EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkids: Best young players to sign in Career Mode


With a renewed emphasis on meaningful stats and exciting new PlayStyles, finding the best Wonderkids in EA Sports FC 26 is more important than ever as you look to take your Career Mode squad to the next level.

However, elite teams around the world are paying more-and-more for potential and talent every year. Just look at Liverpool’s transfer spending this summer, with more than £250,000,000 spent on players under 22. Or Chelsea’s transfer policy, which sees them hoover up young players for 8-figure sums on seemingly everlasting contracts just to recoup the costs on loan fees before selling them again without ever making an appearance for the club.

To get the best young players in world football before the biggest teams can snap them up, you’re going to have to play it smart. But to give you a helping hand, we’ve scoured the FC 26 database to find the best Wonderkids in every position, for a variety of budgets, who can make an impact on your squad straight away as well as in the future.


Best EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkids

On this page:

FC 26 Wonderkid Goalkeepers

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid Goalkeepers
Name: Team: Age: Overall: Key Attributes:
Konstantinos Tzolakis Olympiacos 22 79 Tall, Cross Claimer PlayStyle
Guillaume Restes Toulouse 20 78 Footwork PlayStyle, high potential
James Trafford Man City 22 76 Long Ball Pass PlayStyle + Far Throw, Footwork and Cross Claimer PlayStyles
Dennis Seimen Paderborn 19 66 Tall, Left footed
Noah Atubolu Freiburg 23 77 Footwork + Far Reach PlayStyles
Maarten Vandevoordt RB Leipzig 23 76 Tall, Long Ball Pass + Far Throw, Footwork and Cross Claimer PlayStyles
Antonin Kinsky Spurs 22 75
Zion Suzuki Parma 23 74 Long Pass PlayStyle + Cross Claimer PlayStyle
Jonas Urbig Bayern 22 74 Footwork + Cross Claimer PlayStyle
Tobe Leysen OH Leuven 23 73 Left footed, Long Ball Pass PlayStyle + Footwork and Cross Claimer PlayStyles
Obed Nkambadio Paris FC 22 73 Good reflexes
Matthieu Epolo Standard Liege 20 73 Footwork + Far Reach PlayStyles
Pascal Loretz FC Luzern 22 72 Long Ball Pass PlayStyle + Far Throw, Footwork and Cross Claimer PlayStyles
Sebastiano Desplanches Pescara 22 71 Cross Claimer PlayStyle
Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro AZ Alkmaar 21 71 Cross Claimer + Far Reach PlayStyles
Andre Gomes Alverca 20 69 Cross Claimer PlayStyle
Fran Gonzalez Real Madrid 20 63 Tall

A few of the best Wonderkid goalkeepers from previous years have either aged out of the bracket, or gone onto bigger and better things to the point where they’re unrealistic signings for even the biggest clubs. Examples of this include Lucas Chevalier, the young French goalkeeper who moved from Lille to snatch the number 1 shirt at PSG away from Donnarumma.

However, that still leaves Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes as probably the first name on top of the targets list for any top club looking for a new keeper to mind the net for the next decade or more. While a great starting overall and stats, plus loads of potential to become the best in the world, he’s an expensive but obvious choice.

Poor James Trafford, his time as Man City’s first-choice keeper didn’t last very long, did it? However, that means he’s back on the accessible loan-to-buy market for a slew of good teams. He’s still got strong potential off the back of literally the best individual performance the Championship has even seen last year and loads of great PlayStyles in Cross Claimer, Footwork, and Long Pass for starting attacks.

For another top keeper who’s found himself stuck behind an established veteran who’s showing no signs of leaving anytime soon, look no further than Maarten Vandevoordt, who’s probably the best young back-up goalkeeper in the world, still in situ behind Peter Gulacsi at Leipzig. He’s also got great PlayStyles, as well as a tall frame for reaching shots.

