Best young right-backs in Football Manager 2026, from budget steals to elite modern full-backs
Right-backs in Football Manager are basically your entire tactical plan in one body. One match they are bombing on like a winger, the next they are tucking inside like a midfielder, and somehow they still need the lungs to sprint back and defend the back post.
So if you are building a long-term save in FM26, locking down your next RB early is one of those moves that quietly wins you titles three seasons later. This is my Top 10 wonderkid right-backs, chosen to cover different budgets, different save types, and different levels of risk.
Quick note: prices can swing massively depending on reputation, clauses, loaded leagues, and whether the selling club is feeling greedy in your save. Treat costs as a guide, not gospel.
How this Top 10 was picked
- Position only: right-backs and right wing-backs (DR/WBR types).
- Potential first: I prioritised the top-rated young RBs, then balanced by affordability.
- Our price bands: Under £2m, £2-5m, £5-10m, £10m+ so every club has options.
- Reality check: random potential matters, and injury prone flags matter, so I call out the risk.
Quick navigation
- 1) Jesús Fortea
- 2) Rico Lewis
- 3) Marco Palestra
- 4) Daniel Banjaqui
- 5) Elias Baum
- 6) Pedro Lima
- 7) Kosta Nedeljković
- 8) Álex Jiménez
- 9) Iván Fresneda
- 10) Martim Fernandes
Top 10 FM26 wonderkid right backs at a glance
Tip: If you are a smaller club, start at the bottom of this table and work up. If you are a Champions League club, start at No.1 and pretend money is not real.
| # | Player | Age | Club | FM Scout R | Estimated Cost | Potential Type | Injury Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jesús Fortea | 18 | Real Madrid Castilla | 87 | £13m | Random | High |
| 2 | Rico Lewis | 20 | Man City | 84 | £155m | Random | Low |
| 3 | Marco Palestra | 20 | Atalanta | 81 | £537k | Random | Low |
| 4 | Daniel Banjaqui | 17 | SL Benfica | 83 | £15m | Random | Low |
| 5 | Elias Baum | 19 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 83 | £22m | Fixed | Low |
| 6 | Pedro Lima | 19 | Wolves | 80 | £14m | Random | Low |
| 7 | Kosta Nedeljković | 19 | Aston Villa | 80 | £29m | Random | Low |
| 8 | Álex Jiménez | 20 | A.C. Milan (loan) | 80 | £45m | Random | Low |
| 9 | Iván Fresneda | 20 | Sporting CP | 82 | £97m | Random | Low |
| 10 | Martim Fernandes | 19 | FC Porto | 82 | £93m | Random | Low |
1) Jesús Fortea (Real Madrid Castilla)
The modern RB blueprint, but manage the injuries
Fortea is the headline wonderkid RB because he gives you that rare mix: elite upside, a realistic route to minutes (if you are clever), and a fee that is big but not absurd. He is the sort of player you sign now, then build your whole right flank around.
- Best for: long saves, rebuilds with ambition, clubs that love attacking full-backs
- Budget note: £13m is not small, but it is a bargain compared to the elite names
- Risk note: injury prone and random potential, so do not run him into the ground
Development plan: rotate him early, keep training intensity sensible, and prioritise a role that fits him (Wing-Back Support or Full-Back Attack). Give him cup starts, then a league pathway once his physicals pop.
2) Rico Lewis (Man City)
The luxury signing, because money is fake
Lewis is already so good that he feels like cheating, and that is exactly why he costs an outrageous amount. If you want a right-back who can also function as an inverted full-back and basically become your extra midfielder in possession, this is the dream.
- Best for: elite clubs, Champions League saves, anyone doing a "buy the best and bully everyone" run
- Budget note: you are paying the Man City tax, then paying it again
- Risk note: not injury prone, but the price means the risk is financial
Development plan: start him immediately. This is not a loan project. Build tactical instructions around him (inverted movement, underlaps, possession structure) and let him cook.
3) Marco Palestra (Atalanta)
The bargain that makes you feel guilty
This is the fun one. Palestra is ridiculously affordable compared to his upside and he is perfect for smaller clubs or moneyball saves. If you sign him early, you can either develop your own RB for years or flip him for a silly profit.
- Best for: lower-league climbs, budget rebuilds, long-term squad building
- Budget note: under £1m is the kind of deal you spam scout assignments for
- Risk note: random potential, so check personality and scout properly
Development plan: buy and loan immediately as a weekly starter. You want match ratings, development, confidence, then bring him back when he is ready to compete.
4) Daniel Banjaqui (SL Benfica)
Big-club wonderkid, big-club fee
Benfica wonderkids are never cheap, but Banjaqui is still within reach for a lot of saves. He is young enough that you can shape him into whatever you need, and he has that high ceiling vibe that makes you sign him before someone else does.
