Best young strikers in Football Manager 2026, from budget poachers to elite, world-class No.9s
Strikers are the most emotional position in Football Manager. Your wonderkid can miss three sitters, then score a 30-yard screamer and suddenly you are ready to build him a statue outside the stadium.
So yes, this list is about goals. But it is also about value, pathways (minutes, loans, mentoring), and signing the right profile for your tactic. I have picked a Top 10 that covers different budgets and different save types, from lower-league moneyball to Champions League madness.
Quick note: prices can swing massively depending on reputation, clauses, loaded leagues, database updates, 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: ST (and ST-capable) wonderkids.
- Potential first: I prioritised the highest-rated young forwards, then balanced by affordability and accessibility.
- Our price bands: £2m and under, £2-5m, £5-10m, £10m+ so every club has options.
- Reality check: random potential matters, and a couple are injury prone, so I flag the risk.
Quick navigation
- 1) Endrick
- 2) Vitor Roque
- 3) Eli Junior Kroupi
- 4) Francesco Camarda
- 5) George Ilenikhena
- 6) Marc Guiu
- 7) Semih Kılıçsoy
- 8) Harry Gray
- 9) Dastan Satpayev
- 10) David Nogueira
Top 10 FM26 wonderkid strikers 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 | Endrick | 18 | Real Madrid | 96 | £300m | Random | Low |
| 2 | Vitor Roque | 20 | Palmeiras | 86 | £202m | Random | Low |
| 3 | Eli Junior Kroupi | 19 | Bournemouth | 90 | £43m | Random | Low |
| 4 | Francesco Camarda | 17 | AC Milan | 88 | £83m | Random | Low |
| 5 | George Ilenikhena | 18 | AS Monaco | 82 | £81m | Random | Low |
| 6 | Marc Guiu | 19 | Chelsea | 85 | £37m | Random | Low |
| 7 | Semih Kılıçsoy | 19 | Beşiktaş | 85 | £23m | Random | Low |
| 8 | Harry Gray | 16 | Leeds United | 88 | £33m | Random | High |
| 9 | Dastan Satpayev | 16 | FC Kairat | 89 | £12m | Random | Low |
| 10 | David Nogueira | 16 | Santos | 82 | £2m | Random | Low |
1) Endrick (Real Madrid)
The "delete my budget" option, elite ceiling
If you want the most explosive young forward on the list, it is Endrick. He is already at a superclub, he is already expensive, and he can become the face of your save if you actually build around him.
- Best for: elite clubs, long saves, anyone building a Champions League dynasty
- Budget note: the price is silly, and the negotiation will be worse
- Risk note: random potential, so you still scout properly even at this price
Development plan: give him starts early in cup and easier league games, then transition into first choice once his consistency stabilises. Mentoring matters. Do not let his personality drift.
2) Vitor Roque (Palmeiras)
Elite all-round forward, but you pay for the name
Roque is one of those strikers who works in multiple systems. Pressing forward? Fine. Advanced forward? Fine. Even as a deeper link option, he can still function if the attributes line up in your save.
- Best for: top clubs who want a ready-made long-term No.9
- Budget note: huge fee, so he is a "centrepiece signing"
- Risk note: random potential, but not flagged as injury prone
Development plan: start him quickly so he builds momentum. Strikers run on confidence. Set individual focus based on role (finishing for poachers, off the ball for runners, first touch for link play).
3) Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)
The sweet spot: world-class upside without the £200m pain
Kroupi is the kind of signing that feels smart. He is not cheap, but compared to the ultra-elite names he is actually reasonable, and his ceiling is serious.
- Best for: Premier League clubs, rich rebuilds, Europa League teams pushing up
- Budget note: expensive, but feels like value for the upside
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: if he is not starting, loan him to a top division where he will play every week. Forwards develop fastest when they are actually scoring goals.
4) Francesco Camarda (AC Milan)
High ceiling project, needs a clean pathway
Camarda is the classic wonderkid striker profile: young, hyped, and capable of turning into an absolute monster if you handle him properly. The key is not buying him and then forgetting he exists.
- Best for: clubs with patience and strong coaching
- Budget note: you are paying for future, not current output
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: if he is not going to start for you, do not keep him as "third striker". Loan him to a club where he is the main man. You want 30+ starts and a goal tally.
