After looking at the forwards and midfielders, we complete the position-by-position deep dive with defenders. And this is probably the position where the 2026/27 pricing has created the most interesting decisions.
This blog is part of our price point analysis series written by @BakchodFpl (Do give him a follow!)
- Best FPL Defenders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
- Best FPL Midfielders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
- Best FPL Forwards at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
At the top, Gabriel is now an £8.0m defender after producing one of the greatest FPL seasons ever from a player in this position. Below him, we have several £6.0m–£6.5m options who can offer a combination of clean sheets, attacking returns and defensive contribution points.
But the really interesting part comes further down. The introduction of defensive contribution points last season changed the way we assess centre-backs. A defender no longer needs to keep a clean sheet or score from a corner to have a good FPL Gameweek. Reaching the defensive contribution threshold can provide an additional two points even when the clean sheet disappears.
That makes certain centre-backs much more attractive than they were previously. And then, of course, there are the attacking full-backs. A £5.0m defender who plays like a midfielder can completely change the economics of an FPL squad.
So, as with the forwards and midfielders, let’s go from the most expensive defenders down to the budget options, looking at the players who stand out at each price point.
Link to all our 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, best drafts, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
Top FPL Defenders at every Price Point
£8.0m – Gabriel
There is only one player here – Gabriel.
And while £8.0m is an enormous amount to spend on a defender, there is a fairly simple argument for doing it. Gabriel was the highest-scoring defender in FPL last season, finishing with 209 points. That was not only comfortably the best score among defenders in 2025/26, but the third-highest total ever recorded by a defender in FPL.
The £8.0m price tag is therefore not particularly surprising. What makes Gabriel so appealing is that his points came from almost everywhere. Arsenal kept 18 clean sheets in his 30 starts. He added three goals and five assists, while also collecting 22 defensive contribution points.
And perhaps most importantly, he was incredibly consistent. He blanked in only six of his 30 starts last season. The clean sheets should continue to be a major part of his appeal. Arsenal had the strongest defensive numbers in the league last season, and their opening run isn’t exactly a reason to worry either. They host Coventry in Gameweek 1 and also face Sunderland and Leeds during the first six Gameweeks.
There is also the set-piece threat. Gabriel is one of the most dangerous defenders in the league when attacking corners and free-kicks, which gives him a ceiling that most centre-backs simply don’t possess.
The biggest problem is the price. At £8.0m, you’re paying a premium for something that is already reflected in the price. But I think there is a reasonable way to look at it. If Gabriel continues to average around seven points per start, you’re getting premium-midfielder-level output from a defender who you can comfortably play in almost every fixture.
For me, Gabriel is the standout premium defender. The question isn’t whether he’s good enough. It’s whether you can afford him.
Gabriel in pre-season: 4 Appearances, 170+ Minutes
£6.5m – Van Dijk, O’Reilly & Timber
This is where things get much more interesting. There are three very different options at £6.5m.
Virgil van Dijk – £6.5m
Van Dijk is probably the safest option here. He finished 2025/26 with 175 FPL points, making him the third-highest scoring defender, despite Liverpool having a surprisingly poor defensive season. That is a pretty important point. Liverpool conceded 53 goals, but their underlying defensive numbers were considerably better than the actual goals conceded suggested.
Van Dijk still managed six goals, the most among defenders, while also collecting 30 defensive contribution points. The attacking threat from set pieces remains one of his biggest strengths. He consistently gets into dangerous positions at corners and free-kicks, and when Liverpool improve defensively, the clean-sheet points should follow.
The opening fixtures are another reason to consider him. Liverpool have Newcastle (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Ipswich (A) and Fulham (H) among their first four matches. At £6.5m, you’re essentially paying for one of the safest routes into the Liverpool defence. If you want reliability over explosiveness, Van Dijk is the pick.
Van Dijk in pre-season: 2 Appearance, 120+ minutes.
