Football Manager 2019 Hidden Gems: Best players to sign

We all crave the unheard of signing in FM19. Signing a player who has a bright future ahead of them but can be snapped up for a ridiculously cheap price will be a huge asset to any club you are managing.

How to find a hidden gem in Football Manager 2019

These are the best hidden gems on FM19. These players have a Current Ability (CA) rating of less than 100 but hold a Potential Ability (PA) rating of at least 140. These are players who are not ready for first team action but can be developed into some of the best players on the planet.

Kangin Lee (CA 90 – PA 150-180)

Age: 17

Positions: M (C), AM (C)

Club: Valencia

Country: South Korea

Best stats: 17 flair, 14 pace, 14 agility

Value: £145,000

Wage: £725 a week

Aged just 17, Kangin Lee has already made his senior debut for Valencia, starting in their opening Copa del Rey victory over Ebro. The central or attacking midfielder has a strong record for South Korea U20s, where he has scored four times in seven matches, so expect a big breakthrough in the near future.

Lee has attributes of 17 flair, 14 pace and 14 agility on FM 19, giving him a CA of 90. That can rise to a potential between 150 and 180, and with a value of just £145,000 plus £725 a week wages you should jump at the chance to sign him. 

Fabio Silva (CA 80 – PA 150-180)

Age: 15

Positions: ST

Club: Porto

Country: Portugal

Best stats: 14 determination, 13 composure, 13 flair

Value: £10,000

Wage: £50 a week

If you are looking for an incredibly young player, go for Porto’s Fabio Silva. Aged just 15, the striker has scored three goals and picked up an assist in four U18 UEFA Youth League games, whilst also impressing on the youth international stage. He scored three in five for Portugal U17s before progressing on to the U16s where he hit five goals in seven games.

Silva’s 80 CA can improve to a potential between 150 and 180, so expect considerable rises in his stats of 14 determination, 13 composure and 13 flair. Valued at just £10,000, the Portuguese is on £50 a week. 

Tete (CA 99 – PA 140-170)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (R)

Club: Gremio

Country: Brazil

Best stats: 15 flair, 14 acceleration, 14 agility

Value: £55,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

Such a hidden gem that there is little available information on him. The 18-year-had a strong start to youth football last season, scoring five goals in four games in the junior cup competition back in his native Brazil. 

The right winger has 15 flair, 14 acceleration and 14 agility on FM 19, which help take him to a 99 current ability rating. A PA between 140 and 170 values him at £55,000 with his wages of £1,000 a week. 

Rhian Brewster (CA 99 – PA 140-170)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (R), ST

Club: Liverpool

Country: England

Best stats: 18 determination, 15 acceleration, 14 finishing

Value: £3.8 million

Wage: £1,000 a week

The star goal scorer of England U17’s World Cup winning campaign, Rhian Brewster has had to wait since then to make a professional debut for Liverpool. The striker scored 20 goals in 22 games for the U17s, but a nasty ankle injury sustained last season has denied him from kicking on.

Brewster has a 99 CA on Football Manager 2019, rising to a potential between 140 and 170. 18 determination, 15 acceleration and 14 finishing value Brewster at £3.8 million with a wage of £1,000 a week. 

Roberto Lopez (CA 97 – PA 140-170)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (C)

Club: Real San Sebastian (Sociedad)

Country: Spain

Best stats: 17 determination, 14 dribbling, 14 long shots

Value: £200,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

A Spanish number 10 is filled with class, and Roberto Lopez could be the next man to fulfil the role for the national team. The 18-year-old is yet to make his bow for the Real Sociedad first team, but has been involved in their La Liga matchday squads this season. 

The Spain U19 international can call on 17 determination, 14 dribbling and 14 long shots to his 97 current ability rating. With the potential to reach between 140 and 170, Lopez is valued at only £200,000 with wages of £1,000 a week. 

Diogo Bras (CA 96 – PA 140-170)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (RL)

Club: Sporting Lisbon

Country: Portugal

Best stats: 16 flair, 14 dribbling, 13 pace

Value: £60,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

Diogo Bras has played for every Portugal youth team from the U15s to the U18s, and is currently in the U19 squad. The 18-year-old can operate on both flanks and his three goals in five games for the U18s suggests he has an eye for goal.

Sporting Lisbon winger Bras has 16 flair, 14 dribbling and 13 pace on FM 19, which help him to a 96 CA. His potential between 140 and 170 means he is valued at just £60,000 with a £1,000 a week wage. 

Raoul Bellanova (CA 94 – PA 140-170)

Age: 18

Positions: D (R), WB (R)

Club: AC Milan

Country: Italy

Best stats: 16 pace, 15 determination, 14 bravery

Value: £90,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

Raoul Bellanova is another man yet to make his senior debut, but the 18-year-old right back has been around the AC Milan first team for two years now. The Italian U20 international has close to 100 appearances for Milan’s youth sides since 2015, so expect him to make a smooth transition to the senior team with all that experience behind him.

Bellanova’s 94 CA can improve to a potential between 140 and 170. His stats of 16 pace, 15 determination and 14 bravery see him valued at £90,000 with a wage of £1,000 a week. 

Alessandro Cortinovis (CA 94 – PA 140-170)

Age: 17

Positions: M (C), AM (RC)

Club: Atalanta

Country: Italy

Best stats: 16 determination, 14 flair, 13 first touch

Value: £170,000

Wage: £550 a week

If you need a man in the middle of the park, look at Alessandro Cortinovis with the 17-year-old an Italian U18 international. The central or attacking midfielder has progressed up from U15 level, but is yet to receive a first team call up by Atalanta.

Cortinovis has 16 determination, 14 flair and 13 first touch as his best attributes, which contribute to a 94 CA. His potential can also reach between 140 and 170, which sees him valued at £170,000 with a £550 a week wage. 

Bernardo Sousa (CA 93 – PA 140-170)

Age: 18

Positions: AM (C)

Club: Sporting Lisbon

Country: Portugal

Best stats: 14 technique, 14 penalty taking, 13 dribbling

Value: £3,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

Another man progressing up the ranks, attacking midfielder Bernardo Sousa started with Portugal U15s back in May 2015, and now finds himself in the U19 squad. Despite now being 18, you still feel he is someway off playing for Sporting Lisbon’s first team.

Valued at just £3,000 with a £1,000 a week wage, Sousa has a 93 CA rating on FM 19. That can rise to a potential between 140 and 170, so his stats of 14 technique, 14 penalty taking and 13 dribbling have plenty of room for growth. 

Gavin Bazunu (CA 92 – PA 140-170)

Age: 16

Positions: GK

Club: Shamrock Rovers (joining Manchester City)

Country: Republic of Ireland

Best stats: 15 determination, 14 communication, 14 natural fitness 

Value: £200,000

Wage: £30 a week

Finally, a goalkeeper. The fact that the Irish Gavin Bazunu has already been snapped up by Manchester City says a lot about his potential, with the 16-year-old already playing six games for Shamrock Rovers in his homeland. The stopper will join City at the start of next season, having already been called up to the Republic of Ireland U17 side.

Bazunu’s 15 determination, 14 communication and 14 natural fitness help him to a 92 CA on FM 19. His potential between 140 and 170 comes sees him valued at just £200,000 with miniscule wages of £30 a week.

All the best Football Manager 2019 Hidden Gems

A = AgeCA = Current Ability ratingPA = Potential Ability ratingV = ValueW = Wage

** transfer agreed

Have an opinion on this article? We'd love to hear it!

Join the conversation