Football Manager 2018 Wonderkids: All the best French players to sign


Make no bones about it, France should have won Euro 2016. Perhaps a slight lack of experience cost them in the end, but there is no doubt Les Bleus produced the best football of the tournament. Fast forward two years, and France are looking to make amends at the World Cup in Russia. Even more young talent has come through in the past 18 months, and you wouldn’t bet against them going deep into the tournament.

What is a wonderkid?

The French have one of the largest pools to pick from in terms of players, and it will be interesting to see who coach Didier Deschamps will take to Russia. With so many young stars, we look at the best French wonderkids to sign on Football Manager 2018. All these youngsters are aged 23 and under with a potential ability (PA) rating of at least 150. 

For a full list of our French wonderkid, visit the table at the bottom of this page.

Kylian Mbappe (CA 147 – PA 170-200)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 18

Positions: ST, AM (RL)

Club: Paris SG (on loan from Monaco)

Best attributes: 18 flair, 18 adaptability, 18 ambition

Value: £47 million

Wage: £17,000 a week

The biggest young talent in world football, there is a reason behind his massive £166 million move from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain. The 18-year-old bagged 26 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season, as Monaco won the Ligue 1 title and reached the Champions League semifinals. 

With Mbappe only on an initial loan deal which will be made permanent next summer, you will have to wait 12 months before moving for him. His transfer fee is likely to be well over £200 million, with his wages of £17,000 set for a large increase, so you won’t be able to get hold of him unless you hack the game to give yourself a mammoth transfer budget. Mbappe’s 147 current ability rating can improve to a potential between 170 and 200, with his best stats his 18 flair, 18 adaptability and 18 ambition. 

Anthony Martial (CA 150 – PA 160-190)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 21

Positions: AM (L), ST

Club: Manchester United

Best attributes: 18 temperament, 18 dribbling, 18 acceleration

Value: £33 million

Wage: £110,000 a week

A frustrating man to watch for Manchester United fans, but there are signs that this could be the season that things all click into place for Anthony Martial. However, despite showing promise with 11 goals so far this term, the arrival of fellow left winger Alexis Sanchez could hinder the 21-year-old Martial.

Martial, who can also play as a striker, has stats of 18 temperament, 18 dribbling and 18 acceleration, giving him a CA of 150. You will need a bid of just over £100 million to snap up his 160-190 PA, with his wages currently £110,000 a week. 

Theo Hernandez (CA 134 – PA 160-190)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 19

Positions: D (L), WB (L), M (L), AM (L)

Club: Real Madrid

Best attributes: 15 ambition, 15 pace, 15 stamina

Value: £5 million

Wage: £103,000 a week

A superb loan spell at Alaves last season caused Real Madrid to pinch left back Theo Hernandez off rivals Atletico. The 19-year-old is the perfect understudy to the experienced Marcelo, and it will be a smooth transition when Hernandez become the first choice in a few years’ time. 

French U20 international Hernandez has a 134 CA which can rise to a potential between 160 and 190. For his 15 ambition, 15 pace and 15 stamina you will need £75 million and wages of £103,000 a week.

Ousmane Dembele (CA 162 – PA 185)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 20

Positions: M (RL), AM (RLC)

Club: Barcelona

Best attributes: 18 pace, 17 flair, 17 ambition

Value: £52 million

Wage: £206,000 a week

Another youngster subject to a massive move last summer, Ousmane Dembele switched Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona in a £136 million move. The 20-year-old has been hit by injuries since, but with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez now both in their 30s, Barca are now looking ahead to the future.

Wide midfielder or winger Dembele will set you back well over £200 million, with wages of £206,000 a week. That will get you his 162 current ability rating, which can rise to a 185 potential. His best stats include 18 pace, 17 flair and 17 ambition. 

Alban Lafont (CA 124 – PA 150-180)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 18

Positions: GK

Club: Toulouse

Best attributes: 17 jumping, 17 pressure, 15 ambition

Value: £3 million

Wage: £8,000 a week

A very promising goalkeeper, you can expect Alban Lafont to be moving on from Toulouse in the near future. The 18-year-old already has over 90 games for the French club under his belt, keeping a clean sheet in a third of them. Lafont has been linked with a move to Arsenal as a long-term replacement for Petr Cech, but it may all depend upon whether Toulouse beat the drop, as they lie just one point clear of the relegation zone in Ligue 1. 

Lafont’s stats of 17 jumping, 17 pressure and 15 ambition give him a CA of 124. With a potential between 150 and 180, you will need a bid upwards of £70 million to get hold of him his wages of £8,000 likely needing to be increased. 

Willem Geubbels (CA 98 – PA 150-180)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 15

Positions: ST, AM (RL)

Club: Lyon

Best attributes: 16 temperament, 14 jumping, 14 natural fitness

Value: £300,000

Wage: £100 a week

At 15, Willem Geubbels is one of Football Manager’s unknown prospects. However, the striker or winger has played four games for Lyon this season, which is remarkable given his age. Expect a bright future for the youngster who has already worked his way up to French U18 level. 

16 temperament, 14 jumping and 14 natural fitness take Geubbels to a 98 current ability rating. You will need just £5 million to get hold of his potential between 150 and 180, but expect an advancement on his £100 a week wages. 