Further Read: Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2026/27 PL Season
Nico O’Reilly – £6.5m
If Van Dijk is the safe option, O’Reilly is the high-ceiling option. The Manchester City defender had a very productive 2025/26 season, scoring five goals and providing four assists. But the attacking returns only tell part of the story.
O’Reilly frequently moves into advanced positions and, depending on how Enzo Maresca sets up City, there is even the possibility of him operating almost like an extra midfielder – as could be seen in the Community Shield game against Arsenal.
That is where the FPL upside becomes very interesting. City should also provide plenty of clean-sheet opportunities, while their opening fixtures contain several attractive home matches. They host Bournemouth, Coventry, Sunderland, Ipswich and Brighton within the first 10 Gameweeks.
The problem is obvious. Minutes. City have plenty of defensive options, and even if O’Reilly is expected to start regularly, we know better than to assume any City defender is completely safe – Aït-Nouri could also take up this role.
But if he nails down that role? I think he has the potential to be one of the highest-scoring defenders in the game. High risk, high reward – definitely my favourite £6.5m defenders. He had the highest npxG/90 among the 6.5m defenders – 0.21.
Fantasy Football Hub(FFHUB) Free AI Team Rating Tool
Jurrien Timber – £6.5m
Timber is the other Arsenal option at this price – however he is expected to be back from injury only by September or October. Once he is back, his appeal is fairly straightforward though. You’re buying into one of the best defences in the league, but with more attacking upside than a traditional centre-back.
Timber is comfortable carrying the ball forward and getting involved around the opposition box, while Arsenal’s dominance should give him plenty of opportunities to collect clean sheets and bonus points. The obvious question is minutes. With Arsenal’s defence having several options, and with Timber capable of playing in multiple positions, there is always some rotation risk.
But if he is clearly first choice at right-back, £6.5m could look very reasonable.
Further Read: FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Before going further do vote in this week’s captaincy poll
£6.0m – Guehi, Senesi, Tarkowski & Lacroix
This is probably the most interesting defensive price bracket. You have defenders from Manchester City, Everton, Arsenal and other sides who all offer different routes to points.
Marc Guehi – £6.0m
Guehi is coming off a fantastic FPL season. He finished with 179 points, which made him the second-highest scoring defender only behind Gabriel’s monster campaign. He also produced three goals and five assists and collected defensive contribution points in 11 matches.
Now he gets a full season at Manchester City after his move in January this year. The question (like most of these defenders) is whether he gets the minutes at the start of the season. City have several high-quality centre-backs, and Gvardiol is still around after signing a new contract. That means I wouldn’t treat Guehi as completely nailed just because he’s £6.0m – he hasn’t played in pre-season and didn’t start the Community Shield game either.
But if he starts regularly, the combination of last season’s output and City’s defensive potential is very attractive. One of the best upside picks at £6.0m.
Further Read: AK FPL’s Final GW1 Draft & Team Reveal | 3x Top 5K Finishes
Marcos Senesi – £6.0m
Senesi is one of the players who has made the defensive contribution system particularly interesting. He was among the strongest defenders for defensive contribution points last season (11.39 CBIT/90), and his profile suggests that this wasn’t simply a short-term spike. The big question is the move to a more possession-heavy side – Spurs.
If he doesn’t have as much defending to do, his defensive contribution numbers could fall. But the flip side is that his new club should offer better clean-sheet potential. That’s the trade-off. More clean sheets, potentially fewer DefCon points.
If the balance works, Senesi could be an excellent £6.0m option – wait and watch for me at the moment.
Further Read: Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of GW1 Deadline
James Tarkowski – £6.0m
If there was a competition for the most boring-but-effective FPL defender, Tarkowski would probably win it. And I mean that as a compliment. He isn’t particularly exciting. He just keeps finding ways to score points.
Tarkowski was among the very best defenders for defensive contribution points last season, reaching the threshold 22 times – 10.19 CBIT/90. He also added two goals, three assists and 11 clean sheets. That gives him several different routes to a respectable score even when Everton concede.
