, a multi-faceted player with a well-balanced mindset. He looks primed to be developed into a top-level box-to-box midfielder, and his traits (Tries killer balls often, Arrives late into penalty area) will make him a potent one too. He has a release clause of €100 million.

The best wonderkids to sign on Football Manager 2024

FM24 Wonderkids

The best bargain cheap players to buy in Football Manager 2024

FM24 Bargains

The best free agents to sign in Football Manager 2024

FM24 Free Agents

Victor Hugo

Brazil produces so much top-level talent that much of it flies under the radar. We’d put Victor Hugo in that bracket. Despite being a regular for Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo in 2023, his presence has hardly registered in wider football circles for whatever reason.

You shouldn’t sleep on him in FM24 either. Victor Hugo has a profile that should be on your shortlists if you’re managing a competitive top-five league club. The only obvious weakness to his game is the over-reliance on his left foot; apart from that, Hugo has all the tools to be an all-action midfielder. You can’t go wrong for roughly €15 million.

Assan Ouédraogo

Stood at over 6’3” tall, Assan Ouédraogo is an eye-catching midfield talent. He’s a graduate of Schalke’s famous academy and one of Germany’s most interesting emerging prospects.

He has shades of Paul Pogba in style and skills. He likes to move with the ball despite his lanky size, slinking between bodies to escape tight areas and open up the game. His mental attributes need honing, but the basis is there for a big player in stature and impact. The best bit? You can get him for a set €13 million at the start of your saves.

FM24 Wonderkids

FM24 Bargains

FM24 Free Agents

What roles can central midfielders play in Football Manager 2024?

Along with defensive midfielder and striker, the central midfield positions has the bigger variety, with a total of eight different roles to pick from, as follows:

Central Midfielder
Box-to-Box
Ball-Winning Midfielder
Carrilero
Mezzala
Advanced Playmaker
Deep-Lying Playmaker
Roaming Playmaker

The Central Midfielder role comes with four different mentalities: Attack, Support, Defend, and Automatic. The CM on Attack is one of the most popular and overpowered roles in the game, with midfielders capable of playing it in the right system being able to score a huge number of goals, rendering the role with the support duty a bit of a moot point.

Likewise, the Mezzala is also a popular role in FM24, with some even opting to play the ‘double-Mezzala’ in a three-man midfield. The Mezzala will look to move into the channels and out wide, look to be influential in the way the team plays in the final third, and suit a more up-tempo, high-pressing system that will allow them to commit to positions further up the pitch than other roles.

In terms of playmaking roles, the Deep Lying Playmaker is a popular pick for many coaches, with the role combining decent defensive solidity with playmaking from deep, while you can toggle how aggressive they are on both sides of the ball by toggling the Defend and Support duty.

A Roaming Playmaker is the ball carrying equivalent of the Deep Lying Playmaker. They’ll look to carry the ball up the field and when they get the opportunity, they’ll camp at the edge of the box looking to influence play in the final third with a shot or a killer ball.

The Advanced Playmaker is a more attacking option. They will look to sit between the opponent’s lines of defence and midfield looking to receive and then spark attacks with their creativity.

And then there are the defensive roles. First there is the Carrilero; a shuttling midfield that likes to operate across the breadth of the midfield looking to combine defence and attack in that way, rather than trying to be aggressive with their positioning.

The Ball Winning Midfielder is more aggressive, especially on the support duty, where they will look for opportunities to press and win the ball back higher up the field.

What attributes are important for central midfielders in Football Manager 2024?

Unlike other positions like centre-back, there isn’t really a set of core attributes that every central midfield role requires. However, if your player has a strong foundation of passing, tackling, work rate, stamina, positioning and decision-making, then they should suit most roles.

For the more creative roles, good passing, vision, technique and off the ball movement are crucial. The Roaming Playmaker will also need dribbling and long shots, but will also be aided by pace and acceleration that will help them carry the ball through midfield with speed. The Deep Lying Playmaker is probably the most simple: give them the ball, and make sure they can control it with a good first touch, and ensure they have the decision-making skills to best propel your team forward.

Advanced Playmakers will need good dribbling and agility to negotiate traffic in the final third, as well as some flair to pull off the best creative moves to break down defences.

In terms of the more defensive roles, Ball-Winning Midfielders will require marking, strength, and pace. Carrileros need to be a bit more expansive, so they will need good vision, off the ball movement and technique alongside that tackling.

For the attacking roles, you will be looking for good finishing, work rate (to track back after surging into the box), as well as speed, off the ball movement, composure and decision making. The Mezzala will stay a little deeper in attack, but will defend a little bit higher than a Central Midfielder on attack duty, so long shots and flair become important for your Mezzala, while tackling and teamwork are still important for Central Midfielders.

Who is the best central midfielder in Football Manager 2024?

Bernardo Silva, Enzo Fernández, Joshua Kimmich, Federico Valverde and Frenkie de Jong are five of the best central midfielders on Football Manager 2024.

Who is the best young central midfielder in Football Manager 2024?

Without a shadow of a doubt, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham is the best young central midfielder on Football Manager 2024. He’s obscene.

Which young central midfielder should I buy on Football Manager 2024?

We recommend signing João Neves from Benfica if you want an elite-level young central midfielder in Football Manager 2024 – but he won’t be cheap.