If you’re working with a smaller budget, there are still loads of exciting Wonderkids you can pick up in goal. Two progress, ball-playing goalkeepers you can acquire with most teams are Tobe Leysen at OH Leuven and Pascal Loretz at FC Luzern. Both players have the Long Ball Pass Playstyle which means they can clear the ball up to a target man with really powerful accuracy, as well as a slew of saving PlayStyles which mean they’re not totally focused on build-up play. The only differences between them are that Leysen is left-footed and 1 rating higher, while Loretz has the Far Throw PlayStyle, so they’re pretty much equal.

Or, for a more standard, shot-stopping approach, Matthieu Epolo is a fantastic shout with both the Footwork and Far Reach PlayStyles to boost his saving capability. These two PlayStyles mean he’ll still feel decent enough even if you drop him into a team with a higher average Overall, where he’ll shoot up in ratings based on the saves he makes.


FC 26 Wonderkid CBs

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid CBs
Name: Team: Age: Overall: Key Attributes:
Giorgio Scalvini Bergamo Calcio (Atalanta) 21 77 Great PlayStyles, tall but slow
Ousmane Diomande Sporting 21 80 Great PlayStyles, tall, exceptional pace and physicals
Christian Mosquera Arsenal 21 77 Great starting stats everywhere
Jorrel Hato Chelsea 19 78 Exceptional pace, left footed
Abdukodir Khusanov Man City 21 77 Exceptional pace
Antonio Silva Benfica 21 78 Exceptional pace, strength and defending stats, great passing stats and Long Ball Pass PlayStyle
Bright Arrey-Mibbi Braga 22 71 Exceptional pace, great physicals, left footed, affordable
Nnamdi Collins Frankfurt 21 74 Exceptional pace, tall, great jumping, good tackling
Leopold Querfeld Union Berlin 21 75 Tall and strong, but very slow, Long Ball Pass PlayStyle
Christian Mawissa Monaco 20 75 Good pace, left footed, 5-star weak foot
Ryan Flamingo PSV 22 77 Brilliant PlayStyles, good strength
Valentin Gomez Betis 22 76 Left footed, good pace, shorter but has Aerial Fortress PlayStyle
Jorne Spileers Club Brugge 20 69 Long Ball Pass PlayStyle, good Lengthy pace and strength
El Chadaille Bitshiabu RB Leipzig 20 75 Very tall, left footed, Pinged Pass PlayStyle, lots of Lengthy pace, very strong
Mikayil Faye Cremonese 21 68 Left footed, good physicals
Charlie Hughes Hull 21 71 Long Ball Pass PlayStyle
Ashley Phillips Stoke 20 70 Tall
Jorthy Mokio Ajax 17 70 Great stats for age, can play in midfield
Finn Jeltsch Stuttgart 19 72 Good stats for age, good strength and speed, great tackling
Luka Vuskovic Hamburg 18 72 Great strength, tall, great headed PlayStyles, great passing stats and Long Ball Pass PlayStyle

Many of the best Wonderkids CBs made moves over the summer, meaning you will likely have to approach them with a Loan or Loan-to-Buy offer in your first season. However, given their potential growth, it’s still well-worth the fiddling around.

Players in this camp are Career Mode favourite Jorel Hato, who’s listed as a LB but has the height and physicality to play extremely well in his secondary position of CB. He fits the left-sided CBs role perfectly, with enough technical ability – cultivated in the legendary Ajax academy – to build out from the back and progress the ball.

Similarly, two of the best Wonderkids from last year, Christian Mosquera and Abdukodir Khusanov both made moves to the Premier League. This means they now come with an inflated price tag, but both still have brilliant starting stats to match their lofty potential.

However, if you’re after the next big superstar defender in world football, Portugal is the place to shop. Benfica’s Antonio Silva has it all, with pace, strength, defending and even passing stats all around 80 or above. He’s an expensive signing, but one that would suit a whole host of top teams.

But it’s Sporting’s Ousmane Diomande who looks tailor-made for a big move, as his combination of rapid speed, great strength, aerial dominance and solid tackling make him perfect for a super club like Real Madrid and Liverpool who’re looking at rejuvenating an aging back-line.

You don’t have to break the bank for overpowered physical CBs though. Pretty much every single team, whatever their budget, should be looking at taking Nnamdi Collins from Frankfurt. A dominating physical presence with good enough stats to play above his level right from the start of Career Mode, he’s a future star in waiting.