He may not have the attacking ceiling of O’Reilly or Timber. But if you’re looking for a defender who can simply keep accumulating points, Tarkowski is one of the safest options in this price range.
Further Read: FPL GW1 Scout Picks Based on Stats, Analysis and Matchups
Maxence Lacroix – £6.0m
Lacroix is another player where the move to a stronger defensive environment could make a big difference. His defensive contribution numbers were excellent last season, averaging around 11 DefCon actions per 90. The move to Chelsea should mean fewer defensive actions overall, but considerably better clean-sheet potential.
So again, we’re looking at a trade-off. If he remains a regular starter, the clean sheets could compensate for the reduction in defensive work. The big question is exactly that: Will he start regularly? At £6.0m, I would want that answer before investing.
Further Read: Best Budget FPL Midfielders for 26/27 Season | £4.5m to £6.0m
£5.5m – Mukiele, Calafiori, Gvardiol, Mosquera & Others
This is probably my favourite overall defensive price point. There are a lot of players here who could become excellent value.
Nordi Mukiele – £5.5m
Mukiele is one of my favourite differentials in the entire defender pool.
The Sunderland defender combines three things we want:
– Clean-sheet potential.
– Defensive contributions.
– Attacking returns.
Sunderland had one of the better defensive records in the league last season, conceding only 48 goals. Mukiele himself contributed three goals and five assists and had a respectable defensive contribution success rate.
The opening fixtures are also appealing enough to make him interesting immediately. The biggest issue is whether he is definitely starting. He is expected to return for Sunderland’s opening match against Ipswich Town. If that is confirmed, Mukiele could become one of the best £5.5m defenders in the game.
Further Read: FPL GW1 Bench Boost Drafts -BB1 vs BB2 vs Later | 26/27 Season
Riccardo Calafiori – £5.5m
Calafiori has the obvious Arsenal advantage. You’re buying into one of the best defensive teams in the league at £2.5m less than Gabriel. And unlike a traditional centre-back, he offers genuine attacking potential. He just scored within the first minute against Manchester City in the Community Shield game.
He’s comfortable carrying the ball forward and can contribute goals and assists. The only question is minutes. If Arsenal’s defensive situation settles in his favour, Calafiori could become an extremely attractive way into the defence. There could be early substitutions though with Hincapie coming in at his position. However, the upside via attacking potential is quite high.
Further Read: 2026/27 PL Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams
Josko Gvardiol – £5.5m
Gvardiol is one of the most intriguing defenders at this price. Last season was disappointing in terms of minutes, with only 16 starts, but his per-game output was still strong. He averaged 4.4 points per game, which placed him among the better defenders when looking at output rather than total points.
And we know he has attacking potential. Gvardiol is comfortable getting forward and has already demonstrated that he can score goals from advanced positions. The big question is again Manchester City. If O’Reilly, Guehi and the other options all compete for minutes, Gvardiol could become frustrating. Maresca has mentioned though that he is one of the pillars for Manchester City, alongside Haaland and Foden.
But at £5.5m, the upside is significant. A very interesting City defender if the starting role becomes clear.
Further Read: Top Mid Priced & Premium FPL Forwards(>6.0) for 2026/27 season
Cristhian Mosquera – £5.5m
Mosquera was perhaps the simplest option here (before the Konsa announcement). He seems to be nailed at least for the first few weeks though, till Konsa (at only 4.5m) settles in. The reason is Arsenal. His defensive contribution numbers were extremely strong last season, comparable with Gabriel on a per-90 basis, while Arsenal’s clean-sheet potential gives him an excellent floor
Pre Season update: Mosquera starts as Gabriel’s CB partner, Calafiori starts at LB against Man City in the Community Shield game.
