Best young AMLs in Football Manager 2026, from £9m bargains to £300m superstars
There is a special kind of joy in Football Manager when your left winger gets the ball, drops a shoulder, and suddenly the opposition right-back is questioning every life choice that brought him here.
If you want that feeling on repeat in FM26, you need an AML pipeline. A proper one. Not “I bought a fast lad and hoped for the best”, but a long-term plan where your left side stays dangerous for a decade.
This is my Top 10 wonderkid left wingers (AML), picked to cover different budgets, different save types, and different levels of risk. Prices can swing wildly depending on clauses, reputation, loaded leagues and how petty the selling club feels in your save, so treat costs as a guide, not gospel.
How this Top 10 was picked
- Position first: Players who can play on the left wing (AML) or are natural wide attackers on either side.
- Potential first: I prioritised elite upside, then balanced the list so it is not just “rich clubs only”.
- Our price bands: Under £10m, £10-25m, £25-75m, £75m+ so every save has at least a few realistic targets.
- Reality check: Random potential exists, and injuries ruin dreams, so I flag the risk.
Quick navigation
- 1) Kenan Yıldız
- 2) Mikey Moore
- 3) Rio Ngumoha
- 4) Gabriel Mec
- 5) Jay Robinson
- 6) Alejandro Garnacho
- 7) Malick Fofana
- 8) Assane Diao
- 9) Saïd El Mala
- 10) Jamie Gittens
Top 10 FM26 wonderkid left wingers at a glance
Tip: If your budget is tight, start at No.9 and No.4. If your budget is not tight, I hope you enjoy your life of luxury.
| # | Player | Age | Club | FM Scout R | Estimated Cost | Potential Type | Injury Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenan Yıldız | 20 | Juventus | 90 | £300m | Random | Low |
| 2 | Mikey Moore | 17 | Tottenham (loan: Rangers) | 88 | £75m | Random | Low |
| 3 | Rio Ngumoha | 16 | Liverpool | 88 | £91m | Random | Low |
| 4 | Gabriel Mec | 17 | Grêmio | 88 | £20m | Random | Low |
| 5 | Jay Robinson | 18 | Southampton | 88 | £44m | Random | Low |
| 6 | Alejandro Garnacho | 21 | Chelsea | 87 | £161m | Fixed | Low |
| 7 | Malick Fofana | 20 | Lyon | 87 | £300m | Random | High |
| 8 | Assane Diao | 19 | Como | 86 | £94m | Random | Low |
| 9 | Saïd El Mala | 18 | FC Koln | 86 | £9m | Random | Low |
| 10 | Jamie Gittens | 20 | Chelsea | 84 | £187m | Fixed | High |
1) Kenan Yıldız (Juventus)
The elite ceiling, the elite price
Yıldız is the kind of wide attacker who can define your entire save. He is already a monster, he can play multiple AM roles, and he has the profile to become your “give him the ball and move out of the way” guy.
- Best for: elite clubs, long-term dynasties, anyone building a Champions League monster
- Budget note: the fee is silly, so treat him as a luxury signing
- Risk note: random potential, so scout properly even if the name is shiny
Development plan: make him a key attacker early, tailor individual training to your role (Inside Forward or Winger), and build tactical patterns that let him receive in space or isolate 1v1.
2) Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspur)
Teenage chaos, in the best way
Moore is one of those “how is he only 17?” types. He has the upside to become a star wide attacker, and he is the kind of signing that can pay off for a decade if you get his minutes right.
- Best for: top division clubs who want a long-term wide superstar
- Budget note: expensive, but still cheaper than the absolute mega-names
- Risk note: random potential, so your save can vary
Development plan: prioritise match time. If he cannot start for you, loan him to a club where he plays every week in a decent league.
3) Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)
The “buy now, thank yourself later” prospect
Ngumoha is very young, very expensive, and very high-upside. If you are the kind of manager who hoards wonderkids like trading cards, this is your next addiction.
- Best for: rich rebuilds, elite academies, saves where you plan 3 years ahead
- Budget note: you are paying for the future, not the present
- Risk note: random potential, so do not skip the scouting stage
Development plan: keep training quality high, protect his workload, and aim for a clean loan pathway with guaranteed starts.
4) Gabriel Mec (Grêmio)
The “actually realistic” big-upside signing
Mec is the type of wonderkid that makes this series worthwhile. Compared to the £100m+ madness above, he is a genuinely attainable elite prospect for a lot of saves.
- Best for: smart European clubs, South American recruitment saves, value hunters
- Budget note: this fee is chunky but not outrageous
- Risk note: random potential, so scout personality and consistency
Development plan: bring him in, give him cup and sub minutes early, then ramp up starts once he adapts. Wide players explode with confidence.
