As the release of EA Sports FC 25 approaches, fans are eager to know which Serie A clubs will be officially licensed in the game. The battle for Serie A licenses between EA Sports and Konami has been intense, with both companies competing for exclusive rights over the years.
The Serie A licensing battle began in 2019 when EA Sports lost the Juventus image rights to Konami’s PES but managed to reclaim it in 2022. In a similar tug-of-war, Konami secured the exclusive rights to Serie B in 2020, but EA brought the league back in FIFA 23. Currently, in EA Sports FC 24, the licenses for Atalanta, AS Roma, Lazio, and Napoli are missing, but changes are on the horizon.
Konami recently announced the loss of in-game licenses for AS Roma, Napoli, and AC Monza in their eFootball series. While AC Monza is already licensed in EA Sports FC, the return of AS Roma and Napoli to the EA franchise is highly anticipated for FC 25.
On the flip side, EA Sports is set to lose the license for Inter Milan due to the club’s exclusive deal with Konami. Consequently, Nerrazzuri will likely appear as ‘Milano Calcio’ in FC 25, similar to how Atalanta and Lazio are currently represented as Bergamo Calcio and Latium, respectively, with generic crests and jerseys.
The potential return of AS Roma in EA Sports FC could also mean the comeback of the iconic Stadio Olimpico, which was removed after FIFA 20.
However, uncertainty remains regarding AC Milan’s licensing status in FC 25. Although AC Milan is partnered with Konami, the agreement is not exclusive, leaving room for possible changes following Konami’s recent losses of Roma, Napoli, and Monza.
Despite the licensing battles, fans can take comfort in knowing that the rosters and players of these clubs will remain accurate and authentic in both EA Sports FC and eFootball. The official leagues and clubs license list for both games is expected to be revealed in September, just in time for the 2024/25 season and the release of both games on the market.