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Further Read: How Chelsea could line-up under Xabi Alonso for 2026/27 season
Ben White – £5.5m
White is another interesting Arsenal differential. His route into the team becomes much clearer while Timber is unavailable, and he brings the attacking profile we have seen from him over previous seasons. I don’t think he’s necessarily a season-long pick. But for the opening Gameweeks, if he is clearly starting (which does look like), £5.5m could be very useful.
Fewer appearances last season for White (12) which is why the numbers are weaker than Calafiori but the attacking potential is definitely there.
Further Read: Best FPL Midfielders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
£5.0m – Neco Williams, Vuskovic, Van Hecke, Maguire & More
This is probably the most competitive budget bracket.
Neco Williams – £5.0m
Williams is one of my favourite £5.0m defenders. And not simply because of the clean-sheet potential. He had 46 shots last season, the most among defenders, while also finishing near the top for crosses, chances created and bonus points.
That’s a very healthy attacking profile for a defender. Now add Oliver Glasner. If Williams is used as an advanced wing-back, his attacking potential could increase considerably. We’ve already seen what Glasner’s system can do for attacking full-backs (read Munoz).
The fixtures also help. Forest face Leeds at home in Gameweek 1, followed by Tottenham and Coventry among their first five. At £5.0m, that combination of attacking intent, defensive contribution potential and fixtures is very appealing.
✅1st for Shots & Shots on Target among DEFs last season
✅4th for Chances created & Bonus among DEFs
✅Glasner wing-back in a 3 atb system
✅Full Pre-Season
✅Share of corners & set pieces
The main risk is the new manager. We don’t know exactly how the system will look once competitive football starts. But if Williams is playing high up the pitch, he could be a fantastic FPL pick.
Further Read: 2026/2027 FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings
Luka Vuskovic – £5.0m
Vuskovic is one of the most exciting defenders in the game. He scored six goals during his loan spell in Germany last season, which immediately tells you there is significant attacking potential for a centre-back. But what makes him particularly interesting is the defensive contribution profile.
He averaged around 12.5 defensive contribution actions per 90 last season. If he can replicate even a decent portion of that in the Premier League, the extra points could add up quickly. And Brighton’s set pieces could make him even more dangerous.
💎Vuskovic (£5.0)- Last season in Bundesliga:
- 28 Games
- 12.1 DEFCON/90
- 6 Goals, 2 Assists
- 5.68 xGI
Pre season update: Vuskovic hit the DEFCON in just 60 minutes in their last friendly game. He is a DEFCON magnet as seen in Bundesliga last season.
The problem is the most important one: minutes. I can’t believe how many times I have written down this concern for defenders in this article. I don’t want to pick a £5.0m defender purely because the numbers from another league look good. If Vuskovic nails down the starting role, however, I think he becomes one of the most exciting defenders in this price bracket.
Further Read: Best FPL Forwards at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
Jan Paul van Hecke – £5.0m
Van Hecke is a much safer proposition. He scored 148 points last season, the best total among £5.0m defenders, while also providing three goals, three assists and 30 defensive contribution points.
His FPL value was excellent. The issue is the move to Tottenham. Spurs’ defensive record was poor for long periods last season, so we’re relying on a significant improvement (which did improve under De Zerbi towards the end of last season).
Van Hecke should still get defensive contribution opportunities, but the clean-sheet upside is much less obvious. A good player at an interesting price, but the team context makes me cautious.
Pre Season update: Van Hecke looks to be really good for DEFCON under De Zerbi, in their last friendly vs Hoffenheim, he hit DEFCON in just 65 minutes (finishing with 12 DEFCONs). He partnered Senesi who managed only 4 DEFCONs.
Further Read: Best Mid-Price FPL Midfielders for the 26/27 Season | £6.5 to 7.5M
Harry Maguire – £5.0m
Maguire is one of my favourite differentials at this price. He only started 19 matches last season but still scored 90 FPL points. On a per-start basis, his numbers were considerably better than you might expect.
