From versatile bargains to attacking full-backs and smart World Cup scouting picks, these are the DL and DR options worth signing in Football Manager 2026.
Full-backs used to be simple.
Defend the winger, overlap sometimes, put in a cross, try not to get embarrassed by anyone with 16 dribbling.
Those days are gone.
In FM26, your full-backs and wing-backs can completely change how your team plays. They can stretch the pitch, invert into midfield, bomb beyond your inside forwards, press high, create overloads, or quietly ruin your save by standing in exactly the wrong place during a counter-attack.
Beautiful little chaos merchants.
And that is why World Cup scouting is perfect for this position.
You do not just want the obvious £100M names. Everyone knows the elite superstars. That is boring. What you really want are the players who are good enough to improve your team, interesting enough to scout properly, and realistic enough that signing them does not require selling half your squad and your dignity.
So this list focuses on World Cup full-backs and wing-backs worth signing in FM26. That means a mix of smart value picks, versatile squad-builders, attacking weapons, under-the-radar bargains and a few players who could easily jump in price after the tournament.
If you want to compare them with the full elite database, keep our FM26 Best Players Shortlist open. And if you want younger talents across every position, our FM26 Wonderkids Shortlist is the natural next stop.
Right, let’s find your next flying full-back.
1. Ferdi Kadıoğlu - Türkiye
Ferdi Kadıoğlu is the best overall pick on this list because he gives you something every FM26 manager secretly wants: options.
Left-back? Fine.
Right-back? Fine.
Wing-back on either side? Also fine.
That kind of versatility is gold in Football Manager. Especially when fixture congestion arrives, your first-choice left-back gets suspended, your right-back pulls a hamstring, and suddenly you are starting a 17-year-old because your squad planning was “vibes and panic”.
Ferdi is 25, valued between £28M and £45M, and earns £48K per week. That makes him expensive enough to be a serious signing, but not so expensive that only oil-club saves can touch him.
His attribute spread is exactly why he works. He has 15 acceleration, 14 pace, 16 stamina, 15 work rate, 15 determination, 15 teamwork, 14 first touch, 14 technique, 14 composure, 14 flair and 14 vision.
He is not an elite defensive stopper. His marking is only 9 and tackling 12, so do not buy him if your entire tactical plan is “sit deep and suffer”.
But as a modern, flexible full-back who can support build-up, overlap, carry the ball and solve multiple squad problems at once, Ferdi is the kind of player who makes an FM squad feel much cleaner.
Best FM26 fit: possession sides, Brighton-style saves, back-four or back-five systems, clubs that need one player to cover both flanks.
2. Rayan Aït-Nouri - Algeria
Rayan Aït-Nouri is what happens when a left-back starts behaving like a winger and everyone just accepts it because the dribbling is too good to argue with.
He is not the cheapest option here, but he is one of the most exciting.
At £30M to £34M, he sits in that nice FM26 zone where top clubs can afford him, ambitious clubs can maybe stretch for him, and smaller clubs can at least stare at the scouting report and pretend for five minutes.
The key attributes are lovely: 17 dribbling, 18 flair, 15 first touch, 15 technique, 15 composure, 15 pace, 14 acceleration, 14 crossing, 15 tackling and 14 positioning.
That is a proper attacking left-back profile.
He is especially dangerous if your tactic uses him as a wing-back on support or attack, where he can carry the ball, combine wide, and create the kind of overloads that make opposition right-backs question their career choices.
The main concern is that he is not built like a physical monster. He is 180cm, with 11 strength and 10 jumping reach. Do not expect him to dominate back-post headers like some terrifying old-school full-back from 2004.
But as a modern attacking DL/WBL, Aït-Nouri is one of the best signings on this list.
Best FM26 fit: attacking left-back roles, wide overload tactics, 3-4-3 systems, teams that want ball-carrying from deep.
3. Maxim De Cuyper - Belgium
Maxim De Cuyper is exactly the kind of player that makes this list better.
He is not a superstar name. He is not a fake bargain. He is not a wonderkid you have to babysit for four years.
He is just a very useful left-sided full-back who makes sense in FM26.
At 24, valued between £26M and £33M, and earning £25K per week, De Cuyper is a smart signing for clubs that want quality without paying superstar tax.
