There are many who aren’t happy with Football Manager 26. So much in fact that they refuse to move on from FM24. And you know what, fair enough. No matter how much I enjoy the game, it’s hard to shake the fact that it’s unfinished… especially with major features still on the way. That combined with its terrible start with bugs, and it’s no surprise that people are sticking with the game they know. 

So if you are sticking with FM24, there’s good news, it is possible to start from the 2025/26 season with updated teams, players etc. Let’s take you through the guide on how to make FM24 as close to a good version of FM26 as possible. 

Turn FM24 into Football Manager 26

Thanks to this legend for his guide on how to do all of this. He is a lifesaver for half the fanbase. However, here is a written guide to the process, step-by-step on how to transform FM24 into something that has the UI we love, with all the updates you need. 

Step 1 – Move FM24 into the 2025/26 season

The first thing you need is a custom database that shifts the game’s start date forward to the 2025/26 season, while keeping league structures and historical outcomes intact.

Head to FM Scout’s 2025/26 season pack here:
https://www.fmscout.com/i-25-26-real-fixture-results.html

On the download page you’ll see two options. You only want:

• 2025–26 Season + Fixture

Download that file, extract it, and you’ll find:

• A folder labelled Files for FMScout Update
• A .LNC file called real_fixture_result_comp_name.lnc

Now do the following:

• Copy everything inside the “Files for FMScout Update” folder to:
  Documents – Sports Interactive – Football Manager 2024 – editor data
• Copy the real_fixture_result_comp_name.lnc file to:
  Steam – steamapps – common – Football Manager 2024 – data – database – db – 2430 – lnc

This is what tells FM24 to boot directly into the 2025/26 season with correct competitions and results.

Step 2: Update transfers, squads, and player development

Next, you’ll want the actual football world to make sense. That means transfers, contracts, agents, and player development all reflecting the modern game.

Download the FM24 transfer update by TheNotoriousPr0 from FM Scout here. Once downloaded, extract only the following three files:

• FM24 Agents (TheNotoriousPr0).fmf
• FM24 CA-PA Changes (TheNotoriousPr0).fmf
• FM24 Other Changes (TheNotoriousPr0).fmf

Place all three files into: Documents – Sports Interactive – Football Manager 2024 – editor data.

This update handles the bulk of real-world transfers and also tweaks player ability and potential so squads don’t feel wildly out of date.

Step 3: Clean up contracts and squad data

To avoid broken contracts, weird expiry dates, or players randomly retiring early, you’ll also want the “no date changes” update from SortitoutS. Download it here.

Select the FM24 version. Inside the download you’ll find two files:

• sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update – Myles Lewis-Skelly.fmf
• sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update – No Date Changes Contracts.fmf

Copy both into your editor data folder, same as before.

At this point, FM24 will have:

• A 2025/26 start date
• Modern squads and transfers
• Updated player development
• Stable contracts that don’t implode six months into your save

Important caveat

Because FM24 was built to start in 2023/24, there are some unavoidable oddities when you jump straight to 2025/26.

What happens by default?

• Player career histories skip 2023/24 and 2024/25 entirely
• Team histories are correct (league winners, relegations, etc still show properly)

For most people, this is barely noticeable once you’re a season or two into a save.

If that bothers you…

There is an optional workaround – but it comes with a trade-off.

You can install a player history add-on that fills in real-world stats, but shifts them back two years. In other words, the numbers are right, the dates are wrong.

If you’re more interested in realism than perfect chronology, this can be worth it. You can download the optional player history file here. 

From the download, extract “onlysortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update – Player History.fmf” and place it into your editor data folder. Completely optional, and very much personal preference.

Starting your save 

When you launch a new career:

• Select Original Database (not Real World)
• Make sure all downloaded database files are ticked
• Double-check your start date shows 2025/26

Miss this step and the whole setup won’t work properly.

Optional extras to fully modernise FM24

If you want FM24 to look and feel closer to a modern Football Manager, these additions make a huge difference:

• Real names fix
  Match engine & training overhaul mods
  Facepacks (DF11)
  2025/26 2D kits
  Mini stadium pictures 
• Enhanced turf textures
  3D trees fix
  Trophies megapack
  Boot packs
  Logos
  3D match balls
  
  

What you get, and why you should do all of this

With everything installed, you’re left with a version of FM24 that:

• Starts in 2025/26
• Has up-to-date squads and transfers
• Reflects modern player development
• Looks significantly more current
• Keeps the UI and feel many players still prefer

It’s not perfect, and it never will be. But if you’ve bounced off FM26 and aren’t ready to move on, this is about as close as you’ll get to the best of both worlds. It means you can play in a game you love, but you’re not stuck forever in 2023/24. For a lot of players, that’ll be more than good enough.