- Best for: clubs who develop and sell, teams building elite youth cores
- Budget note: expect Benfica to play hardball
- Risk note: random potential, so your save can vary massively
Development plan: decide his identity early. If you want a wing-back, focus on crossing, dribbling, stamina. If you want a defensive full-back, focus on positioning, tackling, decisions.
5) Elias Baum (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Fixed potential, clean pick
If you hate rolling the dice, Baum is your guy. Fixed potential is massive for peace of mind, and he is the kind of signing that feels sensible and exciting at the same time. He is expensive, but it is a price you can justify.
- Best for: clubs that want a reliable long-term RB, less chaos, more certainty
- Budget note: a premium deal, but not galaxy-brained expensive
- Risk note: not injury prone, and not random potential, so this is about as safe as wonderkids get
Development plan: keep him in your first-team training from day one, then give him structured minutes (cups, easier league games, controlled rotation). Stability is how you maximise fixed potential players.
6) Pedro Lima (Wolves)
Premier League pathway, proper upside
Pedro Lima is a great middle ground. Not insanely expensive, not dirt cheap, but the profile screams "modern RB" and he is in a league environment that can accelerate development if you actually give him games.
- Best for: Premier League saves, ambitious mid-table clubs, high-intensity systems
- Budget note: a fee that many top-flight clubs can justify
- Risk note: random potential, but not injury prone
Development plan: get him minutes early. If you cannot start him, loan him to a top division where he is a guaranteed starter.
7) Kosta Nedeljković (Aston Villa)
Strong value if you want a safer RB profile
Nedeljković is not the cheapest, but he fits that sweet spot where you are buying a high-quality young RB without going into "sell the stadium" territory. He is a really solid target if you want someone who can contribute and still grow.
- Best for: clubs pushing for Europe, squads that need RB depth now and a starter later
- Budget note: expensive for a teenager, but fair for the level
- Risk note: random potential, but not injury prone
Development plan: use him as a rotation option straight away, then push for 20 to 30 starts a season. The biggest RB killer is being stuck as "backup forever".
8) Álex Jiménez (A.C. Milan, loan)
Inverted full-back energy, but do not expect miracles
Jiménez is a fascinating signing because he can slot into multiple roles and still give you a top-level squad option. The warning is simple: he might not improve much in some saves, so this is a "scout first, sign second" situation.
- Best for: clubs who want tactical flexibility, inverted full-back systems, squad depth with upside
- Budget note: £45m means you need to be sure
- Risk note: random potential, but not injury prone
Development plan: treat him like a first-team player. If you sign him, he should play. If you cannot guarantee minutes, pick someone cheaper and develop them instead.
9) Iván Fresneda (Sporting CP)
The name signing, the mega fee
Fresneda is one of those players who always shows up in saves because the reputation is huge. The problem is the price. If you can afford him, fine. If you cannot, do not force it, you have better value options on this list.
- Best for: rich clubs, saves where you want immediate RB quality
- Budget note: £97m is not a fee, it is a statement
- Risk note: random potential, but not injury prone
Development plan: play him in big matches. At this price, you are buying a starting right-back, not a project.
10) Martim Fernandes (FC Porto)
High ceiling, high price, classic Porto problem
Porto do not sell cheap, and Fernandes is exactly why. He is a top-level RB wonderkid, but you are paying a massive fee to get him out. This is an option for clubs that want elite talent and are willing to pay up.
- Best for: Champions League clubs, long saves, squads that need RB quality now
- Budget note: £93m is brutal, negotiate hard and look for clauses
- Risk note: random potential, but not injury prone
Development plan: if you buy him, start him. The fastest way to waste £93m is to rotate him in cup games only.
How to actually scout wonderkid right-backs in FM26
- Decide the role first: Wing-Back needs pace, stamina, crossing, dribbling. Full-Back needs positioning, tackling, concentration.
- Do not ignore mental attributes: anticipation, decisions, work rate, teamwork. RBs get punished for switching off.
- Check their weak foot: it matters more than people admit, especially if you want inverted movement.
- Watch them in matches: a report can love them, but their positioning can still be chaos.
- Minutes matter most: a wonderkid RB with 35 starts will outgrow a wonderkid RB with perfect training and zero games.
Honourable mentions (if you want more options)
If your save needs alternatives, go back to the wider RB wonderkid pool and shortlist a few more names. Your database, loaded leagues, and random potential can change the "best" list every single save.
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 I develop my RB as a Wing-Back or an Inverted Full-Back in FM26?
Pick based on your system. If you need width and crossing, go Wing-Back. If you want an extra midfielder in possession, go inverted. Do not force the role if the attributes do not fit.
Is random potential a deal-breaker for right-backs?
No. It just means you scout properly and accept that two saves can produce two different outcomes. Personality and minutes still matter more than hype.
What is the one attribute people ignore when scouting RB wonderkids?
Decisions. A RB can have pace for days, but if he makes bad choices in transition, he will cost you goals.
