FM 18: Best English wonderkids to sign

England are now football world champions in two age groups. Both the U20s and U17s won the World Cup in 2017, and English fans can now look forward to a bright future. A young team is likely to be heading to the World Cup this summer in Russia, so can the full international team start dreaming of lifting their first World Cup since 1966?

What is a wonderkid?

These wonderkids are aged 23 and under on Football Manager 2018. All of these players have a potential ability rating of 150 and above. 

For a full list of our English wonderkids, visit the table towards the end of this page. 

Marcus Rashford (CA 146 – PA 150-180)

Age: 19

Position: ST, AM (L)

Club: Manchester United

Best attributes: 20 adaptability, 18 acceleration, 18 temperament

Value: £42.5 million

Wage: £20,000 a week

Marcus Rashford came completely out of the blue, going from unknown to England international in the space of just four months. The forward or left winger netted back-to-back braces in his first two appearances for Manchester United in 2016, and a star was born.

The 19-year-old Rashford has a very strong 146 current ability rating, and this can rise to a PA between 150 and 180. His best attributes include 20 adaptability, 18 acceleration and 18 temperament, but you will need over £100 million to sign him and seriously improve his £20,000 a week wages.

Joe Gomez (CA 142 – PA 150-180)

Age: 20

Position: D (CRL)

Club: Liverpool

Best attributes: 18 determination, 16 professionalism, 16 temperament

Value: £11.3 million

Wage: £28,000 a week

Joe Gomez’s potential season has been clear to see for some time, but injuries have always got in the way. Still only 20, the versatile defender still has time on his side, as he worked his way into the Liverpool first team in 2017-18. Can he kick on and become a regular for both club and country?

Gomez could set you back more than £20 million on FM 18, with his wages currently £28,000 a week. Stats of 18 determination, 16 professionalism and 16 temperament give him a 142 CA which can improve to a PA between 150 and 180. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (CA 141 – PA 150-180)

Age: 18

Position: WB (R), D (R), DM, M (RC)

Club: Liverpool

Best attributes: 18 loyalty, 17 professionalism, 16 determination

Value: £13.3 million

Wage: £12,000 a week

If Gomez’s rise has been impressive than Trent Alexander-Arnold’s has been extraordinary. The 18-year-old right back or wing-back is a local Liverpool lad, coming through the club’s academy, and an injury to Nathaniel Clyne opened up a host of first team opportunities which he grabbed with both hands. An England call-up followed, and at the age of 18 he could go on to become one of the best in his position in the world.

18 loyalty, 17 professionalism and 16 determination take Alexander-Arnold’s CA to 141, with his potential between 150 and 180. To sign him, you may need close to £25 million with his wages currently sat at £12,000 a week. 

Jadon Sancho (CA 123 – PA 150-180)

Age: 17

Position: M (LR), AM (LR)

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Best attributes: 17 ambition, 16 agility, 16 flair

Value: £6.3 million

Wage: £22,000 a week

Part of the England U17 squad that won the World Cup, winger Jadon Sancho actually left the tournament after the group stages, being recalled by new club Borussia Dortmund. Sancho left Manchester City to head to the Bundesliga last summer, taking the number 7 shirt vacated by Ousmane Dembele.

The 17-year-old Sancho has stats of 17 ambition, 16 agility and 16 flair on FM, giving him a 123 CA. A potential between 150 and 180 means you will need just beyond £60 million for Sancho, with wages of £17,000 a week. 

Jordan Pickford (CA 152 – PA 175)

Age: 23

Position: GK

Club: Everton

Best attributes: 18 kicking, 17 communication, 17 reflexes

Value: £21.8 million

Wage: £60,000 a week

 17 consistency, 17 versatility and 17 loyalty, which will improve as his 158 CA increases towards his 168 potential

Subject to a £25 million move to Everton last summer, Jordan Pickford has had a hit-and-miss season at Goodison Park. The goalkeeper hasn’t received a great amount of protection in a difficult campaign for the club, but he's the favourite of many to be England’s number one at the World Cup in Russia.

