Football Manager 2019 Wonderkids: Best Dutch players to sign

From Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff to Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp, and Arjen Robben, the Netherlands have produced some of the most eye-catching and exciting footballers ever. While the ultimate success on the world stage has eluded Oranje, they have produced many generations of quality players that have influenced the very highest levels of club football.

How to choose the best Dutch wonderkids in Football Manager 2019

This article will look at the best Dutch wonderkids in FM19. These players are all teenagers when you start a new career and are listed by the game as Dutch. They have a potential ability of at least 130, making them capable of contributing to nearly any team in the world and possible stars for most sides.

For a full list of ALL the best Dutch wonderkids on FM19, see the table at the bottom of the page.

Matthijs de Ligt (CA 138 - PA Range 160-190)

Age: 18

Position: D (C), DM

Club: Ajax

Best Attributes: Determination (16), Passing (15), Heading (15)

Value: £7.25 million

Wage: £11,000 a week

Matthijs de Ligt joined Ajax when he was 9 and quickly rose through the youth academy. He made his first team debut just before his 17th birthday and has already racked up over 70 appearances for the Dutch side. He won his first cap for Netherlands in March 2017 and has played 11 times for his country.

In FM 19 the Ajax man already has excellent mental attributes (16 determination, 15 work rate, 15 bravery, 14 concentration) and well-developed defensive stats (14 tackling, 13 marking). He is strong in the air (15 jumping, 15 heading) and can move the ball well in possession too (15 passing, 13 first touch, 13 technique).

Tahith Chong (CA 110 - PA Range 150-180)

Age: 18

Position: AM (RLC), ST

Club: Manchester United

Best Attributes: Acceleration (16), Pace (15), Dribbling (14)

Value: £4.5 million

Wage: £2,000 a week

Tahith Chong began his career with Feyenoord but moved to Manchester United on a free transfer when he was just 16. He has been making a big impact with the Under-23 side so far this season and has been capped by Netherlands at Under-19 level.

In FM 19 Chong is your classic speedy winger (16 acceleration, 15 pace, 14 dribbling). He has a few good mental attributes (14 aggression, 13 determination, 12 vision) and is pretty good on the ball (13 technique, 12 first touch, 11 finishing) too.

Ryan Gravenberch (CA 103 - PA Range 150-180)

Age: 16

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

Club: Ajax

Best Attributes: Flair (15), Determination (13), Decisions (13)

Value: £250,000

Wage: £90 a week

Ryan Gravenberch joined Ajax when he was 8 and soon rose through the academy. He debuted with the reserves in August 2018 and a month later got his senior debut with the first team, making him the youngest Ajax player to appear in the Eredivisie. He has also been capped at Under-19 level.

In FM 19 Gravenberch has terrific mental attributes for someone so young (15 flair, 13 decisions, 13 determination, 12 teamwork). He combines that with strong talent on the ball (13 technique, 12 first touch, 12 dribbling, 11 passing) and he can also deliver good balls into the box (12 crossing, 12 corners).

Rick van Drongelen (CA 121 - PA 149)

Age: 19

Position: D (LC)

Club: Hamburg

Best Attributes: Determination (17), Bravery (16), Tackling (15)

Value: £2.2 million

Wage: £10,750 a week

Rick van Drongelen joined Sparta Rotterdam in 2012 and made his first team debut in 2015 when he was 17. He played some 50 games with Rotterdam before making a €3 million move to Hamburg in August 2017.

In Football Manager 2019 van Drongelen is a fast and physical centre back (15 pace, 14 strength, 14 jumping). He combines that with good defensive skills (15 tackling, 14 marking) and some very good mental attributes (17 determination, 16 bravery, 15 teamwork, 13 work rate). 

Justin Kluivert (CA 135 - PA Range 140-170)

Age: 19

Position: AM (RL)

Club: Roma

Best Attributes: Agility (17), Dribbling (16), First Touch (16)

Value: £8.75 million

Wage: £57,500 a week

The son of Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert, Justin Kluivert started his career with Ajax when he was 8. He rose through their ranks and debuted for the Ajax first team in January 2017. He racked up 56 appearances and 13 goals before making a €18.75 million move to Roma in June 2018.

