England have suffered on the international stage for some time now, but 2017 may just be the start of something special for the Three Lions. The England U20s won the World Cup, the U19s won the European Championships and the U17s also won the World Cup to make incredible year. With so much talent coming through, who are the best English wonderkids to sign on FIFA 18’s Career Mode?
READ: FIFA 19 Wonderkids: Best English players to sign in Career Mode
How to choose the best wonderkid for FIFA 18 Career Mode
We are looking at the best English wonderkids on FIFA 18. These are players aged 21 and below, with a starting overall of at least 70 with the potential to hit at least 81. They are talented players now, with the potential to become some of the best in the world.
Players can outgrow their potential on Career Mode, but they must play at the top of their game for lengthy period of time. Despite their age, they will not come cheap, but signing for them closer to the start of their career you can make a big saving. Our top 10 has been compiled by looking at player stats, potential and age.
For a full list of English wonderkids, visit the table near the end of this page.
Dele Alli (OVR 84 – POT 90)
Age: 21
Positions: CAM, ST
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 89 stamina, 86 positioning, 86 composure
Cost: £79.5 million (release clause)
Wage: £101,000 a week
What a rise it has been for Dele Alli. Just two-and-a-half years ago he was playing for MK Dons in League One, but a move to Tottenham transformed his career. Within two months he earned his first cap for England, scoring a screamer on his debut and he hasn’t looked back since. The attacking midfielder or striker has 39 goals in 109 games for Spurs, with his latest achievement being a feature in FIFA 18’s The Journey 2.
The 21-year-old has a superb overall rating of 84 on the game, which can rise to a sensational 90 potential. 89 stamina, 86 positioning and 86 composure give the midfielder a great foundation, and those stats can be yours for a price of £79.5 million and wages of £101,000 a week.
Marcus Rashford (OVR 81 – POT 90)
Age: 19
Positions: LM, ST, RM
Club: Manchester United
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 93 acceleration, 92 sprint speed, 90 agility
Cost: £47.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £65,000 a week
Speaking of incredible rises, Marcus Rashford’s is like no other. Thrust into the Manchester United starting lineup during an injury crisis, the wide midfielder or striker bagged two goals on his debut for The Red Devils and a star was born. Fast forward 18 months and the 19-year-old Rashford is a regular both the Premier League giants and the England national side, scoring 28 goals for club and country since his debut.
A £47.8 million release clause is actually a great price for Rashford, given his 81 overall and remarkable 90 potential. 93 acceleration, 92 sprint speed and 90 agility makes him a nightmare for defences, with his current wages £65,000 a week.
Luke Shaw (OVR 78 – POT 83)
Age: 21
Positions: LB
Club: Manchester United
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 83 sprint speed, 80 acceleration, 80 crossing
Cost: £19.5 million (release clause)
Wage: £67,000 a week
It’s been a rollercoaster career for Luke Shaw so far, and he’s just 21 years’ old. The left back looked to be the real deal at Southampton, starring over two seasons in the Premier League. A £30 million move to Manchester United followed, but injuries have thwarted the youngster’s career ever since. A reoccurring hamstring problem was then followed by a double leg break, and an Old Trafford exit looks more than likely in the coming months.
The defender can still offer 83 sprint speed, 80 acceleration and 80 crossing on FIFA 18, which give him a 78 overall. An 83 potential shows he can still become a top player, and you'll only need £19.5 million to snap him up and take a slight hit on his £67,000 a week wages.
Harry Winks (OVR 75 – POT 86)
Age: 21
Positions: CM, CDM, CAM
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 83 short passing, 78 ball control, 78 vision
Cost: £21.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £48,000 a week
England’s lack of midfield options have opened the door for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Winks, who shone as midfield anchor against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu this season. The 21-year-old has been at The Lilywhites since the age of eight, which explains his superior technical ability, and hopefully more opportunities will come the central, defensive and attacking midfielder’s way for club and country.
Winks has 83 short passing, 78 ball control and 78 vision to contribute to his 75 overall rating. If he reaches his 86 potential, he would be rated the same as current midfield stars Radja Nainggolan and Isco. You will need £21.3 million to sign the England international with his wages currently £48,000 a week.
Tom Davies (OVR 74 – POT 85)
Age: 19
Positions: CM, CAM
Club: Everton
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 83 stamina, 79 aggression, 79 short passing
Cost: £17.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £40,000 a week
A man of the match performance at the end of the 2015/16 season gave Everton central midfielder Tom Davies a platform, with the 19-year-old continuing to grow last season. The current campaign has been much tougher, with Everton severely out of form, but with the club also in Europe, Davies has been handed plenty of opportunities with 19 appearances already this season.
Davies, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder has a starting overall of 74 with the potential to reach 85. 83 stamina, 79 aggression and 79 short passing are more than promising attributes, for which you will need £17.6 million and £40,000 a week wages.
Patrick Roberts (OVR 74 – POT 84)
Age: 20
Positions: RM
Club: Celtic (on loan from Manchester City)
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 91 agility, 90 balance, 83 acceleration
Cost: n/a
Wage: £63,000 a week
Now looking outside of the Premier League, Patrick Roberts is enjoying a third season on loan at Celtic, but you doubt whether the right midfielder will ever get an opportunity at parent club Manchester City. The 20-year-old has won two Scottish Premierships, two Scottish League Cups and a Scottish Cup already during his tenure in Glasgow, but a move to a Premier League club is needed to really see how much talent he holds.
