10 'hidden' wonderkids every Football Manager 27 player needs to buy in first save
Is there a more satisfying feeling than finding a cheap wonderkid on Football Manager and seeing him develop into one of the best players in the game? It's hard, I know.
Looking back at previous titles, names such as Thiago Almada, Pablo Piatti and Henri Saivet - the man who helped my Carlisle United side secure back-to-back Champions Leagues - stand out as great signings.
But what about the latest instalment of the game? As you'll probably know by now, Football Manager 27 is currently free to play on PC and Mac as part of an early-access preview.
READ MORE: Football Manager developer names 'very strong' wonderkid you need to sign in FM27
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Fans have been given a five-day window between October 29 and November 3 to discover FM's next generation of wonderkids, so we've put in the hours to find the best of the bunch.
Here are some of our findings, featuring a goalkeeper with 91 potential and Adri Mehmeti, the central midfielder who has been touted as the next Sergio Busquets by many.
Tornike Kvaratskhelia
To kick things off, the younger brother of PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is available at the start of FM 27 for less than €2 million (£1.6m) and trust me, you'll want to make a bid after seeing his stats.
Tornike, who plays his club football for Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi, is a pacey left winger who made his debut for the club in May at just 16. There's a reason why Bayern are interested in his services. Snap him up.
Daulet Orynbasar
According to FM Scout's trusty guide to wonderkids, Orynbasar has the highest potential of any striker in the game (91), a nod to his incredible start to life with Kazakhstan Premier League side Kairat Almaty.
The 17-year-old striker, who has been linked with a move to Serie A side Como in real life, has made 53 appearances at under-18 level for Kairat, scoring 65 goals and recording 23 assists.
His value is around the £1 million mark, so get moving.
Facundo Aristegui
Aristegui, who plays his club football for Uruguayan side Boston River, is one of the oldest players on this list at 18 years old, but his stats - and transfer value (£18k - £170k) - are simply sublime.
The inside winger has 14 dribbling, 15 finishing, 15 flair and 15 acceleration, as well as 15 determination. Bargain.
Bruno Cabral
We all know the River Plate academy has delivered some absolute gems on Football Manager over the years, and highly-rated striker Bruno Cabral is expected to fall into that category, although he is on the pricey side (£8.1 million)
The 16-year-old has been given 83 potential by FM Scout, which is the same as Bournemouth's Rayan, after being handed stats such as 14 finishing, 14 anticipation and 14 acceleration. One to watch.
Rui Araki
Widely regarded as one of the biggest talents in Japan, Rui Araki is rated as having the highest potential (91) for a goalkeeper in Football Manager 27 by the guys over at FM Scout.
The 19-year-old, who plays for J1 League club Gamba Osaka, recently kept a clean sheet against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr. A massive talent with a valuation of just £3.2 million, as per FM Blog.
Jacob Ambæk
The 18-year-old striker, who scored his 11th goal for Danish side Brondby at the weekend, will set you back around £18 million, but his massive potential makes that a price worth paying.
Ambæk is a complete forward. As well as possessing pace and power, the Dane's high composure and finishing attributes make him an essential purchase. Go on, splash the cash.
Luis Fragozo
Fragozo, 16, has already made 38 first-team appearances for Ecuadorian Serie A side Emelec, so his impressive attributes on the new Football Manager come as no real surprise.
This kid is something else. Another inside forward, he has already been handed 14 dribbling, 14 flair, 14 off the ball and 16 work rate, as well as some solid physical stats. His value? £333,000 - £3.3 million.
You'll have to be quick, though. Expect a huge amount of interest.
Oliver Wilkinson
The first Englishman on this list, Wilkinson made history at 15, when he became Barnsley's youngest-ever starter when he lined up against Manchester United under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
The 17-year-old, who now plays for Premier League side Ipswich Town, has been given a potential rating of 85 by the guys at FM Scout, which is the same as Ayden Heaven and Joane Gadou.
Adri Mehmeti
CCN recently described Mehmeti as a "future star" of American soccer. The central midfielder, 17, has already made his debut for the United States national team and is thriving with New York Red Bulls.
Mehmeti, who has drawn comparisons to Sergio Busquets, has bags of composure and great passing ability. Another must-buy.
Simon Escobar
Like the previously mentioned River Plate, Argentinian side Velez Sarsfield have been known to produce a gem or two (Thiago Almada, I'm looking at you). Step forward, Simon Escobar.
The 16-year-old left wing-back, who has an admirer in Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, is on the expensive side at around the £10 million mark, but he'd be in your starting line-up for years to come.
The best talent on this list? Arguably. 15 decisions at such a young age is impressive.
Where can I buy Football Manager 27?
Multiple retailers have Football Manager 27 available for pre-order for your Xbox or PC.
At full price, the game costs £49.99, but there's currently 16 per cent off on the Fanatical website. And you can snag an additional five per cent off with our exclusive code SPORTBIBLE5, bringing the cost down to £39.89.
Anyone that pre-orders the game will be able to access the title after the five-day free preview ends on November 3, 2026 and before general release on November 9, 2026.
You can apply the code at checkout here.
Shop FM27 at the following retailers:
- Steam/Microsoft: Fanatical
- Xbox: Loaded
- PS5: Playstation
Topics: Football Manager, Gaming, Argentina, MLS, Premier League
Jack Kenmare