Gaming

FIFA 20 winter ratings refresh: Every Premier League player to receive an upgrade

By Harry Edwards

FIFA 20 winter ratings refresh: Every Premier League player to receive an upgrade

Published: 15:15, 15 February 2020

February 14, 2020, a day many have been looking forward to since the month started. Why? Because Valentines day is also the date EA Sports released the Winter Refresh for FIFA 20.

With the big European transfer windows closed, fans have been looking forward to seeing to seeing FIFA 20 updated to mirror current rosters ahead of the second half of the season.

As well as that, players to have shone in the first half of 2019/20 are rewarded with improved ratings to reflect their performances.

However, this year things appear to be a little different. Instead of the full database getting a variety of rating changes, from +1 to +6 in some instances in FIFA 19, just the top 50 players from around the world to have made the biggest improvement have been upgraded. These have all been handed an upgrade of at least +3.

Of the top 50 players, 13 come from the Premier League, but who are they?

Players to have improved by the same amount have been ranked based on their overall rating.

13. Tim Krul (+3)

Age: 31
Current club: Norwich City
Position: GK
FIFA rating: 73 – 76

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Tim Krul

Key stat: Tim Krul has made 82 saves in the Premier League this season.

Norwich City look destined for relegation, but Tim Krul has been doing his best to try and prevent that in goal. The Netherlands shot-stopper sees himself bumped up to a gold card for his troubles.

12. John Egan (+3)

Age: 27
Current club: Sheffield United
Position: CB
FIFA rating: 74 – 77

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: John Egan

Key stat: John Egan has made 125 clearances in the Premier League this season, with only two players managing more.

Sheffield United have been a breath of fresh air this season and boast a fairly solid defence thanks, in part, to John Egan. The 27-year-old has been a rock at the heart of Chris Wilder’s defence and has duly been upgraded from a silver card to goal in Ultimate Team.

11. Enda Stevens (+3)

Age: 29
Current club: Sheffield United
Position: LWB
FIFA rating: 74 – 77

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Enda Stevens

Key stat: Enda Stevens (61) has made more tackles than any other Sheffield United player in the Premier League this season.

Following Egan from silver to gold is Blades teammate Enda Stevens, who has proven himself tough to beat on the wings. While many wing-backs will be expected to spent a lot of the games going forward, Stevens does his part defensively as part of Wilder’s unique tactics.

10. Adama Traore (+3)

Age: 24
Current club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Position: RW
FIFA rating: 74 – 77

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Adama Traore

Key stat: Adama Traore (132) has completed more take-ons than any other player in the Premier League this season.

Adama Traore used to be slated for being all style but no substance. However, under Nuno Espirito Santo this season that has changed. The Spaniard has added goals and assists to his game, without losing his devastating pace and dribbling.

9. Emiliano Buendia (+3)

Age: 23
Current club: Norwich City
Position: RM
FIFA rating: 74 – 77

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Emiliano Buendia

Key stat: Only Kevin De Bruyne (88) has created more chances in the Premier League than Emiliano Buendia (68).

Another Norwich man rewarded for his troubles in trying to keep the Canaries up, Emiliano Buendia has been a breath of fresh air and will likely stay in the Premier League next season.

8. Jack Grealish (+3)

Age: 24
Current club: Aston Villa
Position: CAM
FIFA rating: 77 – 80

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Jack Grealish

Key stat: Jack Grealish has created 55 chances from open play in the Premier League this season, a tally bettered only by Kevin De Bruyne.

Aston Villa may be struggling this season but Jack Grealish has been their standout star. The Englishman has proven himself tough to stop – legally, at least – when at full power and is being mentioned as finally getting an England call-up.

7. James Maddison (+3)

Age: 23
Current club: Leicester City
Position: CAM
FIFA rating: 79 – 82

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: James Maddison

Key stat: James Maddison (64) has created more chances than any other Leicester player this season.

James Maddison has been thriving this season in Brendan Rodgers’ impressive Leicester side and has been rewarded with an upgrade. The Englishman’s partnership with Jamie Vardy, in particular, has been key to Leicester’s Champions League push.

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6. Wilfred Ndidi (+3)

Age: 23
Current club: Leicester City
Position: CDM
FIFA rating: 81 – 84

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Wilfred Ndidi

Key stat: Wilfred Ndidi has made 87 tackles in the Premier League this season, the third-best tally.

For all Leicester’s attacking quality, they would not be the team they are without Wilfred Ndidi. The Nigerian has been a reliable man in the middle of the pitch, breaking up play and keeping the Foxes on the front foot.

5. Jamie Vardy (+3)

Age: 33
Current club: Leicester City
Position: ST
FIFA rating: 82 – 85

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Jamie Vardy

Key stat: Jamie Vardy is currently the Premier League’s top scorer with 17 goals.

Despite turning 33 over the season, Jamie Vardy is playing like a 23-year-old, still full of life and goals. His 17 strikes have been key for Leicester’s push for a place in the top four and have seen some call for his return to international football.

4. Mason Mount (+4)

Age: 21
Current club: Chelsea
Position: CAM
FIFA rating: 75 – 79

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Mason Mount

Key stat: Mason Mount has been directly involved in nine Premier League goals this season, scoring five and recording four assists.

Not many expected Chelsea’s young players to be as good as they have been this season, and one player in particular to have impressed is Mason Mount. Although he has slowed down slightly of late, Mount’s performances across the season have been enough to earn him a pretty big upgrade.

3. Fikayo Tomori (+5)

Age: 22
Current club: Chelsea
Position: CB
FIFA rating: 72 – 77

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Fikayo Tomori

Key stat: Fikayo Tomori has averaged 2.05 tackles per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Another Chelsea youngster thriving under Frank Lampard is Fikayo Tomori who, at one point in the season, looked like being the club’s number one centre-back. Things have cooled off slightly, but Tomori still looks to be a strong part of Chelsea’s side going forward.

2. Daniel James (+5)

Age: 22
Current club: Manchester United
Position: RM
FIFA rating: 72 – 77

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Daniel James

Key stat: Dan James has six assists this season, the most of any Manchester United player.

Nobody expected much from Daniel James when he signed for Manchester United, but the Welshman made an almost-instant impact at Old Trafford. James has slowed down slightly – in terms of involvement, not pace – but his promise has been enough for a big upgrade and a shift from LM to RM.

1. Caglar Soyuncu (+5)

Age: 23
Current club: Leicester City
Position: CB
FIFA rating: 74 – 79

FIFA 20 Winter Refresh: Caglar Soyuncu

Key stat: Caglar Soyuncu has made 117 clearances in the Premier League this season.

Nobody envied Caglar Soyuncu when he was handed the task of replacing Harry Maguire at Leicester, but the centre-back has made it look easy. Now seemingly irreplaceable for the Foxes himself, Soyuncu has been bumped from a silver to gold in FIFA 20.