Need goals on a budget? Here are 10 FM24 strikers under £5M that can lead your team to glory.
Discover the best affordable goal machines in Football Manager 2024, perfect for promotion-chasing saves.
Picture this: it's late in the season, your side is clinging to the play-offs, and you're screaming at your screen as your striker misses another sitter. We've all been there. That's why I took this question to the community:
"You've got £5M and need a striker to fire you to promotion – who do you buy?"
The responses came flooding in, and after sifting through the votes, stats, and raw FM24 potential, here's the definitive list of ten strikers you should seriously consider.
Each one costs under £5M and offers something unique – from physical beasts to poacher kings, ready to tear up the leagues.
1. Lorenzo Lucca – The Towering Target Man
- Club: Udinese (on loan from Pisa)
- Valuation: £4.4M
- Key Attributes: Heading (17), Jumping Reach (18), Strength (16)
Lucca's the kind of striker defenders wake up sweating about. At 201 cm tall with monster aerial stats, he’s your classic big man up top. If you love crossing or set-piece routines, this is your guy.
Tip: Pair him with a fast Advanced Forward for classic big-man-little-man chaos.
2. Paul Mullin – The Cult Hero
- Club: Wrexham
- Valuation: £2M
- Key Attributes: Finishing (15), Off the Ball (13), Composure (14)
FM24's favourite underdog story. Mullin bangs goals for fun in the lower leagues. With a lethal eye for goal and movement to match, he's an elite option for League One/Two or even bottom Championship.
Warning: Don’t expect blistering pace. Build a tactic around his finishing.
3. Iván Azón – Mr. Work Rate
- Club: Zaragoza
- Valuation: £2.4M
- Key Attributes: Work Rate (17), Finishing (13), Strength (15)
The lad runs for days and bullies centre-backs. Azón offers a pressing-forward profile with a bit of everything. His aggressive style fits gegenpress tactics like a glove.
Tip: If you play high-tempo pressing football, snap him up early.
READ ALSO: Most Signed Wonderkids in FM24 – Top 30 Picks
Abline combines pace and flair, making him ideal for counter-attacking systems. He’s especially lethal when isolated 1v1 against slower defenders.
Watch out: Not the strongest, so avoid using him as a target man.
At just 19, Topp is already a handful. He’s strong, good in the air, and physically built for senior football. If you want a long-term investment who can also contribute now, this is your man.
Bonus: Surprisingly decent technique for a physical profile.
Cheap, clinical and dangerous from dead balls. Sydney is an absolute bargain and thrives in tactical systems that exploit set-pieces.
Tactical Note: Great option for a low-budget team with good set-piece takers.
4. Matthis Abline – The Speedy Technician
- Club: FC Nantes (on loan from Rennes)
- Valuation: £4.5M
- Key Attributes: Acceleration (15), Finishing (12), Technique (14)
Abline combines pace and flair, making him ideal for counter-attacking systems. He’s especially lethal when isolated 1v1 against slower defenders.
Watch out: Not the strongest, so avoid using him as a target man.
5. Keke Topp – Germany’s Hidden Gem
- Club: Schalke 04
- Valuation: £1.3M
- Key Attributes: Finishing (12), Strength (13), Jumping Reach (15)
At just 19, Topp is already a handful. He’s strong, good in the air, and physically built for senior football. If you want a long-term investment who can also contribute now, this is your man.
Bonus: Surprisingly decent technique for a physical profile.
6. Sydney van Hooijdonk – The Set-Piece Sniper
- Club: Norwich (on loan from Bologna)
- Valuation: £550K
- Key Attributes: Free Kicks (16), Finishing (13), Jumping Reach (14)
Cheap, clinical and dangerous from dead balls. Sydney is an absolute bargain and thrives in tactical systems that exploit set-pieces.
Tactical Note: Great option for a low-budget team with good set-piece takers.
READ ALSO: 30 FM24 Players with Bargain Release Clauses
Still just 18, Weiper has the raw tools to dominate physically. He already looks like a beast and has room to grow.
Development Tip: Loan him out if you can’t guarantee starts – he needs game time.
Joseph brings mobility and flair to your frontline. He’s not the finished product, but he can change games with one run or dribble. Great pick for managers who like dynamic forwards.
Role Fit: Advanced Forward or Inside Forward in a two-striker system.
Niño is tailor-made for an intense pressing system. He's strong, aggressive, and just nasty to play against. Might be overlooked due to limited recent game time.
Secret Weapon: Surprisingly decent finishing and first touch.
7. Nelson Weiper – The Powerhouse Prospect
- Club: Mainz 05
- Valuation: £4.3M
- Key Attributes: Determination (17), Jumping Reach (15), Strength (12)
Still just 18, Weiper has the raw tools to dominate physically. He already looks like a beast and has room to grow.
Development Tip: Loan him out if you can’t guarantee starts – he needs game time.
8. Mateo Joseph – Agile All-Rounder
- Club: Leeds United
- Valuation: £2.1M
- Key Attributes: Acceleration (14), Finishing (13), Dribbling (12)
Joseph brings mobility and flair to your frontline. He’s not the finished product, but he can change games with one run or dribble. Great pick for managers who like dynamic forwards.
Role Fit: Advanced Forward or Inside Forward in a two-striker system.
9. Fer Niño – The Physical Pressing Menace
- Club: Burgos
- Valuation: £4.6M
- Key Attributes: Aggression (16), Jumping Reach (16), Work Rate (14)
Niño is tailor-made for an intense pressing system. He's strong, aggressive, and just nasty to play against. Might be overlooked due to limited recent game time.
Secret Weapon: Surprisingly decent finishing and first touch.
READ ALSO: 10 Best Bargain Players You Can Sign in FM24
Not your typical brute – Woltemade is more DLF than TM. Standing at 198cm, he looks like a bruiser, but his real weapon is vision and creativity. He links play beautifully.
Suggestion: Use him as a Deep Lying Forward on Support and let others run beyond him.
If you're on a tight budget but still want goals, these ten are the best bang-for-your-buck strikers in FM24. Whether you like to press, pump long balls, or counter at lightning pace, there's a name here to suit your style.
Got a different name you'd add to this list? Drop it in the comments or tag us on X. Who's been your promotion-winning hero?
Now go get that golden boot.
Related: 30 Cheap Wonderkids You Can Get for Under £5M in FM24
10. Nick Woltemade – The Rangy Creator
- Club: SV Werder
- Valuation: £2.7M
- Key Attributes: Technique (13), Passing (13), Flair (13)
Not your typical brute – Woltemade is more DLF than TM. Standing at 198cm, he looks like a bruiser, but his real weapon is vision and creativity. He links play beautifully.
Suggestion: Use him as a Deep Lying Forward on Support and let others run beyond him.
Final Whistle
If you're on a tight budget but still want goals, these ten are the best bang-for-your-buck strikers in FM24. Whether you like to press, pump long balls, or counter at lightning pace, there's a name here to suit your style.
Got a different name you'd add to this list? Drop it in the comments or tag us on X. Who's been your promotion-winning hero?
Now go get that golden boot.
Related: 30 Cheap Wonderkids You Can Get for Under £5M in FM24
