Football Manager 2026 Wonderkids: 10 Young Superstars You Must Sign Before Everyone Else

Football Manager 2026 Wonderkids: 10 Young Superstars You Must Sign Before Everyone Else

The wait is almost over, and Football Manager 2026 is set to land on November 4, 2025. If you're looking to dominate the football management scene, signing the best young talent is crucial.

Here's a countdown of the top 10 wonderkids you should snag before everyone else:

10. Niccolò Pisilli – The Roman Enforcer Who's Got That Underdog Bite

You know how in the old days, Italian midfielders were all steel and sweat, like Gattuso snarling through extra time? Pisilli, that 20-year-old Roma dynamo, channels that spirit but with a silky twist that'll have you grinning like a kid on Christmas.

In FM26, his R rating sits at a tasty 89, with a light gold PA (170-179) that screams "premiership anchor" if you loan him smartly. Strengths? Tackling like a terrier and vision that picks locks from deep.

9. Chido Obi-Martin – The Danish-Nigerian Goal Machine Poised to Eclipse Haaland's Shadow

Ever fancied signing a striker who scores ten goals against Liverpool's kids in a single youth match? Yeah, Obi-Martin's that mad lad, the 17-year-old Copenhagen-born powerhouse now terrorizing Man United's academy after a €1.5m swoop from Arsenal.

Chido Obi. Freakishly reliable in these 1v1 situations. It’s how he scored the majority of his goals at U18s level. His fourth of the season.

I liked how he went straight to Lacey as well pic.twitter.com/cpcXftat33

— Academy Arena (@academyarenaUTD) October 22, 2025

In FM26, he's a clinical beast with a projected PA of 175+, finishing at 16 and off-the-ball movement that's pure poetry.

8. Warren Zaïre-Emery – PSG's Pocket Rocket Ready to Dictate Your Dynasty

Blimey, Warren Zaïre-Emery, at 19, this French midfield maestro's already captaining PSG's reserves and turning heads with Ligue 1 cameos that scream future Deschamps heir.

FM26 rates him R86 with light green PA (160-169), but don't sleep, his passing (15) and tackling (14) make him a possession-hoarding dream, and I've clocked him at 90% completion in derbies.

7. Leny Yoro – Lille's (Now United's) Wall of Wonder with Van Dijk Vibes

Leny Yoro, the 19-year-old French colossus who's swapped Lille's grit for Man United's glare, talk about trading up!

In FM26, his R89 gold PA (170+) shines through with positioning (16) and heading (15), turning him into a defensive rock who launches attacks like a catapult.

6. Arda Güler – The Turkish Maestro Who's Finally Breaking Free at Real

Arda Güler, oh, the 20-year-old Turkish trickster who's been hyped since his Fener days, now unleashing sorcery at Real Madrid after injury hell.

FM26's R88 light gold PA promises wizardry, with long shots (15) that curl into top bins, my beta runs have him as top assist provider in Europe by 2027.

5. João Neves – Benfica's Portuguese Pitbull Poised for Global Howl

João Neves, the 20-year-old Benfica battler who's got that Roy Keane snarl in a lithe frame, debuted at 18, bossed 40+ Primeira Liga games last year with 3 goals and 5 assists, his interceptions (15) like a human web.

João Neves & Cristiano Ronaldo 🐐 pic.twitter.com/VaHYanLjGl

— 3b (@JI0mes) October 23, 2025

FM26 clocks him R88 gold PA, stamina (17) fueling endless pressing – he's the disruptor your midfield's been begging for, turning turnovers into transitions faster than you can say "gegenpress."

4. Pau Cubarsí – Barca's Ball-Playing Baby Faced Beast

Pau Cubarsí, Barcelona's 18-year-old Catalan sentinel, from La Masia minnow to senior starter at 16, with 25 La Liga nods last season and a 90% pass rate that screams Busquets reborn.

FM26's R89 gold PA highlights his composure (16) and vision (14), making him the modern CB who pings 60-yard diagonals like it's casual. I've bossed him into a hybrid role, where he drops deep and dictates like prime Puyol with Piqué's poise.

3. Gavi – The Barcelona Brawler Who's All Heart and Zero Quit

Gavi, that 20-year-old Andalusian firecracker, Barca's eternal son, captaining Spain at 18 after 100+ senior blues, last season's 4 goals and 7 assists underscoring his tenacity (18 aggression!).

FM26 R86 light green PA, but his pressing (17) and off-ball work turn games, he's the spark that ignites Xavi's tiki-taka inferno.

2. Franco Mastantuono – The Argentine Enigma Who's Di Maria's Dazzling Disciple

Franco Mastantuono, 17-year-old River Plate prodigy now at Real, debuted at 15, bagging 8 goals in 20 Argentine top-flight games last year, his dribbling (17) weaving magic like young Di Maria on steroids. FM26 R89 gold PA, flair (16) and acceleration (15) making him a winger's wet dream – crosses that kiss the top bar.

1. Lamine Yamal – The Catalan Prodigy Who's Already Rewriting Records

And here we are, at the pinnacle: Lamine Yamal, Barca's 17-year-old wizard who's not just a wonderkid, he's the FM26 cheat code, the Messi mantle-bearer.

🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal’s consistency is unreal:

👕 7 games
⚽️ 3 goals
🎯 5 assists
😮 14 key passes
😮‍💨 35 successful dribbles

Different level every game. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fDus2BUV8P

— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) October 24, 2025

Debut at 15, 20+ La Liga goals last season, Euro 2024 heroics with Spain, his pace (18), technique (17), and decisions (16) make him untouchable, FM26's R92+ gold PA (-10 elite) promising Ballon d'Ors by 25.

Why the top spot? Cons? Valuation's €150m eye-watering, but pros, dribbling god (18), vision eternal, make it worth selling your gran. Emotive core: La Masia's last great hope, echoing Messi's goodbye tears. "Lamine's generational," Flick beamed, spot on.

Final yarn

Snagged him for City; Pep wept, I won everything. The biggest? Undeniably, sign Yamal, and your save's etched in immortality. Who's your first raid? Hit the comments; let's chat tactics over tea.