His technical base is strong: 14 crossing, 14 passing, 14 technique, 13 first touch, 13 corners and 14 vision. Add 14 acceleration, 14 agility, 14 pace, 14 composure and 16 teamwork, and you get a clean, functional modern left-back.
He is not explosive like Aït-Nouri and he is not a bargain like Niko Sigur or Jordan Bos. But that is not the point.
De Cuyper is the sort of player who quietly improves the whole side. He keeps the ball moving, contributes in the final third, works in possession systems and does not force you to rebuild the tactic around him.
Sometimes that is exactly what you need.
Best FM26 fit: possession systems, Brighton-style recruitment, Europa League clubs, teams needing a reliable left-sided wing-back.
If you enjoy these “not obvious, actually useful” signings, the FM26 Best Bargain Players shortlist is worth keeping open while you scout.
4. Daniel Muñoz - Colombia
Daniel Muñoz is not a long-term wonderkid project.
He is the opposite.
He is the player you sign when you want a right wing-back who can run, press, scrap, overlap, and generally behave like a man who has been told the touchline owes him money.
At 29, he is older than most players on this list, but he also gives you instant reliability. He is valued between £29M and £39M, earns £70K per week, and can play right-back, right wing-back and right midfield.
The engine is the selling point. 18 natural fitness, 18 work rate, 17 stamina, 15 acceleration, 14 pace, 16 aggression and 15 bravery make him perfect for hard-running systems.
Technically, he is good enough too. 14 dribbling, 14 first touch, 13 crossing, 13 heading and 13 marking give him a nice balance between attacking involvement and defensive usefulness.
He is not the most refined passer, and he is not young enough to build your entire future around.
But if you need a ready-made RWB who can deliver immediately, Muñoz is one of the most reliable options here.
Best FM26 fit: 3-5-2 systems, aggressive wing-back roles, Premier League mid-table clubs, managers who want work rate and intensity now.
5. Jordan Bos - Australia
Jordan Bos is the proper World Cup scouting pick.
Not too famous. Not too expensive. Already in Europe. Young enough to develop. Useful enough to play minutes quickly.
This is the kind of player that makes FM scouting fun.
At £4.9M to £8.2M, Bos is one of the best value options on the list. He is 22, plays for Feyenoord, earns £5.25K per week and can play as a left-back or left wing-back.
He is not elite, but the raw material is interesting.
13 crossing, 13 tackling, 13 pace, 15 stamina, 16 determination, 16 work rate and 15 teamwork give him a very solid base for development.
He also has 13 free-kick taking and 13 long throws, which is exactly the sort of weird little FM detail that can make him more useful than he first looks.
The downside is that he is still a little rough. His anticipation is 11, positioning 12, passing 11 and technique 11, so he will need coaching and the right role.
But for the price, Bos is one of the most appealing signings here.
Best FM26 fit: bargain hunting, Dutch league saves, mid-table rebuilds, clubs that want a cheap left-sided wing-back with upside.
6. Aaron Hickey - Scotland
Aaron Hickey is another “squad-building brain” pick.
He is not here because he is the most explosive wing-back in FM26. He is here because he can cover both sides, play full-back or wing-back, and immediately gives you flexibility.
That matters more than people admit.
At 23, Hickey is valued between £39M and £48M. That is not cheap, especially compared with someone like Jordan Bos, but he brings Premier League experience, age profile and versatility.
His profile is well-rounded: 14 dribbling, 13 crossing, 13 technique, 14 acceleration, 14 agility, 14 pace, 15 bravery, 15 determination, 15 teamwork and 14 work rate.
He is also naturally left-footed but can play on both sides, which gives you tactical flexibility across a long season.
The defensive numbers are not elite. 12 marking and 12 tackling mean he is not a lockdown full-back. He is more of a balanced, mobile, technically useful option than a pure defensive specialist.
Still, if you need one player to cover multiple roles and keep your squad lean, Hickey is a very useful FM26 target.
Best FM26 fit: Premier League clubs, versatile squad builds, rotation-heavy saves, teams that want one player for both flanks.
7. Niko Sigur - Canada
Niko Sigur is the proper bargain wildcard.
