FC 26 wonderkids: Best young players with high Career Mode potential

To build a truly great team in Career Mode, focus on signing promising young players – the future stars of FC 26. It takes time and planning, but investing in these ‘wonderkids’ will pay off in the long run.

Wow, this year has been amazing for young players! Seriously, so many incredible talents are really shining, both with their clubs and when they play for their countries. It’s exciting to watch!

Looking to build a winning team or just flip players for profit? We’ve compiled a list of the top young talents in FC 26 for every position – just be prepared to spend some money!

Best young players in FC 26 Career Mode

Okay, so if you’re starting a Career Mode in FC 26, you *need* to sign Endrick. He’s easily the best young player, hands down. It’s not just about how good he *could* be – his potential is insane – but he’s already pretty solid when you first get him, and thankfully, he won’t break the bank to sign him either.

As well as him, here is the full list of the top 10 best wonderkids in FC 26:

Endrick: Age 18 | Real Madrid | ST | 77 OVR | 91 POT
Dean Huijsen: Age 20 | Real Madrid | CB | 82 OVR | 89 POT
Kenan Yıldız: Age 20 | Juventus | CAM, LM, LW, CM | 79 OVR | 89 POT
Nico Paz: Age 20 | Como | CAM, CM | 79 OVR | 89 POT
Jorrel Hato: Age 19 | Chelsea | LB, CB | 78 OVR | 89 POT
Arda Güler: Age 20 | Real Madrid | RM, CAM, RW | 81 OVR | 89 POT
Gavi: Age 20 | FC Barcelona | CM, CAM | 83 OVR | 89 POT
Estêvão: Age 18 | Chelsea | RM, CAM, RW | 78 OVR | 89 POT
Rodrigo Mora: Age 18 | FC Porto | CAM, LW, ST | 76 OVR | 89 POT
Jorthy Mokio: Age 17 | Ajax | CDM, CM, LB, CB | 70 OVR | 89 POT

We consider ‘wonderkids’ to be players 21 years old or younger. This means some well-known players, such as Cole Palmer, Pedri, and Jude Bellingham, aren’t included in our list because they’re older than that age.

We looked at not only how good these options are right now, but also their potential for future growth, their cost, and how long their contracts would be.

Some players will likely be too costly for most teams, so we’ve left out a few, including Lamine Yamal, Désiré Doué, and João Neves. These players are generally only affordable for the wealthiest clubs.

It’s no surprise that most of the players on this list are attackers, as there aren’t many defenders or goalkeepers featured. If you’re interested in top young talents for specific positions, check out our dedicated lists below.

Best young strikers in FC 26

The best young strikers in FC 26 with the highest potential are:

Francesco Camarda: Age 17 | Lecce | ST | 65 OVR | Z PO17T
Mathys Tel: Age 20 | Tottenham | ST, LW, CAM | 77 OVR | 86 POT
Eli Junior Kroupi: Age 19 | AFC Bournemouth | ST | 74 OVR | 85 POT
Conrad Harder: Age 20 | RB Leipzig | ST, CAM, LW, CM | 74 OVR | 85 POT
Charalampos Kostoulas: Age 18 | Brighton | ST, CAM, RM | 72 OVR | 85 POT
Marc Guiu: Age 20 | Chelsea | ST | 71 OVR | 84 POT
Francesco Pio Esposito: Age 20| Lombardia FC (Inter Milan) | ST | 72 OVR | 84 POT
Jerónimo Domina: Age 19 | Unión de Santa Fe | ST | 70 OVR | 84 POT
Nelson Weiper: Age 20 | 1. FSV Mainz 05 | ST, CAM, CM | 70 OVR | 84 POT
Chido Obi: Age 17 | Manchester United | ST | 65 OVR | 84 POT

A striker’s primary job is to score goals, and these players all have the ability to do just that, regardless of their team’s financial resources, though some may benefit from additional training.

They’re especially handy if you can get one or two of them on loan for a club in a lower league.

Francesco Camarda is a standout young player with huge potential. He starts with an overall rating of 65, making him ideal for teams in lower leagues or for long-term career saves. With development, he could increase his rating by 19 points, reaching a fantastic overall of 87 and becoming one of the very best players globally.

If you’re looking for affordable and immediately available players, Conrad Harder from Leipzig and Charalampos Kostoulas from Brighton are both excellent options.

