FM27 hidden wonderkids: cheap young players to discover

Everyone knows the big FM27 wonderkids, and that is why everyone wants them. The fun is in the others: young players with plenty of potential, little fame and a bargain price. So we have gathered the FM27 hidden wonderkids, with a focus on those playing in Portugal. The numbers come from the FM Blog database, which built a list of 375 youngsters and picked 20 to scout on a budget. We converted the values from pounds to euros, at an approximate rate of £1 = €1.15.

The FM Blog’s rule is clear: players aged 20 or under, with high potential (a PA of at least 145) and a low world reputation, up to 3,000 on a 0 to 10,000 scale. Also, the ability and potential ratings you will see use the FM Blog’s own 1 to 99 scale, not the game’s CA and PA.

The most promising names on the list

At the top for potential are two 17-year-old Englishmen: Luca Williams-Barnett, a Tottenham attacking midfielder (89), and Reggie Walsh, a Wigan midfielder (88). Next come Zé Lucas, a Cruzeiro defensive midfielder, and Georgian full-back Saba Kharebashvili of İstanbul Başakşehir, both on 86. Finally, Liverpool winger Joshua Abe, aged just 15, also reaches 86.

But not all of them are expensive. For example, Georgian Andria Bartishvili (85) is worth €4.5 million at Iberia 1999, and German Marko Soldić (85) costs €2.9 million at Nürnberg. In other words, there is top potential outside the big clubs.

The FM Blog’s 20 to scout on a budget

Besides the list, the FM Blog opened the profiles in a scouting save and picked 20 names, from cheapest to most expensive. The values are the ones the game showed on 14 July 2026. However, they are estimates: your club still has to negotiate the fee, wages and any compensation.

• The cheapest: João Aragão (Braga B, around €9,000), Mohamed Sobih (Al Jazeera, 78 potential) and Spaniard Mario Fernández (Sporting Gijón C, a 17-year-old striker).
• From Brazil and South America: Cristián Arboleda (Atlético Nacional), Lyan (Bahia, 78), Callegário (Atlético Mineiro) and Santiago Cisneros (Club León).
• From Europe: Fuzy Taylor (Dinamo Zagreb), Yohann Obin (Manchester City), Moussa Koné (Jong Genk), Markús Andri Daníelsson Martin (AZ, 80), Dennis Kohn (Sheffield Wednesday), Matija Subotić (Lokomotiva Zagreb) and Enzo Fuster (Valencia).
• From further afield: Lee Eun-Ho (Gangwon, South Korea) and the Mamelodi Sundowns pair, Siyabonga Mabena and Bennet Mokoena.
• The most expensive on the list: Salvador Oliveira and Gonçalo Santos, both at FC Porto, between €230,000 and €920,000.

The Portuguese: Aragão, Gonçalo Santos and Salvador Oliveira

First, João Aragão. The 18-year-old Braga B left winger is worth only around €9,000 in the game, but earns €1,000 a week. So the FM Blog warns that the fee is cheap and the contract is what costs. He has 15 for flair and 13 for dribbling, and he is very right-footed, which pulls him inside.

João Aragão of Braga B in FM27 (Image: FM Blog / Sports Interactive)

Then, Gonçalo Santos, a 16-year-old FC Porto attacking midfielder. He has 80 potential on the FM Blog scale, 13 for dribbling and 13 for first touch, and he plays both centrally and out wide. However, he has only 4 for strength, so it is worth scouting him twice before making a move.

Gonçalo Santos of FC Porto in FM27 (Image: FM Blog / Sports Interactive)

Finally, Salvador Oliveira, a 16-year-old right-back, also at Porto. He has 15 for acceleration and 12 for tackling, in other words he is more than just quick legs. So he is a good bet if you want a full-back to develop.

Salvador Oliveira of FC Porto in FM27 (Image: FM Blog / Sports Interactive)

More hidden talent at Portuguese clubs

The list of 375 has more names linked to Portugal. FC Porto is the club that appears most, B team included. For example, André Miranda (79) and Bernardo Lima (77) of Porto B already have plenty of ability for their age, but they are also worth over €23 million. Also, Sporting have Martim Ribeiro (78), André Machado (76) and Gonçalo Gaspar, and Benfica have Irishman Sheikhan Aljabir (75).

The full list of 375

Finally, here is the FM Blog’s full list, with all 375 youngsters sorted by potential. The 12 Portuguese players are highlighted in pink. So you can scroll inside the table to see every name.

What about Max Dowman?

Interestingly, the FM Blog gives Arsenal’s Max Dowman an honorary first place on the list. After all, he is in the FM27 database, but a licensing file removes the affected Arsenal youngsters when the game creates your career. So to get him, follow the Arsenal step in the real names fix, load the English players and start a new career. We explain it all in our article on Max Dowman in FM27.

Our take

These lists are worth it for the scouting work they save you, but they do not replace your scouts. Values and potential change from save to save, so always check in your own game before making an offer. Still, seeing three Portuguese players among the 20 picks, and FC Porto so present on the big list, says a lot about youth development in Portugal. If you want to go further, also check our best young Portuguese players in FM27 and our FM27 bargains.

Sources

• 20 Hidden Wonderkids to Scout on a Budget in FM27 (FM Blog)
• FM27 Hidden Wonderkids: 375 Players to Scout (FM Blog)