For a left-footed option, Bright Arrey-Mibbi is a similarly quick and powerfully strong defender, but with a bit more work to do on the tackling side of things, which is reflected in his overall and price tag. He’s still perfect for lower league teams and Road to Glory saves.

Finally, for more of a ball-playing CB, check out Jorne Spileers at Club Brugge. At a very accessible overall, he’s got solid stats everywhere, plus the Long Pass PlayStyle for springing attacks.


FC 26 Wonderkid LBs and RBs

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid LBs and RBs
Name: Team: Age: Position: Overall: Key Attributes:
Lewis Hall Newcastle 21 LB 80 Solid defending, great crossing, top-quality potential
Arnau Martinez Girona 22 RB 79 Solid defending, big frame, great passer
Fresneda Sporting 20 RB/LB 74 Good stamina, good stats for Overall
El Hadji Malick Diouf West Ham 20 LB 75 Tall with very strong physicals, good dribbling
Tom Rothe Union Berlin 20 LB 74 Very tall and strong, Dan Burn-style but with exceptionally high crossing
Juanlu Sanchez Sevilla 22 RB 75 Tall, good passing and dribbling
Givairo Read Feyernoord 19 RB 75 Fast, great crossing and physicals
Kassoum Ouattara Monaco 20 LB 72 Quick, good stamina
Martim Fernandes Porto 19 RB 75 Fast, good dribbling and stamina
Joaquin Seys Club Brugge 20 RB/LB 72 Left-footed right back, quick and explosive
Yaimar Medina Genk 20 LB 70 Extremely fast with Quick Step and Rapid
Almugera Kabar Dortmund 19 LB 64 Quick and strong for overall
Josh Acheampong Chelsea 19 RB 70 Quick, very tall and strong for overall
Semm Renders Royal Antwerp 17 RB 62 Quick and very young but poor stamina
Andre Garcia Reading 17 LB 63 Very fast and good dribbling for overall

There aren’t that many exciting Wonderkid full-backs in FC 26, with Arnau Martinez of Girona and Fresneda of Sporting still seeming like the best options for top level clubs.

However, Givairo Read of Feyernoord has gotten a big upgrade after a great 24/25 season and would now be my pick on the right-hand side thanks to his combination of rapid pace, good crossing and solid strength to deal with more physical attackers.

Speaking of speed, Yaimar Medina looks like a great offensive option down the left, with both the stats and PlayStyles to make the most of his physical attributes. However, he has just made the move from South America to Europe, so you’ll likely be taking him on a loan-to-buy in the first season.

For a more unconventional option, Tom Rothe has gotten another upgrade. At 6ft 4”, but with 84 crossing from the start of Career Mode, he’s got a unique profile but enough potential to turn into an instantly recognisable star in your team.


FC 26 Wonderkid CDMs

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid CDMs
Name: Team: Age: Overall: Key Attributes:
Warren Zaire-Emery PSG 19 80 Great stats everywhere, covers ground with Quick Step PlayStyle
Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United 20 77 Solid stats, great dribbling and passing
Carlos Baleba Brighton 21 81 Top quality from the start, rock solid stats everywhere
Pablo Barrios Atletico Madrid 22 82 Great speed, passing, tackling and stamina
Javi Guerra Valencia 22 77 Tall, silky passer
Hugo Larsson Frankfurt 21 78 Tall, great PlayStyles, solid speed, stamina and dribbling
Archie Gray Spurs 19 75 Tall, solid physicals, passing and defending
Aleksandar Pavlovic Bayern 21 79 Top-tier passing, tall but with good dribbling
Dario Essugo Chelsea 20 75 Great speed, strength and tackling
Christian Ordonez Parma 21 72 Exceptional speed, stamina and physicals
Lamine Fanne Luton Town 21 69 Tall and speedy
Stefan Bajcetic Liverpool 20 73 Good sprint speed, passing and defending
Matteo Prati Cagliari 21 71 Good ball control and passing
Jack Hinshelwood Brighton 20 75 Good passing and tackling, Dead Ball PlayStyle
Tom Bischof Bayern 20 76 Slow shuttling midfielder with high passing and dribbling – Toni Kroos-style
Lennon Miller Udinese 19 71 Solid stats everywhere for overall, good PlayStyles
Ethan Mbappe Lille 18 69 Good pace and passing, good meme
Efe Akman Andorra 19 62 Explosive pace and agility, Tiki Taka PlayStyle

