Best young AMCs in Football Manager 2026, from mega-money superstars to bargain playmakers
There is a special type of Football Manager pain. You dominate the ball, you box them in, you rack up 20 shots, and then your AMC drops a casual 6.3 while misplacing five-yard passes like he is wearing roller skates.
So yes, picking the right attacking midfielder matters. A top-class AMC can turn your whole tactic into a cheat code. This is my Top 10 wonderkid AMCs in FM26, built to cover different budgets, different save types, and different levels of patience.
Quick note: prices swing massively depending on clauses, reputation, loaded leagues, and how stubborn the selling club is in your save. Treat the costs as a guide, not gospel.
How this Top 10 was picked
- Position first: AMCs and players who can realistically play as your central creator.
- Potential focused: I prioritised the highest ceiling prospects, then balanced by affordability.
- Our price bands: Under £5m, £5-10m, £10-50m, £50m+ so every club has options.
- Reality check: Random potential matters, so I flag who is fixed vs random.
Quick navigation
- 1) Nico Paz
- 2) Arda Güler
- 3) Franco Mastantuono
- 4) Luca Williams-Barnett
- 5) Rodrigo Mora
- 6) Toni Fernández
- 7) Mattia Liberali
- 8) Konstantinos Karetsas
- 9) Gilberto Mora
- 10) Kendry Páez
Top 10 FM26 wonderkid AMCs at a glance
Tip: If you are a smaller club, start at No.10 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 | Nico Paz | 20 | Como | 93 | £103m | Fixed | Low |
| 2 | Arda Güler | 20 | Real Madrid | 92 | £259m | Fixed | Low |
| 3 | Franco Mastantuono | 17 | Real Madrid | 91 | £300m | Random | Low |
| 4 | Luca Williams-Barnett | 16 | Tottenham | 91 | £3m | Random | Low |
| 5 | Rodrigo Mora | 18 | Porto | 90 | £250m | Random | Low |
| 6 | Toni Fernández | 17 | Barcelona Atlètic | 89 | £53m | Random | Low |
| 7 | Mattia Liberali | 18 | Catanzaro | 88 | £7m | Random | Low |
| 8 | Konstantinos Karetsas | 17 | Genk | 87 | £107m | Random | Low |
| 9 | Gilberto Mora | 16 | Club Tijuana | 85 | £4m | Random | Low |
| 10 | Kendry Páez | 18 | Chelsea (loan at Strasbourg) | 84 | £76m | Random | Low |
1) Nico Paz (Como)
The ready-made creator with fixed potential
If you want an AMC who can drive your save immediately, Nico Paz is the cleanest pick on this list. He is already expensive, but the key detail is fixed potential. If you hate gambling, this is your guy.
- Best for: clubs chasing Europe, possession sides, long saves
- Budget note: you are paying elite money, but you are buying certainty
- Risk note: low injury risk, fixed potential, very little nonsense
Development plan: start him early, build the tactic around him, and give him set pieces if his attributes allow it. AMCs level up fast when they are the main character.
2) Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
High-end luxury, also fixed potential
This is the version of an AMC signing where you do not negotiate, you just commit a financial crime and click confirm. Güler is outrageously priced, but again you get fixed potential, and that matters at the very top.
- Best for: elite clubs, Champions League saves, squads that need a superstar creator
- Budget note: the Real Madrid tax is real
- Risk note: low injury risk, fixed potential, but the fee is the danger
Development plan: give him freedom in possession and a role that lets him receive between the lines. Then watch your xG go up purely through vibes.
3) Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)
The ceiling is silly, but it is random potential
Mastantuono is one of those FM wonderkids who feels like a future world player. The problem is simple. He is insanely expensive and he has random potential, so you absolutely must scout properly before you go full galactico.
- Best for: rich long-term saves, managers who like building dynasties
- Budget note: this is not a normal transfer
- Risk note: random potential, so your save roll matters
Development plan: if you shown up with the money, do not waste him. Give him minutes early, but protect him from too many roles and instructions. Keep it simple and let his talent cook.
4) Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham)
The bargain that makes you double-check the screen
This is the fun one. Williams-Barnett has a massive ceiling, but he is actually attainable at a fee most top-flight clubs can afford. If you want a wonderkid creator without selling your entire squad, he is your best entry point.
- Best for: rebuilds, clever recruitment saves, clubs stepping up a level
- Budget note: proper value for his upside
- Risk note: random potential, so scout and check personality
Development plan: buy him with a clear pathway. If he is not starting, loan him somewhere he plays every week. Minutes are everything for a young AMC.
