FIFA 18 wonderkids: All the best American players to sign in Career Mode
The US may not be heading to the World Cup, but who can spur the nation on in four years’ time?
Dec 8, 2017
With the United States missing out on the 2018 World Cup to Panama, it’s back to the drawing board. The old guard of Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Jermaine Jones now need to stand to the side for the new generation to come in. These are the players you need to watch out for over the next four years, and they could be useful acquisition on FIFA 18’s Career Mode.
What is a wonderkid?
Here we are looking that the best American (USA) wonderkids in FIFA 18’s Carer Mode. All these players are aged 23 and under and have potentials of at least 76 meaning they have the potential to go on and play for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. We have complied our top 10 by looking at player age, stats and potential.
For all our American wonderkids please visit the table near the end of this page.
Christian Pulisic (OVR 79 – POT 89)
Age: 18
Positions: RW, LW, LM
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 93 acceleration, 92 balance, 91 agility
Cost: £30.9 million (release clause)
Wage: £38,000 a week
The golden boy of US soccer, the World Cup in Russia could have been the opportunity for Christian Pulisic to show his quality on the grandest stage. The future of the USMNT lies heavily on the Borussia Dortmund’s man shoulders, but he could have the talent to become the best American player of all time.
The right or left winger offers a steady 79 overall rating that can grow to an outstanding 89 overall. Pulisic, 18, has attributes of 93 acceleration, 92 balance and 91 agility which can be yours for a buy-out clause of £30.9 million and wages of £38,000 a week.
Weston McKennie (OVR 65 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: CM, CDM
Club: Schalke
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 82 aggression, 78 jumping, 72 heading accuracy
Cost: £2.3 million (release clause)
Value: £5,000 a week
Also in Germany is the less familiar Weston McKennie. The Schalke central or defensive midfielder has firmly come into the fold this season, starting eight games as Die Konigsblauen have shot up to the Bundesliga table into third place.
McKennie will set you back £2.3 million and £5,000 a week wages which will give you his 65 overall and 84 potential. With attributes of 82 aggression, 78 jumping and 72 heading accuracy, McKennie is one to bring in if you are looking to nurture a young player.
Cameron Carter-Vickers (OVR 68 – POT 83)
Age: 19
Positions: CB
Club: Sheffield United (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Work rate: Medium/High
Best attributes: 80 strength, 74 jumping, 70 standing tackle
Cost: n/a
Wage: £18,000 a week
Tottenham have a great track record for bringing through young players, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Eric Dier all starring for the first team in the past few years alone. Centre back Cameron Carter-Vickers made four cup appearances for the club last year, before being sent out on loan to Sheffield United in the current campaign.
The Essex-born centre back has 68 overall rating on the game, with the potential to hit 83. Carter-Vickers’ best attributes include 80 strength, 74 jumping and 70 standing tackle, but you will need to wait until the end of the season to snap him up, where he will cost around £4 million. His wages are currently £18,000 a week.
Tyler Adams (OVR 66 – POT 82)
Age: 18
Positions: CDM, RWB
Club: New York Red Bulls
Work rate: Medium/High
Best attributes: 86 balance, 82 jumping, 78 sprint speed
Cost: £2.2 million (release clause)
Wage: £1,000 a week
Despite only making his debut for the Red Bulls in 2016, defensive midfielder or right wing back Tyler Adams was called up to the USMNT in May 2017. With now four years to prepare for the 2022 World Cup it looks like the hearty New Yorker will be their midfield linchpin.
You are looking at a price of £2.2 million to snap up Adams on FIFA 18, with his wages just £1,000 a week. For that cost you will get the 18-year-old’s 66 overall rating which can rise to an 82 potential. His stats of 86 balance, 82 jumping and 78 sprint speed should tempt you enough to go in for him.
