Following the release of the beta last week, Football Manager fans have finally been able to get to grips with the new game ahead of the full launch on November 4th, and it has been a long time coming.
The 2025 edition of the game was cancelled, with Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson revealing the problems with the game would’ve done irreversible damage to their reputation if it had been released.
It is full steam ahead for FM26 however, with a number of exciting new additions being made, including official FIFA tournaments, a Premier League license, over 40 new roles and the introduction of women’s football.
However, many of the core principles have stayed the same, and undoubtedly one of the most satisfying parts of FM saves is developing lesser-known talents into world-beating stars.
Goalkeeper
Guillaume Restes
Every top side is built from the back, and one of the most exciting up-and-coming goalkeepers is Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes, who has already made 18 appearances for France’s U21 side, indicating the youngster could be the heir to Mike Maignan.
Just 20-years-old, the Frenchman is still in the very early stages of his career, but he has emerged as Toulouse’s first-choice option between the sticks, keeping three Ligue 1 clean sheets this season.
If you aim to emulate Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal by building from the back, Restes will provide a rock-solid foundation, but be sure to snap him up quickly, as the goalkeeper is likely to attract interest from plenty of Europe’s elite clubs.
Hidden gems: Quenten Attigah, Tommaso Martinelli, Alessandro Nunziante
Right-back
Givairo Read
Previously an unfashionable position, with Jamie Carragher famously quipping “no one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville”, Trent Alexander-Arnold showcased just how influential right-backs can be during his time with Liverpool.
It may be difficult to replicate Trent’s stellar assist record, but there are plenty of options to choose from in FM26, although many are already at top clubs, such as FC Barcelona’s Hector Fort and Real Madrid’s Jesus Fortea.
Givairo Read, on the other hand, may be easier to prise away from Feyenoord, despite the 19-year-old breaking out as a first-team player for the Dutch side, chipping in with two assists in nine Eredivisie games this season.
Hidden gems: Martim Fernandes, Daniel Banjaqui, Marco Palestra
Centre-back
Willy Kambwala
Manchester United may end up ruing the decision to let Willy Kambwala leave in the summer of 2024, with the 21-year-old going on to make an immediate impact for Villarreal last season, making 19 appearances in La Liga.
Kambwala also caught the eye in a United shirt in the very early stages of his career, when called upon against Liverpool near the end of the 2023-24 campaign, at which point he was just 19-years-old.
If you do try to sign the Villarreal star, watch out for United, who retain a buy-back clause which doesn’t expire until 2027.
Hidden gems: Matteo Palma
Left-back
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Lewis-Skelly needs very little introduction, given the impact the 18-year-old has made at Arsenal since such a young age, infamously mocking Erling Haaland with his celebration after scoring in the Gunners’ 5-1 rout of Manchester City last season.
The teenager hasn’t featured quite as regularly for Arteta’s side this season, but it is a testament to his ability that he has already amassed six international caps for England, with the youngster’s World Cup debut very much on the cards next summer.
The north Londoners are likely to demand a huge fee for their left-back, however, so it may also be worth taking a look at the more affordable options below…
Hidden gems: Saba Kharebashvili, Davinchi, Tom Rothe
Central midfield
Ayyoub Bouaddi
It is no surprise that Ayyoub Bouaddi has already started to attract the attention of some top clubs, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all hatching plans to sign the Lille midfielder.
Boauddi only turned 18 earlier this month, but he has already emerged as a key first-team player for Lille, making 66 appearances for the French club, during which time he’s displayed his versatility by featuring in both defensive and attacking midfield roles.
Having been born just one month too late to be included in the previous edition, FM26 fans should be chomping at the bit to sign the Lille starlet, given that beta players have already discovered he develops into a midfielder with phenomenal physical and mental attributes.
Hidden gems: Tom Bischof, Niccolo Pisili, Kees Smit
Right-wing
Lamine Yamal
It would be impossible to compile this list without mentioning Lamine Yamal, who is already regarded as one of the best wingers in world football, currently sitting in second place in the 2026 Ballon d’Or power rankings.
Having established himself as one of the best players in the world, however, signing Yamal is likely to break the bank, which means it may be worth taking a look at some lesser-known prospects, such as Vasco da Gama’s Rayan, who Tottenham Hotspur recently opened talks to sign.
Still, if you choose to start a Barca save or somehow manage to persuade the La Liga giants to cash-in, you can be sure the 18-year-old will remain one of the best right-wingers in the world for a decade to come.
Hidden gems: Rayan, David Martinez, Ian Subiabre
Left-wing
Kenan Yildiz
Much like Bouaddi, Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz has already started attracting major interest from the Premier League, with it recently being revealed Man United were preparing an ‘aggressive pitch’ to sign the 20-year-old.
Having initially made his breakthrough in the 2023-24 campaign, it was last season in which Yildiz truly started to flourish, regularly providing goals and assists for Juventus across all competitions.
|
Competition |
Appearances |
Goal contributions |
|
Serie A |
35 |
12 |
|
Champions League |
10 |
2 |
|
Club World Cup |
4 |
5 |
|
Italian Cup |
2 |
1 |
|
Italian Super Cup |
1 |
1 |
The Turkish starlet announced himself to the world with his stellar performances at the Club World Cup, and he could make all the difference in your pursuit of European domination on FM26…
Hidden gems: Jeremy Monga, Gabriel Mec
Attacking midfielder
Arda Guler
Arda Güler has already gotten his big move to Real Madrid, which means he will no doubt cost a pretty penny on FM26, but the Turk has shown all the signs he is capable of reaching the very top level with his performances under the helm of Xabi Alonso.
Alonso clearly has a lot of faith in the 20-year-old, having played him in every La Liga match this season, and the Turkish youngster has repaid his manager with three goals and four assists.
FM fans will know all about the Real Madrid star, given that he was among the highest-potential players on FM24, and he is once again set to be one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders, although there are some potentially more affordable alternatives.
Hidden gems: Rodrigo Mora, Luca Williams-Barnett
Striker
Vitor Roque
South American strikers have helped transform countless struggling sides into European champions in FM saves over the years, and Vitor Roque has the ability to do exactly that.
The 20-year-old Brazilian has been prolific in front of goal for Palmeiras in the 2025 Serie A, picking up 13 goals and three assists in 27 matches, and it no doubt won’t be too long before links with a move to England re-appear, having previously been targeted by Newcastle United.
With the now one-time Brazil international still currently plying his trade in his home country, a deal will not break the bank, at least in comparison to his potential, which is among the highest of any striker in the game, as it has been revealed he is expected to cost around £45m.
Hidden gems: Sami Bouhoudane
