Yo, what's good FC fam? It's 2026 and EA Sports just dropped the heat on the first day of Winter Wildcards Team 3! They've blessed us with a brand new EA FC 25 Cole Palmer Winter Wildcards SBC, giving the Chelsea and England young gun a massive 90-rated card in Ultimate Team. This ain't just any upgrade, bros. This version of Palmer is straight-up cracked. Not only did his stats get a juicy boost, but he's now rocking that coveted FIVE-STAR SKILL MOVES and a solid four-star weak foot. Oh, and did we mention he comes with the elite Technical+ PlayStyle? Yeah, it's time to cook some defenders.

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This Chelsea superstar already had some fire special cards this cycle, like his POTM SBC and a Trailblazers item. But let's keep it 100, this new Winter Wildcards version eclipses all of them. Higher rating, five-star skills? That's a game-changer, my dudes. It's the perfect card to add some serious flair to your midfield or attack.

SBC Requirements Breakdown: The Grind is Real

Alright, squad. Time to talk business. Just like the recent Winter Wildcards Ze Roberto SBC, this Cole Palmer challenge requires you to submit multiple squads. No cap, it's a bit of a grind, but the reward is so worth it. Here's the full breakdown of what you need for each segment:

Segment Key Requirement Team Rating Min. Special Notes
1 Min. 1 Chelsea Player 84 Gotta show some Blues love!
2 Min. 1 England Player 85 Represent the Three Lions.
3 Min. 1 Premier League Player 86 PL tax is in effect.
4 - 87 Pure rating check, no special reqs.
5 Min. 1 Team of the Week (TOTW) Player 87 Only ONE TOTW needed, not bad!

The good news? You only need one Team of the Week player for the entire SBC. That makes unlocking this 90-rated monster way more manageable than some other high-end challenges. Phew!

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Market Watch: Budget-Friendly Players to Complete the SBC

Let's talk coins, fam. The estimated total cost for this SBC is around 210,000 coins. For a card this meta in 2026? That's actually pretty reasonable, ngl. But we're all about that value, so here are some of the cheapest and most efficient player picks to build your squads without breaking the bank. We've organized them by rating to make your life easier.

For the 84-85 Rated Squads:

  • 83 Rated Bargains: Koke, Viktor Tsygankov, Andreas Christensen, Olivier Giroud, Dusan Tadic, Lucas Hernandez, Ashley Sanchez.

  • 82 Rated Steals: Anderson Talisca, Enzo Fernandez.

  • 84 Rated Value Picks: Federico Dimarco, Kingsley Coman, Matthijs De Ligt, Amanda Ilestedt, Dani Olmo, Benjamin Pavard, Dusan Vlahovic (yes, he's listed twice, he's that good a deal!), Ben White, Amel Majri, Alex Remiro, Serhou Guirassy, Lara Prasnikar, Ruben Neves, Miguel Gutierez.

  • 85 Rated Essentials: Bruno Guimaraes, Kailen Sheridan, Millie Bright, Julian Brandt, Palhinha.

For the 86-87 Rated Squads (The Big Boi Segments):

  • 86 Rated Powerhouses: Jonathan Tah, Kim Little, Georgia Stanway.

  • 87 Rated Game-Changers: Declan Rice (a solid option), Bruno Fernandes, Victor Osimhen, Alexandra Popp, Mallory Swanson.

Pro Tip: Don't sleep on the high-rated women's players! Cards like Marie Katoto (88), Wendie Renard (88), Irene Paredes (88), Christiane Endler (88), and Beth Mead (88) often offer better value-for-rating compared to their male counterparts in the market. Use them to easily meet those high overall rating requirements.

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Is He Worth It? The Final Verdict

So, the million-coin question (or, well, 210k coin question): should you do this SBC? **Absolutely, 100%. ** Here's why this Cole Palmer card is a must-have in 2026:

  1. Meta-Breaking PlayStyles: Technical+ is arguably one of the best PlayStyles in the game for attackers and creative midfielders. It makes his dribbling silky smooth and unpredictable.

  2. Five-Star Skill Moves: This is the biggest W. Transforming from a 4-star skiller to a 5-star skiller opens up a whole new arsenal of moves. Elastico, Bolasie Flick, you name it. Defenders will be on skates.

  3. Premier League & England Links: Perfect for hybrid squads. He links to all the meta PL cards and the ever-growing pool of cracked English players.

  4. Future-Proof: At 90-rated with these attributes, this card will be viable for months to come, even as power creep continues.

TL;DR: If you run a Premier League squad, an England squad, or just love a nimble CAM/CF with outrageous skills, this SBC is a no-brainer. The requirements are fair, the cost is justified, and the card itself is pure filth. Get grinding, complete those segments, and add Cole 'Cold' Palmer to your starting XI. Your opponents are not ready for this glow-up. GG EZ.

What do you guys think? Are you going to complete the SBC? Let us know in the comments below! And don't forget to like and subscribe for more EA FC 25 guides. Peace out!