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FIFA 17 - The Best Young Players - Strikers, Defenders, Midfielders, Goalkeepers

The plucky newcomers who you can make the heart of your team

Guide by USgamer Team Contributor
Updated on

In FIFA 17 you can enlist scouts, which you send all over the world to look for young talented players. But that takes time and money, depending on the quality of your scouts. What would be easier than having a list with all the young players with a lot of potential? Well, you're in luck. We've compiled lists with young players who will strengthen your team after a while. In this FIFA 17 guide we'll detail the best young strikers, best young midfielders, best young defenders, and best young goalkeepers.

In short, it's not always worth it to just focus on expensive players. These will help your short-term development of course, but also cost a lot of money. If you plan it correctly, you can improve your own young talents and create a great team yourself.

In addition, young players are a good investment. The more they play and the more successful they are, the more their value will increase. If you train them really good, some top clubs might even offer millions for them.

It's cheaper and more helpful to enlist young players who don't belong to the base team of their current club. You'll be able to buy them faster and easier.

Things to keep in mind when buying young players

  • Of all players with a potential higher than 85, Reece Oxford has the most potential to improve the best. The 17-year-old starts out with West Ham with a total value of 66. This means he can improve with 20 points total. He is one of the best long term investments for your career. If you're lucky, you can even buy him at a relatively low price.
  • Age plays an important role. Younger players with a lower overall value like Oxford can be bought cheaper. However, other players, who are a bit further in their development, might be a safer investment. You might not even play 6 or 7 seasons in career mode, meaning you'll never see a 17-year-old's potential come to fruition. If you're looking for players with a lot of potential to help you out short term, check out Anthony Martial (overall value 82), Luke Shaw (82), Jonathan Tah (82) and Breel Embolo (83). These players are a real asset.
  • Don't necessarily focus on the players with the highest potential. Of course, this isn't an issue if you have a lot of money. However, if you're looking to strike a bargain, look in smaller clubs outside of the league. Do you really have to pay a high price to buy Renato Sanches from Bayern München if you might as well buy Youri Tielemans from Anderlecht?
  • Be flexible regarding positions. Keep in mind that players are able to play on more than one position. Niklas Schüle can be either a left back or center back, for instance.

Best Young Goalkeepers FIFA 17

  • Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Mailand) - Age: 17, Position: GK, Potential: 88
  • Bart?omiej Dr?gowski (Fiorentina) - Age: 19, Position: GK, Potential: 86
  • Alban Lafont (Toulouse FC) - Age: 17, Position: GK, Potential: 86
  • Simone Scuffet (Udinese ) - Age: 20, Position: GK, Potential: 85

Best Young Defenders FIFA 17

LB - Left Back

  • Luke Shaw (Manchester United) - Age: 21, Position: LB, Potential: 88
  • Grimaldo (SL Benfica) - Age: 20, Position: LB, Potential: 86
  • Gayà (Valencia CF) - Age: 21, Position: LB, Potential: 85

CB - Center Back

  • Kurt Zouma (Chelsea) - Age: 21, Position: CB, Potential: 89
  • José María Giménez (Atlético de Madrid) - Age: 21, Position: CB, Potential: 88
  • Mauricio Lemos (UD Las Palmas) - Age: 20, Position: CB, Potential: 88
  • Jonathan Tah (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) - Age: 20, Position: CB, Potential: 88
  • Andreas Christensen (Borussia M'gladbach) - Age: 20, Position: CB, Potential: 87
  • Niklas Süle (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) - Age: 20, Position: CB, Potential: 87
  • Lucas Hernández (Atlético de Madrid) - Age: 20, Position: CB, Potential: 86
  • Reece Oxford (West Ham United) - Age: 17, Position: CB, Potential: 86
  • Jaïro Riedewald (Ajax) - Age: 19, Position: CB, Potential: 86
  • Alessio Romagnoli (Milan) - Age: 21, Position: CB, Potential: 86
  • Vallejo (Eintracht Frankfurt) - Age: 19 , Position: CB, Potential: 85

RB - Right Back

  • Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) - Age: 21, Position: RB, Potential: 87
  • Tin Jedvaj (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) - Age: 20, Position: RB, Potential: 85

