Anyone who opened FM27 looking for Max Dowman got a surprise: the Arsenal youngster does not show up in the career. After all, he is the youngest scorer in Premier League history and one of the biggest talents in world football. The good news is that he is in the FM27 database, and there is a way to get him. So we explain why he disappears, who else disappears with him and what you should do.
Max Dowman at Arsenal training in 2025. Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In FM26, it was his age
First, Dowman was born on 31 December 2009. So when Sports Interactive closed the FM26 database in August 2025, he was still 15. Also, SI’s general rule is simple: only players aged at least 16 go in, unless there is special permission from the parents. So his absence from FM26 made sense.
In FM27, it is licensing
This time it is different, because Dowman is now 16 and he is in the FM27 database. However, a licensing file removes the affected Arsenal youngsters when the game creates your career. According to Passion4FM, that is around 20 players from the club’s academy.
Besides him, other academy names are missing too, such as Gabriel Arteta, the 17-year-old son of manager Mikel Arteta, Jayden Oba and Josh Sesay. In other words, this is not SI forgetting someone, but a licensing block that catches a whole group of youngsters when you start a career.
Why Dowman is missing from careers, in four dates
What we know about his career
But away from the game, Dowman’s career is flying. In January 2026 he signed a pre-contract with Arsenal that turns into a professional deal when he turns 17, on 31 December. Also, his father and brother took FIFA agent licences to manage his career. So the family keeps a close eye on every step.
There is also a curious Arsenal link. In 2024, a retired teacher found out that Dowman is distantly related to George Male, Arsenal and England captain in the 1930s. For example, Male was the first player to win six English league titles.
How to get Dowman in your career
According to the FM Blog, which tested it in a save, you just need to prepare the game before creating your career:
- First, install a real names fix with the Arsenal step, which takes out the licensing file that removes these youngsters. We have the Passion4FM Real Names Fix and the License Fix; follow the instructions of each one.
- Then, when you create the career, load the English players.
- Finally, start a new career. Adding the file to an existing save does not bring Dowman back, because he was removed when that career was created.
And it is worth it. In FM27, Dowman is a 16-year-old attacking midfielder, on the right or through the middle, with 16 for dribbling, 16 for technique, 16 for vision and a very strong left foot. Also, the game values him at around €24 to €72 million and gives him a continental reputation.
Max Dowman in FM27, in a career created without the licensing block (Image: FM Blog / Sports Interactive)
On the other hand, if you do not want to touch any files, you can create the player with the FM27 in-game editor. Still, the attributes are up to you.
The Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s home. Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
Our take
In other words, seeing a youngster like Dowman disappear is annoying, especially in a game built around finding talent. Still, it is understandable that SI has to respect the licences of underage players. The problem is the lack of explanation: players find out about absences on their own, on social media. So the community fix is welcome, as long as you use it in a new career.
Sources
- SPORTbible, 30 October 2026
- Passion4FM, on the Arsenal players removed from the database
- 20 Hidden Wonderkids to Scout on a Budget in FM27 (FM Blog)
- FourFourTwo: Why is Max Dowman not in Football Manager 26?
- Capital FM: Arsenal teenager Dowman signs pre-contract agreement
- Irish Examiner: Max Dowman’s family become Fifa agents
