Summary
SBCs require specific-rated squads so you can secure up packs and players.
The cheapest 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89-rated players will help you complete them.
Despite being world-class, the likes of Phil Foden, Robert Lewandowski and Alisson can all be picked up for under 20k.
Squad Building Challenges - commonly known as SBCs - are a huge part of EA Sports FC 25, with the possibility of high-rated and valuable players highly likely. Whether you are rewarded with packs or a specific player, they have played a huge part in EA's enormous gaming franchise ever since their arrival in FIFA 17.
However, the process of completing them can sometimes be tedious. By inserting specific-rated players into certain squads, it can feel like a chore instead of enjoyment, but it's worth the frustration when you are rewarded with one of the best players in EAFC 25. Thankfully for you, we have outlined the cheapest 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89-rated players, so you don't have to endlessly search.
These players are cheap because they either don't suit the style of the game – often due to their pace – or simply because the market in EAFC 25 has crashed. Very few gold cards hold any value now, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior lacking company in the expensive pile.
All of the following valuations have been taken from Futbin at the time of writing, and these are likely to fluctuate heavily daily and weekly.
Cheapest 84-rated Players
Player Position Club Price
Griedge Mbock CB Paris Saint-Germain (W) 2k
Cristian Romero CB Tottenham
Artem Dovbyk ST Roma
Lara Prašnikar ST Frankfurt (W)
Casemiro CDM Manchester United 2.1k
Kalidou Koulibaly CB Al-Hilal
Marcel Sabitzer CM Borussia Dortmund
Firstly, countless SBCS require 84-rated squads, which can be completed by inserting nine 84-rated players and two 83-rated stars. Whilst you may have several untradeable options in your club, you may need to delve into the transfer market to be able to complete the challenge; we have listed the seven cheapest, although there are several other options at the same price range.
With chemistry often needed to complete SBCs, the Premier League could be the place to look for cheap squads. Tottenham's Cristian Romero and Manchester United's Casemiro are both available for around 2k, and they both have links to players of the same nation. That's the story with most options. Choosing anyone with links to other players, such as Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer, makes the most sense.
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Cheapest 85-rated Players
|Player|Position|Club|Price|
|Andy Robertson|LB|Liverpool|4.9k|
|James Maddison|CAM|Tottenham|
|Lucy Bronze|RB|Chelsea (W)|
|Svenja Huth|RM|Wolfsburg (W)|
|Joao Palhinha|CDM|Bayern Munich|
|Millie Bright|CB|Chelsea (W)|
|Bruno Guimaraes|CDM|Newcastle|
|Vitinha|CM|Paris Saint-Germain|
|---|---|---|---|
There are a plethora of options available at your disposal in the 85-rated market. Women's Super League and Chelsea duo Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright will come in cheap throughout the year, with female defenders rarely used due to their height in Ultimate Team. They have a strong link to one another as well, which will massively help your SBC's chemistry. Although not on the list, the dynamic and dangerous duo of Alessia Russo and Rachel Daly will be cheap options throughout the year as well.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's Andy Robertson and Tottenham's James Maddison can both be picked up for under 5k. They will also link to Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, but you need to be wary that you don't get caught out in Premier League-specific price rises. Joao Palhinha swapped the Premier League and Fulham for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, but he remains just as cheap. Despite being one of the strongest players in EAFC 25, he doesn't fit the meta at all.
Cheapest 86-rated Players
|Player|Position|Club|Price|
|Lea Schüller|ST|Bayern Munich (W)|6.8k|
|Granit Xhaka|CDM|Bayer Leverkusen|6.9k|
|Joshua Kimmich|RB|Bayern Munich|
|Lauren James|RW|Chelsea (W)|
|Luka Modric|CM|Real Madrid|7k|
|Alejandro Grimaldo|LB|Bayer Leverkusen|
|Jonathan Tah|CB|Bayer Leverkusen|
|Trent Alexander-Arnold|RB|Liverpool|
|---|---|---|---|
Bayer Leverkusen completed an unprecedented unbeaten domestic double last season, winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal thanks to one of the best unbeaten runs of the 21st century. While they were unbeatable, their players can still be easily picked up. Granit Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan Tah, despite all being 86-rated, can be picked up for 7k or under.