The CDM position is another tricky one for Wonderkids, as many of my favourites are currently out on loan and therefore not available in the first season. These include the high potential Belgian Arthur Vermeeren, the American with an incredible physical profile Yunus Musah, and the archetypal Ajax product Tygo Land. If your Career Mode stretches to multiple seasons, be sure to check them out.

Otherwise, there are a few really good options for top teams with the biggest budgets. For example, Carlos Baleba attracted a lot of interest over the summer, looking like he was going to go for as much money as Moises Caicedo. He’s not as expensive in FC 26, but has incredible stats in pretty much every area that make him a very solid acquisition.

Similarly, Kobbie Mainoo is apparently up for sale, which is a deal you should definitely take advantage of. He’s the perfect deep-lying playmaker with good dribbling to beat a press and great passing to play the next killer ball after he’s made some space.

Finally, Hugo Larsson looks like an amazing pick-up for a top team, with great passing PlayStyles, a strong physical profile and enough stamina to run your midfield all day.

For a more affordable physical presence however, take a look at Dario Essugo at Chelsea and Christian Ordonez at Parma. Both of them can cover distance incredibly well – which is very important for a lot of different formations – while also having the technical ability to make use of the ball once they’ve won it back. Unfortunately, these players have just moved to their current clubs, so you’ll need to snag them on loan or loan-to-buy initially.


FC 26 Wonderkid CAMs

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid CAMs
Name: Team: Age: Overall: Key Attributes:
Arda Guler Real Madrid 20 81 Top-tier passing and dribbling, good shooting
Hakon Haraldsson Lille 22 78 Good pace, great stamina, dribbling and passing
Oscar Gloukh Ajax 21 76 Explosive pace, great dribbling, low driven shot PlayStyle
Brajan Gruda Brighton 21 74 Good dribbling, shot power, left-footed
Alex Scott Bournemouth 22 74 Great dribbling and passing
Can Uzun Frankfurt 19 74 Great shooting, dribbling and short passing, finesse shot PlayStyle
Mario Stroeykens Anderlecht 20 74 Great dribbling and passing
Gianluca Prestianni Benfica 19 71 Exceptional pace, great dribbling
Franco Mastantuono Real Madrid 18 77 Huge overall for age, great dribbling, Dead Ball PlayStyle
Simone Pafundi Sampdoria 19 68 Explosive pace and good dribbling, finesse shot PlayStyle makes poor finishing better
Assan Ouedraogo RB Leipzig 19 69 Great pace and dribbling, 6ft 3” and high strength
Senny Mayulu PSG 19 75 Good pace, dribbling and passing, 5-star weak foot and good shot power
Kees Smit AZ Alkmaar 19 72 Great dribbling and stamina
Luis Guilherme West Ham 19 71 Good pace and dribbling, left-footed
Justin Lerma Independiente Del Valle 17 64 Great potential for age, quick

He feels like he’s been around for a few years already, so you forget that Arda Guler is only 20 years old. He’s started every game for Madrid this season while Jude Bellingham is absent through injury, but it’s not too farfetched to suggest he could make a big move in search of more game time. In a similar vein to Martin Odegaard, should make the switch, he’s sure to become a favourite wherever he ends up thanks to his elite passing and long-range shooting.

Another expensive option on the fringes of a top team’s starting line-up is Senny Mayulu at PSG. He’s a versatile attacking option with great stats for a teenager which allow him to perform a variety of roles. His pace allows him to cover ground in central areas very well, while, just like in the Champions League final, his strong shot power allows him to burst forward and score just as easily.

Finally on the expensive front, Hakon Haraldsson from Lille is a silky shuttling midfielder with high stamina to lead your high press from the front. With a host of stats across the board approaching 80, thanks to his potential these can quickly push past 80 as he grows into a very strong all-around player.

