I logged into Ultimate Team on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, and the first thing I did was open the new Team of the Week screen. FC 27 TOTW 5 had arrived, and I immediately scanned the 23 In-Form Player Items for the cards that could reshape my squad. The headline names are Alessia Russo and Patri Guijarro, both 89 OVR, and from the moment I saw their attributes I knew this was a week for managers who value technical quality, link-up play and squad-building flexibility. The squad runs from 80 OVR to 89 OVR, and it includes players from men's and women's football across several leagues and clubs. Is that range a weakness or a strength? For me, it is a strength, because it gives every budget a realistic target.
The Headline Duo: Two 89s, Two Different Problems
Alessia Russo is the card I tested first. Her 89-rated ST item at Arsenal offers 86 Pace, 89 Shooting, 75 Passing, 87 Dribbling, 40 Defending and 80 Physical. I like that she is not just a pace merchant. Her shooting and close control make her feel like a complete centre-forward, and the 80 Physical helps her hold off defenders when I play her as a lone striker. Is she the best striker in the game? No, but she is one of the most balanced 89-rated forwards I have used in FC 27 so far.
Patri Guijarro is the other 89, and she might be the more interesting card. Her CM item at FC Barcelona has 80 Pace, 84 Shooting, 84 Passing, 89 Dribbling, 85 Defending and 89 Physical. That is a rare profile: a midfielder who can dribble out of pressure, pass through lines, defend in transition and win physical duels. I played her as a box-to-box CM in a 4-3-3 and she covered more ground than any other midfielder in my club. What more do I want from a central midfielder? Honestly, not much.
The Full Squad at a Glance
| Player | Rating | Position | Club | Key attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alessia Russo | 89 | ST | Arsenal | 86 Pace, 89 Shooting, 87 Dribbling |
| Patri Guijarro | 89 | CM | FC Barcelona | 84 Passing, 89 Dribbling, 85 Defending, 89 Physical |
| Elliot Anderson | 85 | CDM | Manchester City | 85 Passing, 83 Dribbling, 82 Defending |
| Cristian Romero | 84 | CB | Atlético de Madrid | 85 Defending, 84 Physical |
| Isco | 84 | CAM | Real Betis | 86 Passing, 87 Dribbling |
| Florian Thauvin | 84 | RW | RC Lens | 84 Shooting, 86 Passing, 85 Dribbling |
| Ollie Watkins | 84 | ST | Al Hilal | 82 Pace, 84 Shooting, 80 Dribbling |
| Lineth Beerensteyn | 84 | ST | Real Madrid | 91 Pace, 84 Shooting, 87 Dribbling |
| Tijjani Noslin | 82 | ST | SS Lazio | 82 OVR |
| Christopher Nkunku | 82 | CAM | RB Leipzig | 80 Pace, 85 Shooting, 84 Dribbling |
| Melissa Kössler | 81 | ST | Denver Summit FC | 81 OVR |
| Jordan Henderson | 80 | CM | Chelsea | 82 Passing, 80 Defending, 78 Physical |
| Sidiki Chérif | 80 | ST | Coventry City | 80 OVR |
| Nicolò Cambiaghi | 80 | CAM | Bologna | 80 OVR |
| Bryan Reynolds | 80 | RB | Rennes | 80 Pace, 80 Dribbling, 78 Defending |
| Marco Rente | 80 | CB | FC Groningen | 84 Pace, 80 Defending, 83 Physical |
| Samuel Dahl | 80 | LB | SL Benfica | 86 Pace, 82 Dribbling, 80 Physical |
| André Henrique | 80 | ST | Göztepe | 80 OVR |
| Carlo Holse | 80 | RW | St. Louis CITY SC | 80 OVR |
| Adriel Ba Loua | 80 | RW | Gwangju FC | 80 OVR |
| Jaminton Campaz | 80 | LW | Rosario Central | 80 OVR |
| Pierce Charles | 80 | GK | QPR | 82 Diving, 81 Handling, 83 Kicking |
| Frank Acheampong | 80 | ST | Dalian Yingbo | 80 OVR |
Attackers: Pace, Finishing and a Few Surprises
Lineth Beerensteyn is the card that surprised me most. Her 84-rated ST item at Real Madrid has 91 Pace, 84 Shooting and 87 Dribbling, which gives her the highest pace rating among the 84-rated players in TOTW 5. I used her as a super-sub in the 70th minute, and her acceleration changed the game immediately. If I want to stretch a tired defence, she is my first choice from this squad.