His defensive contribution numbers were strong, and he has genuine attacking threat from set pieces. Then there are the fixtures. Manchester United start with Hull and Ipswich. If Maguire is close to nailed (which does look like given the pre-season games), I think there is a very strong case for picking him over a £4.5m United defender like Shaw.
Other option to consider – Muharemovic(5.0)
Are you looking for the next DEFCON monster, look no further, Muharemovic is your man! The Bosnian central defender averaged 10.86 defensive contributions in Seria A last season and a massive 17.65 at the World Cup over the summer – he’ll be replacing Struijk in that Leeds backline, a defender who averaged 9.07 defensive contributions for Leeds last season (0.8 DEFCON/90). While Bijol did in fact outperform Struijk in this department (1.05 DC/90), he made just 21 appearances for Leeds last season and was not a consistent starter over the whole season. Muharemovic, having been bought from Serie A for around £35 million, will surely start consistently for Farke’s side.
£4.5m – Shaw, Robinson, Hume & the Budget Options
This is where the decision gets particularly interesting. There are several £4.5m defenders who could potentially provide much more than their price suggests.
Luke Shaw – £4.5m
Shaw is probably the safest option. He started all 38 Premier League matches last season (highest minutes across all Manchester United players), which is remarkable considering his previous injury history. The attacking numbers aren’t particularly exciting. He scored once and provided one assist.
But that isn’t necessarily what we’re buying him for. Manchester United had excellent underlying defensive numbers and have one of the best opening runs in the game, starting with Hull and Ipswich. So if you want a £4.5m defender who should simply start and give you access to United’s clean-sheet potential, Shaw makes a lot of sense.
Shaw in pre-season: 300+ minutes, 6 appearances
Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2026/27 FPL Season
Antonee Robinson – £4.5m
Robinson is the higher-ceiling option. His attacking numbers are excellent for this price. He averaged around 1.3 chances created per 90, had a respectable expected goal involvement figure and also produced enough defensive actions to offer some DefCon potential. And we already know the attacking output isn’t theoretical. He had a 10-assist Premier League season in 2024/25.
The problem is the team context. Fulham have a new manager and a difficult opening fixture run. So while Shaw is the safer option, Robinson could have the bigger upside.
Further Read: Best £6m Forwards Comparison for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Trai Hume – £4.5m
Hume is probably the most interesting budget punt. The reason? He has been playing as a right winger during pre-season. If Sunderland continue to use him in that position, you could have a £4.5m defender who is effectively playing as an attacker. That’s exactly the sort of FPL mispricing we want to find. He is also among the 3 players to have played maximum minutes for Sunderland in pre-season (396 minutes), alongside Reinildo and O’Nein. He has also scored 2 goals and got an assist.
Hume in Pre-Season so far: 2 Goals, 1 Assist. Played as a winger initially. Played RB in the final friendly game.
Hume already had decent attacking numbers last season, with 34 shots and 87 crosses. He’s also started regularly and has already produced attacking returns during pre-season. The obvious problem is that Sunderland could still sign a natural right winger and move him back into defence. So this is one I would monitor right up until the deadline. If Hume starts on the wing, he could be one of the best £4.5m punts in the game.
Further Read: 2026/27 FPL Chip Strategy Guide – First Half of the Season
Ferdi Kadioglu – £4.5m
Kadioglu is probably the more conventional value pick. He scored 118 points last season and started 34 matches, while his underlying attacking numbers were considerably better than his one goal and two assists suggest. His expected goal involvement was strong for a £4.5m defender, and Brighton finished last season with an excellent defensive record.
The concern is rotation. Brighton have European football and several options at full-back. But if Kadioglu is starting regularly, he offers a very good combination of attacking potential and clean-sheet access.
Further Read: Ultimate DEFCON Analysis: Top Players & Best Opponents to Target
De Cuyper – £4.5m
De Cuyper could be one of the more interesting £4.5m defenders if Brighton’s injury situation continues to work in his favour. With Yankuba Minteh potentially out for two to three months and Kaoru Mitoma also dealing with an injury, Brighton could be short of their usual wide options. That could push De Cuyper further forward, with the Belgian already having experience playing as a left winger last season.
