Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Salah, Haaland, Palmer, Writz, and Saka are some of the most popular FPL options ahead of the 25/26 FPL season. But to have these premium players in your team, you need to have the £4.0 defender or the 4.5 midfielders who will help you facilitate these moves. It is important to find these 4.0 defenders(who are likely to start) nice and early & have them on your bench so that they can chip in when required. In this article, we take a detailed look at the Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for the upcoming 2025/26 season who are likely to start most games.

Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!

Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders

Reinildo, Sunderland

• Position: Left Back (Can also play CB)
• Previous Team(2024/25): Athletico Madrid
• Sunderland Clean Sheets in 2024/25 Championship: 17 (4th Highest in Championship)

Reinildo 2024/25 Stats(La Liga):

• Appearances– 19(9)
• Goal Contributions– 0
• xGI/90- 0.02

Reinildo Defensive Contribution Stats(CBIT) in 2024/25:

• Clearances per 90– 3.8
• Blocks per 90– 0.0
• Interceptions per 90– 1.5
• Tackles per 90- 1.9
• Total CBIT/90– 7.2

Reinildo, the new signing from Atlético Madrid, will be the first choice LB at least for the start of the season. Dennis Cirkin – Sunderland’s LB from last season is injured and is likely to miss the initial games. Reinildo is an experienced campaigner and can also slot in as CB if needed. He has a CBIT/90 of 7.2, which are excellent number for a 4.0 million defender, which means that he has good potential to get the bonus 2 points for Defensive actions then and there.

Sunderland’s initial fixture run is also good, which makes Reinildo a good option. You can change your £4.0 Defender again in your 1st Wildcard after the initial gameweeks.

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Maxime Esteve, Burnley

• Position: Center Back
• 2024/25 Team: Burnley

Esteve 2024/25 Stats(Championship):

• Appearances– 46(0)
• Goal Contributions– 1 Goal, 0 Assists
• xGI/90- 0.03
• Burnley Clean Sheets- 30 (Highest in the Championship)

Esteve Defensive Contribution Stats(CBIT) in 2024/25:

• Clearances per 90– 5.0
• Blocks per 90– 0.07
• Interceptions per 90– 0.8
• Tackles per 90- 1.1
• Total CBIT/90– 6.97

Esteve probably is the most nailed £4.0 Million FPL Defender at the moment. He did start all 46 games for Burnley in their record Championship season in which he kept a record 30 clean sheets. He also let in only 16 goals throughout the season, which is another all-time record. He had a CBIT/90 of 6.97, which is again an excellent number.

He doesn’t offer much attacking potential, but if you want to go for a nailed pick who has decent defensive points potential, Esteve should be your go-to pick. He also rotates well with Udogie(4.5 Mil), if you are looking for some Cheap Rotational Pairs and Combinations, don’t forget to check this blog out.

Further Read: Initial FPL GW1 Drafts for the 25/26 FPL Season with Pros & Cons

Gudmundsson, Leeds United

• Position: Left Back (Can also play LM)
• Leeds Clean Sheets in 2024/25 Championship: 25 (2nd Highest in Championship)
• 2024/25 Team: Lille

Gudmundsson 2024/25 Stats(Ligue 1):

• Appearances– 30(10)
• Goal Contributions– 2 Goals, 0 Assists
• xGI/90- 0.13

Gudmundsson Defensive Contribution Stats(CBIT) in 2024/25:

• Clearances per 90– 1.3
• Blocks per 90– 0.3
• Interceptions per 90– 0.8
• Tackles per 90- 1.8
• Total CBIT/90– 4.2

Gudmundsson has been signed as the new LB from Lille and is the nailed LB at the moment. Gundmundsson knows the big stage as well, as he made 13 appearances in the Champions League last season for Lille. Gudmundsson carries a better attacking threat compared to his 4.0 million counterparts. He had 2 goals from 20 starts last season for Lille and has a decent xGI/90 of 0.13.

There are also Leeds £4.0 Defenders to consider in Bijol(Suspended for GW1) and Rodon. They are also safe picks at the moment, but Gudmundsson is the most attacking among the £4.0 Leeds Defenders.

Further Read: Underpriced FPL Assets at Each ‘Big Six’ Club | 25/26 Season

Ayden Heaven, Man United

• Position: CB
• 2024/25 Team: Manchester United(2nd half of the season)
• Manchester United Clean Sheets in 2024/25 Premier League: 10 (9th highest)

Heaven 2024/25 Stats(Premier League):

• Appearances– 4(2)
• Goal Contributions – 0
• xGI/90- 0.07

Heaven Defensive Contribution Stats(CBIT) in 2024/25:

• Clearances per 90– 4.2
• Blocks per 90– 1.0
• Interceptions per 90– 2.1
• Tackles per 90- 2.1
• Total CBIT/90– 9.3

Note: Heaven’s CBIT/90 stats are inflated as he played only 171 minutes(2 starts) in the Premier League last season.

