FM 18: Best wonderkid attacking midfielders (AMC) to sign

Attacking midfielders make the team tick. Back in the days of 4-4-2, games would go backwards and forwards, with little to exploit. Every player was marked, but when the number 10s entered the game, football changed. The likes of Socrates, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane exploited the space in between the defence, and changed the way teams lined up.

Attacking midfielders are now a vital part of a team’s line up, with most formations including a ‘number 10’ to unlock the defence. That's why we give you ALL the best wonderkid attacking midfielders on Football Manager 2018.  

What is a wonderkid attacking midfielder

These players are all teenagers (aged 19 and below), and have a 20/20 preference rating as an attacking midfielder, AM (C), on the game. These players have a potential rating of at least 120, with the vast majority able to grow well beyond that.

For a full list of all the wonderkid attacking midfielder, visit the table at the bottom of this page.

Where are the star ratings?

The star ratings you see on your players or on those you scout only reflect a players current ability (CA) and potential ability (PA) in relation to the rest of the squad. We have used the game’s database to give a more accurate reading, with the current ability (CA) and potential ability (PA) scores marked out of 200 and reflective of the entire footballing world.

Kai Havertz (CA 133 – PA 176)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (C), M (C)

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Country: Germany

Best attributes: 16 natural fitness, 16 versatility, 16 aggression

Value: £6.3 million

Wage: £25,600 a week

One of the hottest talents in Germany, Kai Havertz made his breakthrough at Bayer Leverkusen last season. The 18-year-old made 27 appearances for the Bundesliga last season, recording four goals and six assists. If Leverkusen are to get back into Europe, expect Havertz to have something to do with it.

The attacking or central midfielder has a 133 current ability rating with the potential to hit 176. 16 natural fitness, 16 versatility and 16 aggression are promising attributes, but you will need around £50 million for the youngster. His wages of £25,600 are steep, so perhaps wait for the German to develop more before making a move.

Joao Felix (CA 114 – PA 165)

Age: 17

Positions: AM (C), M (C)

Club: SL Benfica B

Country: Portugal

Best attributes: 19 adaptability, 15 technique, 15 first touch

Value: £267,000

Wage: £1,300 a week

Yet to make his professional debut is the 17-year-old Joao Felix. The Benfica B man can operate as an attacking or central midfielder, and earned his first cap for Portugal U21s in October. A loan move away from the Estadio da Luz looks likely, but now may just be the perfect time to strike on FM 18.

Felix can be yours for a price of £20 million, with his wages only £1,300 a week. Stats of 19 adaptability, 15 technique and 15 first touch help make up his 114 current ability rating, with the potential to hit 165. 

Berkay Ozcan (CA 116 – PA 152)

Age: 19

Positions: AM (C), ST

Club: Stuttgart

Country: Turkey

Best attributes: 16 balance, 15 bravery, 15 natural fitness

Value: £2 million

Wage: £600 a week

With Stuttgart winning promotion back to the Bundesliga last year, young talent Berkay Ozcan has the opportunity to impress on the big stage. The 19-year-old has found game-time harder to come by this season, but you would be surprised if he didn’t come back into the fold. 

Attacking midfielder or striker Ozcan will set you back around £30 million on FM 18, with wages of £600 a week. His 116 current ability can rise to 152, with his 16 balance, 15 bravery and 15 natural fitness very impressive stats. 

Felice D’Amico (CA 88 – PA >150)

Age: 16

Positions: AM (LRC), ST

Club: Inter Milan (on loan from Palermo)

Country: Italy

Best attributes: 18 adaptability, 18 temperament, 17 professionalism

Value: £180,000

Wage: £200 a week

Making a loan move to a bigger club is often strange, but Inter Milan will want to make a full assessment of the 16-year-old Felice D’Amico before making a permanent move for the player. The attacking midfielder, winger or striker has four goals in four games for Italy U18, so expect big things from the wonderkid.

D’Amico's 88 current ability can go beyond 150 on Football manager 2018, with his best attributes currently 18 adaptability, 18 temperament and 17 professionalism. You will need only £12 million to get hold of him, and only £200 a week is needed for his wages.