Erik Palmer-Brown (OVR 65 – POT 82)
Age: 20
Positions: CB
Club: Sporting Kansas City
Work rate: Low/High
Best attributes: 77 jumping, 72 sprint speed, 71 acceleration
Cost: £2 million (release clause)
Wage: £2,000 a week
Yet to play for the national team is Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Palmer-Brown. The 20-year-old has had a stop-start career so far, with loan spell to Porto not coming to fruition. His performances for the US U20 team have got him attention though, winning the U20 CONCACAF Championship and named in the team of the tournament in the U20 World Cup in 2017.
77 jumping, 72 sprint speed and 71 acceleration give Palmer-Brown a 65 overall rating on the game, which can rise to a potential of 82. Those stats will set you back only £2 million with wages of £2,000 a week.
Jonathan Gonzalez (OVR 71 – POT 81)
Age: 18
Positions: CM, CDM
Club: Monterrey
Work rate: High/High
Best attributes: 80 stamina, 79 acceleration, 78 agility
Cost: £5.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £17,000 a week
Over in Mexico we find Monterrey central or defensive midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez. The U20 international was a regular for the Liga MX club this season making 20 appearances, and you wonder whether a move to the MLS is on the cards in the coming season.
The 18-year-old Gonzalez will set you back £5.8 million on Career Mode, with wages of £17,000 a week. 80 stamina, 79 acceleration and 78 agility add to his 71 overall, rising to an 81 potential.
Matt Miazga (OVR 73 – POT 80)
Age: 21
Positions: CB
Club: Vitesse (on loan from Chelsea)
Work rate: Low/Medium
Best attributes: 82 strength, 79 jumping, 75 aggression
Cost: n/a
Wage: £53,000 a week
Many were surprised to see young centre back Matt Miazga head to Chelsea after just two years of MLS football with NY Red Bulls. After just two appearances in 2016, Miazga was loaned out to Chelsea’s regular loan spot Vitesse where he has remained since. A recall to the Chelsea first team seems unlikely, which could open the door to a move to your club on FIFA 18.
You would need just £3.5 million to sign Miazga next season, but the 21-year-old does have hefty wages of £53,000 a week. His 73 overall consists of 82 strength, 79 jumping and 75 marking, with his potential at a useful 80.
DeAndre Yedlin (OVR 73 – POT 80)
Age: 23
Positions: RB
Club: Newcastle United
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 93 acceleration, 93 finishing, 88 stamina
Cost: £8.7 million
Wage: £40,000 a week
DeAndre Yedlin shone in the MLS for Seattle Sounders, but ever since he made the move to Tottenham 2015, things haven’t been easy for him in England. The 23-year-old struggled with Sunderland as they just avoided relegation in 2016, and just a few months later he joined up with their rivals Newcastle in a permanent move. He returned to form as the club won promotion back to the Premier League, but the questions still remains whether he is cut out for the top flight.
Yedlin will set you back £8.7 million on the game, with wages of £40,000 a week. That may be a fraction steep for his 73 overall, with an 80 potential. 93 acceleration, 93 sprint speed and 88 stamina.
Kellyn Acosta (OVR 72 – POT 80)
Age: 21
Positions: CDM, CM
Club: FC Dallas
Work rate: High/High
Best attributes: 90 stamina, 80 acceleration, 80 jumping
Cost: £8 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000 a week
If you want a midfield engine, Kellyn Acosta is your man. The 22-year-old is already a regular in the USMNT side at the age of 21, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2017. The defensive or central midfielder as incredibly played over 100 games for FC Dallas, and he could be another one to earmark for a move into Europe in the next few years.
You will need £8 million to sign Acosta, giving you his 90 stamina, 80 acceleration and 80 jumping. Those stats add to his 72 overall and 80 potential, with his current wages just £4,000 a week
Ethan Horvath (OVR 71 – POT 80)
Age: 22
Positions: GK
Club: Club Brugge
Best attributes: 77 GK reflexes, 74 GK diving, 70 GK handling
Cost: £4.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £9,000 a week
Already in Europe is goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. The 22-year-old started his career with Norwegian club Molde but made the switch to Belgian heavyweights Club Brugge in 2017 and has slotted straight into their side. The US have a great history of keepers with Tim Howard, Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller donning the number one jersey, and Horvath could be the man to take on the mantle
You will need a fee of £4.1 million to sign the young goalie, but you will need to lay off until January to claim him. Horvath’s wages of £9,000 a week will get you his 77 GK reflexes, 74 GK diving and 70 GK handling. Those stats give him an overall rating of 71 and a potential of 80.
