One of the most repeated FPL claims is:
“Wildcard transfers do not count toward price changes.”
The problem is that FPL does not publicly reveal enough of the price-change formula to officially verify that specific mechanism.
Managers should separate:
official rules
from
community understanding.
Use Price Changes instead of relying only on social-media theories.
What FPL officially confirms
The official FPL FAQ confirms:
- prices can change by £0.1m per day;
- changes occur at midnight UK time;
- transfer-market activity influences the calculation;
- the formula contains variable factors;
- the formula is not revealed;
- 2026/27 includes official price-change progress indicators.
What FPL does not explicitly confirm
The official FAQ does not explicitly state whether Wildcard transfers are:
- excluded;
- included;
- differently weighted.
So OneFPL should not describe any of those as an official rule.
Latest FPL news
Why the “Wildcard transfers don't count” belief exists
Fantasy Football Scout and other long-running community sources state that Wildcard transfers are not included.
That may reflect longstanding modelling and observation.
But because the game does not publicly disclose the formula, the safest wording is:
widely accepted community understanding, not publicly confirmed by FPL.
Why it matters now
GW6 is a popular Wildcard window.
Managers are debating:
- whether to activate immediately;
- whether to make normal transfers first;
- whether they can influence rises;
- how to build team value.
Do not use a chip only because of an unverified price-algorithm trick.
What is definitely true on Wildcard?
Unlimited permanent transfers
Wildcard gives unlimited free transfers during that Gameweek.
Your budget is still limited
Wildcard does not give an unlimited budget.
Prices continue moving
Players can rise and fall while your Wildcard is active.
Selling value still applies
Normal purchase-price and sell-on rules continue to matter.
Can you profit from rises?
Potentially.
Example:
- buy player;
- player rises £0.2m;
- the normal sell-on rule can create £0.1m of usable profit.
But this is not guaranteed because:
- the player may rise only once;
- price predictions can miss;
- injury news can change your plan.
Read Team Value & Selling Price.
Should you activate early?
Activate early if:
- you definitely need the Wildcard;
- several desired players are rising;
- the budget is very tight.
Wait if:
- many targets are on international duty;
- you can absorb price moves;
- your squad may not actually need the chip.
Can you make transfers first and Wildcard later?
Yes.
The official FAQ says Wildcard removes transfer-point deductions from transfers already made in the same Gameweek when activated.
But do not assume this proves anything about how those transfers are treated inside the hidden price algorithm.
Saved free transfers
Previously banked free transfers are maintained when Wildcard is played under current official rules.
Read How Many Free Transfers Can You Bank?.
What about the “normal transfers first” trick?
Community discussions sometimes suggest:
- make transfers normally;
- wait for price changes;
- activate Wildcard later and remove the hits.
The problem is step two assumes knowledge of the hidden algorithm.
There is no official statement confirming that this timing creates a price-change advantage.
OneFPL should not present it as a proven exploit.
Best workflow
- Build the GW6 Wildcard draft.
- Check Price Changes.
- Identify rises that actually block your desired team.
- Compare price risk with international-injury risk.
- Activate only when the squad decision makes sense.
FAQ
Do Wildcard transfers definitely not count?
FPL has not publicly confirmed that specific rule.
Can prices move while I Wildcard?
Yes.
Can I gain team value?
Potentially, through normal purchase/selling-price mechanics.
Does Wildcard reset saved free transfers?
No. Previously saved free transfers remain.
OneFPL verdict
The accurate framing is:
Official: market activity and hidden variable factors drive price changes.
Community view: Wildcard transfers are generally believed to be excluded.
Because the second point is not explicitly confirmed by FPL, do not build your chip strategy around it.
