Every new year of FIFA offers a chance to take a glimpse at the next generation of superstars, and that’s exactly the case with FIFA 23‘s wonderkids once again. While Haaland and Mbappe may be graduates from the hype academy and are now bona fide superstars, there’s a new crop of football wonderkids coming through all the time. But if you’re not a PSG or Manchester City, you might want to shop around for some cheap young players in FIFA 23.
A large part of what makes Career Mode in FIFA 23 so appealing is growing a dynasty and leaving your own mark on the footballing world, a lot of that thanks to the players you sign and cultivate along the way. Snapping up FIFA 23 wonderkids sets you on the right path towards domination, while looking to save some money with cheap youngsters helps you to fix the glaring problems in the here and now. There’s nothing quite like signing a diamond in the rough for next to nothing and then seeing your investment get returned more than tenfold.
Our FIFA 23 wonderkids guide features all of the superstars in waiting that you should sign on the cheap as soon as you can this year. It ranges from names you will probably be very familiar with if you played last year, but there are some newer names that are looking to break out. We’ve gone for the gamut of cheap youngsters too, from the solid defenders with lots of strength to pacy wingers who can win you a match all on their own — you could even make a wonderkid XI out of what we’ve selected below.
With the January 2023 transfer window long gone, here are the FIFA 23 wonderkids you can buy on the cheap, who all have value of less than €5,000,000 with release clauses of around €10,000,000 so that most clubs can sign future stars without breaking the bank. Chelsea, stay away from these players.
FIFA 23 Wonderkids
Maarten Vandevoordt (GK)
Age: 20
Rating: 70
Potential: 84
Nationality: Belgian
Current Club: KRC Genk
Value: €3M (€7.2M release clause)
There may soon come a day when Maarten Vandevoordt doesn’t make it onto some kind of FIFA wonderkid list, but until then he’s always worth highlighting as a cheap pair of hands who will go a long way for you in your Career Mode.
Maarten Vandevoordt hasn’t changed much for FIFA this year, starting out as a decent back-up option who can really flourish when given a few more opportunities. Send him out on loan or give him regular appearances in cups and watch as he start to contest the #1 spot.
Kjell Peersman (GK)
Age: 18
Rating: 60
Potential: 81
Nationality: Belgian
Current Club: PSV
Value: €700k (€1.7M release clause)
Tired of signing Vandevoordt when every single new FIFA comes out? Try PSV’s Kjell Peersman on for size instead, another young Belgian with a big career on his hands (at least according to EA’s scouts).
While not as good in either overall or potential rating, Kjell Peersman is a cheap option has huge room for growth over your save. He starts off at just 60 but can end up in the 80s, making him one of the most satisfying wonderkids to watch flourish in the game.
Guillaume Restes (GK)
Age: 17
Rating: 60
Potential: 83
Nationality: French
Current Club: Toulouse
Value: €700k (€2.1M release clause)
If you want a slight step up from Peersman and remember the wonderkid legend that was Alban Lafont, you will love Guillaume Restes in this year’s FIFA, as long as you don’t expect the world from him from the first whistle.
Restes has the potential to improve by almost 25 points, which is one of the biggest gaps in the game. That means you will have to be patient with him, perhaps send him out on loan or don’t expect him to immediately save every shot. Try to improve his distribution and watch him thrive.
Noah Mbamba (CB)
Age: 17
Rating: 64
Potential: 84
Nationality: Belgian
Current Club: Club Brugge
Value: €1.5M (€3.6M release clause)
While he’s suffered a pretty heavy potential decline from previous year, it’s difficult to suggest Noah Mbamba still doesn’t have a bright future ahead of him. He could also have a pretty bright future in your FIFA 23 team, as long he gets minutes.
Relatively nimble with a lot of strength for someone his age, Noah Mbamba takes very little time before he starts to flourish into a better central defender. Coming in at just under 6″2, this Belgian wonderkid can go on to have potential matching some of the best CBs across the whole game.
Giorgio Scalvini (CB)
Age: 18
Rating: 70
Potential: 86
Nationality: Italian
Current Club: Atalanta (Bergamo Calcio)
Value: €3.8M (€8.8M release clause)
Italy is well known for its long lineage of legendary CBs, and EA seem to think the next in that proud history will be Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, who starts off with a rating that would make him a good starting CB on loan for most second tier clubs.
But you want to sign Giorgio Scalvini permanently if you can, though, as his potential rating may see him become one of the absolute best players in the game. At 6″3 and with insane tackling from day one, this might be the de facto best defensive wonderkid in FIFA 23.
