Amazing Football Manager 2024 Wonderkids you’ve (probably) never heard of

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There are some wonderkids we all know by name: your Endricks, your Valentín Barcos, your Eduardo Camavingas. Millions of us have signed them, and at this point, they’re practically household names. But let’s be honest—you want to stand out. Signing the same affordable wonderkids in Football Manager 2024 as everyone else is just too easy. Nobody’s going to be impressed when you win the Champions League with Arda Güler. You need players that nobody has heard of.

Okay, fine—some people will have heard of them. But most will think you’re some sort of managerial genius with an uncanny ability to unearth hidden gems. I can already hear the comments: “Oh, I knew about this player ages ago.” Or, “This one isn’t that obscure.” And hey, I might accidentally include a wonderkid that’s more well-known than I think. Forgive me—I rarely get to use wonderkids at the start of the game. When you’re managing in the second tier of South African football, it’s hard to justify spending your entire transfer budget on Mikey Moore.

Breaking down amazing Football Manager 2024 wonderkids

If you want to check out some of our other FM articles, read our in-depth interview with IRL striker Adam Le Fondre, or read about the hidden attributes that can completely change your game. Then again, you’re here for the obscure wonderkids, so let’s dive in:

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Jano Monserrate

This is one of the wonderkid’s you can sign in Football Manager 2024. His release clause? A mere £316k. For a player who can develop into someone better than Fabio Carvalho or James McAtee, that’s an absolute steal. At just 17 years old and playing for Real Zaragoza in Spain’s second tier, it’s easy to overlook him—but that’s where I come in. He’s got 18 flair and brilliant technical ability. The only downside? His determination could use some work. If not for that, he’d be a 10/10 hidden gem.

Ibrahim Diarra

Now this is what you call a hidden wonderkid. You’ll only find Ibrahim if you’re using a massive database that includes African leagues or if you’re obsessively scouting the continent. The best part? You can sign him for free—you’ll only need to pay a small compensation fee. Obscure nation? Check. Dirt cheap? Check. Huge potential? Check. This one ticks all the boxes


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Rayan

No wonderkid list is complete without a Brazilian, and Rayan is the pick of the bunch when it comes to hidden gems. He’s available for just £1m, and since he’s only 16, there’s plenty of time to mold him into something special. With the right development, he can surpass Amad Diallo—and let’s be real, we all know how special Amad is. If you’re managing a Premier League club, sign him now before someone else beats you to it

Callan McKenna

When it comes to wonderkids, goalkeepers often get overlooked. They’re not as flashy as forwards, and spending transfer budget on one can feel a bit… dull. But hear me out: sign a good young goalkeeper, and you’re set for over a decade. Enter Callan McKenna. At just 16, he’s already showing great potential. With the right coaching, he’ll turn into a goalkeeping superstar. Goalkeepers take longer to develop, both in real life and in Football Manager, so lock this position down early and focus on the more exciting areas of your team.

Aaron Ciammaglichella

I’ll admit, I’m partly including this guy because of his name. “Aaron” is as English as it gets, but “Ciammaglichella”? Peak Italian vibes. Beyond the name, though, Aaron develops into a fantastic all-around midfielder. He’s versatile enough to slot into almost any midfield role. Plus, because he’s so young in the game, you can snag him for a bargain—perfect if you’re working with a tight budget.

Max Moerstedt

Some of you might already know this one—his name pops up on forums and wonderkid lists now and then. But I’m betting 95% of the Football Manager player base hasn’t heard of him. If you need a goal-scoring machine, Max is your guy. He’s tall—nearly 6’4”—and the FM meta loves tall players. If he were just a tad quicker, he’d be the perfect striker. But hey, you can’t have everything.

Andres Salazar

Finding good wingbacks in Football Manager is painful. They’re either defensively solid but useless going forward, or they’re wingers masquerading as defenders with zero defensive ability. Andrés Salazar, however, is different. South American? Check. Good physical attributes and crossing? Check. Is he the next Dani Alves? Okay, maybe not. But he’ll develop into a solid Premier League-level fullback, which is good enough for most of us.

Conclusion

Making this list reminded me just how many hidden gems are out there. This is just the tip of the iceberg—there are countless players who can make your save feel unique and less like everyone else’s. If you’re looking for wonderkids in specific positions, there are loads of great lists online. But if you’re like me and love putting in the work yourself, start scouting those obscure nations and leagues. Who knows? Your next superstar might be waiting in the most unexpected place.

About the Author

William Reid

William is the admin of Out of Context Football Manager, an X account that focuses on FM news. He's worked for LADbible Group and is VG's resident FM expert.