FIFA 20: Best young players & wonderkids to sign on Career Mode

We’re getting closer to FIFA 21 but that doesn’t mean it’s time to just throw FIFA 20 in the cupboard, with Career Mode still providing a way to keep things fresh.
But who should be you signing? Unlike other options, in Career Mode it is vital to pay close attention to a player’s age.
If you’re thinking long-term, you don’t want to spend all your money on the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, because they won’t be part of your team for too long.
Instead, you’ll want to fill your squad with youth, setting it up for however long your Career Mode journey lasts. Naturally, the Youth Academy will play its part in that, as you unearth generated gems from across the globe, looking for the highest potential rating and nurturing them.
But what of the actual players already in the game and the potential team you could build with them?
We’ve taken a look at the best young players for you to use in each position — 21 or under at the start of FIFA 20 — with the highest potential overall, and put it into a frightful XI, with a few reserves if you want to fill out a squad. So, without further ado…
Values and presence of release clauses may vary per save. All prices correct at the time of publishing on 31/07/2020.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Only two goalkeepers have a higher potential overall than Gianluigi Donnarumma on FIFA 20.
Age at start of Career Mode: 20
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 85
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 92
Value: £37.5m
Despite being just 20 when Career Mode starts, Gianluigi Donnarumma boasts an overall of 85 with diving and reflexes at 89 — only his kicking (79) is below 80 among his goalkeeping attributes. But that won’t be for too long if you help reach his potential overall of 92.
Reserves: Andriy Lunin (20, 75-87, £8.5m), Alban Lafont (20, 79-87, £14m)
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold is already the best right-back but will only get better.
Age at start of Career Mode: 20
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 85
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 90
Value: £41.5m
Starting FIFA 20 Career Mode before his 21st birthday, Trent Alexander-Arnold is already the best right-back in the game and still has room for growth. His standout attributes include 91 crossing and 86 long passing, while his 83 standing tackle shouldn’t be ignored.
Reserves: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (21, 82-89, £25m), Reece James (19, 75-87, £9.5m)
Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt is one of the top centre-backs in FIFA 20
Age at start of Career Mode: 19
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 85
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 92
Value: £42.5m
Juventus’ summer acquisition hasn’t had the smoothest of starts to life in Italy, but Matthijs de Ligt still has the potential on FIFA 20. At an already impressive 85 rated overall, the centre-back can reach 93 and boss the defence for years to come.
Reserves: William Saliba (18, 74-88, £9.5m), Ibrahima Konate (20, 79-88, £16m)
Centre-back: Eder Militao
Eder Militao is a centre-back powerhouse and will continue to grow
Age at start of Career Mode: 21
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 81
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 88
Value: £20.5m
Real Madrid acted quick last year in securing the signing of Eder Militao from Porto and snapped up a very exciting defender. In FIFA 20, the Brazilian is a powerhouse already and can grow to 88 overall if nurtured correctly.
Reserves: Dayot Upamecano (20, 80-89, £19m), Leonidas Stergiou (17, 63-86, £675k)
Left-back: Alphonso Davies
Only Andrew Robertson has higher potential than Alphonso Davies among left-backs
Age at start of Career Mode: 18
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 77
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 88
Value: £11.5m
The explosive full-back has been a revelation for Bayern Munich this season and it’s no different on FIFA 20. Alphonso Davies has the potential to reach 88 overall, with only Andrew Robertson boasting a higher potential among all left-backs.
Reserves: Renan Lodi (21, 79-86, £14m), Brandon Williams (18, 72-86, £5.5m)
Defensive midfielder: Sandro Tonali
Sandro Tonali has the potential to become a great CDM
Age at start of Career Mode: 19
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 77
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 91
Value: £16m
Sandro Tonali starts FIFA 20 with a decent rating of 77, boasting good passing stats including 81 for both short and long passing. These will only improve if the Italian reaches his potential overall of 91, becoming the best defensive midfielder in the game.
Reserves: Douglas Luiz (21, 74-87, £9m), Boubakary Soumare (20, 75-87, £10m)
Central midfielder: Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga is just 16 but has bundles of potential
Age at start of Career Mode: 16
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 73
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 90
Value: £7m
At just 16 when FIFA 20 starts, Eduardo Camavinga is a modest 73-rated but if you’re happy to stick with him for the long haul, you’ll have a 90-rated midfielder on your hands who is a keen passer.
Reserves: Exequiel Palacios (20, 78-88, £15m), Ryan Gravenberch (17, 70-87, £3.1m)
Central midfielder: Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde is already a solid all-round option in midfield
Age at start of Career Mode: 21
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 82
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 90
Value: £29.5m
Another Real Madrid player full of potential, Federico Valverde is already an all-round solid addition to any midfield with attributes in the 70s across the board. These will all likely reach the 80s if nurtured right in Career Mode.
Reserves: Houssem Aouar (21, 81-89, £23m), Nicolas Dominguez (21, 76-88, £12m)
Right-wing: Rodrygo
Rodrygo is tricky on the ball and will get better as he grows
Age at start of Career Mode: 18
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 78
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 91
Value: £16.5m
One of Real Madrid’s 2019 signings, Rodrygo has shown small glimpses of what he is capable of at the Bernabeu, and on FIFA 20 it’s easy to see his potential. The Brazilian, who is tricky on the ball and has decent shooting stats, can rise as high as 91 overall.
Reserves: Francisco Trincao (19, 75-88, £11m), Harvey Elliot (16, 64-87, £875k)
Striker: Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe will be the best player in FIFA 20
Age at start of Career Mode: 20
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 89
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 95
Value: £84m
Kylian Mbappe only turns 21 after FIFA 20 Career Mode starts and he’s already one of the best players in the game. He will become the best when he reaches his potential overall of 95, turning already excellent attributes into simply frightening. Of course he was going to be in here.
Reserves: Erling Braut Haaland (18, 80-90, £21m), Luka Jovic (21, 82-88, £28m)
Left-wing: Vinicius Jr
Vinicius Jr has the skills, dribbling and potential to be one of the best wingers in the game.
Age at start of Career Mode: 19
Initial FIFA 20 rating: 79
Potential FIFA 20 overall: 92
Value: £21m
Vinicius Jr already boasts five-star skill moves and four-star weak foot which, with a pace of 93 and dribbling of 85, make him devastating on the left wing. And things can only get even better if you get him from his initial overall of 79 to a potential 92.
Reserves: Ansu Fati (16, 73-90, £7m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (18, 74-88, £10.5m)