10 Wonderkids with new homes in Football Manager 2023

[Mihai]

While Football Manager 2023 won’t be fully released until November 8th, we know that many of you are already thinking long and hard about where your journey will start. You’ll be thinking about how you can make the most of the new Recruitment tools and when you’ll get to experience those big European nights under the lights for the first time. 

One thing that will have changed from FM22 are the names at the top of most Wonderkid shopping lists. Many of those that have caught our eyes in recent years have also impressed real-life scouts and managers, so much so that they secured big moves over the summer months.  

MaddFM looks at 10 of our favourite FM22 Wonderkids that have new homes in FM23. Which of these will you be managing this year? 

Adam Hložek (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

While no stranger to Football Manager enthusiasts having held Wonderkid status for a few versions now, Adam Hložek has risen to prominence over the past two seasons. He racked up 44 goal contributions in 48 games in his native Czech Republic and featured for his country in senior continental action last summer despite only being 18 years of age. 

His performances saw widespread interest develop across Europe as a handful of top clubs aimed to sign him up. Bayer Leverkusen won that race and we can’t wait to see how he continues his development in the Bundesliga, a league renowned for talent development. 

Capable of playing on both wings and possessing a powerful shot, the Czech speedster is blessed with good Flair, Dribbling, Technique and Finishing. 

 

 

Ryan Gravenberch (FC Bayern München)

Every person reading this probably already knows this Dutchman’s name – he’s been one of the best midfield prospects in FM for a few years and he’s a product of Ajax’s famed academy.

With the ability to operate in multiple roles across any team’s midfield, it’s little wonder that Gravenberch had made over 70 senior appearances and scored for both club and country by the time he moved to FC Bayern at age 20.

The German champions only invest in quality and his strong Physical, Mental and Technical Attributes mean he should be ready for first-team minutes from the start of any career in Bavaria.

Agustín Álvarez (Sassuolo)

Sassuolo waved goodbye to two of last season’s most effective attackers during the summer but their losses were softened by the arrival of Agustin Álvarez.

Highly-rated in his native Uruguay, Álvarez was on the radar of several clubs after showcasing his goal-scoring prowess in both domestic competition and on the continental stage. 

The 21-year-old is natural finisher capable of both leading the line and occupying a more deep-lying role that allows him to link up with midfield. With plenty of room to develop and evolve, he’s one well worth keeping an eye on in FM23. 

Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund)

Having shown the world his scoring and assisting capabilities in Austria over the past two seasons, it’s no surprise that Karim Adeyemi was the third-highest scorer across all of our saves in FM22. 

It was also easy to understand why Borussia Dortmund moved to snap him up during the summer. Aged just 20, Adeyemi is comfortable playing out wide or up front and is blessed with lightning pace, high Determination and good Technical Attributes. 

Having already scored for the German giants this season, a bright future seems a certainty. He’ll also be a Football Manager star once again, albeit a less attainable and affordable one. 

 

 

Anel Ahmedhodžić (Sheffield United)

Bosnian international Anel Ahmedhodžić established himself as a first-choice Centre-Back in Sweden during the 2019/20 season and has been a Football Manager go-to for the last few years.

His height, combined with his defensive and technical attributes, make him an ideal fit for the Ball Playing Defender role. Following a loan spell in France last season, he moved to Sheffield United in the summer.

With the Blades near the top of the SkyBet Championship table at the time of writing and looking like strong promotion candidates, Ahmedhodžić looks set for a noteworthy campaign. 

 

 

Amine Gouiri (Rennes)

Remarkable goalscoring feats for France’s Under-17 side five years ago put Amine Gouiri on the radar on top football clubs around the world and countless Football Manager players too, no doubt. 

The striker moved from Olympique Lyonnais to OGC Nice in 2020, racking up 28 goals in 89 games across all competitions. Summer 2022 saw him move again, transferring to Rennes on a five-year deal.

In FM23, Gouiri is a well-rounded forward capable of excelling up top or wide on the left. He’s got strong Technical, Physical and Mental Attributes across the board and at age 22 still has plenty of room to develop and improve. 

 

 

Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan)

Flair, Technique, Vision, First Touch. Charles De Ketelaere has talent in spades, both in FM and real life which is why reigning Italian champions AC Milan were so quick to make a move for him in the summer.  

He racked up 14 goals and seven assists for Club Brugge last season and at age 21, is already a regular for his native Belgium and looks set to be a cornerstone of their attacking shape for the next decade or so. 

While he may not be a go-to Wonderkid to sign in FM23 as he’s now a regular for an elite club, he looks an incredibly exciting player to manage and the sort you could build a dynasty around.

Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)

Considering that he’s been an FM Wonderkid for a couple of years and has already spent time with giants in both Spain and France, it’s hard to believe that Xavi Simons is still only 19 years old. 

Simons moved to PSV Eindhoven in the summer and has started his career in the Netherlands in electric fashion, bagging eight goals and three assists in his first ten Eredivisie appearances. 

That form and the enormous potential he’s been forecast for years means he’s likely to be a hugely popular Wonderkid in FM23, both to sign and to manage.

Sebastiano Esposito (RSC Anderlecht)

Sebastiano Esposito’s movement, combined with his First Touch and Technique, has made him a natural striker in Football Manager for a couple of years and an instinctive purchase for many of you.

Still just 20, his parent club Internazionale are keen for him to play regular first-team football and this year’s move to Anderlecht in Belgium is his third loan in three seasons. 

As he continues his development away from the club before getting a chance in the first team, you’ll have a chance in FM23 to scout him thoroughly and look to snap yourself up a bargain. With a well-rounded in-game profile and a high potential, he could once again become the spearhead of your team’s attack for years to come. 

Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) 

Football Manager and South American wonderkids, name a better duo. 

Some wonderkids have a quicker rise to stardom than others and that is certainly the case for Julian Alvarez, who by the age of 22 had already featured and scored for his native Argentina and scored six times in one game in South America’s leading continental competition. Having been tracked by a number of Europe’s top clubs, Manchester City won the race for his signature and he’s now a core part of their superstar squad. 

Although he won’t be as easy to recruit this season, the prospect of managing a dynamic strikeforce of him and Erling Haaland is incredibly tantalising. 

There we have it - ten wonderkids who while in previous iterations of FM were go-to signings for many of us sadly will not be as attainable or affordable once we hit FM23’s full release. While we love to see our wonderkids shining on the big stage, this often equally means they don’t stay wonderkids for long - but that’s the beauty of it right? Out with the old wonderkids and in with the new.