Discover the 30 most popular wonderkids in Football Manager 2024 – including attributes, tips, and real-world comparisons.
You Signed Him Again, Didn't You?
Let me guess. You're five seasons deep into your FM24 save. The board's happy, the fans love you, and you've just won the league with a squad of world-class talents... most of whom were 17-year-old bargains when you first signed them. Sound familiar?
You're not alone. Whether you're rebuilding Sunderland, going full chaos mode with Palermo, or chasing UCL glory with Dortmund, there's a core group of wonderkids we all end up signing. Because they’re that good.
This post isn’t just another rehash of potential ability scores. It’s a practical, hands-on guide to the 30 most signed wonderkids in FM24, based on transfer activity, community data, and yes—our own addiction to scouting reports. Each player comes with key insights, ideal roles, and signing tips to help you get the edge.
So let’s dive into the FM24 hall of fame for future Ballon d'Or winners (and occasional flops if misused).
1. Simone Pafundi – Attacking Midfielder Centre (AMC) £22M–£27M
Top Tip: Loan him in year one with a future fee clause – Udinese love to offload.
Real-World Parallel: Think early Verratti but with more attacking spice.
2. Roony Bardghji – Right Winger (AMR) £8.8M–£13M
Watch Out: His jumping reach is 5 and strength 8 – keep him away from physical full-backs.
Real-World Parallel: A right-footed Hazard in the making.
3. Giorgio Scalvini – Centre Back (DC) £39M–£55M
Pro Tip: Pair him with a no-nonsense stopper if you want balance.
Real-World Parallel: Alessandro Bastoni 2.0
4. Elias Jelert – Right Back (DR) £4.1M–£9.4M
Advice: Give him double intensity training early – he thrives under pressure.
5. Assan Ouédraogo – Central Midfielder (MC) £8.6M–£10M
Warning: Don’t overtrain him early – injury risk is real.
Internal Link: For more midfield gems, check our 8 Best Box-to-Box Midfielders in FM24
6. Franco Mastantuono – Attacking Midfielder (AMR/AMC) £7M–£8.8M
Scout's Note: Add him to shortlist and bid in January Year 2 for best chance.
7. Chris Rigg – Central Midfielder (MC) £7.4M–£11M
Development Tip: Play him as a DLP or BBM with roaming to exploit space.
8. Dennis Seimen – Goalkeeper (GK) £3M–£5.6M
Caution: Train aerial reach and command – both sit at 12.
9. Antonio Nusa – Left/Right Winger (AML/AMR) £70K–£700K
Secret Sauce: Unleash him as a Super Sub early on.
10. Callan McKenna – Goalkeeper (GK) £650K–£2.1M
Budget Tip: Ideal for lower-league saves looking for future profit.
11. Nelson Weiper – Striker (ST) £3.9M–£5.8M
Top Tip: Train him on First Touch and Off the Ball — he needs it to round out his game.
12. Victor Dukanovic – Left Winger (AML) £1.5M–£2.2M
Pro Tip: Don’t retrain him — play him as a natural Winger on Attack and enjoy the chaos.
13. Pascal Klemens – Centre Back (DC) £700K–£1.1M
Scout's Note: Sign early — he often gets scooped by Leipzig in AI saves.
14. Francisco Pio Esposito – Striker (ST) £5.5M–£7M
Advice: Use him in a two-striker system for maximum output.
15. Marcus Forss – Forward (ST/AMR) £2.5M–£4.3M
Warning: Won’t turn into a superstar — he’s a plug-and-play option.
16. Joao Rego – Attacking Midfielder (AML/AMC) £9.8M–£14.5M
Rego oozes creativity. With slick dribbling, sharp vision, and plenty of flair, he’s made to play between the lines. Whether you tuck him inside as an Advanced Playmaker or let him roam out wide as an Inverted Winger, he brings unpredictability and spark.
Development Tip: Give him set-piece duties early — his technique suits free-kick training perfectly.
17. Ronnie Edwards – Centre Back (DC) £1.2M–£2.5M
FM Trick: You can usually get him on a release clause — check contracts!
18. Nicolò Tresoldi – Striker (ST) £3.8M–£5.5M
Pro Tip: Use him with an Advanced Forward partner and watch him thrive.
19. Luka Topalovic – Attacking Midfielder (AMC) £1.3M–£2.7M
Note: He benefits massively from individual training focus on Vision and Passing.
20. Arthur Okonkwo – Goalkeeper (GK) £1.7M–£3.3M
Caution: First touch is poor. Avoid distributing to him under pressure.
21. Suphanat Mueanta – Striker / Inside Forward (ST/AMR) £500K–£1.2M
FM Hack: Sign him for shirt sales in Southeast Asia + long-term resale value.
22. Valentin Carboni – Attacking Midfielder (AMC) £4.2M–£7.5M
Tip: Buy him after a successful loan — price often drops with smart negotiation.
23. Yeremy Pino – Winger / Inside Forward (AMR/AML) £20M–£27M
Ideal Fit: Use him in high-tempo vertical tica or a Gegenpress side.
24. Michael Kayode – Right Back (DR) £4.5M–£8.2M
Pro Tip: Retrain as inverted wing-back on support — he's got the IQ for it.
25. Martin Baturina – Central Midfielder (MC/AMC) £5.2M–£9M
Real-World Comparison: A Modric regen in a more attacking shell.
26. Lorenzo Lucca – Target Forward (ST) £6.8M–£10M
Best Use: Last 20 minutes chasing a goal? Lucca time.
27. Andrei Borza – Left Back (DL) £1.5M–£2.4M
Bonus: Low wage demands = high ROI.
28. Louie Barry – Left Winger / Striker (AML/ST) £800K–£1.4M
Warning: Development stagnates if not given regular minutes.
29. Lucas Copado – Striker (ST) £2.5M–£3.9M
Fit Suggestion: Build a vertical system and let him ghost in behind.
30. Sverre Nypan – Central Midfielder (MC) £1.4M–£2.2M
FM Tip: Get him early. After one good season in Norway, his price doubles.
Wrapping It Up
Wonderkids aren’t just for future profits or flexing on your mates. They’re the heartbeat of long-term saves. But only if you develop them right.
My advice? Don’t sign all 30. Pick 2 or 3 that fit your system and commit to developing them.
Got a favourite I missed? Let me know in the comments or ping us on X.
Need more wonderkids? Check our full FM24 Wonderkid Shortlist.
Stay sharp, gaffer — the next Haaland might already be in your inbox.