FM26 Winter Update: The Most Interesting Attribute Boosts

Our FM Series comes to a close this week, and we are finishing with something a little different.

Over the past few weeks, we have worked our way through the Barclays Women's Super League and the Barclays Women's Super League 2, highlighting the standout players across both tiers. It’s been a brilliant series, and we’ve saved one of the most interesting pieces for last.

In this piece, we are going to be looking at the players who have received attribute boosts in the latest FM26 database update. These are some of the players Sports Interactive have decided deserve higher ratings based on their performances and potential ability.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re managing in the top flight or building a squad in the second tier; these are the players you should be adding to your shortlist before everyone else catches on.

Olivia Smith

Olivia Smith was already one of the most exciting young forwards in the Barclays Women's Super League database, and thanks to the winter update, her profile has become even more compelling.

The Canadian international has netted five goals and contributed three assists in her debut season for Arsenal, showing why she is one of the best attackers in the league. Her 3.84 progressive runs per 90 indicate she is a player who consistently looks to drive play forward rather than wait for the game to come to her.

In the winter update, Smith’s Pace has jumped from 17 to 18. For a forward who relies on her ability to get in behind defensive lines and exploit space, this is a significant upgrade, and the data completely justifies it.

Combine her Pace with Acceleration of 17 and Agility of 17, and we now have one of the most physically dynamic wide forwards in the entire BWSL database. In other words, defenders who give her a yard will instantly regret it.

That’s not all, though. Smith’s Vision has also increased from 15 to 16, and Decisions from 14 to 15. These might be smaller, subtler changes, but they will have a big impact on her output in your saves.

With a maximum Potential Ability rating and these attributes already in place, Olivia Smith is one of the safest long-term investments in FM26.

Lily Crosthwaite

Lily Crosthwaite has been one of the standout players in the Barclays Women's Super League 2. Based on that, the Birmingham City forward has received a series of attribute boosts that really make a lot of sense when we look at the numbers behind her impressive form this season.

The most significant change is her Off The Ball rating, which has jumped from 12 to 14. This is perhaps unsurprising given how important her movement into dangerous areas has been for Birmingham in their title-winning campaign.

Moving on, her Stamina has increased from 11 to 13, and again, the data and in-game footage support this. Crosthwaite presses from the front, tracks runners back into her own half, and still has enough left to drive forward late in games. Her defensive duel win rate of 71.82% is nothing short of outstanding for an attacking player, and the Work Rate boost from 14 to 15 underscores her commitment to all phases of the game.

Furthermore, her Agility going from 12 to 13 is a smaller change, but it suits her profile very well. Throughout the 2025/26 season, the Birmingham forward averaged a dribble success rate of 69.70% from 4.90 dribbles per 90, the best of any forward in the division and a sign she can be trusted to lead your attack in FM26.

There is another change to Crosthwaite’s profile that we need to mention; FM previously rated her primarily as a Winger; the updated database now lists Wide Forward as her top role.

This really does show how she’s developed into a player who contributes goals and chances from a variety of positions. Her eight goals and five assists this season make it clear just how key she has been for Amy Merricks’ side.

At 22, with these upgrades now in place, Crosthwaite is an even more compelling FM26 signing than she was at the start of the season.

Chloe Sarwie

If you’re managing in either tier of English football in FM26 and haven’t looked at Chloe Sarwie recently, now is the time.

The young Chelsea defender has received one of the most significant technical overhauls in the winter update. Looking at her attributes, her Dribbling has jumped from 12 to 15, Passing has also been boosted by three points, and Technique has also been upgraded. For a player of her age, this is a pretty substantial upgrade, suggesting she has the potential to be a world-class player.

What makes the update particularly interesting is that there are other changes alongside the technical boosts. Her physical attributes have been nudged slightly downward, suggesting that FM now sees her less as a purely athletic defender and more as a technically gifted one, which may change how you want to use her in your system.

Additionally, her role suitability has changed slightly. Inside Wing-Back is now Sarwie’s top-rated role, rather than Full Back, which could influence her development in a different direction should you sign her in your save.

At 16 with a high Potential Ability and these technical attributes already in place, Sarwie is the kind of player worth bringing into your squad and being patient with. Chelsea clearly think highly of her, and after the winter update, FM does too.

Georgia Mullett

Georgia Mullett is only 19 years old, but the winter update has given her an eye-catching attribute profile, one that rivals any young forward in the BWSL database.

The headline attribute is her Finishing, which is now rated at 20 following the latest update. This is as high as it gets in FM26, placing Mullett alongside the very best finishers in the game. For a teenager just breaking through, this is a bold statement, but one that certainly reflects her enormous potential.

Her Natural Fitness has also received a significant boost, rising from 13 to 17, giving her an excellent physical foundation, and her Acceleration has jumped from 11 to 15, painting the picture of a forward who can get away from defenders and maintain her intensity throughout 90 minutes.

In FM terms, Mullet is a natural finisher with the physical tools to make the most of the chances that come her way. She’s the kind of player worth signing now and building your attack around for the next five seasons.

Notable Mentions

The winter update has plenty of smaller stories worth noting. For example, Lauren Hemp's Decisions have been quietly upgraded, which could be significant. At her level, this suggests she has become a more complete and clinical player over the course of the 2025/26 campaign.

Moreover, Freya Godfrey shows in her Work Rate and Teamwork boosts that she’s developing into a winger who is earning recognition for what she does without the ball as much as with it.

Wieke Kaptein has seen her Decisions rating also rise. The Chelsea starlet is still only 20 years old, and this change hints at a central midfielder who is developing into one of the best young players in the league.

Overall, the winter update tells a broader story about where the top two tiers of English football are heading. The players are constantly improving, and FM is keeping up. As a result, there has never been a better time to be building a squad across both tiers.