Best FM26 wonderkids to sign, from affordable prospects to elite future
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Betting on future prospects in Football Manager (FM26) is crucial to your hopes of carving out a successful managerial career on the iconic game.
South Africa’s Mbekezeli Mbokazi is among the players who will be on the radar of many managers following his impressive performances at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. While South Africa failed to deliver a winning return to punters who backed them to win the tournament on the sportsbooks featured on comparison platform bettingtop10.co.za, Mbokazi enhanced his reputation.
Success in FM26 often hinges on gambling on players such as Mbokazi to fulfil their raw potential by becoming a top player in one of the big leagues. With that in mind, we have scoured the football world to produce this definitive list of FM26 wonderkids.
Myles Lewis-Skelly - Arsenal
Myles Lewis-Skelly is already an England international and a highly rated prospect capable of starting every week in a team challenging for the biggest titles.
The Arsenal academy graduate has quickly made a name for himself, and it only takes him a few years to develop into one of the best defenders in FM 26.
He is expensive, but he can hold down the fort at left back for the foreseeable future.
Ayyoub Bouaddi - LOSC Lille
Ayyoub Bouaddi is one of the most sought-after prodigies in French football and it's reflected in his FM profile.
He has the potential to develop into a world class operator and excels in every key attribute any FM manager would want in a midfielder.
If you are starting a new save, signing Bouaddi should be at the top of your to-do list.
Gilberto Mora - Tijuana
Gilberto Mora is another highly rated talent who should be a priority target early on. If you are lucky, you will only need to pay around £7 million to get a deal done.
The Mexican is making waves in the real world and in FM. His rare blend of versatility and technical ability makes him a standout pick among his peers.
Mora is a must-have wonderkid in FM 26. Even if you plan to sell him for a profit, it is still worth making the move.
Assane Diao - Como
Assane Diao has been tipped to be a world beater professional football, and his remarkable growth potential is reflected in FM.
The left winger has all the tools to become an excellent forward, but you need to sign him early.
The biggest clubs in the game are already circling the Como winger, so you may have to pay a premium to sign him if you wait.
Francesco Pio Esposito - Inter Milan
Inter Milan academy graduate Francesco Pio Esposito is a value-for-money striker who will undoubtedly come good with ample playing time.
Persuading Inter to sell him will be difficult, as he won’t come cheap. But the Italian striker is worth the investment as he almost always develops into a world-class striker.
Esposito is as good with his feet as he is in the air in FM 26. He has all the tools to be a lethal striker for whichever team he joins.
Lamine Yamal - Barcelona
We cannot talk about the best wonderkids in FM 26 without throwing Lamine Yamal in the mix, even though he is an obvious choice.
He has taken the world by storm and is already one of the best wingers in FM 26.
Luring him away from Barcelona is where the problem lies. If you are unwilling to pay a world-record fee to sign him, then you’re better off looking elsewhere.
Estevao - Chelsea
You may not be able to sign Estevao from Chelsea at the beginning of your save, but he is certainly one to keep an eye on further down the line.
The Brazilian winger arrived at Chelsea with a reputation as one of the best young talents in the world, and he usually delivers on his potential in FM26.
Estevao’s finishing ability usually peaks around 15/20, placing him in the elite category of wide players.
Kenan Yildiz - Juventus
Kenan Yildiz is expensive from the outset, but will likely be worth every penny you spend to sign him from Juventus.
Yildiz is considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe, and his talent is reflected in FM.
He develops into an elite attacker with eye-catching attributes such as flair, dribbling technique, decision-making, finishing, passing and pace.
Jonas Urbig - Munich
Bayern Munich’s Jonas Urbig is the only goalkeeper to make this list. He has not had a chance to prove himself, so you’ll find him buried down Bayern’s depth chart in a new save.
However, his lack of first-team minutes will increase your chances of signing him.
If you can convince him to leave Bayern with the promise of being a regular starter, he can become a top goalkeeper in the long run.
Vitor Roque - Palmeiras
Vitor Roque has been on a rollercoaster journey since his ill-advised move from Athletico Paranaense to Barcelona in January 2024.
The Spanish giants paid a fortune to sign him, but he returned to his homeland to join Palmeiras after 13 months.
Roque remains highly rated in FM 26 and still has the potential to develop into a top striker.
Conclusion
If you want even more options across every position and price point, you can browse our full FM26 wonderkids list here: FM26 Wonderkids List (Price + Position).
This shortlist is built for impact - a mix of elite names, smart value picks, and players who can explode with the right minutes. Sign early, develop aggressively, and do not be surprised when half your save ends up being funded by selling one of these lads for a silly fee.