Fabio Chiarodia (CB)
Age: 17
Rating: 60
Potential: 83
Nationality: Italian
Current Club: Werder Bremen
Value: €725k (€2M release clause)
If you liked Scalvini but are shopping on a bit more of a budget, why don’t you try Fabio Chiarodia from Werder Bremen, another Italian wonderkid with a frankly crazy potential ceiling? It’s not often you see someone for this cheap with +20 potential growth.
Standing 6″1 tall, Chiarodia’s physical attributes are rock solid for a 17 year old with impressive strength to boot, though he’s a bit on the slow side. He can more than make up for that with the right development, especially if you continue to hone his already decent tackling.
Jarrad Branthwaite (CB)
Age: 20
Rating: 68
Potential: 84
Nationality: English
Current Club: PSV (on loan from Everton)
Value: €3M
While he’s on loan at the start of your save, sometimes players like Branthwaite are worth waiting for, especially as he will likely be an even better player by the end of his loan, as well as still only 21.
Tipped as one of the best young English CBs on the cusp of breaking through in a big way, Jarrad Branthwaite is deceptively fast for a player his height and will only get stronger as the years get by. Jarrad Branthwaite at the center of your defense on corners just doesn’t concede.
Arnau Martínez (RB/RWB)
Age: 19
Rating: 71
Potential: 83
Nationality: Spanish
Current Club: Girona
Value: €4.3M (€10.3M release clause)
Everyone who’s played any kind of football game before knows just how hard it is to find a young cheap right-back, so Arnau Martínez kind of breaks our rules a little bit in terms of spending for our FIFA 23 wonderkids. However, he may just turn out to be worth every single penny.
Though not the fastest full-back (who can also play wing-back) in the game, what you get from Arnau Martínez is a player who can do a lot of jobs very solidly. He can tackle, head, and even cross, though perhaps doesn’t excel when it comes to the creative side of the game. But if you just want an absolute stopper to cover the wings, you know where to look.
Gonçalo Esteves (RB/RWB)
Age: 18
Rating: 70
Potential: 85
Nationality: Portuguese
Current Club: Estoril (on loan from Sporting CP)
Value: €3.5M
Gonçalo Esteves is RB for those who love to watch their wonderkids grow over the years, as well as those who don’t mind waiting an extra season for his loan at Estoril to be up so you can swoop in and buy him on the cheap from Sporting.
While he will no doubt have higher value in his second season, you really shouldn’t expect to pay all that much for Esteves, even though he has no release clause. He’s solid on the ball with the pace to match, but will need a lot of honing if you’re playing him in a more advanced RWB role.
Milos Kerkez (LB)
Age: 18
Rating: 68
Potential: 85
Nationality: Hungarian
Current Club: AZ
Value: €2.9M (€6.2M release clause)
Milos Kerkez may be, pound for pound, the best value young player across all of FIFA 23. It’s hard to find a player with potential in the mid-80s that you can get for dirt cheap, but this young Hungarian is insanely affordable, even if you’re in a lower tier.
Absolutely rapid (so much so that he may even be decent as an attacker) with the stamina to boot, you’re going to want to train the defensive side of his game and improve his ball control. But show a bit of patience with this FIFA 23 wonderkid and he could take you very far indeed.
Cristian Riquelme (LB)
Age: 18
Rating: 60
Potential: 83
Nationality: Chilean
Current Club: Everton de Viña
Value: €750k (€1.8M release clause)
Now here’s a left-back for any club outside of the top tier(s) who wants a LB who is almost ready to go right from the off. Everton de Viña del Mar’s (yes, they’re pretty much the Chilean Everton) Cristian Riquelme boasts one of the highest potential ceiling in the game, but his speed sees him through from day one.
At 18, Cristian Riquelme will become a starring player by his early 20s, and while it’s doubtful that he’ll ever manage to become the #1 pick at an elite club, he can do a job at pretty much level. Give him minutes and train the technical side of his game to see him flourish.
Fabio Miretti (CM/CDM)
Age: 18
Rating: 72
Potential: 85
Nationality: Italian
Current Club: Juventus
Value: €3.7M (€8.6M release clause)
EA really seem to think that Italians are the future when it comes to cheap wonderkids, as here’s another one that can more than do a job in most sides at just 18. While he may be pricier than most cheap youngsters listed here, Fabio Miretti will almost definitely be worth the money.
