EA FC 26 Squad Update (Jan 22): Major Career Mode Changes

A new EA FC 26 Squad Update arrived on January 22, 2026, bringing with it a number of squad changes and additions to the game.

This squad update introduces a new real faces, Career Mode wonderkids, ICONs, manager moves, transfers, and rating tweaks that keep everything current.

This update is now available across all platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Here is everything you need to know about the latest changes.

EA FC 26 Squad Update

Added Players with Real Faces

This squad update get seven players with real faces to the licensed rosters, adding more authenticity to leagues across Europe and South America.

Vicente Guaita (Parma – Serie A) returns with a polished real face and his dependable goalkeeper presence; overall rating 74, Guaita brings experienced shot-stopping to Parma’s back line.

Sofiane Boufal (Le Havre AC – Ligue 1) is added with his real likeness; versatile across the attacking third as a CAM/LM/ST/CM, Boufal’s 74 overall rating gives Le Havre a creative outlet who can unlock defences in multiple ways.

José Gómez Campaña (AD Ceuta FC – LaLiga 2) now appears with a real face and is listed as a defensive midfielder (CDM/CM) whose 72 overall rating reflects a steady, combative engine for lower-division midfields.

Marcel Sobottka (VfL Bochum 1848 – Bundesliga 2) receives a face scan and a 69 overall rating as a defensive midfielder option; Sobottka’s presence adds depth for Bochum’s push in Germany’s second tier.

Evelio Cardozo (Racing Club – Liga Profesional de Fútbol) is added with a real likeness as a young attacking midfielder (CAM/CM) carrying a 61 overall rating, a raw creative prospect for Argentine saves.

Melissa Lawley (Everton – Women’s Super League) joins the game with a real face and a 71 overall rating, bringing wing versatility (LM/RM/LW) to Everton’s attacking rotation.

Remy Siemsen (FC Rosengård – Women’s Rest of World) is added as a forward option (ST/RW) with a 69 overall rating and a real face that improves presentation for women’s club competitions.

Removed Players with Real Faces

Due to transfers to unlicensed leagues and retirement or other roster changes, the following players have been removed from the active squads.

• Kevin Kampl – RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
• Sebastian Polter – Eintracht Braunschweig (Bundesliga 2)
• Luís Hernández – Cádiz CF (LA LIGA 2)
• Terence Kongolo – NAC Breda (Eredivisie)
• Kurt Zouma – CFR Cluj (SuperLiga)
• Luis Muriel – Orlando City (Major League Soccer)
• Luis Advíncula – Boca Juniors (Liga Profesional)
• Leonardo Suárez – Estudiantes (Liga Profesional)
• David Timor – FC Goa (Indian Super League)
• Geyse – Manchester United (Women’s Super League)
• Anna Margraf – FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Frauen-Bundesliga)
• Melissa Kössler – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Frauen-Bundesliga)
• Karen Araya – FC Nantes (Première Ligue)
• Emilia Pelgander – FC Rosengård (Rest of World)

# Related

EA FC 26: New Boots are Coming in Future Title Updates

Added & Removed Real Managers

• José Luis Sánchez: added with a real face as manager of Madrid CFF (Liga F).
• Michael Carrick: added as Manchester United’s new coach with a generic face in this update; his legacy real face from earlier EA titles is expected to be added via a future Title Update.
• Álvaro Arbeloa: added as Real Madrid’s new coach with a generic face in this update; Arbeloa’s legacy real face is slated for a future Title Update.
• Xabi Alonso: removed his real face asset for Real Madrid in this squad update.

New Transfers

The January window has seen a flurry of activity, and these moves are now fully reflected in-game. Notable highlights include Conor Gallagher returning to London with Spurs and João Cancelo sealing a move back to FC Barcelona.

