FIFA 20: The Premier League players with the highest growth potential
FIFA 21 may be fast approaching but that doesn’t mean it’s the bin for FIFA 2o, with Career Mode still going strong for longevity.
The managerial simulation remains one of the most prominent game modes in the series, surviving the online boom, and proudly taking its position on the FIFA 20 home-screen.
For some, the chance to assemble a squad based on your own ideas of how football should be played is what gives FIFA its charm. A few users take the chequebook managerial approach and flash the cash, while others prefer to unearth a hidden gem and develop him into a world-beater.
Should the latter take your fancy, then we have you covered. Here are the top 10 Premier League players with the highest growth potential on FIFA 20.
10. Tino Anjorin (Chelsea)
Current rating: 58
Potential rating: 80
Growth rate: +22
This season has seen Frank Lampard hand a number of Chelsea academy products debuts, including 18-year-old Tino Anjorin. The England Under-19 international was a part of Jody Morris’ Under-18 side who clinched an unprecedented quadruple and made his Premier League debut against Everton in the 2019/20 season. If you can snatch him from under Lampard’s nose in FIFA 20, he could progress by 22 levels.
9. Brandon Pierrick (Crystal Palace)
Current rating: 60
Potential rating: 82
Growth rate: +22
Another Premier League debutant this season, this time for Crystal Palace, Brandon Pierrick played seven minutes in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City on New Year’s Day. The 18-year-old also featured in the FA Cup third round, from the start against Derby and came on against Liverpool in the Premier League in June, while appearing on the bench in 15 more games. On FIFA 20, Pierrick has the potential to grow 22 if nurtured.
8. Ki-Jana Hoever (Liverpool)
Current rating: 62
Potential rating: 84
Growth rate: +22
The one many are backing to make the grade at Anfield, Ki-Jana Hoever has made just three appearances for the first-team this season but got on the scoresheet against MK Dons in the Carabao Cup. Klopp has previously described the teenager as “sensational” in a glowing appraisal of his pre-season: “You forget so quickly these boys are so young. He’s still 17, it’s just crazy.” Hoever is now 18, but the sentiment remains.
7. Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
Current rating: 57
Potential rating: 80
Growth rate: +23
The first of many Premier League youngster set to grow by 83 on FIFA 20, centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite spent the first half of the season on loan at Carlisle United but returned to Everton to play a role in their run-in. The 18-year-old featured in each of Everton’s final four Premier League games, including two starts – one bringing a clean sheet in victory against Sheffield United.
6. Malachi Fagan-Walcott (Tottenham Hotspur)
Current rating: 59
Potential rating: 82
Growth rate: +23
Another youngster tipped for growth is Tottenham centre-back Malachi Fagan-Walcott. The 18-year-old spent the entirety of the campaign in Tottenham’s youth set up, except for one game, in the Champions League last-16. With Tottenham facing exit, Jose Mourinho brought Fagan-Walcott on in the dying moments, handing the teenager a moment he won’t forget.
5. Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz3bqB1oWwr/
Current rating: 59
Potential rating: 82
Growth rate: +23
Man City parted with £500,000 to sign goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu from Shamrock Rovers, which may not seem a lot considering the amount Sheikh Mansour has pumped into the club, but it actually broke the record for the highest transfer fee received for a League of Ireland player. At 18, Bazunu has already featured at Ireland Under-21 level and could rise 23 levels in FIFA 20.
4. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City)
Current rating: 60
Potential rating: 83
Growth rate: +23
The 18-year-old 6 ft 2 in centre-back has already caught the eye of Pep Guardiola, who handed him a debut start against Preston in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season. He repaid the Catalonian’s faith by keeping a clean sheet and looks an elite-level defender in the making, also featuring in the FA Cup and getting a brief Champions League runout.
3. Armando Broja (Chelsea)
Current rating: 61
Potential rating: 84
Growth rate: +23
Another Chelsea youngster to make his first-team debut under Lampard this season, Armando Broja came on for the final four minutes of the Blues’ 4-0 win over Everton in March. The English-born forward has already earned a call up for the Albanian senior side, though is awaiting his first cap having impressed through the youth set up. He has enjoyed a similar rise at Chelsea, and is rated highly both in real life and on FIFA 20, where he has the potential to grow 23.
2. Tommy Doyle (Manchester City)
Current rating: 62
Potential rating: 85
Growth rate: +23
Not the young Man City midfielder many would have expected to be on the list, but Tommy Doyle is full of potential both on and off the pitch. The 18-year-old has mad two appearances for Man City’s first team so far this season, including a start in the Carabao Cup against Southampton in the fourth round. If managed correctly, Doyle could rise as many as 23 overall.
1. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
17 years and 109 days old.
Harvey Elliott is the youngest player in Premier League history to receive a winners' medal.
It looks like Jürgen Klopp had him on the list. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aoXbeGY6vz
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 22, 2020
Current rating: 64
Potential rating: 87
Growth rate: +23
When Liverpool signed Harvey Elliott from Fulham last summer, the Englishman was already one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the Premier League. But not even the man himself could have expected he would end the season as the youngest player in Premier League history to receive a winners’ medal, rewarded by Jurgen Klopp having not reached the five-game minimum threshold to guarantee one. Another to grow by 23, Elliott’s potential sees him reach as high as 87.