What should immediately stand out about Miretti is his ability on the ball and how he gets about, as, while he isn’t the fastest, he has a certain silkiness and intelligence to his play, no doubt helped by solid passing. Let this midfield general flourish and make quite the profit down the line.
Charlie Patino (CM/CDM)
Age: 18
Rating: 64
Potential: 85
Nationality: English
Current Club: Blackpool (on loan from Arsenal)
Value: €1.9M
You’re going to have to wait before you sign Charlie Patino in your FIFA 23 save, but considering he has the potential to go on to become one of the best English midfielders in absolutely no time at all, patience really is a virtue.
While perhaps a bit too weak in the tackle (at least at the start of a save) to really become a world class CDM, his overall game is sound and balanced, so much so that you can mould him into whatever kind of midfielder you like. He’s not lightning fast or very strong, but Patino can really make a midfield work.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (CAM)
Age: 18
Rating: 67
Potential: 86
Nationality: Ghanaian
Current Club: Sporting CP
Value: €2.6M (€6.8M release clause)
While not exactly boasting the catchiest name in football, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku is going to catch you a lot of money when you eventually resell him in your FIFA 23 Career Mode. Already a fairly decent prospect at the start of the game, this 85+ potential beast can rampage through the final third.
Blessed with lots of pace and skill on the ball, the young Ghanaian is very underwhelming when it comes to strength, perhaps unsurprising considering he’s only 5″8. If you don’t need you CAMs to be heading in ten goals a season, this is one very skillful young player that the EA scouts seem to have a lot of faith in.
Plus, check out all those traits.
Mateus Fernandes (CM/CAM)
Age: 17
Rating: 66
Potential: 85
Nationality: Portuguese
Current Club: Sporting CP
Value: €2.1M
Yet another cheap young star coming from the Sporting wonderkid factory, Mateus Fernandes is much-hyped in his native Portugal, and it seems that EA are quite taken by him too judging from his FIFA 23 stats.
Already boasting four star skill moves and weak foot at just 18 years of age, Fernandes knows what to do with the ball at his feet, though his shooting and defending is severely wanting at this stage of his career. Give him time, though, and he might match his namesake that managed a move to Manchester United.
All that flair doesn’t hurt, either.
Sidney Raebiger (CM/CAM)
Age: 17
Rating: 62
Potential: 84
Nationality: German
Current Club: SpVgg Greuther Fürth
Value: €1.2M (€3.1M release clause)
Sidney Raebiger fills the Havertz/Wirtz role of young German midfield dynamo in FIFA this year, but he can be yours for a lot less than when either of those two players started breaking through — and he could end up just as good.
Available at an absolute snip in terms of a release clause, Raebiger doesn’t immediately stand out as a major player at the start of a Career save, but work on his ball control and watch him flourish, even if he could always be a bit faster. Try him as a box-to-box if he doesn’t work out as a no. 10.
Luke Harris (CAM)
Age: 17
Rating: 61
Potential: 84
Nationality: Welsh
Current Club: Fulham
Value: €1M (€2.9M release clause)
One of the most promising young Welsh players since a certain Real Madrid legend (no pressure), Luke Harris is only 17 but is already getting a lot of excited whispers in the English game. His place in the pecking order at Fulham means buying him should be no trouble at all.
Perhaps a bit too slow to be labelled the best wonderkid in the game, but Harris is solid on the ball and knows how to keep things ticking over. His shooting need a lot of work as an attacking player, but don’t forget that he’s only 17 — there’s a lot of room to grow here.
Sávio (RW)
Age: 18
Rating: 70
Potential: 86
Nationality: Brazilian
Current Club: PSV (on loan from Troyes)
Value: €4M
One of many cheap FIFA 23 wonderkids from Brazil that you can pick up and watch absolutely explode, Sávio Moreira de Oliveira starts off on loan so you’re going to have to bide your time. He’s already a bit of a diamond in the first season, so just image how good he will be come the second.
While billed as a winger, Sávio actually seems better suited for a CAM role, as he doesn’t exactly light the wings up with speed. But a quick glance at his passing and crossing will show you that he’s a cheap youngster that you need to scoop up as soon as you can.
Kayky (RW)
Age: 19
Rating: 66
Potential: 86
Nationality: Brazilian
Current Club: Paços de Ferreira (on loan from Manchester City)
Value: €2.4M (€6.8M release clause)
Time is somehow already running out for Kayky to make much of a name for himself at Manchester City, but what means for you is a cheap wonderkid who they won’t mind letting go of, especially when you consider everyone in front of him in the City squad.