On the more accessible end, Assan Ouedraogo has an interesting and unique profile. On the face of it his stats look like a quick and nippy CAM, but then you notice he’s 6ft 3” tall. This allows him to become more of a hold-up presence in your attack, receiving the ball under pressure, shielding it to keep possession, then moving it on with a keen eye for a pass.


FC 26 Wonderkid Wingers

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid Wingers
Name: Team: Age: Position: Overall: Key Attributes:
Alberto Moleiro Villareal 21 LW 79 Good pace, dribbling and passing
Matias Soule Roma 22 RM 78 Great stamina, good pace and dribbling, Dead Ball PlayStyle
Abdul Fatawu Leicester 21 RW 76 Great pace and dribbling
Jamie Gittens Chelsea 21 LW 78 Exceptional pace and dribbling, great stamina
Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal 18 RW 76 Great stats for age, good dribbling and pace
Giannis Konstantelias POAK 22 RW 77 Great dribbling, good stamina, Trickster PlayStyle
Wilfried Gnonto Leeds United 21 RW 74 Great pace, dribbling and shooting
Yankuba Minteh Brighton 21 RW 77 Exceptional pace, Quick Step+ PlayStyle, exceptional dribbling
Jean-Matteo Bahoya Frankfurt 20 LW 75 Exceptional pace, good dribbling
Wilson Odobert Spurs 20 LW/RW 75 Great pace and dribbling
Roger Fernandes Al Ittihad 19 RW 76 Exceptional pace and dribbling
Yeremay Deportivo 22 LW 76 Exceptional dribbling, great pace, Low Driven Shot PlayStyle
Malick Fofana Lyon 20 LW 78 Exceptional pace and dribbling
Antonio Nusa RB Leipzig 20 LW 76 Exceptional pace and dribbling, much improved stamina
Gabriel Silva Santa Clara 23 LW 74 Fastest player in the game, good dribbling, Dead Ball PlayStyle
Kaio Cesar Al Hilal 21 RW 73 Great pace, exceptional dribbling and 5-star skills with Trickster
Ernest Poku Bayer Leverkusen 21 RW 70 Exceptional pace
Mella Deportivo 20 RW 71 Great pace and stamina
Geovany Quenda Sporting 18 RW/LW 76 Great pace and dribbling
Newerton Shakhtar 20 LW 70 Great pace with Quick Step, great dribbling
Mika Godts Ajax 20 LW 74 Good pace, great dribbling with Technical
Ruben van Bommel PSV 21 LW 74 6ft 4” with exceptional pace, good dribbling
Nestory Irankunda Watford 19 RW 67 Exceptional pace
Julien Duranville Dortmund 19 RW 72 Exceptional pace and dribbling, Trickster PlayStyle
Leo Sauer Feyernoord 19 LW 72 Exceptional pace, good dribbling
Ian Subiabre River Plate 18 LW/RW 69 Great pace and dribbling for age
Tyrique George Chelsea 19 LW 71 Good pace, tall

Now we’re talking! There are tons of awesome Wonderkid wingers who can make an instant impact on your team thanks to their physical capabilities and dribbling prowess, either from the start or off the bench.

I’ve slightly broken my age profile to include Gabriel Silva. However, he’s pretty much the fastest player in the game with the same sprint speed as Kylian Mbappe and the Quick Step+ PlayStyle to reach it as quickly as possible. He’s also got that archetypal Brazilian dribbling ability to actually make a mark on the game with that raw pace, as well as a decent, but accessible starting overall.

There are loads of extremely fast Wonderkids and Yankuba Minteh is probably the best of them all. Even more so than Silva, he’s got amazing dribbling ability right from the start of Career Mode and if you can wrestle him away from Brighton he makes an instant impact.

In their quest to buy literally all of the wingers in the world, Chelsea have also managed to snag Jamie Gittens from Dortmund this season, so you will have to get him in on loan or a loan-to-buy to add him to your team straight away. Not only does Gittens have electric pace and elite dribbling, but also nearly 80 stamina to do it all game, which many Wonderkids lack.

