FM26’s most popular signings explained - who’s worth it, who’s hype, and
the key contract gotchas to watch
This is the list of the players FM26 managers sign the most because they’re ridiculous value for money.
These are the names that get spam-bought in save after save because they solve the same problems fast: a proper full-back, a reliable centre-back, a goalkeeper you can trust, a creator who actually creates, and a couple of clause bargains that feel like cheating.
But popularity is not magic. It’s usually boring details like contract timing, release clauses, loans, and eligibility rules. Miss those, and you waste weeks chasing a player you literally cannot sign yet, or you pay double when you could have got him for nothing.
So I’m not just dumping a top 10. I’m giving you the why, the trap, and the smart way to sign them.
Quick note: values, clauses and dates can vary slightly depending on database and save. Always check the contract screen in your save.
At a glance - FM26’s most signed players
| Rank | Player | Position | Why everyone signs him | One thing to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saba Kharebashvili | DL | Elite cheap wonderkid full-back profile | U18 Georgian restriction - can’t move abroad until 2027 |
| 2 | Marc Guéhi | DC | Instant top-level centre-back | Contract timing - potential Bosman/pre-contract play |
| 3 | Nico Paz | AMC | Game-changer creator if you can afford him | Price - you pay big, so build around him |
| 4 | Dennis Seimen | GK | Reliable young keeper at a sensible fee | On loan - timing matters |
| 5 | Ayyoub Bouaddi | DM/MC | Safe midfielder with good base attributes | -10 PA means elite ceiling |
| 6 | Luka Vušković | DC | High-upside young centre-back | Loan first season - you may need patience |
| 7 | Héctor Fort | DR/DL/WB | Two-footed full-back solution for a decade | Loan + contract end - Bosman opportunity |
| 8 | Kennet Eichhorn | DM/MC | 15 years old - elite long-term project | Big clubs circle early - act fast |
| 9 | Ousmane Diomande | DC | Ready-made elite defender | £69m release clause - pay up or move on |
| 10 | Toni Fernández | AM/ST | High-upside attacker with a clear clause | £17.25m minimum fee release clause |
Why this list matters
“Most signed” is basically the community admitting what works in FM26.
- Value for money beats “big name” in most saves.
- Contract detail beats scouting hype if you’re trying to build fast.
- Plug-and-play roles beat long projects when you need results now.
- Clause signings are how smart managers steal players without negotiation wars.
Now let’s go player by player, with the specific warnings and the smartest way to sign them.
#1 Saba Kharebashvili
This is classic FM value: young, already useful, mentally built to improve, and a profile that doesn’t need ten tactical excuses to perform. He’s the kind of full-back you sign once and stop thinking about that position for years.
Why he’s most signed
- Early-developed technical base for a full-back.
- Strong mentality for progression.
- Perfect “buy now, profit later” profile.
What to watch
You cannot sign him for a club outside Georgia until January 2027. Under-18 players based in Georgia can’t move abroad before that date. So if you’re managing outside Georgia, stop wasting time trying to force it early.
How to play it smart
- Shortlist him immediately.
- Keep scouting updates so your interest stays warm.
- Be ready to move the moment January 2027 hits.
Best uses
- Full-Back for stable defending and safe progression.
- Wing-Back if you want him providing width and delivery.
#2 Marc Guéhi
Managers sign him because he’s a shortcut. No development patience, no “wait until he matures” nonsense. He’s just good, immediately.
Why he’s most signed
- Ready-now centre-back quality.
- Reliable physical and mental package.
- Fits nearly any system.
What to watch
His contract situation is the real play. If his deal is down to around a year and you can unsettle him, you can sometimes line up a pre-contract or force a much cheaper fee. That’s the whole point.
Best uses
- Central Defender as your “win headers, win duels, shut up” option.
- Ball-Playing Defender if you need calm build-up from the back.
#3 Nico Paz
Brutal player. If you can afford him, you buy him. That’s it.
He’s the kind of signing that makes your entire team look better because he increases your chance quality. That’s why he’s most signed even when he isn’t cheap.
Why he’s most signed
- Top-end technical quality for chance creation.
- Strong enough mentally to be consistent.
- He’s a system upgrade, not just a player upgrade.
What to watch
The price. If you pay big money, don’t then play him like a spare part. Build your attacking patterns around him or you’ve wasted your budget.
Best uses
- Advanced Playmaker as the main creator.
- Attacking Midfielder if you want him driving forward more.
- Central Midfielder if you retrain him and want creativity from deeper areas.
#4 Dennis Seimen
Seimen has been a familiar wonderkid name for ages. He’s most signed because he’s the rare goalkeeper who feels dependable while still having growth left.
Why he’s most signed
- Reliable keeper profile without regen gambling.
- Good value for his level.
- Perfect “buy once, keep for years” signing.
What to watch
He’s on loan from Stuttgart. That changes how and when you can negotiate. Track his loan end date and be ready to move when the selling conditions are right.
Best uses
- Goalkeeper if you want safe fundamentals.
- Sweeper Keeper if you play a higher line and need him involved.
#5 Ayyoub Bouaddi
Here’s the bit people get wrong because they see one number and start dreaming.
-10 potential ability is the best PA range a player can have in FM. It means his ceiling can roll into genuine elite territory. That’s why so many managers are signing him.