5) Jay Robinson (Southampton)
A natural AML with a clean pathway
Robinson is a lovely option if you want a proper left-sided wide player. He is also one of the more “system friendly” picks because he is already an AM L rather than a pure right-footed inside-forward-only type.
- Best for: Premier League builds, top Championship projects, balanced tactical systems
- Budget note: the price is painful, but not insane
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: decide his end role early (Winger, Inverted Winger, Inside Forward) and train the matching final-third attribute set (crossing or finishing).
6) Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea)
Fixed potential, instant impact vibes
Garnacho is expensive, but he comes with a big advantage: fixed potential. If you hate variance between saves, this is the comfort blanket signing.
- Best for: clubs who want immediate quality and reliable development
- Budget note: mega fee territory
- Risk note: low injury risk, fixed potential, basically as safe as a big signing gets
Development plan: start him, keep his morale high, and give him a role that suits your system. Wide attackers thrive when you commit to them.
7) Malick Fofana (Lyon)
World-class upside, but read the medical report
Fofana can become outrageous, but he is also flagged as injury prone. That does not make him a “do not sign”, it just makes him a “rotate him like you mean it” player.
- Best for: deep squads, clubs with strong sports science, managers who rotate properly
- Budget note: the asking price is brutal
- Risk note: injury prone and random potential
Development plan: manage intensity, rotate, avoid heavy double sessions, and keep a strong backup AML so you do not panic-start him at 70% fitness.
8) Assane Diao (Como)
Versatile wide threat, strong development curve
Diao is a great target if you like wide attackers who can also cover other roles. That flexibility matters over long seasons and makes squad building easier.
- Best for: clubs building a flexible front line, tactical tweakers
- Budget note: expensive, but not “£300m what are we doing” expensive
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: use him in multiple roles early (AML and ST minutes if needed), then lock him into the role where his attributes shine most.
9) Saïd El Mala (FC Koln)
The bargain that lets smaller clubs compete
El Mala is the budget hero of this list. The price is manageable, the upside is strong, and he is exactly the type of signing that can turn a “mid-table grind” save into a “European push” save.
- Best for: rebuilds, moneyball saves, clubs who scout properly
- Budget note: this is the “actually buyable” wonderkid pick
- Risk note: random potential, but injury risk is low
Development plan: buy, then guarantee minutes. If you cannot start him, loan him somewhere he plays every week.
10) Jamie Gittens (Chelsea)
High-end winger, but the injury warning matters
Gittens is brilliant, but he is also flagged as injury prone. He can still become a star, you just need to be smart and not run him into the ground like you are trying to win a “most hamstrings destroyed” award.
- Best for: elite squads with depth and rotation options
- Budget note: huge fee
- Risk note: injury prone, even with fixed potential
Development plan: rotate, control workload, and keep his match sharpness high without forcing him through every single fixture.
How to actually scout wonderkid left wingers in FM26
- Decide the role first: Winger wants crossing and decisions, Inside Forward wants finishing and composure, Inverted Winger wants creativity and ball retention.
- Explosiveness matters: pace and acceleration still rule wide areas, especially in transition-heavy tactics.
- Look for end product: finishing, technique, composure and off the ball separate “fun dribbler” from “match winner”.
- Personality is massive: professionalism and ambition often decide who hits their ceiling.
- Minutes matter most: a wonderkid winger without minutes becomes a “why is he still 2 stars at 22?” story.
Honourable mentions (if you want more options)
If your budget or league rules make some of the names above unrealistic, shortlist a few more left-sided attackers and let scouting decide. Other interesting options include Antonio Nusa, Yan Diomandé, Mika Godts, Sergey Pinyaev and Andreas Schjelderup.
Next in the FM26 Top 10 Wonderkids by position series
This is part of the FM26 Top 10 wonderkids series by position. If you want the full database view with price filters and position tabs, add this post into your main wonderkids hub and link the whole series from there.
Go back to the FM26 Wonderkids Hub (price + position filters)
FAQ
Should my AML be a Winger or an Inside Forward in FM26?
It depends on your system. If you want width and crosses, go Winger. If you want goals and cut-ins, go Inside Forward. Pick the role that matches your striker and full-back behaviour.
Do wonderkid wingers need elite pace to be top class?
Not always, but it helps a lot. If a winger is not rapid, he usually needs superior technique, decisions, flair and end product to compensate.
How do I protect injury prone wingers?
Rotate properly, reduce training intensity if needed, avoid rushing them back from knocks, and keep a reliable backup so you are not forced into risky starts.
