FC 25 has just been hit with one of the most surprising glitches yet, and it’s not just visual. Thanks to a clever sequence of evolutions combined with real-world upgrades, players are turning standard cards like Adarabioyo, Kobbie Mainoo, and Adam Wharton into 96-rated, five playstyle+ monsters.

This glitch allows players to push cards beyond what evolutions were intended for. By following a specific path and timing it with live competition upgrades, several cards are being transformed into near endgame-level items.

How Adarabioyo can become a 96-rated centre-back

Adarabioyo, the Chelsea centre-back, is at the heart of this glitch method. If you avoided submitting him into an Icon SBC, you’re in a great position. You might be holding one of the most overpowered centre-backs in the game right now.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

  1. Start with Adarabioyo and apply the Dreamcrusher Evolution to upgrade him and make him more viable for competitive play.
  2. Apply the Technical+Technical+ Evolution from the Season Progress rewards. This is a key step and not Tiki Taka+Tiki Taka+ as some have incorrectly stated.
  3. Complete the Team of the Season+ or TOTS Recolor Evolution, which changes his card design and unlocks further upgrades.
  4. Finally, apply the TOTS Upgrade Evolution, which gives a +1 to all stats and converts him officially into a Team of the Season item.

After this sequence, Adarabioyo becomes a 94-rated card. Now here’s the crucial part. If Chelsea win the UEFA Conference League final, his Road to the Final card will upgrade to 96. Because this live upgrade comes after the evolutions, the boosts stack, creating a glitched and fully meta 96-rated center-back.

This process has been widely shared by community creators including FC Wizard on Twitter, who also shared another crazy evolution on FC Barcelona Women’s player Esmee Brugts.

Guide: Claim your secret free FC 26 Icon pack today
Read more

Guide: Claim your secret free FC 26 Icon pack today

Kobbie Mainoo can also be evolved to 96

If you completed the Kobbie Mainoo SBC, you can replicate a similar path with slightly different evolutions:

  1. Apply the Built Different Evolution to start.
  2. Use the Technical+Technical+ evolution or another playstyle he does not already have.
  3. Follow with the TOTS+ or Recolor Evolution to give him the TOTS status.
  4. Complete the TOTS Rush event and apply the TOTS Upgrade, giving +1 to all stats.

Now, if Manchester United win the Europa League final, Mainoo’s live item will be upgraded to 96 as well. That puts him in the same tier as top-tier midfielders in FC 25.

This glitch takes a bit more effort and depends on live football results, but the payoff is potentially one of the best midfield cards in the game.

Adam Wharton and the five playstyle+ card discovery

The most insane part of this glitch trend may be Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace. A viral post from Twitter user @Kramer shows Wharton’s card with five playstyle+ traits active, which is something we haven’t seen all year.

According to the report, this happened by leaving one of the evolutions unclaimed until after the card received a showdown upgrade. The stacking then resulted in a never-before-seen boost that looks and plays like a fully modded endgame item.

Players across the FUT community have reported seeing similar results, and Wharton is now trending heavily on futbin.com.

This is not believed to be a visual bug. The in-game performance, upgraded traits and stat boosts are showing in actual gameplay, which confirms its effect is real for many users.

Why this glitch is such a big deal in FC 25

In a year where top-tier cards can cost millions of coins, this glitch gives players a huge opportunity to turn budget SBCs and untradeable players into elite squad anchors. It’s the first time that evolution paths and live competition upgrades have created this kind of synergy.

Not only does it open the door for creative squad building, but it rewards players who invested early in SBCs and evolution objectives. For Weekend League and FUT Champs, these cards can seriously compete with high-end options.

With the Conference League and Europa League finals on the horizon, these upgrades could happen within days. That makes now the perfect time to complete the relevant evolutions and prepare your squad.

Video: MattHDGamer

FAQ about the 96-rated FC 25 evolution glitch

Which players work with this glitch?

Adarabioyo, Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are confirmed examples.

How do the cards get to 96 overall?

Through a combination of evolution upgrades and live competition wins.

Do the evolution traits stay after a live upgrade?

Yes, the stats and traits from evolutions are retained post-upgrade.

How did Wharton get five playstyle+ traits?

By delaying one evolution claim until after a showdown upgrade.

Can I still complete the Mainoo SBC?

Yes, but be quick. It expires in less than two days.

Is this a known bug or is it safe to use?

There’s no indication from EA that this violates any game rules.

Is this glitch visual or does it affect gameplay?

It affects gameplay. Boosts and traits work in matches.

If you’ve got these cards in your club and the required evolutions unlocked, now’s the time to act. With real-life fixtures coming up, your team could feature some of the most powerful glitch cards in FC 25.