10 Players You NEED to sign on Football Manager 2022 Winter Transfer Update?

Who should you sign on the new Football Manager 2022 update? Which players will perform and would be great value for your money? That was some of the questions I asked myself once the Football Manager 2022 Winter transfer update arrived last week. Today I’ll hand you my recommendations of players you need to sign on Football Manager 2022.

With a huge number of changes to the players’ attributes, current abilities and potential, the new Football Manager 2022 Winter transfer update will give you a range of notable changes that will enhance the gameplay. By updating the FM22 database it looks to replicate the current footballing world with player performances and squad changes. In fact, it will include four million changes to player transfers and tweaks to player ability (CPA).

In this regard, I thought it could be useful to look at the players you need to sign on Football Manager 2022 winter transfer update.

Value for the Money! Best Players on Football Manager 2022?!

When looking for the best players on Football Manager 2022 update and to give you great recommendations of players to consider buying I’ve used a number of parameters to identify the best signings on FM22 winter transfer update. For instance, I’ve considered the players’ transfer value and approximately transfer cost to their on-pitch performance (goals, assists, interceptions, tackles and average rating). I’ve also considered the player’s current ability rating, that’s viewable within the FM22 Editor to see if the players have been improved or updated for the latest database update.

Then I’ve also taken into account my past experience of managing the player in a save or previous performances for an opponent in past saves to give you my personal recommendations of players to target.

By trying to ensure all players are available for a fairly reasonable amount of money according to their level of player attributes at the start of 2021-2022 season, I look to identify the players with greatest value for the money! This means that world-class players like Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, Joshua Kimmich, Erling Haaland or Kevin de Bruyne – players that would enhance your squad regardless, will not be mentioned.

Instead, I’ve focused my attention on those players available for less than €50Million in Football Manager 2022. For those clubs with the highest starting transfer budget in Football Manager 2022 you will probably afford two to three players on the list, while for anyone doing a save with more limited resources you might be restricted to signing only one player.

So with no further ado, here are some of my favorite Football Manager 2022 players valued below €50Million, that I think you need to sign on Football Manager 2022!

NB! All screenshots of player profiles have been collected at the end of first season in Football Manager 2022 playing with the 22.3 db, unless anything other is not stated.

10 Favorite Players You Need to Sign on Football Manager 2022

Joey Veerman (23) / Playmaker / PSV

Ahead of FM22 release, I singled out Joey Veerman as the cheaper Dutch Kevin de Bruyne model in my piece looking at ones to watch for FM22. Personally, it didnt came as a major surprise the Dutch playmaker would be poached by a bigger club in the winter transfer window, but that it was PSV would tie up the player for €5.5Million earlier in January could mean he should be considered as one of the best signings in Eredivisie 2022.

The central midfielder made 10 assists last season for Heerenveen and recorded 1.9 key passes per game whilst contributing to creating 7 big chances. After half played 2021-2022 season he has improved his tally to 2.2 key passes per game meanwhile recording 9 assists.

The 23 year old playmaker could use PSV as a stepping stone club before replacing Dutch soil for bigger challenges.

In FM22 update, Joey Veerman is a passing maestro that can make progressive passes into the final third with his sublime vision and technique. Even though he will not be available to sign at the start of the first season, you should put the player on your shortlist to track his form and performances to consider signing the player in the summer of 2022.

Roony Bardghji (16) / Creative Winger / FC København

One of the few new wonderkids added in the Football Manager 2022 update is the Swedish creative winger Roony Bardghji. The 16 year old Swedish wonderkid of Syrian descent came to FC København from Malmø FF in the summer of 2020.

The left footed inverted winger received his debut as right winger against AGF Aarhus November 21st, 2021. Since then, he has received 3 appearances and scored a goal the following week after his FCK debut.

Standing out for his quickness, flair, sublime technique and brilliance with the ball at his feet, Roony Bardghji, could easily become my favorite FM22 wonderkid. He’s tendency to shoot from distance, unlock the opposition with his unpredictability in movements and ability to create and convert chances could easily see the €7-12Million spent is great value for the money. Especially if you’re planning for the long-term!

Paul Onuachu (26) / Goalscorer / KRC Genk

Need a striker who can lead the line as an alone forward who are great both inside the box, in aerial situations and also capable of holding up the ball to assist his teammates? Perhaps you’re playing a gegenpress system where you want your striker(s) to work hard by closing down the opponent’s defenders and try to regain possession as high up the field as possible?

Then the Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu could be the ideal signing!

