Any save of Football Manager is a marathon, not a sprint. Most players won’t be treating this as a one-and-done process, instead investing hours into playing through several seasons at one club. So, in Football Manager 2023, it’s no good simply assembling a squad of players who are at their peak. They’ll be great in your first season, but five seasons down the line, they’ll be in physical decline and thinking about retirement. This is why every Football Manager needs to invest in youth talent. These wonderkids and hot prospects aren’t necessarily going to be your best players from the moment you sign them, but with the right training, mentorship and management, you’ll get the immense satisfaction of seeing them blossom into superstars by the time they’re in their mid-twenties.
This is why it’s important to know which wonderkids are worth investing in as soon as you take over the reins of a new club. You’ll find the best 11 wonderkids in Football Manager 2023 listed and detailed below.
Goalkeepers
Nil Ruiz
Age: 19Nationality: SpanishClub: BarcelonaTransfer Value: £500K – 1.1MWage: £1.6K p/wTop ratingsNatural Fitness: 14Jumping Reach: 14Determination: 14
Gabriel Slonina
Age: 18Nationality: AmericanClub: ChicagoTransfer Value: £13.5M – 22MWage: £2.4K p/wTop ratingsJumping Reach: 17Determination: 18Natural Fitness: 14
Defenders
Alejandro Balde
Age: 18Nationality: SpanishClub: BarcelonaTransfer Value: £23M – 32MWage: £33K p/wTop ratingsAgility: 17Acceleration: 16Pace: 16
Luca Netz
Age: 19Nationality: GermanClub: Borussia M’gladbachTransfer Value: £32M – 45MWage: £11,250 p/aTop ratingsAcceleration: 15Determination:15Pace: 15
Giorgio Scalvini
Age: 18Nationality: ItalianClub: AtalantaTransfer Value: £32M – 39MWage: £25.5K p/wTop ratingsTeamwork: 15Natural Fitness: 15Jumping Reach: 15
Midfielders
Jamal Musiala
Age: 19Nationality: GermanClub: FC BayernTransfer Value: £62M – 77MWage: £91K p/wTop ratingsDribbling: 18Technique: 18Flair: 18
Pedri
Age: 19Nationality: SpanishClub: BarcelonaTransfer Value: £155M – 171MWage: £150K p/wTop ratingsFlair: 18First Touch: 18Vision: 18
Yeremy Pino
Age: 19Nationality: SpanishClub: VillarealTransfer Value: £69MWage: £23.5K p/wTop ratingsDribbling: 16Technique: 16Flair: 16
Strikers
Mohamed-Ali Cho
Age: 18Nationality: FrenchClub: Real San SebastianTransfer Value: £14M – 21MWage: £3.6K p/wTop ratingsFirst Touch: 14Agility: 14Pace: 14
Ansu Fati
Age: 19Nationality: SpanishClub: BarcelonaTransfer Value: £41M – 60MWage: £200K p/wTop ratingsFlair: 19Technique: 16Agility: 17
Youssoufa Moukoko
Age: 17Nationality: GermanClub: Borussia DortmundTransfer Value: £35M – 41MWage: £12K p/wTop ratingsDribbling: 16Finishing: 16Technique: 16
