Is Michael Owen worth it in FC 25? Full SBC review ⇒ FUTFC

EA Sports has dropped a new Michael Owen SBC in FC 25, and the response has been all over the place. While the former England striker has received a boosted “On This Day” icon card with solid stats and new playstyles, many players have immediately hit the dislike button on FUT websites. The main issue? His playstyle plus traits, Chip Shot+ and Power Shot+, are not seen as valuable in the current meta.

Owen stands at 5’8″ with 4-star skills and a 5-star weak foot, and his SBC costs around 300,000 coins. While that price seems fair compared to others like Jamie Vardy’s 950K SBC, it has not stopped complaints from FUT fans who argue that the playstyle picks make him feel outdated. But is the card truly bad? The answer might surprise you.

Why Owen still works in-game despite underwhelming playstyle pluses

What makes Owen usable in FC 25 is not the headline playstyle pluses but the base playstyles he comes with. These include:

Quick Step
Rapid
Technical
Finesse Shot
Incisive Pass
First Touch
Trivela

These combine to give Owen some much-needed fluidity in tight spaces. His dribbling is surprisingly agile, especially when paired with a Finisher chemistry style. Although he lacks physical traits and long passing, his pace, first-touch control and ability to make sharp attacking runs help him stay relevant in competitive modes.

In test games, Owen showed the ability to score from multiple angles. Whether it was quick driven shots, near-post finesse strikes or chip shots from one-on-one situations, he delivered. One of his best features is his Advanced Forward++ role, which helps with aggressive positioning and snappy movement in the final third.

Source: Inception FC

Not a meta monster but perfect for theme teams

Let’s be honest. The players who will get the most out of this Michael Owen SBC are the ones building past and present squads or supporting clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United or Real Madrid. He fits right into themed lineups and can absolutely perform when paired with top-tier attackers and playmakers.

If you are not planning to include him in a meta Weekend League team, he is still worth unlocking just for the fun factor. Many in the community forget that not every card needs to be a game-breaker. With a 5-star weak foot and strong finishing tools, Owen gives enough value for those who know how to use him properly.

Chip Shot plus and Power Shot plus are situational but not useless

While many players complain about the inclusion of Chip Shot+ and Power Shot+, the card still scores with those mechanics when used smartly. For example, in a one-on-one where defenders are closing in fast, a timed chip can catch the keeper off-guard. Likewise, a power shot inside the 18-yard box at a 45 degree angle can be very effective if timed correctly.

The issue lies more with how situational these traits are. Most players prefer Finesse+, Rapid+ or Quick Step+ for consistent impact. Still, this does not make Owen’s traits completely irrelevant. It is more about using them in the right moments.

A smart pick for fodder-heavy clubs

At a time when fodder is dirt cheap in FC 25 and player picks are flooding everyone’s club with high-rated duplicates, spending around 300K on a fully usable icon is hardly a bad deal. Especially if you are between projects or looking for a fun addition to a secondary squad, Owen offers a fresh, nostalgic option.

How he compares to other similar icons

Compared to other icons in a similar price range, Owen sits in a weird but decent spot. He is cheaper than most meta icons with better playstyle plus options, but he also performs more consistently than many of the power curve cards that cost under 200K. His agility, quick release and weak foot reliability make him more than just a nostalgic pick.

In the striker role, he is best used in narrow formations like 4-2-3-1 wide or 4-1-2-1-2 narrow, where quick buildup play and sharp turns in the box are rewarded. Players looking to use him as a lone striker in formations like 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 may find his lack of physical presence a downside.