Elsewhere, stars such as Luka Modric and Trent Alexander-Arnold, both of whom have countless high-rated players to link to, should be considered. Female stars such as Lauren James and Lea Schüller, who weren't quite good enough to be considered on our list of the highest-rated women in EAFC 25, will help you complete your SBCs easily.
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Cheapest 87-rated Players
|Player|Position|Club|Price|
|Ilkay Gundogan|CM|Manchester City|9.9k|
|Ewa Pajor|ST|Barcelona (W)|
|Yann Sommer|GK|Inter Milan|10k|
|Emiliano Martinez|GK|Aston Villa|
|Paolo Dybala|CAM|Roma|
|Bruno Fernandes|CAM|Manchester United|
|Declan Rice|CDM|Arsenal|
|Mallory Swanson|LM|Chicago Red Stars (W)|
|---|---|---|---|
Only the most important SBCs require 87-rated squads. It's often the case that most gamers don't have 87-rated stars lying around in the back of their clubs frequently, so they regularly need to take a trip into the market. However, once again, you are spoilt for choice.
Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice and Emiliano Martinez, three of the best Premier League players, can be picked up for 10k — and they will all provide 'soft' links to one another. Martinez could also link to his international teammate Paolo Dybala, who currently plays in Italy with Roma.
The picture is pretty clear here as you can go in any direction and angle. If you need a handful of female stars to complete the SBC, the likes of Mallory Swanson and Ewa Pajor, who play for Chicago Red Stars and Barcelona respectively, can be considered. They will also provide links to stars in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) or La Liga F.
Cheapest 88-rated Players
|Player|Position|Club|Price|
|Ruben Dias|CB|Manchester City|13.5k|
|Irene Paredes|CB|Barcelona (W)|13.8k|
|Guro Reiten|LM|Chelsea (W)|
|Gregor Kobel|GK|Borussia Dortmund|
|Robert Lewandowski|ST|Barcelona|14k|
|Jan Oblak|GK|Atletico Madrid|
|Bernardo Silva|CM|Manchester City|
|Phil Foden|RW|Manchester City|
|---|---|---|---|
When you reach the 88-rated market, you are very close to using some of the best strikers, finest centre-backs and most consistent central midfielders in the game. However, while you may think that means you need to worry about the cost of completing an 88-rated squad, you still don't need to. A plethora of players can be picked up for under 15k.
Manchester City won their fourth Premier League title in a row in 2024. While it looks unlikely they will continue that trend in 2025, they still have a squad full of impressive stars. Their trio of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias are all 88-rated and can all be picked up for around 14k. They will provide strong links to one another as well. Elsewhere, the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Jan Oblak will help you complete SBCs regularly.
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Cheapest 89-rated Players
|Player|Position|Club|Price|
|Ada Hegerberg|ST|Lyon (W)|19k|
|Gianluigi Donnarumma|GK|Paris Saint-Germain|19.2k|
|Lautaro Martinez|ST|Inter Milan|19.5k|
|Mapi Leon|CB|Barcelona (W)|
|Marc-Andre ter Stegen|GK|Barcelona|19.8k|
|Alisson|GK|Liverpool|20k|
|Thibaut Courtois|GK|Real Madrid|20.2k|
Sophia Smith ST Portland Thorns 20.5k
Finally, while the options for 89-rated stars are slightly smaller, there are still a handful of choices. We have listed the seven cheapest in EAFC 25 at the time of writing, some of whom play for the biggest clubs in the world, including Liverpool and Champions League winners Real Madrid.
The best goalkeepers in EAFC 25 are crucial, but they are not expensive. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, is the finest one in the game, but he can be picked up for 19.2k, whilst rivals Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Alisson and Thibaut Courtois are in a similar price range.
Goalkeepers obviously only pick up chemistry if they play in their natural position, so if you don't have room, there are other options. America's Sophia Smith and Spain's Mapi Leon, regarded as two of the best players in their position, are available for around 20k, whilst Ada Hegerberg – a former Ballon d'Or winner – is in the same boat.
Stats and values via Futbin (correct as of 17/12/24)