Despite limited minutes, he still managed two goals and three assists, while his underlying numbers were particularly impressive. De Cuyper created nine big chances, the most of any defender, and ranked sixth among defenders for expected goal involvement with 5.95 xGI. The key attraction is that playing further forward wouldn’t necessarily remove his clean-sheet potential. He would still be classified as a defender in FPL while potentially operating much higher up the pitch.
If Hurzeler continues using him in the wide role, De Cuyper could become one of the most intriguing £4.5m defenders in the game. The opening fixtures are also reasonable, with Chelsea and Arsenal the main difficult matches in the first seven Gameweeks.
Further Read: Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 – £12.0 Million) | 26/27 Season
Rodon – £4.5m
Rodon is a very different proposition, but one that I think is worth considering at £4.5m. The main attraction is Defensive Contributions. He averaged 8.35 defensive contributions per 90 minutes last season and also recorded 15 headed attempts, giving him some potential attacking threat from set pieces.
The important thing with DefCon, though, is that the points are awarded based on what a player does in an individual match. A high season-long average doesn’t automatically mean he will collect the extra points every week. That said, Rodon’s numbers suggest he should be among the more reliable £4.5m defenders for reaching the threshold. He also offers plenty of security from a minutes perspective, having featured in 35 of Leeds’ 38 league matches last season.
Leeds’ opening run is another positive, with Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace among their first five. The clean-sheet potential may not be enough to make Rodon the standout defender in this bracket, but his ability to score through defensive contributions means he isn’t completely dependent on clean sheets.
Rodon in Pre-Season: 6 Appearances, 400+ Minutes and 2 Assists
Further Read: Eight Simple FPL Tips to Secure a High Rank | 26/27 Season
Ajer – £4.5m
Ajer has suddenly become a much more interesting FPL option following the news that Sepp van den Berg is expected to miss the start of the season. That should give Ajer a much clearer route into Brentford’s starting XI alongside Nathan Collins. And that’s important because Ajer’s defensive numbers were considerably better when he played at centre-back.
He hit the DefCon threshold in nine of his 14 starts at centre-back last season, while averaging around 9.6 defensive contributions p er 90 across the campaign.His overall numbers were brought down by the fact that around half of his starts came at full-back, but the centre-back numbers suggest there is genuine potential here.
At £4.5m, regular starts combined with a realistic route to defensive contribution points makes him an interesting budget pick. Brentford’s opening fixtures also include Leeds away and Sunderland at home, giving Ajer a couple of opportunities to produce early clean-sheet points.
Ajer in pre-season: Played the final pre-season game as a CB and is expected to start GW1 there.
Further Read: Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
£4.0m – The Enablers
And finally, the £4.0m defenders. This is where the promoted teams become particularly important.
Bobby Thomas – £4.0m
If I had to pick one £4.0m defender purely on profile, Thomas would be near the top of my list. He produced three goals and four assists in the Championship last season and also had respectable defensive contribution numbers. That gives him multiple routes to points. He should start alongside Aurèle Amenda’s for Coventry. He had the sixth highest minutes in preseason for Coventry – 300 minutes.
Bobby Thomas Numbers in the Championship last season:
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 4
- xG: 2.89
- Shots:37
- Shots on target: 11
- Headed Shots: 29
- xA: 3.38
- Big chances created: 5
- Chances created: 28
- Clean Sheets: 17
- DEFCONs per 90: 8.56
Further Read: Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for 2026/27 FPL Season
Milan van Ewijk – £4.0m
Van Ewijk is probably the safer Coventry option. He started 43 Championship matches last season and produced eight assists, the most of any Coventry player. He also created 46 chances. That’s an excellent attacking profile for a £4.0m defender. The downside is that his defensive contribution numbers aren’t particularly strong. So you’re buying him for attacking returns rather than DefCon points. If you’re looking for a £4.0m defender with genuine assist potential, Van Ewijk is one of the best options. He also had the fourth highest minutes in preseason for Coventry – 330 minutes.