Best young wingers in FC 26

If you’re after a tricky young winger, here are the best Career Mode picks in FC 26:

Geovany Quenda: Age 18 | Sporting CP | RM, LM, LW, RW | 76 OVR | 88 POT
Antonio Nusa: Age 20 | RB Leipzig | LM, CAM, LW | 76 OVR | 88 POT
Rio Ngumoha: Age 16 | Liverpool | LM, LW | 68 OVR | 88 POT
Assane Diao: Age 19 | Como | LM, RM, LW | 76 OVR | 87 POT
Ethan Nwaneri: Age 18 | Arsenal | RW, CM, RM | 76 OVR | 87 POT
Julien Duranville: Age 19 | Borussia Dortmund | RM, LM, ST, RW | 72 OVR | 87 POT
Pablo Garcia: Age 18 | Real Betis | RM, ST, LM, RW | 68 OVR | 87 POT
Maher Carrizo: Age 19 | Vélez Sarsfield | RM, CAM, ST, RW | 72 OVR | 86 POT
Leo Sauer: Age 19 | Feyenoord | LW, CAM, LM | 72 OVR | 86 POT
Chemsdine Talbi: Age 20 | Sunderland | RM, LM, RW | 73 OVR | 86 POT

In FC 26, having fast players who can either deliver a good cross or dribble inside is a huge advantage. Several players excel at this and consistently contribute both goals and assists.

Geovany Quenda is an incredibly versatile winger who offers a lot to any team. He already starts with a solid rating of 76, and has the potential to grow to a fantastic 88. Plus, he’s flexible – you can play him on either wing or in midfield, making him a valuable asset wherever you need him.

A few promising young players worth considering are Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, and Real Betis’s Pablo Garcia. They all have the potential to become great players, but will require dedicated training and development.

Best young midfielders in FC 26

We’ve combined central midfielders, attacking midfielders, and defensive midfielders into a single group, because these players often fill multiple positions. Here’s a list of the top young midfielders to sign in FC 26 Career Mode.

Franco Mastantuono: Age 17 | Real Madrid | CAM, RW, ST | 77 OVR | 88 POT
Lucas Bergvall: Age 19 | Tottenham | CM, CDM, CAM | 77 OVR | 87 POT
Warren Zaïre-Emery: Age 19 | Paris Saint-Germain | CM, CDM, CAM | 80 OVR | 87 POT
Kees Smit: Age 19 | AZ Alkmaar | CAM, CM, RM | 72 OVR | 87 POT
Arthur Vermeeren: Age 20 | Marseille (on loan from RB Leipzig) | CM, CDM, CAM | 77 OVR | 87 POT
Ayyoub Bouaddi: Age 17 | Lille | CM, CDM | 75 OVR | 86 POT
Lewis Miley: Age 19 | Newcastle | CM | 72 OVR | 86 POT
Archie Gray: Age 19 | Tottenham | CDM, CB, RB, RM | 75 OVR | 86 POT
Sverre Nypan: Age 18 | Middlesbrough (on loan from Manchester City) | CM, CAM, ST | 69 OVR | 86 OVR
Paul Wanner: Age 19 | PSV | CAM, RW, CM | 72 OVR | 86 POT
Tom Bischof: Age 20 | Bayern Munich | CM, CDM, RM, CAM | 76 OVR | 86 POT
Mario Stroeykens: Age 20 | Anderlecht | CM, CAM | 74 OVR | 86 POT
Lennart Karl: Age 17 | Bayern Munich | CAM, RM, CM | 63 OVR | 86 POT
Christos Mouzakitis: Age 18 | Olympiakos | CM, CAM | 71 OVR | 86 POT
Konstantinos Karetsas: Age 17 | Genk | CAM, RW, CM | 70 OVR | 86 POT

There’s a great selection of midfielders available, no matter how much you’re willing to spend.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, Franco Mastantuono, Lucas Bergvall, and Warren Zaïre-Emery are excellent options – they begin with high overall ratings and have the greatest potential for growth on this list.

When you’re working with a limited budget, finding good players becomes a fun challenge. Lennart Karl is a great value pick, and you could even build a strong Greek midfield duo with Christos Mouzakitis and Konstantinos Karetsas, who is predicted to become a star.

