EA Sports FC 25 Cover Star Announcement

Jude Bellingham, at 21 years old, is the youngest-ever EA Sports soccer game cover star, appearing as the sole athlete on the Standard Edition cover of EA Sports FC 25, which continues the soccer legacy under EA after the company's split from FIFA, while the Ultimate Edition's cover will also feature famous players like David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.

Jude Bellingham Takes Center Stage as EA Sports FC 25 Cover Star

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will officially be the featured athlete on the cover of EA Sports FC 25's Standard Edition, along with being one of the cover stars for the game's Ultimate Edition. At 21 years of age, Bellingham is the youngest star to ever appear on the cover of an EA Sports soccer game, and in addition to gracing the cover of EA Sports FC 25, he will also serve as the cover athlete for EA Sports FC Mobile.

First releasing in 2023, the EA Sports FC series is the successor to the former FIFA series, which began in 1993 and saw at least one annual release until its final installment in 2022. The game continues the series' soccer legacy under the EA brand, but without the connection to FIFA, as EA and FIFA ended their partnership after being unable to come to terms over licensing fees.

Multiple sources had leaked Bellingham as the cover star of EA Sports FC 25 earlier this week, but on July 17, EA made the news official, announcing the honor granted to the England national via a press release. Captured in April 2024, the image on the cover of the Standard Edition will show Belligham celebrating a game-winning goal in front of his home crowd at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, performing his signature Belligol celebration. David Jackson, the franchise's vice president of brand, praised Bellingham's skills, saying he "aligns strongly with our future; as we move from product to platform, transcending the sport at the intersection of football, culture and entertainment, and we're thrilled to welcome him as this year's EA Sports FC cover star."

Jude Bellingham Graces the Covers of EA Sports FC 25 Standard and Ultimate Editions

In addition to being honored as the sole cover star of the Standard Edition, Bellingham is flanked by other living legends of the sport on the cover of the game's Ultimate Edition. Former pros David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Gianluigi Buffon join Bellingham on that cover, along with Barcelona women's midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, in a posed image that was also captured in Madrid. The Ultimate Edition cover shows the five star athletes in an indoor setting surrounded by 17 of the most well-known trophies in the sport, which represent their combined accomplishments across their careers.

Bellingham expressed excitement over being named the cover star, saying he and his brother frequently played EA soccer games during their youth, and he's proud to be representing his home county of England on the cover, a feat which hasn't happened in an EA soccer game since 2011. A release date leak for EA Sports FC 25 claims the game will launch on September 27, but that information has not been confirmed at this time. However, pre-orders are available, and those who pre-order before August 20 will receive an untradeable player item for both FC 25 and FC 24, as well as up to seven days of early access, double bonus points when playing with friends, an Icon in Player Career, and some FC Points.