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0RONALD ARAUJO Shapeshifters Card Review - EA FC 25 Ultimate Team
Dick van Dyke
In the unpredictable jungle of EA FC 25 Ultimate Team, the Shapeshifters promo continues to be the chaotic carnival we all secretly love. One moment you're fielding wingers at full-back, the next, you're building your midfield around a center-back with a magician's touch. And this year, that surprise package is none other than Ronald Araujo.
Known in real life as Barcelona's no-nonsense defensive titan, Araujo has now entered the realm of fantasy with a Shapeshifters card that is part beast, part baller, and entirely wild. He’s no longer just a barrier between your goal and the opposition now; he’s your midfield maestro, attacking link-up, and last-ditch tackler all rolled into one.
With a staggering mix of stats and position flexibility, this card offers more utility than most shapeshifters we’ve seen. But is it all show and no substance? Or is this the underpriced gem your squad needs to survive the Division Rivals grind? Let’s break it down and find out.
Intro
At first glance, Ronald Araujo’s Shapeshifters card looks like something out of a modded Career Mode save. His usual defensive base has been transformed into an all-round midfield monster. He can play as a CDM, CM, or even a CAM, with no stat zone left neglected. You’d expect him to be clunky, stiff, and a bit out of place further up the pitch but the stats tell a very different story.
He’s armed with 5-star skill moves and a 4-star weak foot. His reactions are near-perfect at 97. He has the legs, lungs, and football IQ to do just about everything on the pitch. Best of all, he’s available for just 148,750 coins, which, in the current state of the market, is an absolute steal for a card this comprehensive.
This is not just a position change it’s a playstyle overhaul. Let's dive deeper into the anatomy of this card.
Pace
One of the biggest surprises is how fast Araujo is on the ball. With 92 acceleration and 93 sprint speed, he gallops across the pitch like a gazelle. It’s a strange sight seeing a player who, by reputation, should be tank-like in movement suddenly ghost past opponents with ease.
This level of pace allows him to be used both defensively and offensively. As a CDM, he can recover and close down space effortlessly. As a CAM or CM, he can make well-timed runs behind the line or burst forward in transition. In a game where explosive speed defines so many meta players, Araujo more than holds his own.
He might not be your quickest outlet on a break, but he never feels slow and for someone of his size and power, that's an incredible advantage.
Physicality
This is Araujo’s comfort zone. With 93 physicality, 93 strength, and 92 stamina, he’s a complete enforcer. He can shoulder off even the strongest attackers and dominate 50/50 duels all day long. No attacker, no matter how slippery, gets past him without a serious fight.
The stamina makes him usable as a box-to-box player or as an anchor in high-tempo setups. You won’t need to sub him off, and you won't find him slacking late in the match. His bruising presence also helps him pin defenders when attacking from midfield, he’s not easy to knock off the ball.
Pair this with the Bruiser Playstyle Plus, and you’re getting a card that thrives in aggressive challenges and punishes opponents who try to get physical.
Shooting Prowess
This is where things get slightly insane. Araujo has 92 shooting, with 95 attacking positioning, 94 shot power, and 90 long shots. This is not a midfielder who occasionally takes a pop at goal. This is someone who can shoot like an actual forward.
You can comfortably let him strike from outside the box, especially in central roles like CAM or CM. If he finds space near the D, don’t hesitate to hit it. The power is there, the accuracy is consistent, and the positioning makes him appear in key moments more often than you'd expect.
He's not finesse-shot meta, but he is perfect for driven shots, volleys, and late-arriving runs into the box. Araujo is a legitimate scoring threat, not just a defensive utility man.
Playmaking Abilities
Playmaker Araujo might be the strangest twist of all, and yet, he pulls it off. With 96 passing and 95 crossing, his delivery is silky smooth. Whether you're switching the play, feeding through balls into tight gaps, or sending in a driven cross, he gets the job done.
He comes with the Pinged Pass Playstyle Plus, which elevates his long passing to elite levels. This is crucial if you’re playing him in a deep-lying role or even as a CAM in a possession-heavy setup.
He's surprisingly reliable in short, quick passing sequences too. In tight triangles or tiki-taka systems, Araujo doesn’t feel out of place. This level of passing accuracy gives him genuine credentials as a playmaker a term no one ever thought they’d associate with him.
