Don’t know where to look for signings on FIFA 18’s Career Mode? Sometimes it can be incredibly tricky, with some clubs wanting you to keep a close eye on your finances. Don’t worry, there is always a player out there who fits the bill, and you'd be surprised how many talented gems there are in the lower leagues. We take a look at the cream of the crop on the game.
READ: FIFA 19 Career Mode: Top Lower League Gems
Advantages of lower league gems
There is less money in the lower leagues, so this has a knock-on effect on transfers. Just think when was the last time a top-flight club was held to ransom by a minnow? In some cases, these players are just as talented as some Premier League or La Liga players, so if you look hard enough you can find a great deal. All of these players have potentials of at least 81, and they won't cost more than £13 million.
For a full list of our lower league gems, look at the table towards the end of this page.
Alena (OVR 73 – POT 89)
Age: 19
Positions: CM, RM, CAM
Club: Barcelona B (Spanish Segunda Division)
Country: Spain
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 82 short passing, 80 dribbling, 79 acceleration
Cost: £16.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000
Barcelona B features heavily in this top 10, with the club having such a prestigious academy. Pep Guardiola, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique have all come through La Masia, with midfielder Alena the current top talent coming through the B side.
The central, right or attacking midfielder is rated at 73 on the game, with an outstanding potential of 89. With 82 short passing, 80 dribbling and 79 acceleration you feel he can’t be far off a call-up to the senior team. £16.3 million is a pretty good price for a player who will go on to be one of the best in the world, with his current wages just £4,000 a week.
Vitinho (OVR 71 – POT 86)
Age: 19
Positions: CAM, LW, RW, CM
Club: Barcelona B (Spanish Segunda Division)
Country: Brazil
Work rate: Medium/Low
Best stats: 74 ball control, 73 balance, 72 long shots
Cost: £9.6 million (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
There is competition for who is to be the premier architect at Barcelona B, with the 19-year-old Vitinho possessing plenty of talent. The attacking midfielder, winger or central midfielder is actually on loan at Barca from Brazilian club Palmeiras, but this deal has been made permanent on FIFA 18.
Vitinho’s 71 overall consists of 74 ball control, 73 balance and 72 long shots, making him very dangerous around the edge of the box. His 86 potential matches the current overall of James Rodriguez, and you can snap him up by matching his £9.6 million release clause. With weekly wages of just £3,000 you should move fast for the young Brazilian.
Marc Cucurella (OVR 68 – POT 86)
Age: 18
Positions: LB
Club: Barcelona B (Spanish Segunda Division)
Country: Spain
Work rate: High/High
Best stats: 88 stamina, 87 acceleration, 86 sprint speed
Cost: £3.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £2,000
It’s a Barcelona B team hat-trick with Marc Cucurella completing the top three. The 18-year-old left back has been the club’s regular left back this season, and has chipped in with two assists from his eight games so far.
The Spain U19s international will set you back only £3.1 million and £2,000 a week wages, a great price for the 18-year-old. With his 68 overall made up by 88 stamina, 87 acceleration and 86 sprint speed, he'll charge up and down the touchline for his side. His 86 potential allows him to become one of the best left backs in the world.
Ryan Sessegnon (OVR 66 – POT 85)
Age: 17
Positions: LB, LW
Club: Fulham (English Championship)
Country: England
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 84 sprint speed, 83 balance, 80 acceleration
Cost: £2.5 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
Linked with a move to Tottenham over the past year, Ryan Sessegnon is a regular Championship starter at the age of just 17. The left back or winger has already featured 15 times for Fulham this season, and it looks like it won’t be long before he makes that step up to the Premier League.
His 66 FIFA 18 overall is helped by 84 sprint speed, 83 balance and 80 acceleration. With a potential of 85, you should jump at the chance to snap up the teenager, especially with a release clause of just £2.5 million and £5,000 a week wages.
Ben Brereton (OVR 66 – POT 85)
Age: 18
Positions: ST, RM
Club: Nottingham Forest (English Championship)
Country: England
Work rate: High/High
Best stats: 88 acceleration, 85 sprint speed, 72 dribbling
Cost: £3 million (release clause)
Wage: £5,000
At the age of 18, Nottingham Forest’s Ben Brereton has bags of potential, but the striker needs to improve his output. In 29 appearances for the club, he has only scored three times, so manager Mark Warburton may soon lose patience with him.
Brereton, who can also operate as a right midfielder, has 88 acceleration, 85 sprint speed and 72 dribbling on the game, contributing towards his 66 overall. His potential of 85 would make him one of the best strikers on the planet, so for £3 million and £5,000 a week wages you would be foolish not to move for him.
Oriol Busquets (OVR 66 – POT 85)
Age: 18
Positions: CDM, CM
Club: Barcelona B (Spanish Segunda Division)
Country: Spain
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 74 strength, 73 stamina, 70 standing tackle
Cost: £2.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £1,000
Back to Barcelona B, with Oriol Busquets providing the steel in midfield. No relation to Barca regular Sergio, Busquets has only just started to feature for Barca B this season. The 18-year-old has progressed up to the Spanish U19 side, so keep an eye on his development over the next few campaigns.
The defensive or central midfield has a 66 rating on the game, with a solid potential of 85. 74 strength, 73 stamina and 70 standing tackle are his best stats, and you are looking at just £2.3 million to sign him. His £1,000 a week wages make it a question of when, not if, you be moving for him?
