Best FPL Budget Enablers For The 2025-26 FPL Season

The 2025/26 FPL season has launched, and finding the right budget picks is crucial for building a balanced squad. Whether you’re looking to fund premium assets or simply find value in the market, these Budget Gems could be the difference between a good season and a great one. Here’s our comprehensive breakdown of the best budget options across all positions. Having them in our GW1 teams (or at least in our plans) permits some degree of flexibility to make room for the big hitters. With that, Let’s take a look at some of the Best FPL Budget Enablers across positions for the 2025/26 season!

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 FPL Budget Enablers

FPL Budget Enablers – Goalkeepers (£4.5m & £4.0m)

FPL has managed to price the goalkeepers at an annoyingly competitive price range. They have nailed the distinction between the £5 and £4.5 bracket. This makes picking the right GK extremely difficult.

Djordje Petrović (£4.5m) – AFC Bournemouth

FPL Budget Enablers - Goalkeepers (£4.5m & £4.0m) - Djordje Petrović (£4.5m)

The Serbian shot-stopper has joined Bournemouth as their new number one and represents excellent value at £4.5m. In his time at Strasbourg last season, Petrović was impressive, recording 10 clean sheets in 31 appearances. His distribution is outstanding – he led all Ligue 1 goalkeepers for both touches (1,736) and successful passes (1,117) in 2024/25.

At Bournemouth, his shot-stopping ability should allow him to rack up save points even if clean sheets are limited. The outfield distribution stats, coupled with save points, puts him more likely to gather bonus points. The only caveat, however, remains the effect of several departures from Bournemouth – Kerkez, Huijsen, and potentially Zabarnyi.

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Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.5m) – Brentford

FPL Budget Enablers - Goalkeepers (£4.5m & £4.0m) - Kelleher

After years as Liverpool’s backup, Kelleher finally gets his chance as a Premier League number one. His record during limited appearances at Liverpool was exceptional – averaging 4.5 points per game in 2024/25, and a penalty save.

Brentford’s tactical approach under their system allows goalkeepers to rack up saves, as they limit opponents to low-quality chances while conceding volume shots. They conceded 2nd most shots (647), of which only 80 were big chances (7th in league), making the % of big chances of total chances conceded only ~ 12.3%. Mark Flekken was the fourth-highest scoring goalkeeper last season using this formula, and Kelleher could replicate that success. His price represents excellent value for a nailed starter.

Watchlist

Areola (£4.5m) – West Ham: Still reliable, but his place isn’t guaranteed after losing it briefly last season. Recorded a save percentage of 65.55% in the 2024/25 season.

José Sá (£4.5m) – Wolves: Under Vitor Pereira, Wolves improved defensively, and Sá showed excellent numbers, but transfer links make him an uncertain pick.

Budget FPL Goal Keeper Rotation for the 2025/26 Season:

Petrovic- Bournemouth
Areola- West Ham

If you rotate them correctly till GW13, you will have:

1/13 games vs Last season Top 6
0/13 games vs Last Season 7th-10th placed Teams
12/13 games vs Last Season 11th-17th placed Teams & Promoted Teams

Petrovic and Kelleher also rotate well in the shorter run(Early Wildcard) as discussed in our Rotational Pairs and Combinations article.

Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2025/26 FPL Season

FPL Budget Enablers – Defenders (£4m – £4.5m)

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) – West Ham

The former Manchester United right-back had an outstanding end to last season, registering 5 assists in his final appearances and proving to be one of the best attacking full-backs in his price range. His underlying stats are impressive – 2 goals and 6 assists in 2024/25, with excellent attacking threat from the right flank.

Under Graham Potter’s system, Wan-Bissaka flourished in a more attacking role, delivering consistent crosses and getting into dangerous positions. He should also benefit from the boost in the assist awarding system.