Ollie Watkins offers a more physical alternative. His 84-rated ST card at Al Hilal has 82 Pace, 84 Shooting, 75 Passing, 80 Dribbling and 78 Physical. He is not as explosive as Beerensteyn, but he links play better and can hold the ball under pressure. Florian Thauvin is another 84, and his RW item has 80 Pace, 84 Shooting, 86 Passing and 85 Dribbling. I like him as an inside forward who can cross or shoot. Isco, also 84, is a CAM with 86 Passing and 87 Dribbling, and he is the kind of player I bring on when I need to unlock a low block.
Christopher Nkunku at 82 OVR is a useful cheaper option. His CAM card has 80 Pace, 85 Shooting, 81 Passing and 84 Dribbling. Tijjani Noslin at 82 ST and Melissa Kössler at 81 ST are also interesting for squad-building challenges or for players who want to try a different attacking profile without spending top coins.
Midfield: Guijarro, Anderson and Henderson
Patri Guijarro is the best midfielder in the squad, but Elliot Anderson is the one I would build around in a cheaper team. His 85-rated CDM item at Manchester City has 70 Pace, 72 Shooting, 85 Passing, 83 Dribbling, 82 Defending and 80 Physical. He is not fast, so I would not use him in a high line with no support, but as a holding midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 he is excellent. He wins the ball, keeps it simple and starts attacks with his passing.
Jordan Henderson at 80 OVR is a budget option with 82 Passing, 80 Defending and 78 Physical. I used him in a cheap SBC squad and he did exactly what I needed: he held his position and recycled possession. What else should an 80-rated CM do? Not much more.
Defence and Goalkeeper: Romero Leads the Way
Cristian Romero is the highest-rated defender in TOTW 5 at 84 OVR. His CB card at Atlético de Madrid has 72 Pace, 85 Defending and 84 Physical, and I found him especially strong in aerial duels and last-ditch tackles. He is not the fastest centre-back, so I would pair him with a quicker partner, but in a back three he is very reliable.
Bryan Reynolds at 80 OVR is a balanced RB with 80 Pace, 80 Dribbling, 78 Defending and 82 Physical. Marco Rente at 80 CB is interesting because of his 84 Pace, which is unusual for a lower-rated defender. Samuel Dahl at 80 LB has 86 Pace, 75 Passing, 82 Dribbling, 77 Defending and 80 Physical, and I liked him as an attacking full-back in a 3-5-2. In goal, Pierce Charles is the 80-rated QPR keeper with 82 Diving, 81 Handling, 83 Kicking, 80 Reflexes, 46 Speed and 79 Positioning. He is not a game-changer, but he is a solid option for an 80-rated squad.
Market, Packs and SBC Value
TOTW 5 went live on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, and the next TOTW is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 October 2026. That gives me about a week to open packs, trade and complete SBCs before the squad rotates. TOTW 5 Player Items can appear in eligible Ultimate Team packs while the squad is active. Tradeable TOTW 5 cards can also be bought and sold through the Transfer Market if my account has market access. I always check the pack description before opening, because a regular pack does not guarantee a TOTW player unless the description specifically says an eligible TOTW item is guaranteed.
Should I buy now or wait? For me, it depends on the card. High-rated cards like Russo and Guijarro will probably stay expensive while the squad is active, but lower-rated 80 OVR In-Forms can rise if a new Squad Building Challenge requires TOTW items. I usually wait until the weekend, when more packs are opened and supply increases. That is not a guarantee, but it is the pattern I have seen in FC 27 so far.
How TOTW 5 Compares to Recent Weeks
TOTW 4 was released on 7 October 2026 and was headlined by a 92-rated Alexia Putellas and a 91-rated Jude Bellingham, with Ewa Pajor and Gianluigi Donnarumma both at 90. TOTW 5 has a lower headline rating at 89, but it offers more depth in the 84-85 range. TOTW 2 had a 91-rated Michael Olise, and TOTW 3 was led by Temwa Chawinga at 90. So TOTW 5 is not the flashiest week, but it is a useful one. Eight players are rated 84 OVR or higher, and the rest are 80-82 OVR, which makes the squad relevant for both top-level teams and budget squads.
My Verdict
If I could only pick two cards from FC 27 TOTW 5, I would take Alessia Russo and Patri Guijarro. Russo gives me a complete striker, and Guijarro gives me a midfielder who can do everything. If I had a smaller budget, I would target Elliot Anderson, Lineth Beerensteyn and Marco Rente. Anderson is a reliable CDM, Beerensteyn is a devastating super-sub, and Rente is a cheap defender with surprising pace. The rest of the squad is useful for SBCs, and that is exactly what a 23-player TOTW should be. Is TOTW 5 the best squad of the FC 27 cycle? No, but it is one I will keep coming back to for the next week.
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