Adama Traore (OVR 73 – POT 85)
Age: 21
Positions: RM, RW
Club: Middlesbrough (English Championship)
Country: Spain
Work rate: High/Low
Best stats: 95 sprint speed, 92 acceleration, 85 dribbling
Cost: £12.9 million (release clause)
Wage: £13,000
Coveted by Chelsea in the summer, Middlesbrough’s flying Adama Traore is one of the most dangerous wide men in The Championship. With just one assist in the Premier League last season, Adama didn’t show a fair account of himself, but the Spaniard has already tripled that score this season.
The 21-year-old right midfielder or winger has electric 95 sprint speed, 92 acceleration and 85 dribbling in his game, explaining why he was once on Barcelona’s books. His 73 overall will cost you £12.9 million and £13,000 a week wages, certainly worth it for Adama’s 85 potential.
David Carmona (OVR 70 – POT 84)
Age: 20
Positions: RB, RM, RWB
Club: Sevilla Atletico (Spanish Segunda Division)
Country: Spain
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best stats: 89 stamina, 81 sprint speed, 75 acceleration
Cost: £6.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £3,000
David Carmona is a permanent fixture in defence for Sevilla Atletico in the Spanish Segunda Division. The right back, midfielder or wing-back featured 41 times in the league last season for Sevilla’s B side, and has two appearances so far for the senior team.
The talented 20-year-old will cost you £6.7 million to sign on Career Mode, with his wages only £3,000 a week. He possesses 89 stamina, 81 sprint speed, and 75 acceleration which make up his 70 overall rating. His 84 potential would take him to the same level as former Sevilla man Dani Alves.
Andre Green (OVR 68 – POT 84)
Age: 18
Positions: LM, LW
Club: Aston Villa (English Championship)
Country: England
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 83 sprint speed, 80 acceleration, 75 agility
Cost: £4.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £10,000
It’s been a difficult couple of years for Aston Villa after suffering relegation from the Premier League in 2016, but things may be starting to change at Villa Park. Under Steve Bruce they have a great blend of youth experience, with Andre Green playing alongside the calm heads of John Terry and Glenn Whelan.
Left midfielder or winger Green has a 68 overall on FIFA 18, with his potential a highly impressive 84. The 18-year-old has 83 sprint speed, 80 acceleration and 75 agility, making him a nightmare for opposing right backs. For just £4.1 million it’s a move you must consider, but will you be willing to pay his £10,000 a week wages.
Rico Henry (OVR 68 – POT 84)
Age: 19
Positions: LB, LWB, LM
Club: Brentford (English Championship)
Country: England
Work rate: High/Medium
Best stats: 93 acceleration, 91 agility, 90 sprint speed
Cost: £3.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £10,000
One of the Championship’s brightest talents, 19-year-old Rico Henry is progressing brilliantly, and looks set for the Premier League. The left back, wing-back or midfielder was a starter for League One side Walsall at the age of just 17, and you can’t help but compare the youngsters rise to England international Dele Alli, who came from League One.
Henry has a 68 overall on this year’s FIFA, with his potential enabling him to reach 84. His 93 acceleration, 91 agility and 90 sprint speed make him a threat going forward, and those skills can be yours for only £3.8 million on Career Mode. His weekly wages of £10,000 are a bit steep, but you should pay up for the talented full back.
More lower league gems
Player | Age | Pos | Club | Country | OVR/ POT | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferdinando Del Sole | 19 | RW | Pescara | Italy | 65/ 84 | £2.3m | £968 |
Andre Dozzell | 18 | CM CAM | Ipswich | England | 64/ 84 | £2.4m | £3k |
Ronaldo Vieira | 19 | CDM CM | Leeds | England | 69/ 83 | £4.3m | £9k |
Dael Fry | 19 | CB | Middlesbro’ | England | 68/ 83 | £3.9m | £5k |
Matty Cash | 19 | CM RM CAM | Nott’m Forest | England | 65/ 83 | £3m | £4k |
Abel Ruiz | 17 | ST LW RW | Barcelona B | Spain | 64/ 83 | £1.7m | £1k |
Emmanuel Latte Lath | 18 | RW | Pescara | Italy | 63/ 83 | £1.7m | £880 |
Jose Arnaiz | 22 | LM ST RM | Barcelona B | Spain | 62/ 83 | £8.5m | £5k |
Lucas Torro | 22 | CDM CM | Osasuna | Spain | 71/ 82 | £5.7m | £6k |
Liam Kelly | 21 | CM CAM CDM | Reading | Republic of Ireland | 71/ 82 | £7.4m | £17k |
C = Cost
W = Wage
Who have you snapped up from the lower leagues? Let us know in the comments section below.
On a tight budget?
Looking for free players?
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2018 (First Season)
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2019 (Second Season)
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2020 (Third Season)
Contract Expiry Signings Ending in 2021 (Fourth Season)
Looking for other cheap high potential players?
Best cheap high potential centre backs (CB)
Best cheap high potential left backs (LB)
Best cheap high potential right backs (RB)
Best cheap high potential right wingers (RW) & midfielders (RM)
Best cheap high potential left wingers (LW) & midfielders (LM)
Best cheap high potential attacking midfielders (CAM)
Best cheap high potential strikers
Looking for FIFA 18 wonderkids? Just click the link below:
Midfielders (CMs, CAMs & CDMs)
Looking for FIFA 18 young players in other positions?
Best young right wingers & right midfielders (RW & RM)
Best young left wingers & left midfielders (LW & LM)
Best young attacking midfielders (CAM)
Best young central midfielders (CM)
Best young defensive midfielders (CDM)
Looking for tall players?
Want to boost your players' stats?
FIFA 18 Chemistry Styles: The Ultimate Guide