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FIFA 17 Career Mode Premier League Wonderkid XI
The Premiership is full of talent this year – we’ve picked out 11 of the best signings.
Although English clubs have faltered more recently in European competitions, there’s no denying that the Premier League is packed full of talent in FIFA 17 If you want to be successful in Career Mode this year, you’d be well advised to take a look at what they have to offer.
Despite that, we’re actually starting off with a goalkeeper from Sunderland, who has shown ability and experience far beyond his years so far this season. Take a look!
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
The young Sunderland 'keeper has been thoroughly impressive so far this season and the Premiership elite are circling with a view to him being their star keeper for the future. His form this season seems to have caught EA off guard too, with his 76 overall rating looking on the low side, but fear not – he still has a fantastic potential overall of 86, and some great stats including 85 kicking, 78 reflexes and 76 handling. Even better, he should be available reasonably cheap from Sunderland, so you can hold back the majority of your budget for a star signing.
Centre-back: Eric Bailly
Manchester United’s season has been a little bit up and down so far, but Bailly has been as solid and dependable as anyone for the Red Devils. A few eyebrows were raised when United dropped £30 million (€34.8m) on Bailly in the summer, but he’s been superb this season, and his FIFA rating is spot on – 83 overall, with superb physical and pace stats, 83 standing tackle, 86 sliding tackle, 85 interceptions and 83 marking. He’s already world class so he won’t come cheap, but whatever you have to spend to get him will be worth it – he should hit his 90 potential overall rating in just a few more years.
Centre-back: John Stones
Stones finally got his big money move from Everton to Manchester City in the summer, and though he hasn’t quite made the leap that many hope he would this season, he still looks ready to become a talisman for club and country. He actually makes a nice centre-half partner for the quick and tough-tackling Bailly – Stones is more of a footballing defender, as evidenced by his 79 ball control, 80 short passing and three-star weak-foot rating. He’s still a very capable defender and he’ll only get better over the next few years, growing into a very respectable 88 overall rating.
Right-back: Hector Bellerin
After a stand-out season last year, Bellerin has officially been promoted from a speedy wing back to a genuine world-class talent in FIFA 17, and rightly so. Don’t get us wrong, he’s still absolutely rapid thanks to his 96 acceleration and 94 sprint speed, but his other stats mark him out as one for the future – 84 stamina, 80 sliding tackle, 77 standing tackle, 76 interceptions, 76 dribbling and 74 crossing all make for an excellent foundation for Bellerin, who’s still just 21 years old. With a few years of regular game time and training, he’ll grow up to 87 overall, making him one of the deadliest full-backs in the game.
Left-back: Luke Shaw
With injury problems having hampered him since his horrific leg break last year, Shaw hasn’t featured much this season, but it’s easy to forget that he’s still just 21 years old. His injury came at the worst possible time, when he was just starting to find some form for club and country. As for FIFA 17 Career Mode, Shaw is still rated as one of the best full-backs in the game – he’s a tremendous athlete, with acceleration, sprint speed, stamina and strength ratings all 80+, his tackling and marking numbers are all 80+ as well, and he can whip in a wicked wide ball thanks to his 78 crossing stat. Even scarier, he’ll still grow another seven points, from 81 to 88 overall. He won’t come cheap, but it’s probably worth signing him just to make sure you don’t have to face him twice a year.
FIFA 17 Career Mode Premier League Wonderkid XI
© EA Sports
Centre midfield: Timothy Fosu-Mensah
He’s not the first United player on this list, and he won’t be the last, but he might be the most surprising. The young Dutchman burst onto the scene last year when United were ravaged by injuries and staked a serious case for a first-team place. Those performances earned him a serious upgrade in this year’s Career Mode, not so much to his current ability, but certainly to his potential. Fosu-Mensah is a ball-winning defensive midfielder, and his 83 aggression and 74 interception ratings, alongside solid tackling, marking and physical stats, have him set up nicely to grow into a superb player. He’s only 19 so he needs some time, but he’ll grow a whopping 15 points from 72 to 87 overall.
Centre midfield: Dele Alli
The footballing public seem ready to anoint Alli as the new golden boy of English football and, with electric performances for Spurs and for England, it’s easy to see why. Alli is exactly the sort of footballer we all love – a midfield dynamo who’s just as happy getting stuck into a tackle as he is taking the ball forward. With 77 acceleration and 73 sprint speed, he’s not the quickest around the park, but his 88 stamina rating makes him tireless, and he has all the attributes to make a world-class box-to-box midfielder. Rated just 80 at the start of the game, Alli will grow another 10 points, hitting that magical 90 overall rating by the time he reaches his peak.
Right midfield: Leroy Sané
After impressing in the Bundesliga last year, Sané arrived at Manchester City in the summer for a considerable fee, and has already begun to show flashes of his considerable talent. As you’d hope from a young wide man, he has searing pace – 92 acceleration and 91 sprint speed – and pairs that with 86 agility, 85 dribbling and 80 ball control, as well as some decent finishing stats. His crossing could use a bit of work, but it’ll improve naturally as he gains experience and reaches his 88 overall potential. He’s still many years away from his peak, which gives you time to train him as you like, whether that’s as a traditional wide player or a deadly wing forward.
Left midfield: Anthony Martial
Martial made a big impact when he arrived at Manchester United from Monaco last year, and he’s still a major talent in this year’s game. Every single one of his physical stats is 80+, with 92 acceleration and 91 sprint speed ratings too, and when you take into account his four-star skill moves, four-star weak foot, 87 dribbling and 84 ball control he’s a scary prospect in any line-up that isn’t your own. He’s a quality finisher too, with 84 shot power and 82 finishing, so you can play him out wide or bring him into a striking role if you choose. You’ll have to buy him first, of course, and he won’t come cheap, but with superb ratings already, and a 90 potential overall, he’s worth buying at any price.
Striker: Kelechi Iheanacho
Young Nigerian Iheanacho has featured intermittently for Manchester City, and has shown the ability to make a huge impact coming off the bench for The Citizens. He’s a raw combination of two deadly assets – pace and finishing – his 89 acceleration and 85 sprint speed gives him enough gas to get behind most defenders, and although his 79 attack positioning and 79 finishing may not sound like much, Iheanacho is still only 20 years old, and 76 overall. He'll never be a multi-dimensional threat, but by the time he reaches his 89 potential overall rating, he may well be the deadliest finisher in the business. Best of all, you should be able to nab him from Manchester City for a fairly modest fee.
Striker: Marcus Rashford
The wonderkid that has been on everyone’s lips as of last season, Marcus Rashford has – surprise surprise – had an absolutely massive ratings boost in FIFA 17. In fact, he’s probably one of the best young strikers in the game. He’s already on the verge of being a legitimate starter at 77 overall, mainly thanks to his 91 acceleration and 90 sprint speed, but also because of his solid finishing, dribbling and attack positioning stats. Throw in his enormous potential rating of 90 overall and Rashford should be right near the top of your wish list come the summer transfer window.