Best young full-backs in FC 26

Full-backs have become crucial players in today’s game, needing to be strong defenders who can also contribute to the attack with crosses and runs. Here’s a look at the top right-back (RB) and left-back (LB) options in FC 26.

Myles Lewis-Skelly: Age 18 | Arsenal | LB, CM | 78 OVR | 87 POT
Lewis Hall: Age 20 | Newcastle | LB | 80 OVR | 86 POT
Joaquin Seys: Age 20 | Club Brugge | RB, LB, RM | 73 OVR | 86 POT
Diego León: Age 18 | Manchester United | LB, LM | 64 OVR | 85 POT
Martim Fernandes: Age 19 | FC Porto | RB, RM | 75 OVR | 85 POT
Josh Acheampong: Age 19 | Chelsea | RB, CB, CDM, RM | 70 OVR | 85 POT
Elias Baum: Age 19 | Eintracht Frankfurt | RB, RM | 72 OVR | 84 POT
Patrick Dorgu: Age 20 | Manchester United | LB, LM | 74 OVR | 84 POT
Semm Renders: Age 17 | Royal Antwerp | RB, RM | 62 OVR | 84 POT

EA FC, even when it was FIFA, has historically struggled to create promising young full-backs with high growth potential, and that trend continues in the latest version of the game.

Givairo Read is the best option here. He has the highest potential and is more affordable than other strong contenders like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Lewis Hall.

For a relatively low price, Diego León and Semm Renders can both play on the wings, and they’ll only cost around a couple of million pounds – a pretty good deal, wouldn’t you say?

Best young centre-backs in FC 26

A solid, quick center back can be the key to a strong defense – here’s a look at the best young center back prospects in FC 26:

Pau Cubarsi: Age 18 | FC Barcelona | CB | 82 OVR | 88 POT
Finn Jeltsch: Age 18 | VfB Stuttgart | CB | 72 OVR | 87 POT
Luka Vušković: Age 18 | Hamburg | CB | 72 OVR | 87 POT
El Chadaille Bitshiabu: Age 20 | RB Leipzig | CB | 75 OVR | 87 POT
Pietro Comuzzo: Age 20 | Fiorentina | CB | 74 OVR | 86 POT
Leny Yoro: Age 19 | Manchester United | CB | 78 OVR | 86 POT
Yarek: Age 20 | PSV | CB, LB | 73 OVR | 85 POT
Pau Navarro: Age 20 | Villareal CF | CB, RB CM | 70 OVR | 85 POT
Jan-Carlo Simić: Age 20 | Al-Ittihad | CB | 70 OVR | 85 POT
Tobías Ramírez: Age 18 | Argentinos Juniors | CB | 69 OVR | 85 POT

Though still growing, Pau Cubarsi is a standout young center-back for Barcelona and ranks highest on our list with a potential rating of 88.

You can still find great players further down the list, especially Stuttgart’s Finn Jeltsch and Hamburg’s Luka Vušković, who both have high potential (87) but won’t cost you much.

If you’re hoping for a player who could contribute to the first team right away, you might want to consider options like Leny Toro from Manchester United or El Chadaille Bitshiabu from RB Leipzig instead.

Best young goalkeepers in FC 26

A top-quality young goalkeeper could solidify your team for years to come – potentially even two decades! Here’s our list of the 10 best young goalkeepers currently in the game.

Guillaume Restes: Age 20 | Toulouse FC | GK | 78 OVR | 86 POT
Matthieu Epolo: Age 20 | Standard Liège | GK | 73 OVR | 85 POT
Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro: Age 20 | AZ Alkmaar | GK | 71 OVR | 84 POT
Dennis Seimen: Age 19 | SC Paderborn (on loan from VfB Stuttgart) | GK | 66 OVR | 84 POT
Mike Penders: Age 19 | RC Strasbourg (on loan from Chelsea) | GK | 73 OVR | 84 POT
James Beadle: Age 19 | Birmingham City (on loan from Brighton) | GK | 70 OVR | 82 POT
Robin Risser: Age 20 | RC Lens | GK | 72 OVR | 82 POT
Lucca Brughmans: Age 17 | Genk | GK | 59 OVR | 82 POT
Ewen Jaouen: Age 19 | Stade de Reims | GK | 68 OVR | 82 POT
Tiago Pereira Cardoso: Age 19 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | GK | 67 OVR | 82 POT

Similar to full-backs, it’s tough to find truly exceptional young goalkeeping prospects.