Claudio Gomes (CA 92 – PA 150-180)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 17

Positions: DM

Club: Paris SG

Best attributes: 15 aggression, 15 natural fitness, 14 agility

Value: £200,000

Wage: £1,000 a week

Claudio Gomes is yet to play for PSG, but given the 17-year-old is the captain of the France U18 side, he has been earmarked for a promising career. The defensive midfielder is of the Claude Makelele mould, standing at just five foot four inches tall, so his technical ability and work rate must be superb. 

Gomes will set you back £25 million, with wages of only £1,000 a week. That will get you his 15 aggression, 15 natural fitness and 14 agility, providing him with a 92 CA and PA between 150 and 180. 

Amine Gouiri (CA 90 – PA 150-180)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 17

Positions: ST, AM (L)

Club: Lyon

Best attributes: 14 crossing, 14 dribbling, 14 decisions

Value: £200,000

Wage: £3,000 a week

Despite being just 17 years’ old, Amine Gouiri has already represented Lyon eight times. The striker or left wingers scored an incredible 20 goals in just 15 games for France U17s, and he now has five in four for the U18s. Lyon are managing his development well, and he could become a first team regular next season.

14 crossing, 14 dribbling and 14 decisions give Gouiri a 90 CA. This can grow to a potential between 150 and 180, costing just £5 million and wages of £3,000 a week. 

Thomas Lemar (CA 149 – PA 172)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 21

Positions: AM (LRC), M (L)

Club: AS Monaco

Best attributes: 18 sportsmanship, 17 technique, 17 free kick taking

Value: £25 million

Wage: £89,000 a week

Subject to recent interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, Thomas Lemar has kept his head down and continued to show his quality at Monaco. The left winger scored 14 goals and notched 17 assists in Monaco’s fantastic campaign last season, putting him in with a shout of going to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The 21-year-old Lemar will cost you around £120 million with wages of £89,000 a week. That will get you his 149 CA and 172 PA, with stats of 18 sportsmanship, 17 technique and 17 free kick taking. 

Kingsley Coman (CA 153 – PA 171)

click to enlarge
+ 10

Age: 21

Positions: M (LR), AM (LRC)

Club: Bayern

Best attributes: 19 pace, 18 ambition, 17 temperament, 

Value: £31 million

Wage: £69,000 a week

With Franck Ribery out injured earlier in the campaign, it has provided Kingsley Coman with the chance to impress at Bayern Munich this season. The winger has scored six goals and grabbed eight assists, which isn’t quite good enough for a club of Bayern’s stature. With Ribery and Arjen Robben coming towards the end of their careers, you wonder if the club has faith in Coman going forward.

The 21-year-old has stats of 19 pace, 18 ambition and 17 temperament on the game, giving him a CA of 153. His potential of 171 will set you back just under £100 million with wages of £69,000 a week. 

More French wonderkids

Player
Age
Pos
Club
CA/ PA
Value
Wage
Aymeric Laporte
23
D (C)
Athletic Bilbao
153/ 170
£21m
£146k
Samuel Umtiti
23
D (CL)
Barcelona
160/ 167
£47m
£111k
Dayot Upamecano
18
D (C)
RBL
128/ 167
£6m
£41k
Corentin Tolisso
22
M (C) DM AM (C)
Bayern
152/ 165
£27m
£120k
Adrien Rabiot
22
M (C) DM
PSG
147/ 165
£21m
£51k
Lucas
21
D (CL) WB (L)
Atletico Madrid
135/ 165
£5m
£20k
Benjamin Pavard
21
D (CR)
Stuttgart
129/ 165
£4m
£8k
Presnel Kimpembe
21
D (C)
PSG
141/ 164
£10m
£35k
Kurt Zouma
22
D (CR)
Stoke*
149/ 162
£42m
£40k
Tiemoue Bakayoko
22
DM M (C)
Chelsea
142/ 162
£25m
£120k
Jean-Kevin Augustin
20
ST M (R) AM (R)
RBL
131/ 161
£8m
£68k
Vincent Koziello
21
M (C)
Nice
127/ 159
£5m
£8k
Benjamin Mendy
23
D (L) WB (L)
Man City
146/ 156
£23m
£100k
Wylan Cyprien
22
M (C) DM AM (C)
Nice
130/ 154
£5m
£6k
Abdou Diallo
21
D (CL)
Mainz
129/ 153
£4m
£13k
Arthur Masuaku
23
D (L) WB (L) M (L)
West Ham
133/ 150
£10m
£40k

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

Looking for wonderkids?

Best Wonderkid Centre Backs

Best Wonderkid Left Backs

Best Wonderkid Right Backs

Best Wonderkid Wingers

Best Wonderkid Strikers

Best Wonderkid Attacking Midfielders

Best Wonderkid Brazilians

Best Wonderkid Goalkeepers

Spanish Wonderkids

On a tight budget?

Contract Expiry Signings

Bargain Centre Backs

Bargain Wingers

Bargain Strikers

Bargain Attacking Midfielders

Bargain Right Backs

Bargain Left Backs

For more articles like this, take a look at our Football Manager page.