There was a huge gap between the release of FM24 and FM26. The longest two years of my life, to be exact. While Football Manager 26 has been rated the worst of the mainline series, and has plenty of missing features, and the end of the day its still FM, and we’re all still pouring over stats like crazy.

Of course, in the time between FM24 and FM26 a lot of players have changed. Significantly. Now that the game has finally been released, we know for sure which players have improved the most over the last two years, and what underdogs we should be scooping up for our new teams.

This is all thanks to WeAreEFEM, who’ve worked out the biggest upgrades. So which players have officially had their fortunes transformed since we last got a Football Manager release? Let’s find out.

Estevao – Chelsea

The first player on this list won’t surprise anyone. Between FM24 and FM26, he’s gone from Palmeiras to Chelsea and become one of the hottest prospects in world football. This isn’t even one that Football Manager got wrong. His trajectory has just been phenomenal over the last two years, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s one of the most improved again in FM27.

Just look at the difference between Estevao in Football Manager 2024 and now. Estevao in FM24 looks like a player who might turn out pretty good. In Football Manager 2026, you know he’s going to be incredible. Those physical and technical attributes mean you could probably slot him in the first team at Chelsea straight away and he wouldn’t look out of place

Javi Rodriguez – Celta Vigo

Officially the most improved player on Football Manager in terms of how much his current ability has gone up. When FM24 was released, he was a B-team player who had only just made his first-team debut. Now he’s a regular for a mid-table La Liga side and has played in 9 of 11 games this season. He’s not quite at Estevao levels, but at 22, he’s showing serious development.

In Football Manager 2024, Javi Rodriguez was worth £37,000 pounds at the start of the game. That’s the value of an average League Two player. But in Football Manager 2026, if you want to buy him it’ll cost you a minimum of £50 million. The clearest indicator of the phenomenal improvement Javi has shown in the space of two years. Now only the biggest clubs will be able to afford him. But if you do, he’d be perfect for Football Manager 2026. Able to fill in at full back and centre back. The perfect utility defender.

Geovany Quenda – Sporting (joining Chelsea)

Another player you won’t be surprised to see here. And yes, another wonderkid signed by Chelsea. At this point, in 50 years, you’ll never be more than 10 metres away from someone signed by Chelsea. But seriously, he’s broken into the Sporting first team at just 18 years old. His potential is astronomical, and he might be following in the footsteps of another great wonderkid who came from Sporting.

Christantus Uche – Crystal Palace

When FM24 came out, Christantus Uche was playing for a second-division Spanish side. Now he’s just been signed by Crystal Palace, a team that’s recently won the FA Cup and is playing in Europe. With brilliant physical and mental attributes, he’s built for the Premier League and could easily develop into a player wanted by some of the biggest clubs. Developing under Oliver Glasner at Palace? You can’t go wrong.

For Geovany Quenda and Christantus Uche, the biggest piece of evidence of their astronomic rise, is that I can’t find their profiles as youngster in Football Manager 2024. In that game they would have probably been released in two years as academy fodder. Now they immediately improve most sides and are at the very least very solid squad players.

Victor Froholdt – Porto

Scandinavian? Tick. Plays for one of the big Portuguese clubs? Tick. Over six foot? Tick. If I’m managing a top-six Premier League side on FM26, this is the first player I’m signing. He absolutely screams overpowered wonderkid and looks like what would happen if you put Erling Haaland in midfield.

Mikel Jauregizar – Athletic Club

When FM24 was released, Mikel Jauregizar hadn’t even made his debut for Athletic Bilbao. Now he’s a key part of their squad and has even won the Copa del Rey in that time. Just waiting for the £60 million bid from Chelsea any second now.

Honourable mentions:

Alberto Costa – FC Porto
Alexey Batravkov – Lokomotiv Moscow
Nicola Savona – Nottingham Forest
Matias Fernandez-Pardo – Lille

Are there any players you’re shocked aren’t on this list? Who do you think has improved the most between Football Manager 2024 and Football Manager 2026? Let me know in the comments!