Signing wonderkids and seeing them develop into world stars is one of the best feelings you can experience in Football Manager. Some countries have reputations for producing wonderkids.
One of those countries is England, which in recent years has produced several quality players. In today’s article, we will be looking at our favourite English wonderkids:
Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
The England international is just 18 at the start of the game, but his stats are exceptional. In fact, they are some of the best of any player of his age. He has 15+ stats in technique, first touch, teamwork and dribbling. Even better, Lewis-Skelly has stats of 17 in ability, balance and natural fitness.
His excellent stats are not the only attraction of Lewis-Skelly. The Arsenal star is highly versatile, as he can play left-back, defensive midfielder, and centre midfielder.
If you are not managing Arsenal, then Lewis-Skelly is a costly player to sign, as he comes with a price tag of around £60m plus add-ons. If you have the transfer budget to sign the youngster, then he is a good addition to most squads.
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Another youngster who has broken into Arsenal’s first-team squad is Nwaneri, who, like Lewis-Skelly, is just 18 when the game begins. Nwaneri has struggled to secure regular first-team football this season, but he remains one of the hottest prospects in the English game.
Like his teammate, Nwaneri’s stats are impressive, and they only improve with experience. The versatile attacking midfielder has stats of 15+ for technique, dribbling, flair, off the ball and determination, among others. The rest of his stats ensure that he becomes one of the best players in the game after a few years.
The fact that Nwaneri can play all across the attacking midfield positions only adds to his appeal. As with most promising youngsters in FM26, signing Nwaneri won’t be easy or cheap. I signed Nwaneri on loan regularly on FM24, and he was a massive success, but he didn’t want to leave Arsenal, so we couldn’t sign him permanently.
To sign Nwaneri on a permanent deal on FM26 will cost around £48m plus add-ons. It is a hefty fee, but it can be money well spent when he fulfils his potential and becomes a star player.
Jamie Gittens (Chelsea)
The former Dortmund winger has started making his mark at Chelsea after his summer switch from BVB. The 21-year-old has some outstanding stats, with 15+ in technique, dribbling, flair, pace, and acceleration, all of which are perfect attributes for a winger.
His other stats are not overly impressive, but as he plays more games, they will improve, and he will become a far better player. By his mid-20s, he is capable of playing for most elite clubs.
In the first summer transfer window, Chelsea are reluctant to sell Gittens because he has only been with the club for a short while. In fact, the Blues can demand a mouth-watering £90m fee, including add-ons, plus a 40% sell-on fee.
With that fee in mind, if you wish to sign Gittens, then it might be worth waiting a few seasons, unless you are a club with a massive transfer budget. However, in the first season, he is unlikely to get regular first-team football at an elite club.
Archie Gray (Tottenham)
The former-Leeds star has been regarded as one of England’s brightest young players for years, even before his switch to Tottenham from his hometown club in the summer of 2024. Despite being only 19, Grey has become a regular for the Spurs’ first team.
Gray’s ability and potential are well reflected in his excellent all-around stats. His best stats include 15+ technique, determination, composure, stamina and teamwork.
Like many of the players on our list, the centre midfielder will grow to be one of the best players in his position in the game, as his stats grow very quickly.
Gray’s price tag is around £48m, plus a likely £10m more in add-ons and also a percentage of his sell-on fee.
Tyler Dibling (Everton)
Everton splashed out big money to nab the bright young winger from Southampton in the summer. He hasn’t yet settled on Merseyside, so his first-team opportunities have been restricted.
The 19-year-old has so much potential, as he showed last season with the Saints in the Premier League, despite playing in a woeful team.
On FM26, Dibling’s stats reflect his potential. In my games so far, Dibling has been one of Everton’s star players, scoring and assisting goals. Even in his first season, his stats grow rapidly.
He starts with stats of 15+ in technique, first touch, dribbling, flair, balance and pace, all good attributes for a top winger.
Dibling is valued at £43-51m, but Everton won’t sell for less than £80m plus a percentage of a sell-on fee.
