Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders for the 2024/25 FPL Season

Salah, Haaland, Palmer, Watkins, Saka are obviously some of the most popular FPL options ahead of the 24/25 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 2024/25 season who are likely to start most games.

Link to all our 2024/25 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 for the 2024/25 FPL Season

Note: The article will be updated as per the latest Transfer news and Injury news as there are chances for more 4.0 million Defenders during the pre-season. So don’t forget to Bookmark/Save the article and check it closer to GW1 again!

Guaranteed starters – £4.0 Million FPL Defenders

Taylor Harwood-Bellis

• Matches played last season: 43
• Goal Involvements: 2 goals, 3 assists
• Position: CB

If you are looking for a 4.0 million defender who is nailed to start, it has to be Harwood-Bellis. Harwood- Bellis started 43 games for Southampton in the Championship and got 2 goals, and 3 assists as well. He was one of the key players for Saints last season who kept 12 clean sheets in 46 games.

Southampton’s promotion to the Premier League has also triggered a £ 20 million permanent transfer move for Harwood Bellis from Manchester City. This means that he is going nowhere ahead of the season.

Harwood Bellis also captained England to a European Championship triumph in August 2023 in a team that had the likes of Gibbs White, Smith Rowe, Gordon, Cole Palmer, etc- This shows the quality of the youngster and how much he is ready for Premier League football.

Harwood-Bellis/Southampton Defenders also rotate well with only 2/13 games vs Last season Top 10 teams if you rotate them as per below. If you are interested in more such rotations check this out->FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations For The 2024/25 FPL Season

Pre-season update:

Harwood Bellis featured in all of the Southampton’s friendlies so far with playing minutes of – 45, 62, 45, 30, 80 from the 5 games. He also scored in one of these games when Saints beat Montpellier 3-1.

Fantasy Football Hub(FFHUB)

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Jan Bednarek

• Matches played last season: 45
• Goal Involvements: 2 goals
• Position: CB

Bednarek was the center-back partner along with Harwood Bellis as Southampton won promotion to the Premier League. The 28-year-old Poland defender started 45 appearances in the Championship which included 42 starts and is expected to first choice once again in the Premier League. There are rumors that he might leave and if that happens Bella-Kotchap(£4.0m) should be on our watchlist.

Pre-Season Update:

Bednarek featured in the last 3 friendlies for Southampton with playing time of 45, 30 and 45 minutes respectively.

Throwback to the 2020/21 season when Bednarek got -7 points in a single GW vs Manchester United. He got an own goal, and a red card and Saints conceded 9 goals in that game as well. Hopefully, Bednarek makes FPL headlines for the right reasons this time around.

Further Read: 2024/25 FPL Season- New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?

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Wout Faes

• Matches played last season: 43
• Goal Involvements: 2 goals
• Position: CB

Faes started 43 games in the Championship for Leicester and was one of the key players for them. He also got 2 goals. Even with a change in manager- Maresca to Steve Cooper, Faes is a quality player and should keep his place. Leicester City conceded 41 goals from 46 games in Championship last season- Least among all the teams. They also kept 15 clean sheets during this time.

Pre-Season Update: Wout Faes played 61 minutes in the latest 1-0 friendly loss to Augsburg. He did not take part in the first 3 games as he was given a break after the Euros.

Vestergaard(4.0) is also a good option and was the center-back pair with Faes last season. However, with a new manager in charge, we need to wait and watch in pre-season.

Further Read: Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders For The 2024/25 FPL Season

Ben Johnson

• Matches played last season: 14
• Goal Involvements: 0 goals/0 assists
• Position: RB/LB

Ben Johnson has completed his move from West Ham to Ipswich Town. Even though he played only 14 games for West Ham in the Premier League last season(4 starts, 10 sub appearances), His versatile nature and Premier League experience should come in handy for enough minutes. Johnson can play anywhere in defense(RB, LB, CB) as well.

Pre-Season update: Ben Johnson featured as right back in all three of Ipswich friendlies so far playing 90, 80 and 45 minutes respectively.

Further Read: Initial FPL GW1 Drafts For The 24/25 FPL Season With Pros & Cons

Jacob Greaves

• Matches played last season: 43
• Goal Involvements: 2 goals, 4 assists
• Position: CB

Greaves has been signed by Ipswich Town from Hull City for £15million. The 23-year-old center back started 43 games for Hull City last season and had 6 goal contributions as well- 2 goals, 4 assists. He is very likely to get a starting place in the Ipswich team.

Pre-Season update: Greaves featured as LCB in all three of the friendly games for Ipswich so far playing 45 minutes in all three games.

£4.0 Million FPL Defenders Round up from Ipswich Town:

Cameron Burgess(£4.0m) and Luke Woolfenden(£4.0m) were the first-choice center-half pairing for Ipswich in the Championship with 38 and 40 starts respectively. Greaves is likely to take up the LCB spot from Burgess. Woolfenden and Tuanzebe(4.0) will be in contention for the RCB slot. Ben Johnson is likely to slot in as RB with Tuanzebe providing stiff competition there as well. Watch out for the pre-season-friendly games so that we will have a better idea.

Further Read: 2024/25 FPL Season – Teams & Players to Target | Fixture Analysis

Potential starters – £4.0 Million FPL Defenders

Caleb Okoli

• Matches played last season: 34
• Goal Involvements: 1 assist
• Position: CB

Caleb Okoli played 34 games for Frosinone in Serie A- On loan from Atlanta last season. He might start ahead of Vestergaard at center back or could join on the left of a back 3 under the new manager Steve Cooper. Watch out for the pre-season games to find out how Leicester lineup and where Okoli slots in.