And yes, this is exactly the kind of player that makes an FM Blog list better.
He is not here because he is secretly better than everyone else. He is here because he costs almost nothing compared with the rest of the list and can give you useful squad cover.
At £450K to £4.5M, with wages of £2.6K per week, Sigur is one of the cheapest World Cup wing-back options worth scouting in FM26.
He can play right-back and central midfield, which gives him an interesting utility profile. His best attributes include 15 determination, 14 aggression, 14 natural fitness, 13 decisions, 13 tackling, 13 stamina, 13 teamwork and 12 passing.
That is not superstar stuff, but for the price, it is very usable.
He is not fast enough to be a classic attacking wing-back. 11 pace and 12 acceleration are modest, and his crossing is only 11. So do not expect him to turn into prime Dani Alves because you gave him a personalised training schedule.
But as a budget squad player, especially for mid-level leagues, he is a fun and sensible scout.
Best FM26 fit: smaller clubs, budget saves, Canadian storylines, squad depth, defensive right-back roles.
If you like hidden gems and cheaper squad-builders, also check our FM26 World Cup Wonderkids Who Impressed feature for more tournament-driven scouting ideas.
8. Sergiño Dest - USA
Sergiño Dest is one of the more fun attacking full-backs in this group.
That does not mean he is perfect.
It means if your tactic needs chaos, dribbling, flair and wide attacking movement, he is worth a look.
Dest is 24, valued between £15.5M and £21M, and earns £34.5K per week at PSV. That is a very reasonable package for a player who can cover both full-back and wing-back roles.
The attacking attributes stand out quickly: 17 acceleration, 17 flair, 15 agility, 14 dribbling, 14 first touch, 14 technique, 14 off the ball, 14 teamwork and 13 crossing.
He can move. He can carry. He can support attacks. He can give you that extra wide outlet when your inside forward keeps coming inside and congesting the middle like it is rush hour.
The defensive side is the issue. 11 tackling, 12 marking, 11 positioning and 10 composure are not exactly “calm defensive security”.
So use him properly. Give him cover. Pair him with a sensible centre-back. Do not throw him into a narrow system and then act shocked when he gets exposed.
Best FM26 fit: attacking wing-back roles, USA saves, PSV-to-top-league pathways, teams that want width and ball-carrying.
9. Marc Pubill - Spain
Marc Pubill is a slightly different profile.
He is not a tiny attacking full-back who lives for overlaps and stepovers. He is 190cm, physically strong, and can play as a right-back, right wing-back or right-sided centre-back.
That makes him very interesting in FM26.
At 22, valued between £37M and £61M, he is not a bargain. But he is young, versatile and physically impressive enough to make sense for bigger clubs.
His best attributes are 16 pace, 15 tackling, 15 jumping reach, 15 natural fitness, 15 strength, 15 work rate, 14 acceleration, 14 anticipation, 14 concentration, 14 positioning and 14 teamwork.
That is a very useful defensive full-back profile.
He is not as technically smooth as Ferdi or Aït-Nouri. His crossing, passing and technique are all 12. Fine, but not special.
But if you want a right-back who can tuck inside, defend the far post, survive duels and still run well, Pubill is the kind of profile worth scouting.
Best FM26 fit: defensive right-back roles, back-three systems, hybrid RB/RCB duties, clubs wanting height and pace on the right.
10. Josip Stanišić - Croatia
Josip Stanišić is not the player you sign for YouTube highlights.
He is the player you sign because you are tired of full-backs who dribble nicely for 70 minutes and then forget how defending works.
Stanišić is a very FM-useful squad defender. He can play right-back and centre-back, and that alone makes him valuable for managers who like smaller, flexible squads.
At £23M to £29M, he is reasonably priced for a Bayern-level player, though his £99K per week wages are something to consider.
His strongest attributes show exactly what he is: 15 tackling, 15 pace, 15 stamina, 15 work rate, 16 bravery, 16 teamwork, 15 concentration, 15 determination, 14 heading, 14 marking, 14 positioning and 15 jumping reach.
That is a very solid defensive profile.
He is not an elite creator from full-back. 12 crossing, 13 passing and 12 technique are fine, but you are not signing him to become your main creative outlet.
