Best Free Agents in EAFC 25

Every manager knows that sinking feeling when the transfer window closes in two days, a key player has blown his ACL, and the board is breathing down your neck over expenses.

Getting a transfer done in FC 25 takes time, especially if you delegate things to your well-meaning but hopelessly slow assistant. But getting good players in the door is essential.

The challenge of going into a season with gaps in the squad can be entertaining, especially when you find creative position changes that work surprisingly well, but most of the time you want to go into the season with a squad you trust.

This list puts together a starting 11 made up entirely of free agents to show you the best of the rest in each position.

For convenience’s sake, it is tactically arranged in a 4-2-3-1 with one holding midfielder paired with a box-to-box one, two wingers, and a classic #10 behind a lone forward.

GK: Carlos Acevedo

77 OVR, 78 Potential

At 28 years old, Carlos Acevedo is a solid long-term pick for mid-table teams chasing stability, or newly-promoted sides looking to upgrade.

His low international reputation makes wages affordable, and should you sign a better player later down the line, Acevedo is an excellent second keeper.

RB: Jorge Sánchez

73 OVR, 75 Potential

The current free agent picks for right back are limited, with the best option being Jorge Sánchez, 26.

Despite his mediocre overall rating, his physical stats fall into the 80s, making him the perfect utility right back that can run all game long.

LB: Gerardo Arteaga

74 OVR, 77 Potential

This 25-year-old plays for Monterrey in real life. Arteaga has a balanced profile, with adequate defending, physical, and passing skills.

His Wingback role makes him suited for teams that play wide, and also allows him to fill in as a left-winger in a pinch.

CB: Romain Saïss

78 OVR, 78 Potential

Saïss is the ideal free agent for a team that needs a solid defender right here, right now.

Standing at 6’3″ (190cm) tall, he has good defensive and passing stats, combined with the Ball-Playing Defender and Stopper roles.

He’s 34 years old and has a pair of good seasons in him at best in FC 25, but that buys you plenty of time to work out a replacement for the future.

CB: Jesús Orozco Chiquete

72 OVR, 82 Potential

Standing diametrically opposite to Saïss, this is a player that might serve you all the way through the 15-season limit in Career Mode.

Orozco Chiquete starts with solid defensive stats held back by mediocre physical ones outside jumping. With the right training and generous time on the field, he can grow into a starting defender fit for any top 5 European league.

CDM: Erick Sanchéz

78 OVR, 83 Potential

This short king is one of the most balanced players in FC 25. Sanchéz excels as a deep-lying playmaker thanks to strong passing stats, complemented by a powerful long shot that makes bursts forwards dangerous.

He can fill in any midfield position without dropping below the 75 rating mark, and can do a job in any flank role if need be.

One of the advantages of Sánchez is his age: he has only just turned 25, so that is at least ten years of happy playing.

RM: Roberto Alvarado

77 OVR, 78 Potential

Alvarado is the perfect cut-inside winger. Fast, 4-star skill moves, a decent shot, but a solid cross too.

He is 25 years old and can play on both flanks, so long as you do not expect major defensive contributions. Alvarado does best when paired with an offensive right-back who can make overlapping runs.

CM: Luis Chávez

79 OVR, 79 Potential

Occasionally, a player comes along that can comfortably slot into any outfield position. Chávez is that guy.

28 years old, 5’10” (178cm), fast, great skill moves and ball control, near infinite stamina, solid defending, and a nasty shot.

This is the kind of guy you can happily play in central defense one day and as a winger the next without losing much. At 28, Chávez is a short to medium term option that can help any team plug holes in the squad.

CAM: Carlos Rodríguez

76 OVR, 77 Potential

The stereotypical #10 is a lazy genius who refuses to defend but solves the game in one play. Most managers have shied away from that due to the stricter tactics of modern football, and a player like Rodríguez is the result.

This is a 27-year-old versatile midfielder with unassuming shooting stats but good physical, passing, and defensive numbers. The Playmaker role gets Rodríguez to roam into space and unlock tight defenses.

LM: Akram Afif

78 OVR, 78 Potential

Afif failed to leave a mark in Europe, but he made an international impression during Qatar’s 2023 Asian Cup win, penning eight goals and three assists in seven matches.

An explosive winger, he is best employed staying wide and feeding the ball to a more fixed striker, but Afif can also fill that role himself.

He is nominally right-footed but has a 5-star weak foot in FC 25, so do not be afraid to hit that low cross with his left.

ST: Memphis Depay

82 OVR, 82 Potential

From Manchester United flop to Lyon cult hero, Memphis has had an eventful career. A mediocre three-year stint in Spain left him up for grabs, thanks to EA’s inability to secure a decent Brazilian league contract.

Depay is 30 years old, scores well on all offensive and physical stats, and comfortably fills in on the left wing, making him a good pick so long as you can afford his wages. These, unfortunately, are considerably high due to his reputation.