Aerial Attributes
Naturally, Araujo’s background as a defender shines in the air. With 96 jumping and 91 heading accuracy, he is an absolute menace during corners, both offensively and defensively.
Use him on near-post corner runs, and you’re bound to see results. Defensively, he’s reliable in clearing aerial balls and set-piece threats. In late-game scenarios, having someone this dominant in the air is a massive asset.
Even from midfield, he gets involved in aerial duels frequently, and he wins most of them. If your opponent loves long balls or lofted crosses, Araujo can intercept them early with his height and timing.
Dribbling Attribute
Here’s where the shapeshifter magic really kicks in 95 dribbling, 95 agility, 96 ball control, and 94 balance. Those numbers are bonkers for someone of his profile.
He turns sharply, carries the ball gracefully, and rarely miscontrols it. The 5-star skill moves add flair to his game, letting you pull off La Croquetas, elastico turns, and L1 scoops. It feels odd at first, but once you realize you can actually dribble through a press with this guy, it becomes addictively fun.
His technical playstyle makes it even better, reducing heavy touches and allowing you to keep the tempo high in transition. Whether you're juking out midfielders or squeezing through tight spaces, Araujo holds his own with some of the most agile cards in the game.
Defensive Abilities
Despite the shiny offensive stats, Araujo remains defensively robust. With 91 interceptions, 90 defensive awareness, 91 stand tackle, and 91 slide tackle, he is still fully capable of anchoring your midfield or helping the backline in a pinch.
He also boasts the Anticipate Playstyle Plus, which makes his interceptions feel sharper and more intelligent. If you're under pressure or playing a narrow formation, he becomes a reliable wall in front of your center-backs.
Defensively, he’s no slouch, and this keeps his card grounded. No matter how advanced his stats look, he still excels in doing the dirty work.
Roles and Playstyles
This card's greatest feature is its versatility. He can play CDM, CM, or CAM. Here’s how he adapts:
As a CDM:
Holding++
Centre Half++
Deep-Lying Playmaker++
Wide Half++
As a CM:
Box-to-Box++
Holding++
Deep-Lying Playmaker++
Playmaker++
Half Winger++
As a CAM:
Playmaker++
Shadow Striker++
Half Winger++
Classic 10++
These roles allow you to experiment with various tactics. He can be your midfield anchor, your deep passer, or your attacking creator. You can even switch him mid-game depending on your formation.
With four elite Playstyle Plus traits Pinged Pass, Anticipate, Bruiser, and Technical he covers every possible in-game meta requirement. He fits into almost every squad-building strategy and system.
Cons
Now for the downsides, because no card is perfect.
First, despite the high dribbling and agility, his size still makes him feel slightly heavy in fast-paced situations. Against smaller, meta attackers, he may take that extra millisecond to react.
Second, he’s hard to fit into every chemistry situation. His links are mostly limited to La Liga and Uruguayan players. Hybrid squads will need work to slot him in effectively.
Third, as versatile as he is, some players may find he doesn’t excel as much when fully committed to one role. If you want a pure attacking CAM or a specialized defensive CDM, there are better cards for those roles. He’s more of a jack-of-all-trades.
Lastly, while 148,750 coins is a decent value, it may still feel like a risk to some players, especially if you’re only planning to use him in one position.
Conclusion
Ronald Araujo’s Shapeshifters card is a wonderful experiment that actually works. He’s a multi-role juggernaut who can be slotted anywhere in midfield or attacking midfield, and even hang back to defend if needed. He does almost everything: shoot, pass, dribble, intercept, and bully opponents off the ball.
At 148,750 coins, he’s a great option for players who need a versatile midfielder on a budget. He’s especially useful for those building mid-tier La Liga teams or looking for a wildcard to stabilize a struggling squad.
He’s not meta-breaking, and he’s not flawless. But he is fun, flexible, and impactful.
Final Rating: 6.5/10
A solid pick for creative players, budget-conscious managers, or anyone who wants to have a little fun with football logic. Ronald Araujo may have started as a wall in defense, but in EA FC 25 Shapeshifters, he’s become the Swiss Army knife your squad never knew it needed.
We will share more updates on FC 25 in separate articles. If you found this information helpful or would like to learn more, please be sure to explore the other articles on our site.
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