The Youth Academy in Career Mode lets you scout and sign young talent worldwide. You can develop these players in your club's academy until they're 16 and either promote them to the senior team or release them. This feature benefits lower league clubs that lack the financial resources to sign expensive players. There are seven player types in the Youth Academy: Goalkeeper, Winger, Physically Strong, Playmaker, Defensive Minded, Attacker, and Technically Gifted. "Any" returns all types. Each type has unique growth patterns and positional tendencies:

1. Goalkeeper

Scouts only return goalkeepers, regardless of their judgement and experience. Youth Goalkeeper natural growth is random. However, one thing that is common is that youth academy goalkeepers struggle with GK positioning.

You may need to pump your development plans in this area to get the best growth or else your Youth Academy Goalkeeper will naturally struggle for growth in this area throughout.

2. Physically Strong

Physically Strong players usually start with good physical attributes and aggression and will see the best growth in this area throughout their career. Amid scouting, findings are usually high in strength, sprint speed, acceleration, jumping, stamina and aggression but often low on agility and balance as they are mostly tall.

Examples are players like Erling Haaland or Kyle Walker. When scouting “Physically Strong”, the following are the likeliest positions you mostly find: CB, LB, RB, CDM, CF, and ST.

3. Defensive Minded

Contrary to the name, don't expect Center Backs in this Player Type. These players start with balanced attributes and grow slowly, with a focus on defensive skills. Defensive Minded players are usually very tall, you will most likely find full backs standing at 193cm (6’4″), Central Defensive Midfielders at 195cm (6’5″) et cetera. At peak, all their attributes will mostly be at similar values.

For example, N’Golo Kante and Leon Goretzka in real life. When scouting “Defensive Minded”, the following are the likeliest positions you mostly find: LB, RB, CDM, and CM.

4. Winger

Fast, agile players with good dribbling and crossing. Sometimes find Strikers or Center Forwards in this Player Type. They often have weak strength, stamina, and heading but excel in pace and dribbling. Their average height is 167cm (5’6″) with a body weight of 65kg.

For example, Neymar and Raheem Sterling in real life. When scouting “Winger”, the following are the likeliest positions you mostly find: LM, RM, LW, RW, CF, and ST.

5. Technically Gifted

Players with good ball control, passing, and dribbling. They start with decent pace, agility, and balance but low stamina and strength. They easily improve stamina but struggle to improve strength throughout their career.

Technically gifted players are usually short, it is not common to find them over the height of 177cm (5’10”). This type of player plays like Isco at Real Betis. When scouting “Technically Gifted”, the following are the likeliest positions you mostly find: CDM, CM, CAM, LM, RM, CF and ST.

6. Playmaker

Controllers of the team's flow, often short with good technical and mental attributes but low physical attributes, except agility, balance, and stamina. Full backs found in this Player Type tend to have low defensive attributes but with great creator attributes and boosted physical attributes, similar to how Dani Alves and Marcelo used to play.

Other examples of players you will find in this Player Type are similar to İlkay Gündoğan, Marco Verratti and Luka Modrić. When scouting “Playmaker”, the following are the likeliest positions you mostly find: LB, RB, CM, CAM, CDM, and CF.

7. Attacker

Contrary to expectations, you won't find Strikers here. Upon scouting, an attacker usually spawns with pace in the 60s to low 70s yet with poor agility, balance, jumping, stamina, strength and defending attributes. This however, changes rapidly as they tend to maximize their pace within the next two to three years while everything else grows at a slower pace.

At peak, they have strong attacking attributes, with long shots and finishing growing into the 90s and physical attributes mostly in the 80s and 70s. Best suited for RW/LW and ST roles. Examples of players found in this Player Type include Rafael Leão and Kingsley Coman. When scouting “Attacker”, the following are the likeliest positions you mostly find: CAM, LM, RM, LW and RW. Understanding each Player Type's unique growth patterns helps you make informed decisions about player positioning and development. Analyzing these benefits ensures players are utilized to their fullest potential.