Pick a Sweeper Keeper if your Club plays a high line, and a Shot Stopper if it defends deep. That was true at launch and still is, but EA’s October 22 update changed what each costs to build, and the two now pull in opposite directions on the two attributes that matter most to a keeper.
What changed on October 22
EA reset all Attribute Points on October 22 and changed upgrade costs for every archetype (EA’s developer update). The goalkeeper changes are short but important:
| Archetype | Now costs more | Now costs less |
|---|---|---|
| Shot Stopper | Acceleration, Short Passing, GK Positioning | GK Reflexes |
| Sweeper Keeper | Vision, Ball Control, Long Passing, GK Kicking, GK Reflexes | GK Positioning |
Reflexes and Positioning swapped. Reflexes is now cheaper for the Shot Stopper and dearer for the Sweeper Keeper, and Positioning is the reverse. Each archetype also pays more for its distribution and movement extras than it did at launch.
Shot Stopper: if you defend deep
The Shot Stopper is the keeper for a team that sits in its own half and faces a lot of shots. With Reflexes now cheaper, put your first points there; it decides the close-range saves that settle Clubs matches. Diving and Handling come next.
Positioning costs more than before, so build it to a solid level rather than maxing it early. Acceleration and Short Passing both got dearer as well, which tells you EA doesn’t want this keeper rushing out or playing short out of the back. Most Shot Stopper builds sit around 6’4”, and the common PlayStyle+ is Far Reach+.
Sweeper Keeper: if you play a high line
The Sweeper Keeper exists to clear up behind a high defensive line and give your team an extra passer. Positioning got cheaper for it, and that’s where to start, because a sweeper who is in the right place doesn’t need to make the spectacular save.
The catch is that its distribution is now dearer: Vision, Ball Control, Long Passing and Kicking all cost more, and so does Reflexes. You’ll have less left over for playing out than at launch, so decide early whether your keeper is there mainly to sweep or mainly to pass. Sweeper Keepers are usually built very tall, up to around 6’7”, to cover more of the goal when they’re caught off their line.
How to choose
| Your Club… | Build |
|---|---|
| Sits deep and counter-attacks | Shot Stopper |
| Plays a high line with quick centre-backs | Sweeper Keeper |
| Concedes lots of long-range shots | Shot Stopper |
| Gets caught by balls over the top | Sweeper Keeper |
| Has no settled defence yet | Shot Stopper |
If you’re not sure, start with the Shot Stopper. Its cheaper Reflexes give the most direct return in saves, and archetype resets are free, so you can switch once your defence settles on a style.
Your keeper’s job also depends on who is in front of them. Our FC 27 Clubs CDM build covers the defensive midfielder after the same update.
This guide reflects EA FC 27 after the October 22 Archetypes update.