You are signing him because he gives you control, reliability and cover across the back line.
Best FM26 fit: top-club squad depth, Croatia saves, defensive right-back roles, managers who value versatility over flash.
11. Aaron Wan-Bissaka - DR Congo
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is not your modern creative wing-back.
Good.
Not every full-back needs to be a winger in denial. Sometimes you just need someone who can defend properly and make elite dribblers question why they bothered waking up.
Wan-Bissaka’s FM26 profile is exactly what you expect: 19 tackling, 18 agility, 16 acceleration, 15 pace, 17 bravery, 15 aggression, 16 teamwork and 15 stamina.
That is a nightmare one-v-one defender.
At £25M to £33M, with £120K per week wages, he is not cheap, but he is also not superstar-priced. For clubs that need a defensive right-back, he is still very useful.
The limitation is obvious. Passing 11, technique 11, crossing 11 and vision 6 mean he is not going to run your right flank like an extra playmaker.
But if your left side is aggressive and you want the right-back to stay disciplined, defend transitions and shut down danger, Wan-Bissaka still has a clear role.
Best FM26 fit: defensive right-back roles, big-match tactical plans, teams that need one flank locked down.
For deeper tactical planning around roles like this, the Mastering FM26 eBook is built to help you stop buying good players for the wrong jobs.
12. Pervis Estupiñán - Ecuador
Pervis Estupiñán is the experienced value pick.
He is 27, in his prime, and valued between £12.5M and £21M. That is the sort of price that makes you stop scrolling and start clicking.
For a ready-made left-back or left wing-back, this is a very attractive FM26 profile.
He has 18 stamina, 16 natural fitness, 16 work rate, 15 tackling, 15 teamwork, 14 crossing, 14 passing, 14 acceleration, 14 pace and 13 technique.
That is a solid, hard-running left-sided player who can give you immediate first-team quality.
He is not perfect. His positioning is only 10, marking 11 and concentration 12, so he is more useful as a proactive wide player than a purely defensive full-back.
But at this price, you are getting a lot of player for the money.
If you need a left-back who can run all day, support attacks and step straight into a serious league, Estupiñán is one of the safest value picks here.
Best FM26 fit: instant left-back upgrades, value-focused top-half clubs, high-energy wing-back roles, short-to-medium-term saves.
Which World Cup wing-back should you sign in FM26?
If you want the best overall signing, I would start with Ferdi Kadıoğlu. He is not the biggest superstar, but he gives you the best mix of versatility, technique, athleticism and squad value.
If you want attacking flair, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Sergiño Dest are the fun picks. Just make sure your tactic protects them, because vibes do not defend counter-attacks.
If you want value, Jordan Bos, Niko Sigur and Pervis Estupiñán are the three I would scout first. Different levels, different prices, but all useful in the right save.
If you want a right-back who can defend properly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Josip Stanišić are the safer options.
And if you want a proper modern squad-builder, Maxim De Cuyper, Aaron Hickey and Marc Pubill all make sense depending on your budget and tactical setup.
Final thoughts
The best part about this full-back list is that it avoids the obvious trap.
You do not need another article telling you that Achraf Hakimi, Alphonso Davies and Nuno Mendes are good. Your scout, your assistant manager and your nan already know that.
This list is more useful.
These are players you can actually scout with a plan. Some are ready-made. Some are affordable. Some are versatile. Some are risky. But all of them offer a proper FM26 angle.
For me, Ferdi Kadıoğlu is the best overall pick. Jordan Bos is the best cheap left-sided option. Niko Sigur is the deep bargain wildcard. Rayan Aït-Nouri is the attacking weapon. And Josip Stanišić is the sensible manager’s signing that nobody appreciates until injuries arrive.
Before you start your next save, also check out our FM26 Best Bargain Players, our FM26 Wonderkids by Nation, and the full FM26 Best Players Shortlist.
And if you want more tools, checklists and save-planning help in one place, the FM Blog eBook Bundle gives you our books and Game Planner together, while FM Blog Premium Members is built for managers who want premium downloads, tools and less time wasted hunting around the internet.
Now go buy a wing-back before your assistant recommends a 34-year-old with 8 pace.
