FC 26 is off to a busy start, and the transfer market is already moving fast. Certain cards are climbing fast, while SBCs and Evolutions are adding even more layers to squad-building decisions. Let’s break down what’s going on with prices, live cards, and the first wave of early SBC content.
SBC Showdowns in FC 26
Sunday’s content delivered the first big talking point with showdown SBCs. Yuri Berchiche and Nicolas Pépé set the stage for early decisions. Berchiche requires just an 80- and 81-rated squad, costing around 10K coins. A solid but unspectacular left-back, he becomes much more interesting if Athletic Club win their real-world fixture, as that would grant him an overall upgrade and another Role+ boost.
The spotlight, however, is on Pépé. With 89 pace, 84 dribbling, and four-star skills, his card is already strong, but his versatility across striker, right wing, and right mid makes him even more appealing. At roughly 17K coins for three cheap squads (80, 81, and 82 rated), it’s one of the best-value SBCs this early. If his team wins, he’ll receive both a +1 overall and another Role+, giving him rare flexibility for this stage of the game.
The First Goalkeeper Evolution
EA also introduced the debut goalkeeper Evolution. Unlike the 30K training camp Evo, this one is free and adds +2 positioning up to 84. While it doesn’t increase overall ratings, it opens possibilities for niche builds. André Onana and Nick Pope are popular choices, while some players are experimenting with the towering 6’11″ Gadelha from the Eredivisie as a hilarious but effective upgrade.
Market effects followed quickly. Jordan Pickford fell from 6,500 to around 5,200 coins as players shifted to evolved keepers instead of buying him outright. It’s proof that Evolutions can ripple across the market, lowering demand for certain mid-tier options while boosting interest in bronze or silver picks with unique traits.
Early Market Movers and Rising Prices
The biggest story right now is the rise of certain cards. Désiré Doué has doubled in value, jumping from 30K to over 60K as players realized her dribbling and stature fit perfectly with this year’s gameplay emphasis on left-stick dribbling. She’s holding her inflated price, which suggests more than a temporary pump.
Other women’s cards are seeing similar moves. Deina Castellanos, with five-star skills and 91 dribbling, spiked from 24K to 38K. Mallory Swanson climbed as well, partly due to links. Kadidiatou Diani surged from 120K to 165K, and Grace Geyoro followed in her slipstream. Even cheaper options like Guro Reiten and Tabitha Chawinga look like budget beasts, offering strong stats at 14K and 5K coins respectively.
The takeaway is clear: short, agile players with high dribbling are proving extremely effective, and the market is reacting fast.
Team of the Week 2 and Market Outlook
Beyond SBCs and Evolutions, the next factor is Team of the Week 2. Investments are already shifting toward players like Éder Militão, who could feature. His gold card is up to 71K amid speculation, while Christian Pulisic has risen from 19K to 22K, and Ferran Torres doubled after scoring two goals. Traders are moving quickly, aiming to sell in the hype before Wednesday’s release.
Meanwhile, middle-tier cards (15K–50K range) are the biggest winners from squad battle rewards. Players like Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Rafael Leão have all climbed, while top-tier names like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. remain flatter for now. It’s a natural progression as players build squads and slowly work toward elite options.
With upgrade packs expected to drop soon, Monday could bring the first wave of repeatable SBC grinds. That would create fresh demand for fodder, add volatility, and give traders another angle to play with.