The 201cm tall striker who made his breakthrough in Denmark playing for Velje and FC Midtjylland has made an impressive display in the Belgium Jupiler Pro the last two seasons. 33 goals and a goal every 91 minute in the 2020-21 season. 16 goals in 25 appearances so far this season makes him into a huge threat in front of the goal.

Use him as a pressing forward or a target man and see him convert floating crosses into the box with his excellent height, heading and Jumping reach abilities. His Off the ball, Flair, Finishing and Teamwork should also be noted as he can find spaces within the front line and roam around the field making it harder for the opposition to deal with him.

Paul Onuachu will be available for around €20Million and his current wages will make him a fairly cheap signing or any Premier League clubs chasing for the top 5 spots.

Gonçalo Ramos (20) / Wonderkid Striker / Benfica

Benfica’s squad is filled with a number of great FM22 wonderkids. From Cher Ndour to Hugo Felix that could bring creativity in the midfield to the emerging star Gonçalo Ramos. The Portuguese striker who is currently competing for a place in the starting XI against the unstoppable Darwin Nunez, who have scored 20 goals in 20 appearances so far in the Portuguese Liga Nos. Even though Darwin Nunez is one who have received a major upgrade on the FM22 winter transfer update, I decided to focus my attention on the 2 year younger forward due to the price tag.

If we compare Gonçalo Ramos’ abilities with Darwin Nunez we see they are rather similar types of players. Their Finishing, Passing, Off the ball and Composure is similar. If we take into account their age difference, so is their Vision, Teamwork, Off the ball movement and Flair.

Instead of paying up to €70Million for a world class striker, you can get Gonçalo Ramos for half the value of Darwin. What’s even better is the Portuguese strikers suitability to perform in a number of different roles – both as a single forward or in a striker partnership where he’s more of a deep-lying forward who links up play, or chase relentlessly for the ball while his partner cut of passing options.

NB! The player’s approximately asking price is around €25Million.

Vitinha (21) / Advanced Playmaker / Porto

Looking for the next Andres Iniesta in Football Manager 2022, or a similar type of player as David Silva – one who can create chances from the half spaces and link up play between the midfield line and the attacking line? Then, you should definitely consider Portuguese playmaker Vitinha.

Playing alongside Matheus Uribe and connected well with Liverpool protege signing Luis Diaz in Porto’s 4-4-2 formation, Vitinha has been the creative force within the central midfield. The former Wolverhampton player has ranked up 5 man of the match awards this season and contributes to 1.6 key passes per game.

In one of my holiday tests, Vitinha managed to record 21 assists in 46 appearances. which is 2 more assists than Kevin de Bruyne and Dusan Tadic.

How you opt to utilize Vitinha’s strengths is up to you but you could use him as an advanced playmaker or Mazzala attack in a 4-3-3, formation, a Central Midfielder attack in a 4-5-1 or as a deep-lying player in a 4-4-2 formation. His capabilities to dictate play and the tempo of the game, make one-twos and utilize his vision and passing technique to spread passes to players in advanced positions will let you sign a world-class player that could both create havoc in the opponent’s defensive block by dribbling or movements of the ball.

Frankly, he’s the ultimate press-resistant player in his age group and for that price, at least in my point of view, on Football Manager 2022. Just look at his level of Dribbling (16), Agility (17), First Touch (15), Passing (17), Technique (16) and Vision (17). Add Off the ball (15), Teamwork (15), Decisions (16) and Composure (16) to the mix and you’ll have a player with excellent ball control!

NB! Vitinha has a minimum fee release clause of €20Mill!

Enis Bardhi (25) / Bargain Shadow Striker / Levante

Need a backup player for your top level club, or want to improve your mid-table club with one of many Football Manager 2022 bargains? The Macedonian attacking midfielder Enis Bardhi could be described as a great bargain shadow striker.

Available for a price tag between €11 to 15Mill, the attacking midfielder could be a great signing for anyone using a 4-2-3-1 formation or a 3-4-2-1. You can use him either as an Inverted Winger on the left flank, or as an attacking midfielder who looks to move into channels or run into the space behind the opposing defensive line.

Standing out for his Long shots and ability to shoot from distance, Enis Bardhi is one who can bring unpredictability and creativity from zone 14. His ability to create chances from the area outside the penalty box and keep control of the ball in narrow spaces has led him to record 2 assists, 1.4 key passes per game and 3 goals in 58 minutes played per game(20 appearances).

Tiago Tomás (18) / Cheap Wonderkid Striker / VfB Stuttgart (Sporting CP)

One of the new revelations in the German Bundesliga since the winter transfersecond half of the season begun could be said to be Tiago Tomás. The Portuguese striker was loaned out from Sporting CP to VfB Stuttgart on the final day of the winter transfer window. Since moving to German soil he has scored 2 goals in 4 appearances.

