Football Manager 2022 Wonderkids: Best Young English Players to Sign

The England national team appears to be creeping towards some long-awaited silverware, and what’s already powering the effort is a pool of top-class young talents.

Perhaps on the cusp of another so-called golden generation, there are many superb English wonderkids to sign in FM22, and here, you’ll find the best of the bunch.

Choosing the best young English players on FM22

Boasting the likes of Reece James, Phil Foden, and Mason Greenwood, this list of the best English wonderkids is teeming with future world-beating talents.

Every player on this list has England down as their nationality, while also featuring a PA or PA Range of at least 160 or 140-170, and them not being any older than 21-years-old.

At the base of the piece, you’ll find a full list of all of the best young English players in FM22.

1. Mason Greenwood (148 CA / 178 PA)

Team: Manchester United
Age: 19
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 148 CA / 178 PA
Wage: £75,000 p/w
Value: £45 million – £65 million
Best Positions: ST, AMR
Best Attributes: 17 Finishing, 17 Determination, 17 Pace

With a 178 PA, Mason Greenwood tops this list of the best young English wonderkids in FM22, and he’s already a viable starter with his 148 CA.

The Bradford-born sharpshooter already has many favourable attribute ratings. Greenwood’s 17 finishing, 14 dribbling, 15 technique, 16 flair, 17 pace, and 16 acceleration make him a classy striker and a viable option at AMR as well.

Already with over 100 appearances for Manchester United at the age of 19, Greenwood certainly figures to be a big part of the Red Devils’ future. Despite often finding himself on the right wing, the English wonderkid has passed the 30-goal mark for his club and has earned his first national team cap.

2. Jadon Sancho (162 CA / 177 PA)

Team: Manchester United
Age: 21
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 162 CA / 177 PA
Wage: £250,000 p/w
Value: £111 million – £147 million
Best Positions: MR, ML, AMR, AML
Best Attributes: 18 Dribbling, 18 First Touch, 18 Agility

A well-known talent for the last few years, at 21-years-old, Jadon Sancho still qualifies as one of the best English wonderkids in FM22.

Best played as an inverted winger or wide playmaker, Sancho’s crafty feet are what make him such a mighty winger in the game. His 18 dribbling, 16 first touch, 17 passing, 18 technique, and 18 agility all make him a tremendous attacking threat.

Despite his incredible spell in the Bundesliga – which yielded 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games – Sancho has struggled to impress since coming to the Premier League. Fighting for a place in United’s frontline, he’s rarely found an opportunity on his preferred right wing, but in 13 games, Sancho did fail to score or assist.

3. Phil Foden (155 CA / 175 PA)

Team: Manchester City
Age: 21
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 155 CA / 175 PA
Wage: £120,000 p/w
Value: £230 million – £276 million
Best Positions: AML, AMC
Best Attributes: 17 Agility, 17 First Touch, 17 Agility

Given the constant lofty praise, many would have thought that Phil Foden would rank higher among the best young English players in FM22, but his 175 PA, while still mighty, lands him third here.

Already 155 CA, Foden’s technical ability is very close to being world-class. His 16 dribbling, 17 first touch, 16 passing, and 17 technique allow him to glide around the pocket between the defence and midfield, providing precise passes into the forwards or working his own way into the box.

The Stockport-native has already hoisted multiple Premier League titles, League Cups, Community Shields, and the FA Cup, and he’s still only 21-years-old. This looks to be his breakthrough season, with Foden netting five goals and setting up four more in his first 13 appearances.

4. Callum Hudson-Odoi (147 CA / 170 PA)

Team: Chelsea
Age: 20
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 147 CA / 170 PA
Wage: £120,000 p/w
Value: £75 million – £110 million
Best Positions: AMR, AML
Best Attributes: 16 Acceleration, 15 Dribbling, 15 Flair

At 20-years-old with a 170 PA, Callum Hudson-Odoi comfortably fits in the higher stack of the very best English wonderkids in FM22.

Certainly more of a creative player than a goal threat, Hudson-Odoi is an excellent complementary piece to a savvy goalscorer. His 16 acceleration, 15 pace, and 15 off the ball easily create space, while his 15 crossing, 15 dribbling, and 15 passing make him a key playmaker.

Despite injuries and fairly inconsistent runs in the first-team over the years, Hudson-Odoi has already surpassed the 100-game mark for Chelsea. By his 109^th game, he had scored 14 goals and set-up 18 more, with manager Thomas Tuchel starting him a bit more often this season.

5. Reece James (151 CA / 168 PA)

Team: Chelsea
Age: 21
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 151 CA / 168 PA
Wage: £60,000 p/w
Value: £252 million – £277 million
Best Positions: DR
Best Attributes: 17 Determination, 16 Crossing, 16 Strength

One of the best right backs in the game, Reece James’ 151 CA and 168 PA potently combine to make him a prime – if not very expensive – transfer target and one of the best young English players of FM22.

Suitable for deployment as a DC, DR, or WBR, James is a versatile defensive force, and yet, it’s his attacking attributes that you should seek to exploit. The English wonderkid starts with 16 crossing, 14 free-kick taking, 13 passing, 15 acceleration, and 14 pace.

With eight caps for his country already, the Londoner is also a trusted starter for the reigning Champions League title-holders, Chelsea. By just his 12^th game of the 2021/22 campaign, James had put up four goals and four assists – only one of which wasn’t in the Premier League.

6. Bukayo Saka (150 CA / 168 PA)

Team: Arsenal
Age: 19
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 150 CA / 168 PA
Wage: £30,000 p/w
Value: £102 million – £150 million
Best Positions: WBR, AMR, AML
Best Attributes: 18 Acceleration, 16 Flair, 15 Dribbling

Superbly versatile speedster Bukayo Saka weighs in with the same 168 PA as Reece James above, but is a mere point behind him with 150 CA, narrowly nudging the Gunner out of the top-five best English wonderkids.

In FM22, Saka is best deployed as an attacker, with his defensive attributes being somewhat lacking. The 19-year-old’s best traits are his 14 crossing, 15 dribbling, 13 passing, 16 flair, 15 work rate, 18 acceleration, and 15 pace.

Saka proved to be a much-needed attacking spark in an otherwise hyper-conservative England get-up at Euro 2020. For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta happily deploys him on either flank, both as an out-and-out winger and further back.

7. Emile Smith Rowe (143 CA / 165 PA)

Team: Arsenal
Age: 20
Current Ability / Potential Ability: 143 CA / 165 PA
Wage: £40,000 p/w
Value: £109 million – £134 million
Best Positions: AML, AMC
Best Attributes: 16 Acceleration, 16 Agility, 15 Passing

Completing the segment of features players on this list of the best English wonderkids in FM22 is Emile Smith Rowe, who has a 165 PA as well as a decent 143 CA.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is a busy creative outlet: one that can be your ideal playmaker but very rarely a true goal threat. Smith Rowe’s 11 finishing limits his output in such an advanced area, but his 15 dribbling, 15 passing, 15 flair, 15 teamwork, and 15 work rate will mean that he creates ample opportunities for others.

Arsenal’s latest top young talent has proven himself much more of a goal threat than his FM22 attributes would suggest. By his 58^th game, Smith Rowe had already put away 12 goals and set-up nine more.

All of the best young English wonderkids on FM22

Here, you can see the full list of the best wonderkids from England on Football Manager 22, with the top young players being ranked by their potential ability ratings.

If you want England’s next best player, be sure to sign one from the list above and develop them into their full potential.