5) Rodrigo Mora (Porto)
Elite profile, but the fee is brutal
Mora is the kind of attacking midfielder you sign when you want your opponents to feel despair. He has random potential, but his baseline is already high enough that he can still be worth it if your save has money flying around.
- Best for: elite clubs and rich rebuilds
- Budget note: Porto do not sell cheap
- Risk note: random potential, so do not buy blind
Development plan: give him a role that forces involvement. AMC (Attack) or AP (Support) can work, depending on whether you want goals or control.
6) Toni Fernández (Barcelona Atlètic)
Big club pedigree, smart long-term buy
Toni Fernández is a classic Barca-style talent who can end up ridiculous if developed properly. He is not cheap, but he is far more realistic than the £250m and £300m monsters above.
- Best for: top-division clubs with good facilities, managers who develop youth properly
- Budget note: expensive, but still within reach for European regulars
- Risk note: random potential, so your save can swing either way
Development plan: focus on first touch, passing, vision and composure. Then give him cup starts and sub appearances until he is ready to be the main creator.
7) Mattia Liberali (Catanzaro)
The best value AMC on the list
If you want a proper wonderkid AMC for a sensible fee, Liberali is the one. The price is friendly, the development ceiling is strong, and he is perfect for clubs who want to win now and build for later.
- Best for: Serie A clubs, mid-table rebuilds, smart money saves
- Budget note: this is the sweet spot deal
- Risk note: random potential, but the entry fee is low enough to justify it
Development plan: bring him in, and either start him in easier matches or loan him to a club where he will be a guaranteed starter. Do not let him rot in reserves.
8) Konstantinos Karetsas (Genk)
High-end prospect, hard negotiation
Karetsas is a brilliant pick if you want that modern creator who can play with intensity and still produce quality. The problem is not talent. The problem is the fee.
- Best for: ambitious clubs with strong finances, long-term planners
- Budget note: you might need to structure the deal with add-ons
- Risk note: random potential, so scout thoroughly
Development plan: bring him in as a rotation option, then move him into the starting XI once his physicals and decision making catch up.
9) Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana)
Cheap wonderkid creator with huge upside
This is the type of signing that makes smaller clubs feel powerful. Gilberto Mora is affordable, young, and has the potential to become a top-level attacking midfielder if you give him the right pathway.
- Best for: lower budget clubs, moneyball saves, anyone who loans well
- Budget note: fees like this are why you scout outside Europe
- Risk note: random potential, so check personality and consistency
Development plan: sign him, then get him into competitive football fast. Either start him or loan him to a team that plays a style similar to yours.
10) Kendry Páez (Chelsea, loan at Strasbourg)
The long-term project with a big price tag
Kendry Páez is still an excellent pick, but the fee puts him in a weird middle ground. He is expensive enough that smaller clubs cannot touch him, but he is also more of a development project than the elite ready-made creators at the top.
- Best for: clubs with money and patience, squads that can develop a star over time
- Budget note: you pay now for the payoff later
- Risk note: random potential, so your scouting matters
Development plan: keep his role consistent. Give him a clear identity (AP or AM), protect his morale, and make sure he is playing real minutes every season.
How to actually scout wonderkid AMCs in FM26
- Watch them in big matches: do they hide, or do they demand the ball?
- Prioritise the core creator package: first touch, passing, vision, technique, decisions, composure.
- Check the engine stuff: acceleration, agility, balance and stamina if you press hard.
- Personality matters: you want professionalism and ambition, not chaos.
- Minutes matter most: the best training plan in the world loses to 40 competitive starts.
Honourable mentions (if you want more options)
If you need alternatives, there are plenty of other high-upside creators just outside this Top 10. Names like Dro, Sverre Halseth Nypan, Justin Lerma and Claudio Echeverri can all fit specific saves and budgets.
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 AMC be a Playmaker or an Attacking Midfielder in FM26?
It depends on your system. If you need control and chance creation, go Advanced Playmaker. If you want third-man runs and goals, go Attacking Midfielder. Pick the role that matches the space your tactic creates.
Do AMC wonderkids need game time or can I just train them?
Game time wins. Training helps, but young creators grow fastest when they play competitive matches consistently, even if that means a smart loan.
Is fixed potential better than random potential?
Fixed potential is safer. Random potential can be just as good, but it adds variance between saves, so scouting and personality checks become even more important.