Best Young Midfielders FIFA 17

LM - Left Midfield

  • Anthony Martial (Manchester United) - Age: 20, Position: LM, Potential: 90
  • Julian Brandt (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) - Age: 20, Position: LM, Potential: 88
  • Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - Age: 21, Position: LM, Potential: 88
  • Samu Castillejo (Villarreal CF) - Age: 21, Position: LM, Potential: 87
  • Leon Bailey (RC Genk) - Age: 19, Position: LM, Potential: 86
  • Matheus Pereira (Sporting CP) - Age: 20, Position: LM, Potential: 86
  • Adnan Januzaj (Sunderland) - Age: 21, Position: LM, Potential: 85
  • Kenedy (Chelsea) - Age: 20, Position: LM, Potential: 85
  • Adam Ounas (Girondins de Bordeaux) - Age: 19, Position: LM, Potential: 85

CM - Central Midfield

  • Renato Sanches (Bayern München) - Age: 19, Position: CM, Potential: 90
  • Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht) - Age: 19, Position: CM, Potential: 89
  • Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia M'gladbach) - Age: 20, Position: CM, Potential: 88
  • Saúl (Atlético de Madrid ) - Age: 21, Position: CM, Potential: 88
  • Joshua Kimmich (Bayern München) - Age: 21, Position: CM, Potential: 87
  • Vincent Koziello (OGC Nice) - Age: 20, Position: CM, Potential: 87
  • Riechedly Bazoer (Ajax) - Age: 19, Position: CM, Potential: 86
  • Danilo (SL Benfica) - Age: 20, Position: CM, Potential: 86
  • Leon Goretzka (FC Schalke 04) - Age: 21, Position: CM, Potential: 86
  • André Horta (SL Benfica) - Age: 19, Position: CM, Potential: 86
  • Mikel Merino (Borussia Dortmund) - Age: 20, Position: CM, Potential: 86
  • Óliver Torres (Atlético de Madrid) - Age: 21, Position: CM, Potential: 86
  • Lewis Cook (Bournemouth) - Age: 19, Position: CM, Potential: 85
  • Godfred Donsah (Bologna) - Age: 20, Position: CM, Potential: 85
  • Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain) - Age: 21, Position: CM, Potential: 85

CDM - Central Defending Midfield

  • Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Manchester United) - Age: 18, Position: CDM, Potential: 87
  • Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) - Age: 20, Position: CDM, Potential: 86
  • Rúben Neves (FC Porto) - Age: 19, Position: CDM, Potential: 85

CAM - Central Attacking Midfield

  • Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 90
  • Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 89
  • Alen Halilovi? (Hamburger SV) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 89
  • Viktor Kovalenko (Shakhtar Donetsk) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 87
  • Maximilian Meyer (FC Schalke 04) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 87
  • Francisco Geraldes (Moreirense) - Age: 21, Position: CAM, Potential: 86
  • Giovani Lo Celso (Rosario Central) - Age: 20 , Position: CAM, Potential: 86
  • Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City) - Age: 19, Position: CAM, Potential: 86
  • Dani Ceballos (Real Betis Balompié) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 85
  • Ryan Gauld (Vitória Setúbal) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 85
  • Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) - Age: 20, Position: CAM, Potential: 85
  • Josh Onomah (Tottenham Hotspur) - Age: 19, Position: CAM, Potential: 85
  • Matheus Pereira (Empoli ) - Age: 18, Position: CAM, Potential: 85
  • Marc Stendera (Eintracht Frankfurt) - Age: 20, , Position: CAM, Potential: 85

RM - Right Midfield

  • Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund) - Age: 19, Position, RM, Potential: 90
  • Breel Embolo (FC Schalke 04) - Age: 19, Position: RM, Potential: 88
  • Leroy Sané (Manchester City) - Age: 20, Position: RM, Potential: 88
  • Thomas Lemar (AS Monaco)v20, Position: RM, Potential: 87
  • Andrija Živkovi? (SL Benfica) - Age: 20, Position: RM, Potential: 87
  • Gelson Martins (Sporting CP) - Age: 21, Position: RM, Potential: 85
  • Serge Gnabry (Arsenal) - Age: 21, Position: RM, Potential: 85
  • Levin Öztunali (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) - Age: 20, Position: RM, Potential: 85

Check out our other FIFA 17 player guides:

FIFA 17: the best strikers and the players with the best shot power, strength and constitution