Van Ewijk Numbers in the Championship last season:
- Assists: 8
- xA: 5.92
- Big chances created: 10
- Chances created: 44
- Clean Sheets: 17
- DEFCONs per 90: 6.42
Further Read: Best Premium FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Leif Davis – £4.0m
Davis is another player who offers attacking upside. He has set-piece involvement and has looked particularly dangerous going forward during pre-season. He had the third highest minutes during pre-season, 368 minutes and got 2 goals and 2 assists as well. Definitely looks like a good short term punt.
Leif Davis numbers in the Championship last season:
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 4
- xG: 1.14
- Shots: 24
- Shots on target: 6
- xA: 8.90
- Big chances created: 14
- Chances created: 69
- Clean Sheets: 17
- DEFCONs per 90: 4.29
Further Read: FPL Fixture Analysis for The 2026/27 FPL Season | PL Fixtures
Dara O’Shea – £4.0m
O’Shea is another Ipswich defender worth monitoring. He started regularly in the Championship and has recently been used at right-back, which could increase his attacking potential. The big advantage is minutes, he had the second highest minutes for Ipswich in the pre-season games as well, also getting a goal and an assist.
Issa Diop – £4.0m
Diop is perhaps the most interesting Ipswich option from a defensive contribution perspective. He has Premier League experience and could see plenty of defensive action at Ipswich. He also has some set-piece threat due to his size.
Luke O’Nien – £4.0m
O’Nien could be useful if you’re specifically looking for a Gameweek 1 Bench Boost enabler. He’s unlikely to be a long-term option, but Sunderland’s defensive situation could give him a short-term route into the XI. His defensive contribution numbers aren’t spectacular, so you’re mainly buying minutes and fixture access. A short-term punt rather than a season-long pick, he had the highest minutes for Sunderland in preseason (396 minutes), same as Hume and Reinildo.
Further Read: 2026/27 FPL Season – New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
My Current Defender Pick at Each Price Point
If I had to select one defender from each bracket right now, my shortlist would look like this:
- £8.0m Gabriel
- £6.5m Nico O’Reilly
- £6.0m Tarkowski
- £5.5m Calafiori
- £5.0m Neco Williams / Harry Maguire
- £4.5m Luke Shaw / Rodon
- £4.0m Milan van Ewijk / Bobby Thomas
Conclusion
The defender position is probably the one where I would be most comfortable not spending heavily across the board. Gabriel is the obvious exception. At £8.0m, he’s expensive for a defender, but 209 points last season tells you why. His combination of clean sheets, set-piece threat, defensive contributions and attacking returns makes him one of the few defenders who can genuinely produce premium-level numbers.
Below him, I think there are much better ways to spend the money. Van Dijk is the reliable option at £6.5m, while O’Reilly has arguably the highest ceiling if his minutes are secure. At £6.0m, Guehi is particularly interesting because moving into the Manchester City defence gives him an obvious clean-sheet upgrade.
Then we get to £5.5m. And this is where I think the real value lies. Mosquera, Calafiori, White, Gvardiol and Mukiele all have routes to significantly outperforming their prices.
The key word is minutes. That’s especially true for Arsenal and Manchester City.
If one of the £5.5m Arsenal defenders becomes nailed, the decision to spend £8.0m on Gabriel becomes much more difficult. You could potentially get a large chunk of Arsenal’s defensive output for £2.5m less.
The £5.0m bracket is even more interesting. Neco Williams has the attacking profile. Vuskovic has the DefCon and set-piece upside. Maguire has the Manchester United fixtures and set-piece threat.
And then there are the £4.5m options. Shaw is the safe pick. Robinson has the attacking ceiling. And Hume is the wildcard. If Sunderland continue playing him as a winger, he could become one of those FPL picks that looks ridiculous on paper but makes complete sense once you watch the role.
