Ones to Watch: Frauen Bundesliga
Profiling the young stars to keep an eye on in FM26
The Cutback has partnered with Football Manager to deliver a series of articles that go deeper on the tactics and gameplay of the world’s leading football management simulation game ahead of Football Manager 26’s release.
This year, women’s football features in Football Manager for the very first time, so to get fans ready for a brand new experience, The Cutback has put together the ultimate insights on FM26. Find out about the secrets of building FM26, dive into the tactical details of all 12 WSL sides and hear about the next gen talent that will feature in the game.
Here, we’re highlighting some of the most exciting young talents in the Frauen Bundesliga. Football Manager is all about finding the next generation of stars who will power you to success in the game. We want to platform the young players fans may not already know about, so we’ve excluded some of the more established international players and instead focused on the emerging prospects you need to keep your eye on.
Alara Şehitler
National team: Germany
Age: 18
Position: Midfielder
Club: FC Bayern Munchen
Alara Şehitler is one of the standout names in Germany’s teenage generation, having already caught attention with both Bayern Munich and the national sides. Despite being just 18, she has shown maturity and personality in every stage of her career so far, whether in short appearances with the first team, or in domestic youth competitions, where she often competed three or four years above her age group. Her composure under pressure and ability to step up on bigger stages make her a player with the mentality required to succeed at the highest level.
At her best as an attacking midfielder but comfortable across all midfield positions, Alara offers a versatile and modern profile. She combines excellent vision and technique with the ability to break defensive lines through incisive passing or smart off the ball runs. Her high work rate and defensive discipline make her valuable in transition as well, though her finishing and composure in front of goal remain areas for development, as illustrated by some missed opportunity in some games last season, including Bayern’s match against Freiburg. With fierce competition for midfield places at Bayern, regular starting minutes may not come immediately, but training alongside top-class teammates provides the perfect environment to sharpen her tactical intelligence and decision-making. If nurtured correctly, she has the potential to evolve into a key figure for both Bayern and Germany’s senior side.
Cora Zicai
National team: Germany
Age: 20
Position: Winger
Club: VfL Wolfsburg
Coming through SC Freiburg’s academy, Cora Zicai made her debut at 16 in the 2022-2023 season, and steadily grew into an important attacking player for her team, finishing the 2024–25 campaign as the side leader in goal contributions. A summer move to Wolfsburg now reflects the confidence placed in her potential, as she looks to continue her development within one of Europe’s strongest environments.
Primarily operating across the forward line, Zicai stands out for her blend of dribbling, flair, and finishing, offering both creativity and efficiency in the final third. She thrives in 1on1 situations, often unlocking compact defences with skill and quick feet, while also showing a clinical edge in front of goal. Her versatility allows her to contribute from either flank, combining incisive runs with the vision and passing to set up teammates. At Wolfsburg, she will be challenged to refine her composure and decision-making in high-stake games, but the move provides the perfect stage to transform potential into consistency.
Momoko Tanikawa
National team: Japan
Age: 20
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club: FC Bayern Munchen
A technically gifted creator with a low centre of gravity and superb spatial awareness, Momoko Tanikawa has quickly adapted to the demands of European football. After emerging as one of Japan’s most exciting young prospects, she joined Bayern Munich in the 2024/2025 season, only collecting 237 minutes. This season however, she has already doubled that and has started to leave her mark with 2 goals in her first 6 league appearances.
Tanikawa’s profile reflects her blend of finesse and vision. With strong first touch, technique, and dribbling, she thrives in tight spaces, often operating between the lines as the link between midfield and attack. Her passing and flair attributes make her ideal for a possession-based system, while her off the ball movement and composure ensure she stays calm under pressure when play opens up around the box. She’s not a physical player, her strength and defensive work rate are still developing, but her ability to dictate tempo and unlock defences means she’s already viewed as one of the most technically polished U21 players in the game.
Naomi Luyet
National team: Switzerland
Age: 19
Position: Winger
Club: TSG Hoffenheim
A product of Swiss football now developing at Hoffenheim, Naomi Luyet arrives in Germany with a proven record in front of goal. Over her last two seasons in Switzerland she scored eight goals in each campaign, an impressive return for a wide player still in her teens. She’s yet to make her Bundesliga debut, having been sidelined by a long-term injury, but remains one of Hoffenheim’s most promising young players.
Luyet is a direct, technically sharp winger, blending pace and acceleration with precision in the final third. Her finishing and long shots underline a natural attacking instinct, she’s comfortable driving inside and taking responsibility around the box. Also contributing through composed link play thanks to her first touch, dribbling, and short passing. Beyond her attacking qualities, Luyet adds a degree of tactical awareness unusual for her age: her vision and crossing make her a creative outlet both wide and centrally. Physically, she’s well balanced, agile and resilient, with good stamina and strength, suggesting she can handle the intensity of senior football as her frame develops.
Delice Boboy
National team: Germany
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Club: RB Leipzig
Last season, Delice Boboy made her breakthrough in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, featuring in 17 matches (mainly off the bench) and contributing 4 goals and 2 assists. Alongside her club performances, she also gained valuable international experience with Germany’s youth setup, collecting multiple appearances for the U19 national team. Having shown her potential both domestically and internationally, she has now joined RB Leipzig, a move driven by the desire for more consistent playing time at a club ready to invest in her minutes on the pitch.
Blessed with explosive speed, Boboy thrives in transition, stretching defences with her pace, acceleration, off the ball movement, and dribbling. A scorer rather than a passer, she shows a natural instinct for goal, capable of finding space in dangerous areas and finishing with decent composure, as shown by her goal return in just 566 minutes last season. Though still refining her decision-making and ball-retention under pressure, she already combines raw physical attributes with a sharp attacking mindset.
Lotta Wrede
National team: Germany
Age: 17
Position: Winger
Club: Hamburger SV
Still only 17, Lotta Wrede has already made her senior breakthrough at Hamburger, scoring once in her first 6 league appearances this season and sitting currently on 299 minutes played. Deployed mainly as a left winger, she brings directness and energy every time she steps on the pitch, thriving in 1v1 situations and constantly looking to drive at defenders.
Wrede’s profile highlights her explosive acceleration and speed, the base of her game as an attacking wide player. Her dribbling and finishing attributes make her a threat cutting inside from the flank, while her developing off the ball movement and technique show why she’s already featuring in senior football consistently. Physically, she’s still maturing, her strength and stamina are not yet standout qualities, but her confidence and flair, make her one of the most exciting German teenagers. With regular senior exposure, her potential progression curve suggests a player capable of evolving into a dynamic winger at elite level.
Kassandra Potsi
National team: Germany
Age: 17
Position: Winger / Attacking midfielder
Club: SGS Essen
At just 17, Kassandra Potsi is already in her third Bundesliga season, a rare level of experience for a player her age. Last year she made 17 appearances (7 starts) and provided an assist, while this campaign has seen her continue to earn minutes, 147 so far, and responsibility within a young SGS Essen side.
Potsi reads as a versatile attacking midfielder with the mobility and discipline to adapt wide or centrally. Her first touch, acceleration and passing make her a natural link player between midfield and attack, comfortable receiving in tight pockets or driving into space. What sets her apart, though, is her defensive application for her role, strong positioning, tacklingand work rate suggest a player who contributes across phases rather than waiting for the ball to come to her. Physically, she still needs to grow, but her balance and decent pace already make her valuable in transitions.
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