In FM 19 Kluivert has terrific skill on the ball (16 dribbling, 16 first touch, 16 flair). He also has some exceptional physical stats (17 agility, 16 acceleration, 14 natural fitness) and well-developed mental attributes (14 bravery, 13 determination, 13 vision).

Calvin Stengs (CA 119 - PA Range 140-170)

Age: 19

Position: AM (RLC), M (RL)

Club: AZ

Best Attributes: First Touch (14), Flair (14), Corners (14)

Value: £1.6 million

Wage: £2,800 a week

Calvin Stengs joined AZ Alkmaar as a boy and debuted with the reserves in 2016. He got his first team debut in 2017. Stengs is yet to be capped at any level internationally.

In FM 19 Stengs is a well-developed winger on the ball (14 first touch, 14 technique, 13 dribbling, 13 passing) with enough mental strength to put his tools to good use (14 flair, 13 vision, 13 composure). He can deliver a good ball into the box (14 corners, 11 crossing) and threaten the goal himself (13 long shots, 10 finishing).

Myron Boadu (CA 117 - PA Range 140-170)

Age: 17

Position: AM (RL), ST

Club: AZ

Best Attributes: Determination (18), Off The Ball (16), Acceleration (15)

Value: £1.5 million

Wage: £2,500 a week

Myron Boadu joined AZ Alkmaar's academy in 2013 and soon rose through their system. He was moved to the first team in 2017 and this season he has played five games and scored three goals. He's also been capped at Under-17 level by Netherlands.

In FM 19 Boadu has some terrific mental attributes (18 determination, 16 off the ball, 13 vision, 13 anticipation) that underpin his entire game. He has good speed (15 acceleration, 13 pace) and is solid on the ball (13 technique, 12 first touch, 11 dribbling). He can also put the ball in the back of the net (13 long shots, 12 finishing).

Joshua Zirkzee (CA 108 - PA Range 140-170)

Age: 17

Position: ST

Club: FC Bayern

Best Attributes: Jumping (16), Finishing (14), Anticipation (14)

Value: £400,000

Wage: £55 a week

Joshua Zirkzee started his career with Feyenoord before making a move to Bayern Munich in 2017. He has moved up to the Bayern Under-19 side this season and has been capped by the Netherlands Under-18 side.

In Football Manager 2019 Zirkzee has talent in front of goal (14 finishing, 13 penalty taking, 13 composure) and some good mental attributes too (14 anticipation, 13 flair, 13 teamwork). He can also move the ball pretty well in possession (14 first touch, 13 technique, 12 passing).

Donyell Malen (CA 121 - PA Range 130-160)

Age: 19

Position: AM (RL), ST

Club: PSV

Best Attributes: Pace (16), Acceleration (16), Agility (15)

Value: £1 million

Wage: £5,750 a week

Donyell Malen started his career with Ajax at the age of 8. He moved to Arsenal in 2015 but failed to make much of an impression and returned to the Netherlands in 2017 with PSV Eindhoven and he made his senior debut with them in February 2018.

In FM 19 Malen is physically gifted (16 pace, 16 acceleration, 15 agility, 13 stamina). He brings good talent on the ball (13 technique, 13 first touch, 13 dribbling) as well as solid mental attributes (13 flair, 12 off the ball, 12 anticipation) and he can threaten the goal too (12 finishing).

Kik Pierie (CA 112 - PA Range 130-160)

Age: 17

Position: D (LC), WB (L)

Club: Heerenveen

Best Attributes: Acceleration (13), Marking (13), Work Rate (13)

Value: £575,000

Wage: £120 a week

Kik Pierie was born in America but started his football career with Heerenveen, getting his debut for them in 2017. He has also been capped at Under-19 level by Netherlands.

In FM 19 Pierie is a pretty good full back with solid speed (13 acceleration, 12 pace) and is a positive up the field (13 vision, 12 crossing, 12 passing). He is also good defensively (13 marking, 12 tackling, 11 positioning) and has well-rounded mental attributes (13 work rate, 12 off the ball, 12 teamwork, 12 composure).

All the best Dutch wonderkids on Football Manager 2019