The 23-year-old stopper is priced at around £70 million on FM 18, with wages of £60,000 a week. That will get you his 18 kicking, 17 communication and 17 reflexes, which you can expect to improve as his 152 CA travels towards a 175 potential.

Dele Alli (CA 156 – PA 173)

Age: 21

Position: AM (CRL), M (C)

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Best attributes: 19 stamina, 17 ambition, 17 off the ball 

Value: £48.2 million

Wage: £55,000 a week

No doubt one of England’s vital performers at the upcoming World Cup in Russia, how far England go will have a lot to do with how well Tottenham’s Dele Alli plays. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 41 goals in 128 games since arriving in the Premier League, forming a deadly partnership with Spurs striker Harry Kane.

Alli, who can also operate as a central midfielder, will cost you well over £150 million to snatch him from Tottenham’s grasp, with his current wages £55,000 a week. Only then can you get his 156 current ability rating, which can improve to a 173 potential. The former MK Dons midfielder has attributes of 19 stamina, 17 ambition and 17 off the ball.

John Stones (CA 155 – PA 172)

Age: 23

Positions: D (CR)

Club: Manchester City

Best attributes: 20 ambition, 19 natural fitness, 17 composure

Value: £41.6 million

Wage: £100,000 a week

Now 23, it’s time we see John Stones’ potential. The centre back was superb during the 2013-14 season for Everton, but his performances wavered towards the end of his time at Goodison. He has become more consistent at Manchester City, but more is expected of him, with the defender yet to nail down a regular place for club or country.

Stones has attributes of 20 ambition, 19 natural fitness and 17 composure giving him a CA of 155. This can rise to a potential of 172, which will cost more than £90 million and wages of £100,000 a week.

Lewis Cook (CA 124 – PA 169)

Age: 20

Positions: M (C), DM

Club: Bournemouth

Best attributes: 16 natural fitness, 15 determination, 15 team work

Value: £8.8 million

Wage: £30,000 a week

Lewis Cook captained the England U20 side to World Cup glory last summer, leading to a call up to the full international squad in November. The 20-year-old central or defensive midfielder is enjoying his best season since moving to Bournemouth in 2016, making 19 appearances so far this term.

Cook’s 124 CA can improve to a 169 potential, holding attributes of 16 professionalism, 15 determination and 15 teamwork. You will need over £50 million to sign the talented midfielder however, with wages upwards of £30,000 a week. 

Eric Dier (CA 156 – PA 167)

Age: 23

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

Club: Tottenham

Best attributes: 17 pace, 17 versatility, 16 positioning

Value: £40.3 million

Wage: £60,000 a week

One of England’s most talented players in the full international squad, Eric Dier must now work out which position is his best. It looks to be as a defensive midfielder, but the 23-year-old has often been used as a central defender in a back three for both Tottenham and England, stuttering his development.

Former Sporting Lisbon man Dier will cost you around the £80 million mark, with wages of £60,000 a week. That cost will get you his abilities of 17 pace, 17 versatility and 16 positioning, giving him a 156 CA and 167 PA.

Saido Berahino (CA 132 – PA 165)

Age: 23

Position: ST, M (R), AM (RC)

Club: Stoke City

Best attributes: 16 finishing, 15 first touch, 15 balance

Value: £14 million

Wage: £80,000 a week

Given that Saido Berahino hasn’t scored since February 2016, it’s amazing to see him in the top 10 if English wonderkids on Football Manager 2018. That goal drought means he has failed to find the net during his two seasons at Stoke, but still aged 23, it could just take one superb season to get him back on track.

On FM, Berahino’s stats of 16 finishing, 15 first touch and 15 balance give him a 132 CA, which can rise to a potential of 165. You are looking at close to £25 million to sign him up, with wages of £80,000 a week. 

More English wonderkids

*Denotes player on loan

Who have you signed on FM? Let us know in the comments section below

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