Ayden Heaven was one of the few shining lights in otherwise a very bad 24/25 season for Man United. The young CB impressed Amorim every time he featured last season. An unfortunate foot injury meant he missed a few games and only returned towards the end. He’ll be raring to go ahead of the new season and will look to stake a claim to one of the three CB spots under Amorim. If Heaven has a good pre-season, he could be very much in line to be a regular starter for the Reds. But do note Man United have got Maguire, Yorro, De Ligt, plus the likes of Mazraoui & Shaw can fill in at CB too, so there’s definitely competition!

Further Read: FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Luka Vuskovic, Spurs

• Position: CB
• Previous Team: KVC Westerlo
• Tottenham Clean Sheets in 2024/25 Premier League: 6(16th)

Vuskovic 2024/25 Stats(Jupiter Pro League):

• Appearances– 36(3)
• Goal Contributions– 7 Goals, 2 Assists
• xGI/90- 0.16

Vuskovic Defensive Contribution Stats(CBIT) in 2024/25:

• Clearances per 90– 5.6
• Blocks per 90– 0.2
• Interceptions per 90– 0.8
• Tackles per 90- 0.8
• Total CBIT/90– 7.4

Vuskovic has had an impressive start to his Spurs career, playing in a pre-season friendly against Reading, he picked up a goal and an assist in just 45 minutes as Spurs registered a 2-0 win(Goal video). Thomas Frank seems to be impressed by the youngster, and as things stand, he’s unlikely to go out on loan. Another young Spurs centre back, Ashley Phillips, has rejoined Stoke on loan for the 25/26 season, which is a positive sign for Vuskovic staying in the PL this season.

Last season, he played for Jupiler Pro League club, KVS Westerlo, and picked up an impressive 7 goals and 2 assists in just 28 games. Although he might not be a guaranteed starter right away, he could make a claim to be in the Spurs 11 come GW1 vs Burnley if he continues to put in impressive performances in preseason games. Keep him in your £4.0 Million FPL defenders watchlist and follow Spurs preseason games closely!

Further Read: FPL Fixture Analysis for The 2025/26 FPL Season | PL Fixtures

Hickey, Brentford

• Position: LB/RB
• Previous Season Team: Brentford
• Brentford Clean Sheets in 2024/25 Premier League: 8(Joint 12th)

Hickey 2024/25 Stats(Premier League):

• Appearances– N/A (Injured all season)

Hickey 2023/24 Stats(Premier League):

• Appearances– 9(0)
• Goal Contributions– 0
• xGI/90- 0.05

Hickey Defensive Contribution Stats(CBIT) in 2023/24:

• Clearance per 90– 1.2
• Blocks per 90– 0.4
• Interceptions per 90– 0.4
• Tackles per 90- 2.0
• Total CBIT/90– 4.0

Hickey’s talent is undeniable, but the Bees full-back has been injured for close to two years and missed the whole of last season. He’s finally fit again and would look to feature regularly for Brentford. However, he’s got competition at RB with Kayode(4.5 Mil), who was impressive last season, having initially arrived on loan in the January window, Brentford have since then signed him permanently.

Hickey has only played at RB for Brentford, but he is two-footed and capable of playing at LB too. In the early days of his career, he has played at LB both in Bolanga & Hearts. Hickey has got competition for the LB role too with Brentford already having Henry & Lewis-Potter. Do have Hickey in your £4.0 Million FPL Defenders watchlist and see if he features regularly in pre-season games.

Further Read: List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 25/26 Season

Other £4.0 Million FPL Defenders to Monitor:

• Ki-Jana Hoever: Plays RB. Semedo and Ait Nouri have left the club. Wolves are looking for a new full-back signing. If no one signs, he could be an option. Watch out for pre-season. He already started both the pre-season games for Wolves and even got an assist.
• Alex Moreno: Difficult to get minutes with Digne, Maatsen far ahead. Option if he moves to another PL club.
• Quilindschy Hartman: Burnley’s new LB signing – Very attacking and exciting player. One of Arne Slot’s products. Played only 12 games for Feyenoord last season due to injury. In the 2022/23 season, he got 5 assists from 26 apps.
• Julián Araujo: Cherries RB, featured in a few games last season and could emerge as the starting RB ahead of Smith & Cook.
• James Hill: Featured in a few games for Bournemouth last season and likely to get minutes for Bournemouth if Zabarnyi leaves and they don’t sign a CB.

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2025/26 FPL Season

FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season
2025/26 FPL Season- New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL? 
List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 25/26 Season
Initial FPL GW1 Drafts for the 25/26 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
2025/26 FanTeam Season Game Strategy Guide | EPL Fantasy
FanTeam EPL Fantasy Season Game Drafts with Keynotes
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season
Underpriced FPL Assets at Each ‘Big Six’ Club | 25/26 Season
FPL 2025/26 Team Structure and Planning based on Fixtures
FPL Fixture Analysis for The 2025/26 FPL Season | PL Fixtures
2025/26 Premier League Clubs Pre Season Friendlies Fixtures List
Funny & Creative FPL Team Names for the 2025/26 Season

If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.

Link to all our 2025/26 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!

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