Finally, the £4.0m defenders are going to be particularly important for managers trying to fit Haaland, Bruno and Gabriel into the same squad. The good news is that the promoted teams have given us several options.
But I wouldn’t rush to pick one simply because they are £4.0m. Minutes first. Everything else second. That’s probably my biggest takeaway from the defender pool this season.
With defensive contribution points now established, centre-backs have become much more interesting. But the best defenders still tend to be the ones with multiple routes to points: Clean sheets, Attacking returns, Defensive contributions, Minutes and Set pieces.
If a defender can offer three or four of those, I’m interested. And if he can do it while costing £5.0m or less? That’s the player I really want in my FPL squad.
Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Basics:
2026/27 FPL Season – New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
Best & Funny FPL Team Names for 2026/27 PL Season
GW1 Articles:
FPL GW1 Scout Selection based on Stats, Fixtures and Matchups
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Target Ahead of GW1 Deadline
2026/27 PL Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams
FPL Gameweek 1 Bench Boost Drafts- BB1 vs BB2 vs BB Later Analysis
2026/27 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
2026/27 Premier League Penalty and Set Piece Takers for all 20 Teams
Top FPL Gameweek 1 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics | 26/27 Season
Must Read Articles:
FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts, AI Team Rating, Formations, Pros, Cons and Key Notes
2026/27 Premier League Penalty and Set Piece Takers for all 20 Teams
Best FPL GW1 Drafts for the 26/27 FPL Season with Pros & Cons
FPL Chip Strategy Guide- Best Windows to Play Free Hit, Wildcard, Triple Captain and Bench Boost
Ultimate DEFCON Analysis: Top Players & Best Opponents to Target
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Eight Simple FPL Tips to Secure a High Rank | 26/27 Season
2026/27 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
FPL Fixture Analysis for 2026/27 Season- Teams with Best and Worst fixtures
Five Must Own Players in GW1 for FPL 2026/27 season
AK FPL’s Final GW1 Draft & Team Reveal | 3x Top 5K Finishes
How Chelsea could line-up under Xabi Alonso for 2026/27 season
FPL Players To Avoid in Your GW1 Drafts | 2026/27 FPL Season
Position Analysis:
GKs and Defenders Series:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target based on Stats and Fixtures
Best FPL Defenders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for 2026/27 FPL Season
Best Premium Defenders for 2026/27 season based on Stats and Fixtures
Best £5.0-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2026/27 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Best Value for Money Defenders and GKs for 2026/27 FPL season
Midfielders Series:
Best FPL Premium Midfielders(8.0-12.0) for 2026/27 FPL season
Best FPL Midfielders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season
Best Mid-Price FPL Midfielders for the 26/27 Season | £6.5 to 7.5M
Best Budget FPL Midfielders for 26/27 Season | £4.5m to £6.0m
Best Value for Money Midfielders for 2026/27 season
Forwards Series:
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 26/27 FPL Season
Best £6m Forwards Comparison for the 2026/27 FPL Season
Best FPL Premium and Mid-Priced Forwards (6.5 million and above) for 2026/27 season
Top Forwards at every price point for the 2026/27 FPL 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 2026/27 Pre-Season articles including all position-wise analysis, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
Thanks for reading the “Best FPL Defenders at Each Price Point for the 2026/27 Season” blog. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for regular blogs. Also, follow our 2,80,000+ community on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay updated on regular Posts and FPL updates.
What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 1 of the 2026/27 FPL Season?
We’ll be covering FPL team structures, must-own players, player comparisons, differential picks, fixture analysis, captaincy metrics, multiple FPL drafts with pros and cons, chip strategy, rules guide, beginners guide, FPL tips, and more. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for all our blogs and subscribe to our free newsletter through the link below. We’ll also be posting regularly about the same on our social media accounts, so follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, and Facebook keep our notifications ON.
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