Touted as one of the most promising Brazilians breaking through, Kayky boasts brilliant dribbling for someone his age as well as good pace, with both things likely only getting better the more he plays. He is a bit on the weak side both in terms of actual strength and finishing, but these will both improve with time and patience.
Luca Oyen (LW)
Age: 19
Rating: 67
Potential: 85
Nationality: Belgian
Current Club: KRC Genk
Value: €2.6M (€5.5M release clause)
Luca Oyen and others prove that Belgium’s golden generation is just going to keep on going, with him being a pretty solid player as soon as you take the reins at your new club. He could already do a great job for a league that’s below the top tier.
However, Oyen has a lot of room to grow in his skillset, as while he’s blessed when it comes to the agility and dribbling side of his game, he lacks a lot in the final third. The right training regimen and plenty of match experience can fix that, though, so you can end up making quite a tidy profit on him.
Naci Ünüvar (LW)
Age: 19
Rating: 67
Potential: 85
Nationality: Dutch
Current Club: Trabzonspor (on loan from Ajax)
Value: €2.6M
A name that a whole load of Football Manager fans will be very familiar with, Naci Ünüvar is tipped to be one of the next big things in the game, both in the real world and in FIFA 23. And he’s available to you at the start of your save for very cheap indeed.
Boasting huge amounts of flair and technical ability, Naci Ünüvar is the wide playmaker of your dreams, able to just whip in balls and get around defenders with ease. However, his strength is objectively just terrible, so here’s hoping he bulks out a lot over the course of your save, or else he will get dispossessed far too often.
Antonio Nusa (LW/ST)
Age: 17
Rating: 68
Potential: 88
Nationality: Norwegian
Current Club: Club Brugge
Value: €3.3M
Someone at EA must have shares in Club Brugge, as here’s yet another FIFA 23 wonderkid who hails from the Norwegian. Able to be played anywhere across the front three (an enviable bit of versatility on its own), Antonio Nusa has all the tools to become one of the best players in the game.
His absolutely rapid speed is what grabs the attention the most, with Nusa being a lot to handle for most full-backs in the game, both his four-star skill moves and weak foot makes him an absolute dynamo. Lots of work to be done on his finishing, but this is a diamond you should look forward to buffing out in FIFA 23, especially at this price.
Youssoufa Moukoko (ST)
Age: 17
Rating: 69
Potential: 88
Nationality: German
Current Club: Borussia Dortmund
Value: €3.5M (€8.1M release clause)
If there’s any FIFA 23 wonderkid that’s basically going to print you goals without you having to break the bank, it’s likely Youssoufa Moukoko, who’s breaking through the ranks at Dortmund in a big way, netting twice in the 2022-23 season already at this time of writing.
With pace to burn and a good amount of ball control, Youssoufa Moukoko knows where the net is with his starting rating and he’s only going to better. As long as you work on his mentality and tackling (which is honestly pretty bad), you might find your starting striker for the next ten or so seasons in FIFA 23.
Marko Lazetić (ST)
Age: 18
Rating: 65
Potential: 86
Nationality: Serbian
Current Club: AC Milan
Value: €2M (€5.4M release clause)
Marko Lazetić is a striker in the Vlahovic mold, a tall, powerful attacker who’s difficult to deal with. He’s not exactly the best when it comes to finishing at the start of a save, but experience at a good level and maturity will help out a lot.
In fact, Lazetić just generally feels like a cheap youngster that you can mould in a number of ways, as he has solid if unspectacular numbers across the board. If you can use his height and boost his jumping, strength, and heading accuracy, you might be looking at a premier target man.
Bear in mind that all of the figures and numbers above are dynamic and will change as the season (real-life and digital) continue and players either progress or regress.
Mathys Tel (ST/CF)
Age: 17
Rating: 64
Potential: 84
Nationality: French
Current Club: Bayern Munich
Value: €1.6M (€4.2M release clause)
Bayern Munich have such a crazy conveyor belt of talent that they probably won’t even miss Mathys Tel, a hugely promising wonderkid striker who already has quite a lot to his game at just 17. The fact that he costs about a fifth in much at the start of a FIFA 23 save as he did in real life doesn’t hurt at all, either.
A very good dribbler with a solid shot on him, Mathys Tel is being entrusted with a lot of responsibility at a young age in the real world for a good reason: the kid’s a star. Buy him for your club and give him minutes or send him out on loan and watch that 64 rating climb and climb.
FIFA 23 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, and Switch.
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