After 17 Years in Career Mode, Here’s What It Truly Needs

        I’ve been playing Career Mode for about 17 years. I’ve seen it grow, change, and sometimes stay the same when it really shouldn’t have. I’ve hesitated for a long time before writing this, but I genuinely care about this mode. I’m sharing these suggestions because I truly hope they can help make Career Mode deeper and more realistic in the future.

First, Youth Academy Development
Right now, youth players don’t really develop properly unless I promote them to the first team and give them game time. If I leave them in the academy, their growth is either extremely slow or almost nonexistent. That doesn’t feel right. There should be a separate development system designed specifically for academy players, instead of relying on the same structure that has been in place for years without meaningful change.

Second, PlayStyle Progression
Players cannot earn new PlayStyles through development. Even when a player reaches 85 overall or higher, he stays limited to his original PlayStyles. Existing PlayStyles also never evolve into gold versions. That makes long-term growth feel static. Development should feel rewarding and visible, especially when a player becomes world-class.

Third, The Loan System for Young Players
When sending young players out on loan, there are no real conditions or control options. There should be clear terms — for example, ensuring the player will be a regular starter to support his development. It would also help to track his performances, morale, and progress more clearly while he’s away. In real football, big clubs carefully manage loan spells to develop young talent. Career Mode should reflect that level of detail instead of keeping the same basic system for years.

Fourth, Contract Negotiations
The contract negotiation system feels too simple. Many negotiations end quickly with a rejection, and even when an agreement is reached, the deal is often rated as “poor” — even if it was the only realistic outcome. Negotiations should feel more flexible and gradual, with more room for adjustment and compromise. The current system feels outdated and hasn’t meaningfully evolved.

Fifth, Player Swap Deals
Swap deals are very limited. It would make sense to allow exchanges involving multiple players in one deal, such as one player for two or more. Modern transfers can be complex, but the current system feels repetitive and restricted. It needs more depth to reflect real-world negotiations.

Sixth, Training and Customization
It would be helpful to have automatic training options to improve overall fitness, whether for the full squad or for specific players. There should also be focused training plans to improve physical strength in particular. More importantly, the entire training and development system should allow more customization, giving managers better control over how players grow. Right now, it feels too limited and repetitive.

Career Mode has always had huge potential. With more depth and attention to these systems, it could become far more immersive and rewarding for long-term players like myself. I hope these suggestions are taken into consideration.