Roberts’ 74 overall rating consists of 91 agility, 90 balance and 83 acceleration, with his potential at 84. You will have to hold off until the summer of 2018 to sign the youngster, and you will be looking at a price upwards of £15 million to grab him. His wages are currently £63,000 a week.
Demarai Gray (OVR 74 – POT 83)
Age: 21
Positions: LM
Club: Leicester City
Work rate: Medium/Low
Best attributes: 90 sprint speed, 90 acceleration, 90 agility
Cost: £15.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £39,000 a week
Consistency has been the problem for Demarai Gray, but some impressive performances during the back end of last season have brought him into the fold at the King Power Stadium. The left midfielder has made 16 appearances this season, but only half have been starts.
90 sprint speed, 90 acceleration and 90 agility make the wide man a real danger, making his £15.7 million a very tempting price. For wages of £39,000 a week you will get Gray’s 74 overall and 83 potential.
Tammy Abraham (OVR 73 – POT 86)
Age: 19
Positions: ST
Club: Swansea City (on loan from Chelsea)
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 81 strength, 80 sprint speed, 80 acceleration
Cost: n/a
Wage: £49,000 a week
Part of Chelsea’s loan brigade, many were surprised to see Swansea striker Tammy Abraham receive an England call-up for the games against Germany and Brazil. The 19-year-old may still have to tune his skills, but his 26 goals in 46 games on loan at Bristol City last season shows he knows how to find the net.
The 19-year-old has dangerous stats of 81 strength, 80 sprint speed and 80 acceleration on the game, comprising his 73 overall. The six foot five Abraham has a stunning potential of 86, which you can nurture next season for around £20 million. His current wages are £49,000 a week.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (OVR 73 – POT 85)
Age: 21
Positions: CAM, CM
Club: Crystal Palace (on loan from Chelsea)
Work rate: Medium/Low
Best attributes: 80 strength, 78 short passing, 78 long passing
Cost: n/a
Wage: £59,000 a week
Another Chelsea loanee, Ruben Loftus-Cheek also made his England debut towards the end of 2017, earning the Man of the Match award against Germany. The attacking midfielder has slowly found his form for Crystal Palace, and you feel if The Eagles are to stay in the Premier League this season Loftus-Cheek will be at the forefront.
80 strength, 78 short passing and 78 long passing give the 21-year-old Loftus-Cheek a 73 overall, which can rise to an 85 potential. His wages are currently £59,000 a week, but you will need to wait a year to move for him, where he'll set you back around £15 million.
Axel Tuanzebe (OVR 73 – POT 84)
Age: 19
Positions: CB, CDM, RB
Club: Manchester United
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 76 sprint speed, 74 acceleration, 74 strength
Cost: £10.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £39,000 a week
With an injury crisis at Old Trafford last season, Axel Tuanzebe got his opportunity, making five appearances for Manchester United. With the arrival of Victor Lindelof (OVR 78) arriving at the club in the summer, Tuanzebe is now Jose Mourinho’s sixth choice centre back, so a loan move now looks likely.
Tuanzebe can also play as a defensive midfielder or right back, and he can be yours for £10.8 million on Career Mode. You will need to be patient with the 73-rated player, but with an 84 potential it will certainly be worth it. His current stats of 76 sprint speed, 74 acceleration and 74 strength can be yours for wages of £39,000 a week.
More English Wonderkids
Player | Age | Pos | Club | OVR/ POT | Cost | Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Grealish | 21 | CAM LM | Aston Villa | 73/ 82 | £11.1m | £24k |
Rob Holding | 21 | CB | Arsenal | 72/ 85 | £12.2m | £35k |
Josh Onomah | 20 | CAM RM CM | Aston Villa* | 72/ 84 | n/a | £35k |
James Maddison | 20 | CAM | Norwich | 72/ 82 | £9.2m | £17k |
Jordon Ibe | 21 | RM LM | Bournem’th | 72/ 80 | £8.5m | £27k |
Joe Gomez | 20 | CB RB LB | Liverpool | 71/ 84 | £9.1m | £35k |
Lewis Cook | 20 | CAM CM | Bournem’th | 71/ 84 | £10.1m | £27k |
Ollie Watkins | 21 | LW CAM ST | Brentford | 71/ 84 | £10.1m | £23k |
Ben Chilwell | 20 | LB | Leicester | 71/ 82 | £6.6m | £25k |
Che Adams | 20 | ST LM CAM | Birmingham | 71/ 81 | £7.2m | £16k |
Isaiah Brown | 20 | CAM LM | Brighton | 71/ 81 | £7.4m | £22k |
Kasey Palmer | 20 | CAM | Huddersfield* | 71/ 81 | n/a | £42k |
Kalvin Phillips | 21 | CDM CM | Leeds | 71/ 81 | £6.2m | £15k |
Kieran Dowell | 19 | CAM RW LW | Nott’ham Forest | 70/ 86 | n/a | £29k |
Dom Solanke | 19 | ST | Liverpool | 70/ 84 | £8.5m | £33k |
Jack Harrison | 20 | RW | NYC FC | 70/ 84 | £7.3m | £5k |
Sam Gallagher | 21 | ST RW | Birmingham* | 70/ 81 | n/a | £36k |
*Denotes player is on loan
Who have you snapped up on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section below.
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