FPL 2025-26: Best budget defenders to choose Gameweek 1

The Premier League 2025/26 season is ready to start on Friday with defending champion Liverpool who hosts Bournemouth.

A brand new season also brings the chance of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to rebuild a team.

This year’s FPL sees a big overhaul in the scoring system for defenders. Center-backs and central midfielders, who were not considered favorable choices in the past due to their limited point of point, will be stimulated by the defensive contributions that were introduced this season.

A defender wins two extra points when their cumulative clearance, blocks, intercepts and tackles to get more than 10. Get midfielders, get the few points if this number goes beyond 12.

With these in fact changes, here are five budget -friendly options that managers can consider strengthening their defense in the coming season:

Neco Williams – Nottingham Forest (£ 5 million)

Neco Williams is one of the two £ 5 million defenders from Nottingham Forest, together with Ola Aina. Although Aina had more points and better expected target contributions last season, the Welsh defender should be preferred for his defensive attributes. He would have scored the two defensive contributions in more than 30 percent of his matches last season. Moreover, Aina who returns from an injury can influence his opportunities to start early in the season.

Budget -goalkeepers – Read

Budget midfielders – Read

Budget Vooruit – Read

Aaron Wan -Bissaka – West Ham United (£ 4.5 million)

The West Ham Wing Back will be one of the most sought after defenders this season in the early game week. He was an attacking threat under Graham Potter and managed six assists and two goals. An easy series of competitions in the beginning is probably the opportunities of West Ham to keep clean sheets.

Jayden Bogle – Leeds United (£ 4.5 million)

Jayden Bogle from Leeds United gave three assists and three goals the last time he played in the Premier League, in the 2023/24 season. The right back flourished last season in the championship with six goals and five assists.

Trai Hume – Sunderland (£ 4.5 million)

Trai Hume is nailed to the right back for the newly promoted Sunderland. He was a crucial attacking option in the side in the championship last season. Last season he played 47 of the 49 games for Sunderland and contributed three goals and six assists. He also led the defensive charts with 128 successful tackles, making him an attractive option with the new defensive contributions.