The latest edition of Football Manager was released this week and as usual the Netherlands is full of young stars that would be excellent signings for your team. Michael Bell takes you through some of the finest Dutch talents in this year’s game.

Jasper Schendelaar

Only 16 but already in the Netherlands U21 squad at the start of the game. The goalkeeper has excellent stats for someone so young and has the potential to become one of the best stoppers in the game. A great signing if you are in it for the long haul.

Lutsharel Geertruida

The 16-year-old is seen as one of Feyenoord’s biggest talents and that is represented in the game, with the versatile defender potential nearing five stars. He can be deployed along the defence and as a defensive midfielder with excellent tackling stats.

Kik Pierie

The Heerenveen youngster is making a name for himself in the Eredivisie this season and the 17-year-old defender is also an excellent signing in Football Manager 2018. He is versatile in the game and can flourish at left-back or in the centre of defence. Can also be trained into a defensive midfielder. Definitely one of the games biggest bargains.

Matthijs de Ligt

One of the finest young centre-backs in Europe, De Ligt is also one of the finest defenders in Football Manager. The Ajax youngster has plenty of potential suitors at the start of the game and can immediately make an impact at any side. The 17-year-old has excellent stats all round and has five star potential. Ajax won’t sell the youngster on the cheap, though.

Christopher Mamengi

The 16-year-old Utrecht defender is a hidden gem in the game and has five-star potential. The centre-back has excellent heading ability and can be developed into a world beater. Pick him up early in the game to avoid losing him to a big club.

Rick van Drongelen

The former Sparta defender has been a wonderkid in the game for the last few years and this year is no different with the now Hamburg star one of the finest defenders in the game. He is a bit more expensive now, though, but its worth it if you need a centre-back or left-back.

Tyrell Malacia 

In need of a left-back? Look no further than this Feyenoord youngster, who is already part of the first team squad at the start of the game despite only being 17-year-old. Malacia is pacey, a good dribbler and starts with decent defensive stats. He is one to develop over a few seasons.

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

The midfielder is causing a stir with Ajax’s U19’s this season and is one of the finest young midfielders you can purchase from the Netherlands in the game. He is naturally a central midfielder but can also be used at DM. He has fine all-round stats for a 17-year-old, especially his finishing, determination and crossing.

Guus Til

A gem that can be picked up reasonably cheaply from AZ Alkmaar, Til is a fine attacking midfielder in the game with good all round stats. You will have to act quickly to snap up the 19-year-old, though, with several clubs circling from the start of the game.

Ferdi Kadioglu

Last year, Kadioglu was one of the finest young attacking midfielders in the game and its the same this year. NEC’s relegation also makes it easier to purchase the 17-year-old at the start of the game. Kadioglu has excellent technique, passing and vision stats from the start of the game and plenty of potential to improve.

Peer Koopmeiners

The 17-year-old is one of two Koopmeiners brothers in the AZ squad. Both are excellent purchases but Peer has the ability to become one of the finest DM’s in the game if developed properly. A fine tackler, with good work rate and technical ability.

Justin Kluivert

After his breakthrough into the Ajax first team, it is unsurprising that Kluivert is now one of the finest youngsters in Football Manager. Primarily a winger, Kluivert is potentially one of the finest attackers in the game with excellent dribbling ability and pace. He isn’t cheap, though, and has plenty of interested suitors at the start of the game.

Calvin Stengs

Sadly Stengs starts the game with a long-term injury but once he is back fit, the AZ winger is a fine purchase and can be developed into a fine attacker. The 18-year-old’s has plenty of potential from the start with good dribbling, pace and crossing stats. Just a shame you have to wait a year before he gets fit.

Thomas Buitink

The 17-year-old starts the game with excellent stats for a young centre-forward and quickly becomes a regular goalscorer in the Vitesse first team. One of the finest hidden gems in the Netherlands, Buitink has 14 for finishing at the start of the game but his composure has to be developed. After a few years he is one of the most lethal strikers in the game and a Netherlands international.

Myron Boadu

The 16-year-old makes his debut in the game this year and is one of the top attacking talents in the Netherlands. The AZ youngster is primarily a centre-forward but can also be used on the wings. He has five-star potential with good pace, finishing and composure stats.

Joel Piroe

The big hulking PSV forward is one of Netherlands finest talents and has become lethal for Oranje’s U19 side over the past year. In the game he starts with excellent stats for a 17-year-old forward and will start banging in the goals after only a short development.

Jeffrey van der Heijden

Another hidden gem in the AZ Alkmaar academy. Van der Heijden is only 15 at the start of the game but already has some incredible stats, including fourteen’s for pace, heading and finishing. His composure, stamina and strength improve after a few years, making him a lethal striker in the game.

Joshua Zirkzee

The 16-year-old caused a transfer scramble in the summer when he decided to leave Feyenoord’s academy on a free with Bayern Munich eventually winning the race for the young striker. Football Manager give Zirkzee excellent finishing, dribbling and pace but being at Bayern he can be difficult to sign unless you are a smaller club looking for someone on loan. After a few seasons, he becomes a goalscoring machine.

Daishawn Redan

Another 16-year-old who decided to move abroad in the summer was Redan, who left Ajax for Chelsea. The striker has 15 for pace at the start of the game and decent finishing stats. After a few years of development, Redan becomes lethal.

Dogucan Haspolat

Our list finishes with Excelsior’s 16-year-old midfielder Haspolat. This screenshot was taken from a Football-Oranje follower with a ‘grown-up’ version of Haspolat – here he is at 21 years of age. A very cheap yet quality buy!

Want more? Writer Michael Statham talked with the man who made the stats – Jeroen Thijssen. Here’s his XI of Dutch wonderkids:




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