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
The Italian prodigy everyone knows. With 18 determination, 15 technique, and flair for days, Pafundi is born to be your advanced playmaker. He starts injured but that only makes him cheaper to loan or snap up early. Small in stature (166cm), but lethal in tight spaces.
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
He's the one every FM addict signs by season two. 15 flair, 15 dribbling, and 15 technique at just 17. The Copenhagen talent plays like a young Salah and can be moulded into an Inside Forward or classic winger depending on your shape. 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
The Rolls Royce of centre-backs. 14 heading, 15 tackling, 12 passing – and he’s only 19. Scalvini is the modern defender you can build around. Italian, tall (194cm), and calm under pressure. He costs a fortune but justifies every penny.
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
Underrated but essential. Jelert’s 12 tackling, 15 work rate, and strong pace make him a perfect modern full-back. He’s a plug-and-play solution for mid-tier clubs and grows rapidly with regular minutes.
Advice: Give him double intensity training early – he thrives under pressure.
5. Assan Ouédraogo – Central Midfielder (MC) £8.6M–£10M
A 17-year-old physical freak. 191cm, 16 determination, and great all around physicals. Schalke’s midfield general is made for the Mezzala or Box-to-Box role. He can play now and dominate later.
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
Only 15 but already causing save corruption from overuse. 17 flair, 14 technique, and 14 finishing at this age? Madness. River Plate know they have gold and won't sell cheap.
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
English, tenacious, and technical. Rigg is already dictating tempo for Sunderland at 16. Balanced physically, mentally sharp with 14 aggression and 14 composure.
Development Tip: Play him as a DLP or BBM with roaming to exploit space.
8. Dennis Seimen – Goalkeeper (GK) £3M–£5.6M
Reliable hands and serious potential. Strong reflexes (14) and handling (12) make Seimen a smart investment. Stuttgart won’t part easily, but he’s one of the few keepers worth the early buy.
Caution: Train aerial reach and command – both sit at 12.
9. Antonio Nusa – Left/Right Winger (AML/AMR) £70K–£700K
This might be FM24's biggest bargain. At Club Brugge, Nusa has 14 dribbling, 15 flair, and elite agility. He’s tricky, fast, and develops into a world-class winger if nurtured.
Secret Sauce: Unleash him as a Super Sub early on.
10. Callan McKenna – Goalkeeper (GK) £650K–£2.1M
Only 16, but already attracting Premier League scouts. Great reflexes and composure under pressure. Develop him properly and you've got a homegrown first-choice keeper for 15+ seasons.
Budget Tip: Ideal for lower-league saves looking for future profit.
11. Nelson Weiper – Striker (ST) £3.9M–£5.8M
A physical beast at just 18. Standing at 190cm with 15 jumping reach and 15 finishing, Weiper is your classic Target Forward who can bully defenders in the box. Mainz will let him go for a fair price, making him a go-to pick for Bundesliga or Premier League sides.
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
This lad from Hammarby is explosive, perfect for counter-attacking setups. Cheap, fast, and ready to step into your first team from day one in lower-top tier sides.
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
A hidden gem. At only 16, Klemens boasts 13 bravery, 12 tackling, and a fantastic attitude (14 determination). He’s cheap, German, and develops rapidly with consistent minutes in a competitive league.
Scout's Note: Sign early — he often gets scooped by Leipzig in AI saves.
14. Francisco Pio Esposito – Striker (ST) £5.5M–£7M
Inter’s powerful forward is the definition of a poacher with presence. Great finishing (15), composure (13), and anticipation (13) make him lethal inside the box. Also Italian — which somehow just makes him cooler.
Advice: Use him in a two-striker system for maximum output.
15. Marcus Forss – Forward (ST/AMR) £2.5M–£4.3M
More of a journeyman’s pick, but FM24 players love a value-for-money signing. Forss gives you versatility, work rate, and decent output — perfect for mid-table sides needing a dependable second striker.
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
Peterborough’s wonderkid CB is a must for Championship saves. Smart positioning (13), good passing (14), and the kind of mentals you want in a future captain.
FM Trick: You can usually get him on a release clause — check contracts!