The teenager still has lots of unfilled potential and areas to improve, but his physical attributes and Determination will make him a world-class player you definitely need to sign in Football Manager 2022. Even though he won’t be available to be signed until the summer of 2022, you could describe him as a cheap wonderkid striker since you will most likely be able to sign him for around €5 million.

In one of my holiday tests he scored 19 goals in 34 appearances in Football Manager 2022 – making himself amongst the top three goalscorer in Bundesliga 2021-2022 three goals behind Erling Haaland and 4 goals behind Andrej Kramaric.

Use him in the role of the Pressing Forward (a), Advanced Forward (a) or False Nine and hunt for trophies in the coming years with one of the most intriguing strikers for the future in his age group.

Nicolás Domínguez (23) / Tireless Midfielder / Bologna

Another decent Football Manager 2022 bargain is theArgentinian defensive midfielder Nicolás Domínguez. The former Velez Sarsfield wonderkid moved to Bologna in 2019 for €12.5Million. Since then he has received 65 appearances in the Italian Serie A.

Nicolás Domínguez is able to play as either deep-lying player and defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system, or a box to box midfielder in a 4-3-3 system. In fact, his well-rounded abilities is the perfect modern midfielder – capable of winning possession in the middle of the pitch whilst also providing forward runs that creates numerical superiority when entering the final third.

A hard working player that is as skilled in the art of defence as threading through balls, he got the physic and technical abilities to help protect the defensive line whilst also initiating attacking moves.

For a fee of around €12-18Million, he could be the one to help you secure a top spot finish of your mid-table club. In fact, he could be the perfect replacement for Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips, if he’s sold. For a price tag of below €20Million, he would be the perfect signing for any teams outside the top 2 clubs in England, Spain or Italy.

Noussair Mazraoui (23) / Versatile Player / Ajax

Regardless of your ambitions and formation you use, one of the priorities at good squad building is to ensure you got great cover and players who fulfill each others capabilities. Signing a versatile player that could perform in a number of positions and roles could be the thing that helped you to secure the title – especially if coming up in injury crisis.

Noussair Mazraoui is one of the players that have stand out this season for a team who have only conceded 7 goals this season in their home league. As one of the best performers in Erik ten Hags Ajax side, Mazraoui have scored 5 goals and made 4 assists in 28 appearances helping the team to dominate on Dutch and European soil.

The Moroccan wingback is highly versatile. Able to play both as defensive midfielder, left fullback or right midfielder he got everything needed to support attacking moves whilst also protecting the back line. His Stamina, Work rate, Teamwork and Off the ball movement is all you want from a wingback. Include Flair, Passing and Vision and you have the optimal wide playmaker who can lead top clubs to further titles in the years to come.

Available for around €25Million, at least that’s what Manchester City have paid for the player in my holiday saves, Noussair Mazraoui stands out as one of the best signings in Football Manager 2022! Thinking about it, he’s the ideal signing for Pep Guardiola – a manager who tends to love players who can perform in multiple positions.

Disclaimer! This statement might be affected by my personal emotions for any players in the current Ajax side since I’m a huge fan of the Dutch clubs ability to develop players and style of play.

Andrea Carboni (20) / Wonderkid Defender / Cagliari

If you are looking to build a squad for the future, one player you need to sign is the Italian defender Andrea Carboni. The top clubs in Football Manager 2022 have interest in the player from the start of 2021-2022 season and you need to move fast with a bid to attract his services.

The player is a fairly versatile defender who can on either flanks in the role of a fullback or as a central defender – both in a four man defence or in a back three.

So far this season, he has received 20 appearances in the Serie A – often playing as a left centre-back in a 3-5-2 in what we can resemble as a wide-centre back support role. Standing out for his tackling, heading and ability to make interception with his positioning and reading of the game, Andrea Carboni could be the player to take up the reign from Giorgio Chiellini for the Italian National team.

In Football Manager 2022, you will be able to acquire the interest of Andrea Carboni for around €6-8Million at maximum €17K per week in wages.

That wraps up my review of some of the best players in Football Manager 2022 – at least the one I think you should sign on Football Manager 2022. If you like to discover more FM22 players that I personally recommends, I’ve created a shortlist of the best players to sign in FM22. You can download the shortlist featuring nearly 190 personal favorites below.

Who have become your favorite Football Manager 2022 player? Have you found any gems in Football Manager 2022 that provides great value for the money? Use the comments below to share your player recommendations.