Martin Odegaard (CA 123 – PA >140)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (RC)

Club: Heerenveen (on loan from Real Madrid B)

Country: Norway

Best attributes: 17 first touch, 16 dribbling, 16 vision

Value: £2 million

Wage: £84,000 a week

After stunning the world at the age of 15 and earning a move to Real Madrid, Martin Odegaard’s career had stalled. A loan move to Heerenveen looks to have been the perfect tonic for the attacking midfielder or right winger, making 11 starts already this season.

You can approach Real Madrid for a move, but it will not go through until next summer. For his 17 first touch, 16 dribbling and 16 vision you will need around £40 million and a further £84,000 a week for his wages. It’s a very large price, so you may want to hold off for a few seasons to snap up Odegaard’s 123 CA and 140+ potential. 

Elias Abouchabaka (CA 110 – PA >140)

Age: 17

Positions: AM (LC), M (LC)

Club: RB Leipzig

Country: Germany

Best attributes: 15 ambition, 15 creativity, 15 off the ball

Value: £449,000

Wage: £624 a week

RB Leipzig have been nurturing some fantastic young talent, with Elias Abouchabaka braced to step up to the first team. The 17-year-old has eight goals in 14 games for Germany U17s, so don’t be surprised if attacking, central or left midfielder Abouchabaka gets his opportunity at the Red Bull Arena later this season.

With attributes of 15 ambition, 15 creativity and 15 off the ball, you can see what the fuss is about with Abouchabaka, who has a 110 current ability rating on the game. A PA of at least 140 makes him a tempting buy, for which you will need £25 million. His wages of £600 a week will undoubtedly increase.  

Houssem Aouar (CA 105 – PA >140)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (C), M (C), ST

Club: Olympique Lyonnais

Country: France

Best attributes: 15 determination, 14 creativity, 14 professionalism

Value: £623,000

Wage: £4,700 a week

With Kylian Mbappe the man to take the headlines last season, who will be the breakthrough star from Ligue 1 this year? All signs point to Houssem Aouar, an 18-year-old attacking midfielder. The Lyon man has made 10 appearances already this season, picking up two goals and an assist. 

Aouar, who can also play as a central midfielder or striker, will set you back around £25 million on Football Manager 2018. 15 determination, 14 creativity and 14 professionalism count towards a 105 current ability. A minimum potential of 140 makes the France U21 international a superb signing, especially with staring wages of only £4,700 a week.

Matt O’Riley (CA 100 – PA >140)

Age: 16

Positions: DM, AM (C), M (C)

Club: Fulham

Country: England

Best attributes: 19 temperament, 17 balance, 16 creativity

Value: £169,000

Wage: £100 a week

Aged just 16, Matt O’Riley is one of those hidden gems on FM 18. The attacking, central or defensive midfielder is yet to play for the Fulham first team, but has been recently called into the England U18 squad.

19 temperament, 17 balance and 16 creativity give O’Riley a 100 CA rating, with a 140 potential. For those skills you will need only £8 million, but expect his wages of £100 a week to increase. 

Angel Gomes (CA 90 – PA >140)

Age: 16

Positions: AM (LRC)

Club: Manchester United

Country: England

Best attributes: 20 flair, 19 temperament, 16 natural fitness

Value: £225,000

Wage: £100 a week

Part of the England U17 squad that won the World Cup in 2017, Angel Gomes is the youngest player to ever play for Manchester United. Any form of regular minutes is still far away, but given his form for United U18s (11 goals & 6 assists in 17 games last season) he has the talent to play for the club.

20 flair, 19 temperament and 16 natural fitness contribute towards Gomes’s 90 current ability score. His potential can hit at least 140, with the attacking midfielder setting you back just over £40 million. His wages of £100 will surely increase. 

Callum Hudson-Odoi (CA 90 – PA >140)

Age: 16

Positions: AM (LRC)

Club: Chelsea

Country: England

Best attributes: 19 determination, 18 temperament, 16 natural fitness

Value: £150,000

Wage: £100 a week

Another member of England U17’s champions, Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi still faces a tough journey to get first team minutes. The attacking midfielder or winger has always been in the goals for the Chelsea youth teams, so a loan move in the next few years could be on the cards.

Hudson-Odoi’s 90 current ability rating consists of 19 determination, 18 temperament and 16 natural fitness, with the 16-year-old’s potential at least 140. You will need £40 million to snap up the youngster, with his wages also £100 a week. 

More wonderkid attack midfielders

A = Age

V = Value

W = Wage

Who have you snapped on Football Manager 2018? Let us know in the comments section below.

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