Guillaume Restes, from Toulouse, is generally the best choice because he has the highest overall and potential ratings. However, he’s also the most costly player to acquire.

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, Matthieu Epolo from Standard Liège could be a good fit. However, if budget is a major concern, Lucca Brughmans of Genk is the most cost-effective choice, though he likely won’t ever become a top-tier goalkeeper.

Best cheap young players in FC 26 with high potential: Hidden gems

Many of the players we mentioned will be very expensive, making them realistically affordable for only the wealthiest teams.

We’ve created a list of affordable players who could be great additions for a Championship team aiming for promotion. These players have the potential to improve right along with the team as it climbs to higher levels.

Bailey Rice: Age 17 | Rangers | CDM, CM | 61 OVR | 83 POT
Francis Onyeka: Age 18 | VfL Bochum | CAM, CM | 60 OVR | 83 POT
Louis Page: Age 16 | Leicester City | CM, CDM, CAM | 61 OVR | 83 POT
Hugo Pinilla: Age 19 | Real Zaragoza | RM, CAM, LM, RW | 62 OVR | 83 POT
Kaye Furo: Age 18 | Club Brugge | ST | 63 OVR | 83 POT
Mofe Jemide: Age 18 | Crystal Palace | CB | 62 OVR | 83 POT
Dylan Leonard: Age 17 | Western United FC | CB | 63 OVR | 83 POT
Nathan De Cat: Age 16 | Anderlecht | CDM, CM | 63 OVR | 83 POT
Arturo: Age 18 | UD Las Palmas | RW, LW, RM | 63 OVR | 83 POT
Juan David Obando: Age 18 | Atlético Nacional | CAM, CM | 60 OVR | 82 POT

Even with a limited transfer budget, you can still find promising young players. With some development, these players can grow and improve alongside your team.

This is particularly noticeable with younger players, including Bailey Rice (Rangers), Louis Page (Leicester City), and Nathan De Cat (Anderlecht).

As a fan, I think these players would be fantastic additions for a Championship team that’s maybe in the middle or lower half of the table. They’re the kind of guys who’d initially be solid squad members, but with some time and development, could really grow into key players. Honestly, I think they have the potential to help the team push for promotion to the Premier League eventually, and then we’d have the funds to bring in even better players!

Best young women to sign in FC 26

Last year, EA added women’s soccer to the Career Mode, opening up a new pool of talented young players for you to scout and sign.

We’ve compiled a selection of the best young women players to sign in FC 26 Career Mode:

Vicky López: Age 18 | FC Barcelona | CAM, RW, CM, ST | 80 OVR | 91 POT
Giulia Dragoni: Age 18 | Roma (on loan from FC Barcelona) | CAM, RW, CM, ST | 80 OVR | 91 POT
Sydney Schertenleib: Age 18 | FC Barcelona | CAM, CM, LW, ST | 74 OVR | 89 POT
Olivia Smith: Age 20 | Arsenal | ST, RM, CAM | 79 OVR | 89 POT
Michelle Agyemang: Age 19 | Brighton (on loan from Arsenal) | ST | 76 OVR | 89 POT
Lily Yohannes: Age 18 | OL Lyonnes | CM | 73 OVR | 88 POT
Wieke Kaptein: Age 19 | Chelsea | CM | 78 OVR | 88 POT
Alyssa Thompson: Age 20 | Chelsea | LM, RM, LW | 81 OVR | 88 POT
Clara Serrajordi: Age 17 | FC Barcelona | CM, CAM, CDM | 65 OVR | 88 POT
Alara Şehitler: Age 18 | Bayern Munich | RM, CAM, RW | 73 OVR | 87 POT

If you’re looking for a team to manage, FC Barcelona is a great choice. They have four players ranked in the top 10, and boast all three of the highest-rated young female players – with the exception of Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo, who is the most expensive player and therefore not included here.

If you’re not a major financial firm, we suggest trying to recruit Clara Serrajordo from Barcelona. She has exceptionally high growth potential, estimated at 23%.

If you’re looking for more affordable choices, Lily Johannes of Lyonnes and Alara Şehitler from Bayern Munich are good options. However, any player on this list would be a fantastic addition to your team for years to come.

2025-09-19 20:13