Youth in the football manager – guide

Terms

Prospects

At the end of the season your youth academy presents talents (level 0 = 3, level 5 = 8). Each one waits until matchday 5 of the new season for your decision, then he is gone.

Youth squad

Players you take on stay here, not in the squad: no salary, no matches. The places depend on the youth academy (levels 0-5: 2/3/4/6/8/10).

First team

From age 17 you can promote them. Only then is the player created with contract and salary; until 21 he counts as a youth player (+2 training points).

Good to know

• "Straight into the first team" skips the youth squad and uses no place there.
• A player you don't promote keeps his youth squad place. Releasing him frees it.
• The squad holds at most 32 players - this is checked on promotion.
• More places and more prospects come from expanding the youth academy in the stadium surroundings.
• Scouting: region (neighbouring countries from academy level 2, worldwide from 4), position focus, profile and budget decide which talents come. With a budget, scout reports also arrive during the season (every 6/4/3/2 matchdays), each with a 5-matchday deadline.
• Youth squad: talents get stronger every night (youth academy, focus, morale and a mentor help), and their potential level becomes certain over time. Watch out for homesickness, the wish for first-team football and the farewell at 19.
• Money: taking a talent costs a signing fee, every youth squad place a small fee per matchday, plus the scouting budget (all under Transfers). Other clubs sometimes offer 85-100% of the costs so far - you cannot make a profit. With Premium you can give talents names and looks.

Change history

• October 7, 2026

  Prospects develop more realistically: at 15 they reach at most 40 % of their potential, at 19 72 %, and the full potential only at 26.

• October 6, 2026

  New Youth menu: develop prospects in the youth squad, promote them to the first team from age 17 and steer scouting by region, position focus and budget.