Everyone obsesses over the Premier League. It’s predictable. You see the same blue-and-gold Haaland or Saka cards in every single squad once Team of the Season rolls around, and honestly, it gets a little boring. But if you’re trying to build a competitive squad without spending five million coins, the Rest of Europe TOTS is where the real magic happens.
Most players overlook these leagues. They see a badge from the Portuguese Primeira Liga, the Dutch Eredivisie, or the Turkish Süper Lig and immediately think "fodder." That is a massive mistake. Over the last few years of Ultimate Team history, some of the most "broken" cards—the ones that feel way faster than their stats suggest—come from this specific release.
The Power of the "Minor" Leagues
The term "Rest of Europe" is a bit of a catch-all. In the context of FC 25, we’re talking about the leagues that don't get their own standalone week like the Bundesliga or La Liga. We are looking at the heavy hitters from the Eredivisie (Netherlands), Liga Portugal, Super Lig (Turkey), and even the Scottish Premiership or the Austrian Bundesliga.
Why do these cards matter? It’s simple math. Because they are harder to link into a squad than a French player from Real Madrid, their market price stays significantly lower. You can often find a Rest of Europe TOTS striker with 95 pace and 94 finishing for 50,000 coins, while a Premier League equivalent with the exact same stats would cost you half a million.
Last year, players like Viktor Gyökeres or Grimaldo (before his massive move) were the kings of this category. They played like icons but cost peanuts.
What Makes Rest of Europe TOTS Different This Year?
This year, the way Chemistry works has changed the game for these cards. In the old days, you were stuck. If you pulled a Swiss League TOTS, he was basically unusable unless you had a full Swiss squad. Now? With Icons providing a league boost and the right Manager combo, fitting in a Turkish League winger or a Dutch League center-back is surprisingly easy.
📖 Related: A Little to the Left Calendar: Why the Daily Tidy is Actually Genius
The Rest of Europe TOTS usually drops toward the end of the TOTS cycle. It’s often released alongside the "Ultimate TOTS," acting as the high-value alternative for people who didn't pack a 99-rated Messi or Mbappé.
The Usual Suspects: Players to Watch
When you're scanning the market or opening your guaranteed TOTS packs, there are a few names that almost always show up based on real-world performance.
- Vangelis Pavlidis (Eredivisie): The man has been a goal-scoring machine. If he gets a TOTS card, expect high physicals and clinical finishing. He's the type of player who bullies defenders in the box.
- Rafa (Liga Portugal): Speed. Pure, unadulterated speed. Every year, Rafa gets a card that feels like he's gliding on ice. He's the ultimate super-sub.
- Mauro Icardi (Süper Lig): Say what you want about his off-field drama, but in the box? He’s lethal. His TOTS cards usually have 99 positioning. If you cross the ball, he will find it.
- Joey Veerman (Eredivisie): The pass master. If you need a deep-lying playmaker who can ping a ball sixty yards onto a winger’s toe, keep an eye out for him.
Breaking the "Fodder" Myth
People call these cards fodder because they use them in SBCs (Squad Building Challenges). Sure, a 92-rated card from the Belgian Pro League is great for completing that Patrick Vieira SBC, but have you actually tried playing with them?
Often, EA Sports gives these "minor" league cards insane PlayStyles+ to compensate for their lack of "big league" hype. You might find a Rest of Europe TOTS midfielder with both Intercept+ and Anticipate+, making them a defensive god.
I remember a few years ago, there was a TOTS card from the Romanian league. Nobody cared. Then a few pro players started using him because his agility and balance were maxed out. Within two days, his price tripled. That’s the Rest of Europe market in a nutshell: it’s a gold mine for those who actually look at the stats instead of just the club logo.
👉 See also: Why This Link to the Past GBA Walkthrough Still Hits Different Decades Later
Chemistry Workarounds for Rest of Europe TOTS
How do you actually get these guys into a 33-chemistry squad? It’s not as hard as it looks.
- The Icon Trick: Every Icon in your squad gives +1 chemistry point to every league. If you run three Icons, your Rest of Europe player already has a massive head start.
- Nation Linking: This is the big one. If you have a Portuguese TOTS from the Liga Portugal, link him with Diogo Jota or Ruben Dias. The league doesn't match, but the nation does.
- The Super-Sub Strategy: If you absolutely cannot fit a player like James Tavernier into your starting XI, don't sell him. TOTS cards make the best subs in the game because they come on with high base stats that don't need chemistry boosts to be effective.
Why the Market Ignores These Cards (And Why You Shouldn't)
The FIFA/FC community is a bit of an echo chamber. Everyone watches the same YouTubers. Everyone follows the same "meta" sheets. When a "Rest of Europe TOTS" objective or pack comes out, the general consensus is often "L."
That's great for you.
When the supply is high because everyone is opening packs for the big leagues, the prices for these minor league gems crater. This is the best time to buy. If you wait until the following Monday or Tuesday when people realize these cards are actually cracked, the price usually ticks back up.
It's about finding value where others see trash.
✨ Don't miss: All Barn Locations Forza Horizon 5: What Most People Get Wrong
Tactical Flexibility
Using these players allows you to spend your coins elsewhere. If you save 400,000 coins by using a Rest of Europe TOTS left-back instead of a Premier League one, that’s 400,000 more coins you can put toward a blue Virgil van Dijk or a top-tier Icon.
It’s about team balance. A team of all 92-rated Rest of Europe players will almost always beat a team of three 97-rated stars surrounded by gold common cards.
Final Strategic Advice for TOTS Season
Don't panic sell your team when the Rest of Europe TOTS drops. The market gets volatile, but these cards specifically tend to hold a "floor" price because their rating is so high. Even if nobody wants to play with them, they will always be worth something because of SBCs.
Keep an eye on the "Leagues" tab in the transfer market. Filter by "TOTS" and look at the Eredivisie or Liga Portugal. Look for players with at least three or four PlayStyles+ and high pace. Test them out in Division Rivals before you decide to dump them into an SBC. You might just find your new favorite player in the most unlikely of places.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Your Club: Look for high-rated players from minor nations that might link to upcoming Rest of Europe TOTS releases.
- Monitor the Eredivisie: This league usually has the highest-quality "Rest of Europe" cards; keep an eye on players like Hancko or Bakayoko.
- Save Your Low-Rated Golds: You’ll need them for the "Minor League" upgrade SBCs that usually accompany this release.
- Focus on PlayStyles: When evaluating a Rest of Europe card, ignore the face rating and look for "Anticipate," "Technical," or "Finesse Shot" PlayStyles+.