18. Nicolò Tresoldi – Striker (ST) £3.8M–£5.5M
Tresoldi isn’t flashy — but he’s effective. Think of him as a young Džeko: good in the air, clinical on the ground, and well-rounded across the board. Good for Gegenpress systems that need an anchor up top.
Pro Tip: Use him with an Advanced Forward partner and watch him thrive.
19. Luka Topalovic – Attacking Midfielder (AMC) £1.3M–£2.7M
One of Slovenia’s brightest talents, Topalovic is quick-thinking, agile, and technically strong. Suits possession-based systems or gegenpressing midfields where you want vision and movement.
Note: He benefits massively from individual training focus on Vision and Passing.
20. Arthur Okonkwo – Goalkeeper (GK) £1.7M–£3.3M
Former Arsenal talent, now finally ready for first-team football. Okonkwo is tall (199cm), commanding, and surprisingly agile for his frame. A solid option for clubs who want a reliable sweeper keeper.
Caution: First touch is poor. Avoid distributing to him under pressure.
21. Suphanat Mueanta – Striker / Inside Forward (ST/AMR) £500K–£1.2M
Thailand’s golden boy is fast, technical and already capped at senior level. With pace and agility, he’s a menace running off the shoulder. Suphanat is a steal for Asian-based saves or for anyone building a global brand.
FM Hack: Sign him for shirt sales in Southeast Asia + long-term resale value.
22. Valentin Carboni – Attacking Midfielder (AMC) £4.2M–£7.5M
Carboni’s vision, passing, and playmaker profile make him a dream in a possession-heavy system. Inter Milan loan him early on, so he’s easy to track across seasons.
Tip: Buy him after a successful loan — price often drops with smart negotiation.
23. Yeremy Pino – Winger / Inside Forward (AMR/AML) £20M–£27M
Already a known quantity, but still popular in FM24 saves due to his consistency. Great agility, vision, and technique. He’s not cheap, but you’re paying for reliability and peak La Liga pedigree.
Ideal Fit: Use him in high-tempo vertical tica or a Gegenpress side.
24. Michael Kayode – Right Back (DR) £4.5M–£8.2M
Fiorentina’s breakout star. Kayode is balanced, hard-working and surprisingly composed. 14 pace and good defensive awareness make him one of the best long-term full-back investments in the game.
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
Dinamo Zagreb’s next export. With great passing (14), flair, and long shots, Baturina fits like a glove in creative midfields. Croatian clubs often sell high, so negotiate bonuses and clauses to lower the upfront fee.
Real-World Comparison: A Modric regen in a more attacking shell.
26. Lorenzo Lucca – Target Forward (ST) £6.8M–£10M
The big man up top. Lucca is 201cm tall with 17 heading and 16 strength — your ideal Plan B striker. Not a long-term star, but extremely useful for tactical variation.
Best Use: Last 20 minutes chasing a goal? Lucca time.
27. Andrei Borza – Left Back (DL) £1.5M–£2.4M
Romanian prospect with solid pace and good mentals. Borza is a great backup or developmental LB for any mid-level side. Cheap, effective, and easy to flip for profit.
Bonus: Low wage demands = high ROI.
28. Louie Barry – Left Winger / Striker (AML/ST) £800K–£1.4M
The former Barça academy kid is fast, instinctive and finally finding form. Best used as a wide poacher — attacking the box from deep. Often overlooked, but delivers in League One and Championship saves.
Warning: Development stagnates if not given regular minutes.
29. Lucas Copado – Striker (ST) £2.5M–£3.9M
Hoffenheim’s forward is quick, clever, and thrives on through balls. He’s not elite yet, but his off the ball and great anticipation make him one of the best poacher-types in FM24.
Fit Suggestion: Build a vertical system and let him ghost in behind.
30. Sverre Nypan – Central Midfielder (MC) £1.4M–£2.2M
If you love technical midfielders who read the game two steps ahead, Nypan is your guy. With 13 vision, 13 technique, and high intelligence on the pitch, he thrives in a roaming playmaker role. One of Norway’s brightest prospects.
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.