For more dribbling focused wingers rather than raw pace, Yeremay has 90 agility to feel great on the ball, as well as the Low Driven Shot PlayStyle to give him some “end product”, another place that many Wonderkids fall short.

If you’re a skiller, then the 5-star skills of Kaio Cesar could be just the Trickster you’re looking for. He’s got brilliant agility and balance to actually make use of his skill moves, as well as decent crossing.

Finally, for a completely different option, Ruben van Bommel, son of legendary hatchet man Mark, is just the kind of flying winger his dad would love kicking into Row Z. However, the way van Bommel the younger goes about his wing play is quite unique. He’s very fast despite being 6ft 4” and cuts in from the left onto his right foot with the Finesse Shot PlayStyle. He’s got good enough potential to be a serious player, and is relatively accessible for a variety of teams.


FC 26 Wonderkid Strikers

EA Sports FC 26 Wonderkid Strikers
Name: Team: Age: Overall: Key Attributes:
Emanuel Emegha Strasbourg 22 78 Unparalleled physical profile, 6ft 5” with 95 sprint speed, Low Driven PlayStyle and 79 finishing
Youssoufa Moukoko FC Kobenhavn 20 73 Explosive, good dribbling
Endrick Real Madrid 19 77 Great pace, dribbling and shooting for age
Marcos Leonardo Al Hilal 22 79 Great finisher
Samu Porto 21 79 Great physicals and shooting, 6ft 4”
Lucas Stassin Saint Etienne 20 75 Silky with solid stats everywhere
Kaua Elias Shakhtar 19 71 Quick with good dribbling and strength
Jhon Duran Fenerbahce 21 79 Good pace, strength and dribbling with great shooting
Karim Konate RB Salzburg 21 72 Great pace and dribbling
Giuliano Simeone Atletico Madrid 22 81 Exceptional pace with great dribbling and physicals
Yoan Bonny Lombardia FC (Inter) 21 76 Great pace and finishing with a big frame
Charalampos Kostoulas Brighton 18 72 Great pace and physicals, especially for age
George Ilenikhena Monaco 19 72 Good pace and all round stats for age
Conrad Harder RB Leipzig 20 74 Solid strength and shooting
Jeronimo Domina Union 19 70 Very fast, small and agile
Nicolo Tresoldi Club Brugge 21 69 Great stamina and pace
Nelson Weiper Mainz 20 70 6ft 4” and strong with 84 sprint speed
Hamza Igamane Lille 22 73 Great PlayStyles including Finesse Shot and Trickster
Ricky-Jade Jones St Pauli 22 65 Exceptional pace for overall, Low Driven Shot PlayStyle

If the wingers were quick, then the Wonderkid strikers are physical monsters with incredible speed, strength and sometimes even shooting too.

First up, while great strikers come and go Emanuel Emegha looks like an almost instant buy for pretty much any team that can afford him. One of the fastest players in the game with a Lengthy 95 sprint speed, what sets him apart from the crowd isn’t just his 6ft 5” frame, but also his default finishing ability, which boasts a 79 stat and the Low Driven Shot PlayStyle. So whether it’s hold-up play or a finishing touch, he’s got it all.

With so many top teams around Europe in search of a striker, I was surprised to see that Samu hadn’t moved on from Porto in the summer, but maybe he’s been persuaded to continue his development in Portugal after the tough next steps endured by the likes of Darwin Nunez and Goncalo Ramos. Similar to Emegha, just trading some speed for more strength and dribbling for even better shooting, Samu is a top-quality target man.

For more accessible players for smaller budgets, Karim Konate is a really good option with great pace and dribbling, with solid technicals and the Low Driven Shot PlayStyle to top it off. While he’s seen an overall downgrade from FC 25, he’s still got lots of potential to grow, and fits nicely into mid-table or lower league Road to Glory saves.

Annoyingly, Brighton and their fancy recruitment department have swooped in early to snap up Charalampos Kostoulas before we can enjoy him in Career Mode properly. While you’ll probably have to get him in on loan or as a loan-to-buy in the first season, he’s still an incredibly exciting prospect with amazing physical stats for a teenager and solid technicals to make him useful from the start.



Source link

Comments (0)
Add Comment