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The FIFA 17 Career Mode world-beating wonderkid XI
We’re back again with an all-conquering team of young football talents to dominate your Career Mode.
FIFA 17 has finally arrived, and if you’re anything like us, you’re already getting stuck into this year’s Career Mode, combing the globe for the best bargains and hottest young talent that football has to offer. Although Career Mode hasn’t changed much since last year, the most important thing certainly has – we have a brand new player roster across the leagues, with updated stats and ratings across the board.
We’ve already dug up some of FIFA 17’s most improved players, but now it’s time for something different as we pick FIFA 17’s highest potential players in each position. As usual, we’d recommend you sign them as early as possible to avoid paying eye-watering transfer fees! Let’s kick off with a young goalkeeper in high demand, Serie A’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
3 min
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Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
We picked out Donnarumma as a player who needed a big ratings boost in FIFA 17. Well, we’d like to thank EA for reading that (thanks EA), because what do you know? Donnarumma has had a significant ratings boost in FIFA 17. Aside from his 76 overall rating – a monster rating for a 17 year-old, by the way – he’s also the highest potential keeper in the game, threatening to reach 88 overall if you play him enough. Oh, and he has the physical stats to back up his skills too, thanks to his dominating 6’5” frame.
Right-Back: Héctor Bellerín
Bellerín is another player we highlighted last year, and his excellent season has earned him a solid upgrade in this season’s game. He’s still just as rapid up and down the flank – his 95 pace makes him one of the fastest players in the game, and he’ll cause havoc for you on the right-hand side. Crucially, he’s a solid defender as well, and he’ll grow from 79 to 87 overall with a bit of time invested.
Centre-Back: José María Giménez
Atlético Madrid’s Giménez should be your first port of call if you’re looking for a young centre half to anchor your Career Mode side for the next decade. His stats don’t immediately strike you as being out of this world – he’s only 6’0”, and his passing and pace are a bit weak, but his defensive and physical numbers are absolutely superb for a 21 year-old. If you have the money, you shouldn’t hesitate to sign Giménez up, but he won’t come cheap – he’s one of football’s rising stars at the moment, and Atlético have no reason to let him leave.
The most promising young defenders in FIFA 17
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Centre-Back: Mauricio Lemos
Not only is Lemos one of this year’s most improved players, he’s also a fantastic young signing if you’re after a talented young centre-back. He’s not the strongest defender you’ll find – it’s worth looking at Niklas Süle if you’re after ox-like strength at the back, but he’s technically very sound and is quick enough to keep pace with most attackers, for a few metres at least. Best of all, as he plays for Spanish minnows Las Palmas, he’ll certainly be cheaper than the likes of Süle and Giménez, but you will have to wait a year to sign him as he's only signed a permanent deal for his club in real life in May 2016 (you can't buy players who have moved in the last transfer window for a year in the game).
Left-Back: Luke Shaw
Manchester United’s big money signing from last year was unfortunate to suffer a freak leg break in a game against PSV Eindhoven just as he was starting to show some good form for both United and England. Thankfully, he’s back on the pitch now, and clearly his long-term injury didn’t do anything to dissuade EA from giving him an elite potential rating, as he’ll reach the lofty heights of 88 if you train him right. Benfica’s Grimaldo is also a good shout – he’ll only get to 86 overall but he won’t cost nearly as much as Shaw.
Right Midfield: Ousmane Dembélé
Most of Europe’s elite have been hot on Dembélé’s trail this summer, but for the moment, he remains at Borussia Dortmund. That’s good news for Career Mode players, because it means you can sign him up as early as possible. If you can prize him away from Dortmund, he’ll grow up to a massive 90 overall rating, making him not just the best right midfielder in the game, but also one of the best players full stop.
The most promising young midfielders in FIFA 17
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Centre Midfield: Dele Alli
It’s fair to say that Dele Alli was one of last season’s success stories, as his combination of tenacity, energy and an eye for goal helped drive Spurs towards third place in the Premier League. We all saw what Alli could do to a game on top form, and EA have taken notice as well, rewarding him with an impressive 80 overall rating, but also a juicy potential overall of 90, making him one of the best potential players in the game alongside Dembélé, Martial and Renato Sanches. Don’t expect to get him on the cheap though; Tottenham have no reason to sell him, and he’s just entering his prime.
Centre Midfield: Renato Sanches
We’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that Renato Sanches is an absolutely top-quality midfielder, with solid stats across the board that make him a monster in the middle of the park, and a potential overall of 90. The bad news? He only joined Bayern Munich this summer for €35 million, meaning you won’t be able to buy him for another year. Still, we’re blessed with a bounty of really excellent young central midfielders in this year’s game, so you have other options. Career Mode favourite Alen Halilović is still an excellent signing if you want someone a bit quick and tricky to drive your play forward, or you can try and swipe Marco Asensio from Real Madrid for a cut-price fee.
Left Midfield: Anthony Martial
We’d argue that Martial isn’t really a winger, but there’s no arguing with the young Frenchman’s talent. He already has a solid 82 overall rating, which means he’s more than ready for first team action, but also makes him an expensive signing. Still, if you’ve got the money, he’s more than worth it thanks to 91 pace, 87 dribbling and 79 shooting stats, and he’ll grow up to 90 overall with the right blend of training and playing time. If you’re after some out-and-out pace on the wing, go for Martial’s countryman Kingsley Coman, and his outrageous 93 pace rating.
The most promising young strikers in FIFA 17
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Striker: Ángel Correa
There’s been a changing of the guard in terms of this year’s best young talent in front of goal. With Paulo Dybala turning 22 and now legitimately one of the world’s top strikers, and Breel Embolo classed as a winger in this year’s game, Ángel Correa has taken the mantle as FIFA 17’s highest potential striker. Anyone who picked him up in last year’s game wouldn’t have been disappointed either – he reached 89 overall in our Career Mode playthrough, with an outrageous set of dribbling and shooting stats – and he’s even better this year. He starts with 83 pace, 86 dribbling and 79 shooting, and he still has nine points of growth in him, from 79 to 88 overall.
Striker: Kelechi Iheanacho
Iheanacho was one of our favourite Career Mode signings last year. You could pick him up for nothing from Manchester City, and he had one of the highest growth numbers in the game, going from 67 to a massive 85 overall. Iheanacho had an excellent season last year, coming off the bench to score some crucial goals for City, and so his stock has risen to 74 overall in this year’s game. He’s a little pricier as a result, but he’s still rapid, with much better shooting and dribbling stats, and a higher potential overall of 88. Definitely worth picking up if you’re looking for someone pacy to lead the line.
