EA FC 26 wonderkids – best young players in Career Mode

Who are the best FC 26 wonderkids in Career Mode? Knowing the best young players to sign can make the difference between long-term glory and the managerial scrap heap. Whether you’re looking for the next best thing to slot into your starting eleven early, or simply aiming to hoard talent to sell for a tidy profit (we’re looking at you, Chelsea), we’re here to help.

Signing and developing young talent is a key part of FC 26‘s Career Mode. There’s nothing more satisfying than scouting, signing, and developing a young player to their full potential in the sports game. No matter your budget or the position you need, FC 26 has over 20,000 licensed players across 35 leagues, and tonnes of young talent to uncover. There are plenty of globally-known names with massive ceilings in the game, but this list contains a handful of hidden gems who don’t command massive fees or wages, and could sign for a lower-league project as you aim for top division glory.

What makes a young player in FC 26 a wonderkid?

We’ve plucked the best young players from the FC 26 database. Defined as players aged 15-21 in-game, these players have the best potential overall in Manager Career. If you train them right and give them game time, they’ll hit that top rating and help you fill your trophy cabinet.

Whilst their rating might not be showstopping now, this is all about long-term success and investing in the future. If you’re looking for instant success, look elsewhere (or lower your difficulty).

The best young players overall in FC 26

Top of the pile in potential terms is Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, but you could’ve assumed that. Managed correctly, you’ll get a 95-rated player in a few years, but to do this, you’ve got to start at one of the mega-rich clubs. You won’t be signing Yamal – or any of these guys – for Grimsby Town.

There’s a trend in this list – players are mostly already at a massive club and will command top dollar. However, Jorthy Mokio (Ajax) and Nico Paz (Como) are easier targets if you’re not a Champions League outfit already.

 Best young strikers in FC 26

Goals win games, and to be successful, you need strikers who can deliver. If you’re in your Manager Career for the long haul, there’s nothing better than backing a young striker from the start and building a legacy together, whilst breaking goalscoring records. Drop one of these ballers in early, and you could go for Shearer, Messi, or Müller’s all-time league records.

Endrick comes out top of the pile here, but Francesco Camarda is the real fairytale project worth signing.

 Best young wingers in FC 26

Wingers are often a manager’s most prized possession, and they can make the difference between glory and defeat. The amount of athletic, skilful wingers in FC 26 runs deep, so if you’ve got an ageing player to replace, these are the top picks, but there are plenty more to uncover.

Rio Ngumoha is just 17 and has a giant growth curve if you can tempt him away from Liverpool.

Best young midfielders in FC 26

Great midfielders steer your ship. We think it’s easiest to bring in a wonderkid into midfield as you’ll often have more experienced options alongside to balance out your team (unlike the riskier strikers or goalies). Our list has some of the future stars of attacking and defensive midfield.

Kees Smit represents a whopping potential and profit, if you’re patient.

 Best young defenders in FC 26

Goals win games, but defence wins titles. Typically, defenders peak at an older age than attackers, so your team might have a few ageing defenders you’ll need to replace early. Here are your top wonderkid defenders to sign if you need a reliable center back or a speedy full back.

The Dutch leagues are renowned wonderkid farms, and Givairo Read is the latest in a long line of high-potential bargains.

Best young goalkeepers in FC 26

Goalkeepers aren’t the most glamorous or out-there superstars, but you’ll need safe hands to guarantee trophies. To get the best goalies with higher potential, we’d be stretching the term ‘kid’ too far, so you’ll need to tell your scouts to look for players in their mid-20s.

Restes is the obvious buy here, but the +23 potential in young Lucca Brughmans can’t be ignored.

So those are the best wonderkids in FC 26. We’re sure you’re already drawing up a shortlist for your latest youth project, but don’t go too mad at once. Signing too many young players risks them becoming unhappy and stagnating, and they won’t hit those sky-high potentials.

If you’re just getting to grips with FC 26, make sure you’ve dialed in the best FC 26 settings before kicking off, and take your pick from our guide to EA FC 26 tactic codes to get your team playing like world beaters.