Nine famous players you might not know are still in Football Manager 27
Football Manager 27 is free to play right now in a Launch Preview until November 3, so fans everywhere are already starting their first saves. Whether you want to manage a top team to learn the new features or dive into a lower league challenge, there are tons of players ready for you to sign.
While you’re planning which wonderkids to pick in your first real transfer window (we’ve got some recommendations below!), don’t forget there are also some cult heroes from the Football Manager series still in the game. Depending on where and at what level you’re managing, these players could be great additions.
Here are nine of them:
– David Silva, a Manchester City legend, came out of retirement in October to join Hong Kong’s Sha Tin on a short deal. At 40, he’s not available immediately, but if you can sign him in January, he could be a smart pick. He’s not fast, but his dribbling (17), passing (17), technique (18), vision (18), and composure (18) are top-notch, making him perfect for a deep playmaker role.
– Radamel Falcao is now a free agent after leaving Colombia’s Millonarios. At 40, his stats are impressive: 17 finishing, 18 composure, 15 heading, and decent speed and strength for his age. He’s still a strong striker option.
– Keisuke Honda, the Japanese midfield star, is still playing professionally at 39. He took a break to coach Cambodia but came back to play in Singapore’s FC Jurong. His work rate is low, but he has good technical skills like 17 technique and 15 passing, plus 16 for set pieces.
– Brazil’s Hulk, 40 years old, is still scoring goals for Fluminense. He’s strong and fast enough to be a physical threat, with great stats for long shots (17), free kicks (18), flair (17), and finishing (15). If used right, he could be a valuable signing in top leagues.
– Jamie Cureton made history by scoring in all of England’s top 10 divisions. At 50, he’s still in the Football Manager database with great fitness (18) and decent acceleration and finishing. He’s a solid pick for lower league teams.
– Nene, once a star at Paris Saint-Germain, now plays for Botafogo in Brazil. He’s great at penalties (19), with strong passing and technique (16 each), so he’s reliable when the pressure’s on.
– Edinson Cavani, who played for PSG and Manchester United, moved to Boca Juniors in 2023. He’s a free agent now but hasn’t retired. Cavani is still a top finisher with good heading (18), leadership (18), and decent physical stats for his age, though he’s slower now.
– Jari Litmanen, a former Champions League winner, retired in 2011 but came back to play in Estonia with JK Tallinna Kalev alongside his sons. At 55, he has amazing leadership (19) and solid technical skills, making him great for a single season if you can get him.
– Lee Trundle, 49, plays for Welsh side Cwmbran Town. His physical stats aren’t great, but he still has flair (17), technique (14), first touch (13), and is a reliable penalty taker (17).
Football Manager 27 is available to pre-order for Xbox and PC. The full price is £49.99, but you can get 16% off on Fanatical and an extra 5% off with our exclusive code SPORTBIBLE5, bringing the price down to £39.89. Anyone who pre-orders can jump in right after the free preview ends on November 3, 2026, before the full release on November 9.
You can use the code at checkout here. Enjoy managing!