Wildcard
A wildcard is a Fantasy Premier League chip that lets you make unlimited transfers in a single gameweek without paying any points, and unlike the Free Hit the squad you build is permanent. It is played before the deadline and the changes stand until you transfer them away yourself.
When to play one
The usual triggers are a squad that has drifted out of shape, a run of injuries that would otherwise take three hits to fix, or a fixture swing where several of your clubs turn from a good run to a bad one. A wildcard used to fix four problems at once is worth roughly the 12 or 16 points those hits would have cost, before any improvement in the team itself.
In 2026/27 the chips come in two sets, one for each half of the season, and the first set expires at the Gameweek 19 deadline on Saturday 2 January 2027, so a first-half wildcard left unplayed by then is simply lost.
What still applies
The budget rules do not change. You still sell at selling price, still keep half of any rise rounded down, and still need the money in the bank for the squad you want. A wildcard also gives you a clean window to shape a team for a coming double gameweek, which is why the second one often lands just before the chip-heavy weeks in spring.
Example
Three of your midfielders are injured and two defenders have lost their places. Fixing it with transfers would cost 16 points in hits, so you play the wildcard instead, rebuild eight positions, and pay nothing.
From the archive
Managers played the Wildcard 2,625,186 times over the 2025/26 season. Figures as of 24 May 2026.
Updated: Season: 2025/26
Related terms
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