Football Manager 2022: All the FM22 wonderkids you'll need to sign

Fans have been speculating about which wonderkids will be best-rated in Football Manager 2022, ever since the 2021 version of the game was updated in March.

While FM don't release the list explicitly, however, there are young players that we can expect to have extraordinary potential on this year's game, from their exploits in the real world. 

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When you start the game, you're going to want to sign at least a couple of these kids...

Goalkeepers

In Football Manager, goalkeeper is the one position that you want a little experience in - but if you can pick up a wonderkid, you might as well.

Given that keepers tend to mature later, your best best is probably to sign a keeper aged between 23 and 26 if you're playing the long game. Still, with these options all under 21 set to mature into formidable custodians over the next couple of decades of your save, it's worth having a young stopper or two in the ranks.

Right-backs

If you take over an English side in FM, chances are your academy will have five right-backs ready and waiting for you, right?

All jokes aside, right-back is an interesting position of potential. There are naturally more right-footers than left in the game, leaving a clutch of footballers who were shunted out to right-back for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they're natural defenders not good enough in the centre - or maybe they're rapid wingers, capable of man-marking.

One thing to look for in the modern game: a midfielder profile now playing at right-back. Always look through the stats to see what kind of full-back you're signing.

Centre-backs

Buy a dominant centre-back now and you can sort your team for the next 15 years. While many defenders on the game come with adjustment periods, however, it's more than possible that you can use a wonderkid as your third- or fourth-choice in defence.

And with a lot of centre-backs in Football Manager, versatility is your friend. Some of these lads might be able to fill in at full-back for you or even in defensive midfield, should you be trying to hold onto a lead. 

Left-backs

Left-back might well be the most difficult spot in the team to find a world-class player, just because of how few specialist left-footed full-backs are out there.

In Football Manager 2022, there are plenty of good options under the age of 21 who can flourish into top left-backs, left-wing-backs or even centre-backs. 

Defensive midfielders

Defensive midfield is somewhere in FM that you need someone with strength, stamina and good reading of the game - so you might not want to entrust such an important role to such a young star. 

In the modern game though, there are plenty of youngsters who can thrive at the base of a midfield. These picks are all specialist DMs - but they can just so easily slot into a more central position, too. 

Central midfielders

Central midfielders might be the players with the most scope for development of any players on the pitch in Football Manager. A good CM could well be remoulded into just about anything - an attacking midfielder, a controller, a wide-man... perhaps even a full-back. 

If you're playing a three-man midfield, you can afford to give a youngster a spot in the side every week. This is the heart of your side, so it makes sense to buy a wonderkid or two who will become the longterm spine of your team. 

Attacking midfielders

Attacking midfield is perhaps where you'll find the majority of wonderkids in Football Manager on any given year. Given that it's a luxury position in which many youth coaches play their best talents in the hope that they'll develop their technical abilities - and thus make them more valuable - you can move for quality teenage no.10s.

But if you're looking to build a side that might not accommodate a young, pass-heavy starlet, a lot of these players can be re-trained either to wingers or midfielders - some of these, too, are more like second-strikers who can become conventional centre-forwards in time.

Right-wingers

In the modern game, the vast majority of the right-wingers that you'll find will be left-footed - and often, left-footers tend to be more creative. Many of these players are capable of playing as midfielders but generally, these are the players who could well become the creative spark in your team for the next decade.

Be sure to analyse your stats in full to see what kind of player you have on your hands, though - there are plenty of goal-grabbing players in this lot, while there are some touchline wingers, too. 

Left-wingers

Traditionally, left-wingers are interesting players in Football Manager. As mentioned, left-footers tend to be rarer and more creative than right-footers - making the majority of left-wingers nowadays attackers who can cut in on their right foot and score. 

There are a fair amount of creative players too in this particular list, while players who are equally good with both feet tend to just be described as right-footed. As ever, make sure you analyse exactly what kind of player you're getting.

Strikers

Find a goalscorer in Football Manager and you've hit the jackpot.

Quite literally, in some cases, as you can sell them on. A good striker in FM will often mature in their mid-20s but if you can find one a little earlier, it's possible to keep the goals rolling for years to come. 

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