FM Shadow Scout
A free FM27 scouting tool that tells you who to look at, never how good they are. You still do the scouting in the game.
How it works
- Pick your saveOpen the app and choose your FM27 save. It reads it on your PC. Nothing is uploaded.
- Say what you needA striker who is ready now, a wonderkid, a loan, a free transfer. Add your budget and any limits.
- Scout them in FMYou get names, roles and reasons, not numbers. Send your scouts and make the call yourself.
New to scouting in FM27? Read our FM27 scouting guide first.
What it does
Ready now, future stars, bargains, free transfers, loans and players improving fastest in your save.
Compares every player with your own squad, role by role, so it knows what would be an upgrade for you.
Age, fee, wage, contract, nationality, UK work permits and home-grown status.
Works with both men's and women's football in the same save.
Tick the names you like, compare two side by side and export your shortlist straight into FM.
Save in FM and it picks up the new file, so transfers and contracts stay current.
What it will never show you
Shadow Scout uses the hidden numbers to find good players, then keeps them hidden. Finding out how good someone really is stays your job, and that is the fun bit.
New in version 1.3.0
Released 31 October 2026.
- Opens in its own app window, no more browser window
- Opening it again brings your Shadow Scout window to the front
- Links to our website open in your normal browser
Questions
Is FM Shadow Scout really free?
Yes. No account, no adverts and nothing locked behind a paywall. If it helps your save, you can buy us a coffee, but you never have to.
Is it cheating?
We do not think so. It never shows attributes or ability, only names worth a look and why. It is like asking a good scout for a shortlist. You still have to scout them, and you can still get it wrong.
Does it upload or change my save?
No. It reads your save on your own PC and never changes it. Your save never leaves your computer.
Windows says it does not recognise the app
That is normal for small apps that are not code-signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway.
How do I get my shortlist into FM?
Add players to your shortlist in Shadow Scout, then click Export to FM. It saves the list into FM's shortlists folder. In FM, open your shortlist and import Shadow_Scout, and the players appear ready to scout.
How do I update it?
Shadow Scout checks this site when it opens and tells you when a new version is out. Download the new Setup and run it. There is no need to uninstall the old one first.
Does it work on Mac?
Not yet. It is Windows only for now. Join the Discord to hear if that changes.
Something is not working
Tell us in the Discord, with your FM version and what you clicked.
Ready to scout?
Free for Windows 10 and 11. Works with FM27 saves.