More American wonderkids
| Player |
Age |
Pos |
Club |
OVR/ POT |
C |
W |
| Emerson Hyndman | 21 | CM | Bournem’th | 67/ 80 |
£3.2m | £23k |
| Danny Acosta | 18 | LB RB |
Real Salt Lake | 66/ 80 |
£2.3m | £1k |
| Andrew Carleton | 17 | LM RM ST CAM |
Atlanta United | 64/ 80 |
£1.7m | £1k |
| Shaquell Kwame Moore | 20 | RB | Levante | 69/ 79 |
£3.1m | £8k |
| Haji Wright | 19 | ST | Sandhausen* | 63/ 79 |
n/a | £4k |
| Orrin McKinze Gaines | 19 | RW RM |
Darmstadt | 62/ 79 |
£1.3m | £3k |
| Juan Torres | 17 | CDM | Sporting Lokeren | 61/ 79 |
£822k | £1k |
| Chris Goslin | 17 | CM CAM |
Atlanta United | 56/ 79 |
£440k | £1k |
| Kenneth Saief | 23 | LM | Gent | 73/ 78 |
£7.6m | £16k |
| Kekuta Manneh | 22 | LM RM CF ST |
Columbus Crew | 71/ 78 |
£5m | £5k |
| Jordan Morris | 22 | ST LM RM |
Seattle Sounders | 70/ 78 |
£4m | £5k |
| Zack Steffen | 22 | GK | Columbus Crew | 69/ 78 |
£1.8m | £3k |
| Jesse Gonzalez | 22 | GK | Dallas | 68/ 78 |
£1.7m | £3k |
| Pierre Da Silva | 18 | CAM LW CF |
Orlando City | 61/ 78 |
£982k | £1k |
| Paul Arriola | 22 | RM RW |
DC United | 71/ 77 |
£4.7m | £5k |
| Ian Harkes | 22 | CM CDM |
DC United | 66/ 77 |
£1.6m | £2k |
| Brooks Lennon | 19 | RW LW CF |
Real Salt Lake* | 65/ 77 |
n/a | £13k |
| Kortne Ford | 21 | CB | Colorado Rapids | 65/ 77 |
£1.2m | £2k |
| Jeremy Ebobisse | 20 | ST | Portland Timbers | 61/ 77 |
£1m | £1k |
| Timothy Weah | 17 | ST | PSG | 59/ 77 |
£653k | £5k |
| Julian Green | 22 | LM RM ST |
Greuther Furth* | 69/ 76 |
n/a | £11k |
| Tommy Thompson | 21 | RM CM LM |
San Jose Earthquakes | 68/ 76 |
£2m | £4k |
| Justen Glad | 20 | CB | Real Salt Lake | 66/ 76 |
£1.3m | £2k |
| Keaton Parks | 19 | CM CDM |
Benfica | 65/ 76 |
£1.7m | £2k |
| Derrick Jones | 20 | CDM CM |
Philadelphia Union | 65/ 76 |
£1.2m | £2k |
| Brandon Vazquez | 18 | ST RM |
Atlanta United | 63/ 76 |
£1.3m | £1k |
| Jonathan Klinsmann | 20 | GK | Hertha Berlin | 61/ 76 |
£1m | £2k |
| Auston Trusty | 18 | CB | Philadelphia Union | 59/ 76 |
£542k | £1k |
| Chris Durkin | 17 | CDM CM |
DC United | 57/ 76 |
£329k | £1k |
Who have you snapped up on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section below.
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