It’s always interesting to hear about FM wonderkids earning big moves. One of the latest to complete a move is Belgian wonderkid Nathan De Cat, who has recently moved from Anderlecht to German outfit Hoffenheim for a reported fee of around €20m (£ 17.3 million), plus €4 million (£3.4 million) in add-ons.
De Cat has been a wonderkid since FM24
The Belgian midfielder has been a wonderkid since FM24. On the original database, his talent or potential wasn’t really recognised, but his stats were bumped up at some point when the game updated.
The fact that he was in the game at such a young age illustrates not just his potential, but also his current quality. In fact, he was regarded as one of the best wonderkids in FM24.
De Cat received a decent upgrade in his stats from FM24 to FM26 after playing some first-team football for Anderlecht in the 2024/25 season, despite his tender years.
De Cat arriving in the Anderlecht first team
The Belgian giants Anderlecht are famous for producing and nurturing talented young players. In recent decades, the likes of Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku are just some of the players to have come through the club’s youth ranks to become stars on the world stage.
The production of young players basically finances the running of the club, like many clubs that are not in the biggest European leagues.
De Cat actually made his Anderlecht debut in the 2024/25 season, when he made seven appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal. His debut actually came as a substitute against Fenerbahce in a Europa League encounter.
However, it wasn’t until last season that he really enjoyed a breakthrough campaign. The midfielder made an impressive 46 appearances for Anderlecht in all competitions, scoring three goals.
It was also during the 2025/26 season that he made his international debut for Belgium. De Cat came off the bench in March 2026 in a 5-2 win over the USA. It was his only cap to date.
He only just missed out on Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad, as more experienced players were selected ahead of the youngster.
However, several of Belgium’s midfield players are in or are entering the latter stages of their careers, including Kevin De Bruyne, which should open the door to more game time with the national team.
A move to the Bundesliga will raise his profile, too. Hoffenheim could be the perfect club for him to develop his game. The club from Sinsheim enjoyed a promising campaign in the 2025/26 season, finishing fifth in the table, just a point adrift of the Champions League spots and qualifying for the Europa League.
It is a club where De Cat will be given room to learn, make mistakes and grow as a player. It seems to be a perfect platform for him to advance his career.
What are De Cat’s stats like in the present and future on FM26?
It seems that De Cat’s career is going places in real-life. No doubt his price and stats in FM27 will be slightly boosted, but the move to Hoffenheim is likely to see his price rocket, too.
At the start of the season in FM26, De Cat is only 16 years old. However, for a player of his age, his all-around stats are solid. His highest stats are ratings of 13 for teamwork, work-rate, composure and strength. The majority of his other stats are double figures, too.
De Cat’s potential is illustrated by the fact that Anderlecht look for a fee of around £45-55m, plus add-ons, to sell him in the first summer.
The midfielder usually becomes one of the top players in his position in the world. As you can see from my current personal save in 2039, De Cat’s ratings have shot up, and he has been playing at the top level of the beautiful game.
However, at 31, his career is closer to the backend than the beginning.
He has played in the Premier League for Tottenham and Bayern Munich, consistently maintaining an average rating above 7.00 throughout much of his career.
De Cat looking to become the next big Bundesliga youngster
A move to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga from his hometown club, Anderlecht, will be a big test for De Cat, not just quality-wise but also mentally.
The German top flight is a big step up from its Belgian counterpart, and he is still young. However, in recent years, the Bundesliga has proven to be a league where young players can develop and thrive.
So many young players have thrived in the Bundesliga and gone on to become big stars, either within the league itself or in other big leagues around the world.
Nathan De Cat will be hoping to join that legion of former Bundesliga players who have gone on to stardom. With that in mind, the move to Hoffenheim may well prove to be a shrewd one.
Can Nathan De Cat fulfil his potential in the Bundesliga?
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