FIFA 17: the best players for dribbling, defence and speed

FIFA 17: the best players with five-star skill ratings

FIFA 17: the best, cheapest players in career mode

FIFA 17: the best players at free kicks and the best goalkeepers

FIFA 17: the best players at passing and the best women's teams

Best Young Strikers FIFA 17

LW - Left Wing

  • Kingsley Coman (Bayern München) - Age: 20, Position: LW, Potential: 88
  • Charly Musonda (Real Betis Balompié) - Age: 19, Position: LW, Potential: 88
  • Kylian Mbappe Lottin (AS Monaco) - Age: 17, Position: LW, Potential: 87
  • Bruma (Galatasaray) - Age: 21, Position: LW, Potential: 87
  • Keita Baldé Diao (Lazio) - Age: 21, Position: LW, Potential: 86
  • Marko Pjaca (Juventus) - Age: 21, Position: LW, Potential: 86
  • Jeisson Vargas (Estudiantes de La Plata) - Age: 18, Position: LW, Potential: 86
  • TheoBongonda (RC Celta de Vigo) - Age: 20, Position: LW, Potential: 85
  • Maxwel Cornet (Olympique Lyonnais) - Age: 19, Position: LW, Potential: 85
  • Otávio (FC Porto) - Age: 21, Position: LW, Potential: 85
  • Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) - Age: 19, Position: LW, Potential: 85

ST - Strikers

  • Ángel Correa (Atlético de Madrid) - Age: 21, Position: ST, Potential: 88
  • Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) - Age: 19, Position: ST, Potential: 88
  • Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - Age: 18, Position: ST, Potential: 88
  • Antonio Sanabria (Real Betis Balompié) - Age: 20, Position: ST, Potential: 88
  • Borja Mayoral (VfL Wolfsburg) - Age: 19, Position: ST, Potential: 86
  • Adalberto Peñaranda (Udinese) - Age: 19, Position: ST, Potential: 86
  • André Silva (FC Porto) - Age: 20, Position: ST, Potential: 86
  • Kasper Dolberg (Ajax) - Age: 18, Position: ST, Potential: 85
  • M'Baye Niang (Milan) - Age: 21, Position: ST, Potential: 85
  • Divock Origi (Liverpool) - Age: 21, Position: ST, Potential: 85
  • Bertrand Traoré (Ajax) - Age: 20, Position: ST, Potential: 85
  • Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) - Age: 20, Position: ST, Potential: 85

RW - Right Wing

  • Václav ?erný (Ajax) - Age: 18, Position: RW, Potential: 86

Training young players and talents in the junior team

You should go this way if you don't can or want to enlist expensive players in your team. Young players are a good alternative, albeit a time-consuming one. So don't expect to have an undefeatable team after just one season. Scouts need time to find good talents, and you also need to train them. It's a good approach if you want to be successful with a smaller club.

You can send your scouts all over the world to look for young talents. Once they're on their way, you'll often receive messages about interesting players, which you can then enlist immediately.

Not only players vary in quality, but scouts as well. That not only influences their price, but the accuracy of their estimations. You also determine which type of player they have to keep an eye out for. You decide on remaining contract time, age and other attributes.

With some luck a club with a limited budget can strengthen its team and train future star players. This can help you both physically and financially, should you decide to sell these players.

Of course, you can offer young players a contract and then lend them to other clubs in order to gain practice and improve. Or you offer them a contract and sell them immediately to gain some money.

You'll find better types of players in certain countries:

  • Best Young Goalkeepers: Italy, Netherlands, Germany or Spain
  • Best Young Defenders: Germany, England or Brazil
  • Best Young Midfielders: England, Brazil, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal or Argentina
  • Best Young Strikers: France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Argentina or Netherlands

Theoretically, you can find every type of player in every country, but chances are greater or smaller depending on the country. Be mindful of the the nationality of the scout you use, too. He'll be very effective in his country of origin, much more so than a foreign scout. You shouldn't buy players straight away even on the word of a local scout, though - give them to collect as much information as possible, so that you can see any negative points as well.

If you're looking forward to FIFA 18, head on over to our Everything we Know About FIFA 18 page, where we'll round up all the latest info. If you've switched to FIFA 18 we've also got a guide to the best young players in FIFA 18.

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