Pre-Season update: Okoli played as left center back in the first 3 games for Leicester City- 60, 45 and 84 minutes respectively. However he dropped to bench in the 4th game playing just 29 minutes as regular center back Faes returned to take the starting spot.

Further Read: Initial FPL GW1 Drafts For The 24/25 FPL Season With Pros & Cons

Yerson Mosquera

• Matches played last season: 16(14 starts)
• Goal Involvements: 2 goals, 1 assist
• Position: CB

Mosquera played the second half of last season on loan at Villarreal where he made 16 appearances(14 starts). He got 3 goal contributions- 2 goals, and 1 assist from just 14 starts at Villarreal which are good numbers for a 4.0 million defender. The 23-year-old Colombian defender plays as a center-back and could also play as an RB if needed. With Kilman leaving, He might start as a center-back.

Pre-season update: Mosquera played the majority of pre-season with his minutes from pre-season reading as – 45, 60, 63, 0, 77 across the 5 games.

Further Read: Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders For The 2024/25 FPL Season

Valentín Barco

• Matches played last season: 6(3 starts)
• Goal Involvements: 0
• Position: LB

FPL Favourite Estupinan is ruled out for the first 2 months after ankle surgery. This could open up an opportunity for Barco- The Argentinian youth star was not used much by RDZ but Barco could start under new manager Hurzeler. Barco started 3 out of the last 6 games for Brighton in PL last season and is rated highly. He also made his senior debut for Argentina just at the age of 19 in March this year.

Pre-Season Update:

• Match 1: Barco played 45 minutes in the 5-1 win over Kashima Antlers and took some corners too.

• Match 2: 45 minutes vs Tokyo Verdy in the 4-2
• Match 3: Missed the game vs QPR due to a minor fitness issue. Baleba played as LB and Brighton manager mentioned that Baleba is an option at LB.

Imagine a very talented and attacking defender for 4.0 million playing for Brighton- Barco could be a FPL gem if he nails down a starting spot.

Further Read: Initial FPL GW1 Drafts For The 24/25 FPL Season With Pros & Cons

Other £4.0 Million FPL Defenders to keep an eye on during pre-season:

• Charlie Taylor
• Targett(if he moves to another PL club)
• Keane(if Branthwaite leaves late in the window)
• Holgate( if loaned out)
• Pedro Lima( Semedo suspended for first 3 games, but Doherty is still there)
• Aaron Cresswell

Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2024/25 FPL Season

FPL Gameweek 1 Articles:
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks(<10% TSB) To Target Ahead Of GW1 Deadline
FPL GW1 Scout Selection- Top Picks for GW1 with Stats and Analysis
Best FPL Drafts with Salah + Haaland with Pros/Cons and Key Notes
AllAboutFPL FPL GW1 Team Reveal with Key Notes
Top FPL Gameweek 1 Captain Picks Based on Analysis & Metrics
FPL Team Structure Analysis with Drafts and Ratings
FPL GW1 Tips- Best Formations & Structure, Haaland + Mo?, More

Must Read articles:
Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2024/25 PL Season
2024/25 Pre-Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
Best FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations for 2024/25 FPL Season
Best FPL Budget Enablers For The 2024-25 FPL Season
List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 24/25 Season
List of Creative FPL Team Names for the 2024/25 FPL Season
Best £6.5m FPL Midfielders Comparison For 2024/25 FPL Season
Team wise Best FPL Differentials(<10% TSB) for the 2024/25 Season
Best Liverpool FPL Assets to Target for FPL GW1
2024/25 FPL Season – Teams & Players to Target | Fixture Analysis
Best FPL Picks Outside Top 6 Teams | 2024/25 FPL Season
2024/25 FPL Season- New Rules & Changes | What’s New in FPL?
Players to Avoid in FPL GW1 Drafts
Underpriced FPL Assets from Traditional Big 6 Teams
Ultimate 2024/25 FPL Pre-Season Guide: Tips, Preview & More

GW1 Drafts and Analysis:
AllAboutFPL FPL GW1 Team Reveal with Key Notes
204/25 Season FPL Team Structure Guide with Drafts & Ratings
Best FPL Drafts with Salah + Haaland with Pros/Cons and Key Notes
Initial FPL GW1 Drafts for the 24/25 FPL Season with Pros & Cons

Position-Wise Analysis:
Defenders and Goal Keepers series:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2024/25 FPL Season
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders For The 2024/25 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2024/25 FPL Season
Best £5-5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2024/25 FPL Season
Best Premium FPL Defenders for the 2024/25 FPL Season(>=6.0 million)

Midfielders Series:
Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 – £12.5 Million) | 24/25 Season
Best Mid-Priced FPL Midfielders (£6.5 -£7.5 Million) | 24/25 Season
£4.5 Million FPL Midfielders Watchlist for the 2024/25 FPL Season
Best Budget FPL Midfielders (£5.0 -£6.0 Million) | 24/25 Season

Forwards Series:
Best Premium FPL Forwards Analysis Ahead Of 2024/25 Season
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £5.5 Million) | 24/25 FPL Season
Best FPL Mid Priced Forwards (£6 – £7 Million) | 24-25 Season
Best FPL Mid Priced Forwards (£7.5 – £8 Million) | 24-25 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 2024/25 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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