But you’re also right about the vibe: he can feel “nothing special” early on. That’s because he’s not the sort of midfielder who instantly carries your team in year one. He’s a development bet.
Why he’s most signed
- Elite ceiling potential range (-10 PA).
- Midfield profiles are always in demand.
- Managers love buying upside before it gets expensive.
What to watch
Elite ceiling does not mean guaranteed elite outcome. In some saves he’ll explode, in others he’ll settle as a very good player. If you want immediate dominance, he’s not that.
Best uses
- Defensive Midfielder for stability and ball recovery.
- Deep-Lying Playmaker if you want him dictating from deeper areas.
- Central Midfielder if you want a balanced development path.
#6 Luka Vušković
Vušković is most signed because he’s exactly what managers want in a long-term centre-back: size, mentality, and the promise that he becomes a monster if you do it right.
Why he’s most signed
- High-upside centre-back profile.
- Value compared to buying an established elite CB.
- Perfect for rebuild saves.
What to watch
He’s on loan in the first season, so you might not be able to grab him instantly. Don’t tilt. Plan the move, track his situation, and be ready when the door opens.
The “same blood, cheaper price” move
If you can’t land Luka, look at his brother at HSV - Mario Vušković. Same position, cheaper, and sometimes he’s the better value for the short term.
Best uses
- Central Defender for the clean development path.
- No-Nonsense Centre-Back if you just want duels and clearances.
#7 Héctor Fort
This is one of the smartest long-term full-back deals in FM26 if you play it properly.
He’s on loan at Elche, owned by Barcelona, and his contract timing is exactly the kind of situation FM managers love abusing.
Why he’s most signed
- Can cover both full-back sides.
- Long-term solution profile.
- Contract situation can make him a bargain.
What to watch
His Barcelona deal has roughly a year left. That’s your window. Track the contract end date while he’s on loan and be ready to approach for a pre-contract when the game allows. If you time it right, you can land a decade-long full-back for a fraction of his real value, or even for free.
Best uses
- Full-Back as the stable choice.
- Wing-Back if you want more attacking width.
#8 Kennet Eichhorn
He’s 15 years old. That’s why he’s most signed, and that’s also why managers mess it up.
This is the kind of player you either move for early, or you watch Bayern and PSG take him and then you pretend you never wanted him anyway.
Why he’s most signed
- Insane long-term value if you get him early.
- Midfield wonderkids are always the first market to inflate.
- Top clubs circle quickly, which pushes managers to act.
What to watch
Speed. Not his speed. Yours. If you wait for “one more scout report”, you lose him.
Best uses
- Central Midfielder as the safest development route.
- Deep-Lying Playmaker if you want him growing into a controller.
#9 Ousmane Diomande
This is the premium option on the list. People sign him because he deletes defensive problems instantly, and in FM that’s worth a fortune.
Why he’s most signed
- Elite centre-back quality without development waiting.
- Perfect for clubs with serious budgets.
- Massive “upgrade per pound” if you’re already at the top level.
What to watch
£69m minimum release clause. That’s the price. No drama. No negotiations. Pay it or walk away.
Best uses
- Central Defender as your dominant stopper.
- Ball-Playing Defender if you want power plus progression.
#10 Toni Fernández
He’s most signed because the deal is simple and the upside is obvious.
Why he’s most signed
- Barcelona talent profile at a defined price.
- Quick negotiation, no endless back-and-forth.
- Managers love clean clause signings.
What to watch
£17.25m minimum fee release clause. If you can afford that number and you want an attacker with upside, this is why people keep snapping him up.
Best uses
- Advanced Forward if you want him stretching defences.
- Second Striker if you want him arriving late into the box.
- Inside Forward if you retrain him wide and want him cutting in to score.
My blunt take - who’s truly worth it?
If you want the safest “value for money” core from this list:
- Nico Paz - expensive, but if you can afford him he changes your whole attack.
- Marc Guéhi - instant quality, and the contract angle can be pure robbery if you time it right.
- Dennis Seimen - reliable keeper signing without drama.
If you want the “exploit the contract screen” version:
- Héctor Fort - loan plus contract timing can turn into a ridiculous bargain or a free move.
- Saba Kharebashvili - shortlist now, strike in January 2027, look like a genius.
If you’re loaded and you want an instant elite defence:
- Ousmane Diomande - pay the £69m clause and stop pretending you’re a bargain hunter.
And the one everyone argues about:
- Ayyoub Bouaddi - elite ceiling potential range, but he can feel underwhelming early. Sign him for development, not instant domination.
FAQ
Are these the best players in FM26?
Not necessarily. They’re the most signed, which often means best value, best availability, or best contract situation. That overlaps with “best” a lot, but not always.
Do most-signed players always perform?
No. Popularity often comes from being easy to sign and easy to fit. If your tactic doesn’t suit the profile, you can turn a “must sign” into a passenger.
When can I agree pre-contracts and Bosman moves?
It depends on league rules and contract length. In general, once a player is approaching the end of his deal, the pre-contract option can open up. Always check the contract and approach options in your save.
One last thing
If you want to squeeze the most out of signings like these, it’s not just “buy wonderkid, win trophies”. It’s recruitment filters, development plans, and a tactic that actually suits what you’re buying.
READ ALSO: Mastering FM26 eBook - if you want the full system, not just the headlines.
Now tell me the truth - which one of these turned into a monster in your save, and which one scammed you?