1. Steven Benda
   • Millwall FC ➜ Fulham FC
2. Facundo Buonanotte
   • Brighton ➜ Leeds United
3. Conor Gallagher
   • Atlético Madrid ➜ Tottenham Hotspur
4. Jhon Solís
   • Girona FC ➜ Birmingham City
5. Harry Clarke
   • Ipswich Town ➜ Charlton Athletic
6. James Bree
   • Charlton Athletic ➜ Southampton
7. Gavin Bazunu
   • Southampton ➜ Stoke City
8. Bali Mumba
   • Plymouth Argyle ➜ Huddersfield Town
9. Kaelan Casey
   • West Ham United ➜ Leyton Orient
10. Will Keane
    • Preston North End ➜ Reading FC
11. Damola Ajayi
    • Tottenham Hotspur ➜ Bromley
12. João Cancelo
    • Al Hilal ➜ FC Barcelona
13. Martín Satriano
    • Olympique Lyonnais ➜ Getafe CF
14. Claudio Echeverri
    • Bayer 04 Leverkusen ➜ Girona FC
15. Edgar
    • Hajduk Split ➜ FC Andorra
16. Miguel de la Fuente
    • CD Leganés ➜ UD Almería
17. Iker Bravo
    • Udinese ➜ UD Las Palmas
18. Donyell Malen
    • Aston Villa ➜ AS Roma
19. Giacomo Raspadori
    • Atlético Madrid ➜ Atalanta
20. Jack Harrison
    • Leeds United ➜ Fiorentina
21. Matteo Palma
    • Udinese ➜ Sampdoria
22. Leonidas Stergiou
    • VfB Stuttgart ➜ Heidenheim
23. Elias Saad
    • FC Augsburg ➜ Hannover 96
24. Wout Faes
    • Leicester City ➜ AS Monaco FC
25. Ibrahima Sissoko
    • VfL Bochum ➜ FC Nantes
26. Lucas Gourna-Douath
    • RB Salzburg ➜ Le Havre AC
27. Marshall Munetsi
    • Wolves ➜ Paris FC
28. Cenk Tosun
    • Fenerbahçe ➜ Kasimpasa
29. Kerem Demirbay
    • Eyüpspor ➜ Kasimpasa
30. Rodrigo Becão
    • Fenerbahçe ➜ Kasimpasa
31. Andreas Skov Olsen
    • VfL Wolfsburg ➜ Rangers FC
32. Teddy Teuma
    • Stade de Reims ➜ Standard Liège
33. Hannes Delcroix
    • Burnley ➜ FC Lugano
34. Colin Kleine-Bekel
    • VfL Bochum 1848 ➜ FC St. Gallen 1879
35. Kellyn Acosta
    • Chicago Fire ➜ Pogoń Szczecin
36. Bartłomiej Drągowski
    • Panathinaikos ➜ Widzew Łódź
37. James McClean
    • Wrexham ➜ Derry City
38. Juan Ramírez
    • Lanús ➜ Boca Juniors
39. Nicolás Orsini
    • Platense ➜ Boca Juniors
40. Julián López
    • Tigre ➜ Defensa y Justicia
41. Mauricio Martínez
    • Unión ➜ Rosario Central
42. Lucas Robertone
    • UD Almería ➜ Vélez Sarsfield

Added Career Mode Wonderkids

A new group of high-potential youngsters has been seeded into the game, ready for your scouts to discover.

1. Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax)
   • Position: RM | Age: 16
   • Rating/Potential: 61 / 86
   • Value/Wage: €1M / €2K
2. Suleman Sani (RB Leipzig)
   • Position: CAM | Age: 18
   • Rating/Potential: 68 / 83
   • Value/Wage: €2.8M / €15K
3. Marvin Dills (Eintracht Frankfurt)
   • Position: CAM | Age: 18
   • Rating/Potential: 60 / 82
   • Value/Wage: €775K / €3K
4. Matteo Cocchi (Inter)
   • Position: LB | Age: 18
   • Rating/Potential: 67 / 82
   • Value/Wage: €2.3M / €7K
5. Ali Demirbilek (Antalyaspor)
   • Position: LW | Age: 16
   • Rating/Potential: 56 / 81
   • Value/Wage: €450K / €1K
6. Maximilian Ibrahimović (Ajax)
   • Position: RM | Age: 18
   • Rating/Potential: 63 / 81
   • Value/Wage: €1.2M / €7K
7. Fabian Merién (PSV)
   • Position: CB | Age: 16
   • Rating/Potential: 61 / 81
   • Value/Wage: €850K / €2K
8. Jocelin Ta Bi (Sunderland)
   • Position: CAM | Age: 20
   • Rating/Potential: 68 / 80
   • Value/Wage: €2.9M / €18K
9. Noé Carrillo (RC Deportivo)
   • Position: CAM | Age: 18
   • Rating/Potential: 60 / 80
   • Value/Wage: €675K / €850
10. Alain Taho (Inter)
    • Position: GK | Age: 18
    • Rating/Potential: 65 / 80
    • Value/Wage: €1.4M / €2K

New Career Mode ICONs

The ICON pool for Player Career and Manager Career grows with five high-profile additions that expand legendary options.

• Francesco Totti
• Juan Román Riquelme
• Eric Cantona
• Jairzinho
• Kelly Smith

Rating Upgrades

Several players received rating increases in this update. These are just the ten important ones, and note that we only use best position.

Note that there are more rating adjustments for players and you can discover them in the game or on our YouTube channel and the popular website sofifa.

Rating Downgrades

The update also applies downgrades to certain players. These are just the ten important ones, and note that we only use best position.

Note that there are more rating adjustments for players and you can discover them in the game or on our YouTube channel and the popular website sofifa.

This Jan 22 update keeps EA FC 26 current—real faces, wonderkids, ICONs, and tweaks for realism. Dive in and refresh your saves!