FPL 2025-26: What is a Fantasy Premier League 'Wildcard' and how to use it?

Fortunately for Fantasy Premier League players, you have two FPL wildcards to use - one in the first half of the season and another during the second half.

Back to basics first, though, and a brief explainer on how FPL transfers work is in order. You're allowed one FREE transfer per gameweek for your FPL team; any others will cost you four points per transfer, so plan your squad carefully to avoid wholesale changes each week.

The FPL wildcard is a bonus chip, used in the transfer section. It permits you, the manager, to make as many transfers as you like up until the gameweek deadline, all within the standard budget of £100.0m. Even if you've made transfers that were going to come with points deductions, use the wildcard and you won't lose any points at all. Result.

Fantasy Premier League: How to use your FPL Wildcard

The Wildcard chip can be used twice a season. Previously, it was the only bonus chip you could use twice, but that is no longer the case from 2025-26. While bench boost and free hit are also valid twice per season now, you still cannot use two chips during the same gameweek.

Your FPL Wildcard is the only chip that can't be rescinded, either. Once you've chosen to play it, there's no going back: but you don't have to make all your transfers at once and can still move players in and out before the deadline. It's a little like the game state at the start of the season.

When playing a wildcard, any saved free transfers that you previously made will be lost. You'll return to the usual one free transfer the following gameweek when the wildcard's powers expire.

Fantasy Premier League: When should I use my Wildcard in FPL?

When you use your wildcard is up to each player's discretion. Some managers prefer to use it when they've been struck by a number of injuries simultaneously whilst others are quick to play this particular chip once they discover the squad they've selected before the start of the season has turned out to be a bunch of FPL duds.

International breaks are to be taken into consideration when plotting a wildcard move, too. For example, if the international break is only a week away, it doesn't make much sense to make wholesale changes to your teams based on injuries when many of them could be heading off to represent their countries for the next fortnight. It is often the case that 'injured players' were kept out of international squads as a precaution. We're looking at you, Pep Guardiola. 

A change of manager could be a good reason to play that wildcard. When a team switches coach midway through the season, it could elicit a new manager bounce, allowing previously misfiring forwards to flourish.

Remember, there's no need to use the Wildcard at all, should you feel you don't need to. Don't feel pressured to employ a bonus chip, just because it's there.

More Fantasy Premier League stories

You can play Fantasy Premier League online on the Premier League website, or on the Premier League app, which is available on iOS and Android. Still missing something? Here's everything you need to know about FPL, including FourFourTwo's guides on the game. Enjoy!