5) George Ilenikhena (AS Monaco)
Physical profile that can break defences
Ilenikhena is a great option if you want a striker who can handle duels and transition football, but still has room to grow into a more complete No.9.
- Best for: teams that play direct, press high, or counter quickly
- Budget note: not cheap, but still below the Endrick/Roque tier
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: train the role you will actually use. If he is your Advanced Forward, push off the ball and acceleration. If he is a Pressing Forward, balance work rate and stamina with finishing.
6) Marc Guiu (Chelsea)
Premier League environment, loads of upside
Guiu is a strong signing because he sits in that zone where you can buy him, use him, and still improve him. He is not just a "maybe one day" prospect.
- Best for: clubs that want a striker to compete now and grow later
- Budget note: a big fee, but not ridiculous
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: give him a defined job (cup starter, rotation striker, or loan). Strikers hate limbo. If he plays, he grows. If he sits, he stalls.
7) Semih Kılıçsoy (Beşiktaş)
The versatile forward for modern systems
Semih is a brilliant target for managers who like fluid front threes. He can play wide and central, which gives you flexibility while he develops.
- Best for: tactical tinkerers, gegenpress systems, wide-to-central rotations
- Budget note: comparatively affordable for the quality level
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: decide early if he is a striker or a wide forward in your system, then train hard in that lane. Mixed development is fine, but it can slow his ceiling if you are not careful.
8) Harry Gray (Leeds United)
Huge potential, but you must manage the body
Gray is ridiculously talented for his age. The problem is simple: he is flagged as injury prone, so if you smash him with double intensity training and 60 matches a season, you will regret it.
- Best for: clubs with strong sports science and good rotation options
- Budget note: not cheap, but you are buying a potential superstar
- Risk note: injury prone and random potential
Development plan: protect him. Manage training intensity, rotate smartly, and build his match minutes gradually. If he stays fit, his ceiling is outrageous.
9) Dastan Satpayev (FC Kairat)
The "smart club" signing with massive upside
This is the type of signing that turns a rebuild into a story. Satpayev is young, affordable compared to the top names, and he has that rare "could be anything" feel.
- Best for: moneyball saves, smart rebuilds, clubs who loan well
- Budget note: great value for a high-upside forward
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: buy and loan, unless you can actually start him. Prioritise physical development and movement. If he becomes quick and smart off the ball, you have a monster.
10) David Nogueira (Santos)
The budget wonderkid who can explode
If you want a striker wonderkid without destroying your wage structure, Nogueira is the one. The fee is manageable and the upside is real, especially for saves where you need to develop and sell.
- Best for: smaller clubs, South America saves, stepping-stone clubs, long-term rebuilds
- Budget note: genuinely affordable, which is rare for a 16-year-old striker prospect
- Risk note: random potential
Development plan: make sure he plays. If your league is too hard for him right now, loan him to a weaker division where he will start every week and score goals.
How to actually scout striker wonderkids in FM26
- Movement wins: off the ball, anticipation, and acceleration often matter more than raw finishing.
- Pick the right role: Advanced Forward for runners, Pressing Forward for chaos, Deep-Lying Forward for link play.
- Check the hidden stuff: consistency, big matches, and professionalism can make or break a wonderkid.
- Confidence is a stat (basically): give them a run, set sensible expectations, and do not destroy them after one bad month.
- Minutes matter most: 30 to 40 competitive starts beats the best training schedule in the world.
Honourable mentions (if you want more options)
If your save needs alternatives, shortlist a few more ST wonderkids and compare who is actually available and affordable in your database. Some great extra names to scout include Francesco Pio Esposito, Stefanos Tzimas, Jayden Danns, Djylian N'Guessan, and Omar Janneh.
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
Is finishing the most important attribute for a wonderkid striker in FM26?
Not always. Movement (off the ball, anticipation) and physicals (acceleration, balance) often create the chances. Finishing turns chances into goals, but it is not the full story.
Should I loan out a teenage striker wonderkid?
Yes, if you cannot start him regularly. Strikers develop fastest with goals, confidence, and consistent minutes. A good loan beats sitting on your bench.
Are expensive striker wonderkids worth it?
Only if they will play and you are financially stable. If you spend £80m on a teenager and then give him 12 appearances, you are paying for potential you will not unlock.