On the defensive front as well, he topped the metric for interceptions (66) among all defenders. He was also in the top 10 for total tackles and tackles won last season. West Ham’s fixtures start reasonably, and at £4.5m, he offers the perfect combination of attacking returns and budget enablement. They face Sunderland as their opening fixture, followed by some relatively difficult fixtures (price tag making him benchable for those).

Wan-Bissaka’s CBIT/90 Stats from Last Season:

Clearances/90- 3.17
Blocks/90- 0.31
Interceptions/90- 1.88(2nd among current 4.5 Defenders)
Tackles/90- 2.00
CBIT/90- 7.36

Further Read: Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Ezri Konsa (£4.5m) – Aston Villa

FPL Budget Enablers - Defenders (£4m - £4.5m) - Konsa

Villa’s defensive stalwart has been their most consistent performer over recent seasons. In 2024/25, he managed 2 goals in 34 appearances while maintaining Villa’s defensive solidity with 9 clean sheets. His aerial threat at set-pieces provides additional goal potential, and Villa’s strong defensive record makes clean sheet returns likely.

At £4.5m, Konsa represents excellent value for a player who’s virtually nailed in one of the league’s better defences. His disciplinary record is also excellent, making him a reliable fantasy asset.

Marc Guehi (£4.5m) – Crystal Palace

FPL Budget Enablers - Defenders (£4m - £4.5m) - Guehi

England’s centre-back had a solid 2024/25 campaign with 3 goals, 2 assists, and 11 clean sheets in 34 appearances. His goal threat is notable – all 3 goals came away from home, showing his consistency across different venues.

Guehi’s advanced defensive stats are impressive, ranking highly for clearances (4.59 per 90) and blocks (0.68 per 90). At £4.5m, he offers solid value for a player who combines defensive security with occasional attacking threat.

Guehi’s CBIT/90 Stats from Last Season:

Clearances/90- 4.59
Blocks/90- 0.68
Interceptions/90- 0.85
Tackles/90- 1.82
CBIT/90- 7.94 (16th among current 4.5 million defenders)

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Aaron Hickey (£4.0m) – Brentford

FPL Budget Enablers - Defenders (£4m - £4.5m) - Hickey

After missing almost the entirety of last season through injury, Hickey is back fit this season. He even featured for 45 minutes in their pre-season friendly, coming in place for Kayode (£4.5m) at Half-Time. He also spoke positively about his future appearances at the club for the coming season. One to monitor, given the £4.0 price tag.

Watchlist

Martin Gudmundsson (£4.0m): Versatile defender with attacking potential.

Reinildo (£4.0m) – Sunderland: Former Atletico Madrid defender could be a steal if he gets regular minutes.

Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) – Fulham: Good Budget Option to monitor.

Destiny Udogie (£4.5m) – Spurs: New manager could help Spurs turn things around with Udogie offering high potential. Do note Udogie has got a small injury issue and did not travel with the rest of the squad for pre-season games.

Maxime Estève (£4.0m) – Burnley: An ideal bargain target if Burnley’s defensive solidity carries over to the Premier League. They won their pre-season friendly against Huddersfield in a comfortable fashion, keeping a clean sheet.

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FPL Budget Enablers – Midfielders (£5.5m or below)

Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) – Nottingham Forest

CHO enjoyed his second-best FPL season in 2024/25, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists in 25 starts. His underlying stats show consistent threat – 37 shots with 17 on target, demonstrating improved finishing. Forest’s attacking setup, a counter-attacking one, suits his play style as well. He has also established himself as a key player in that Forest team.

At £6.0m, Hudson-Odoi offers excellent value for a proven Premier League performer who’s found his level and is producing consistent returns. His pace and dribbling ability create constant danger, making him a solid budget pick. With Elanga’s departure, he could become the focal point alongside Chris Wood.

Further Read: FPL Players To Avoid in Your GW1 Drafts | 2025/26 FPL Season

Tijjani Reijnders (£5.5m) – Man City

The Dutch midfielder had an outstanding 2024/25 campaign, scoring 10 goals and providing 4 assists in Serie A, in 36 starts for Milan. His goal-scoring ability from midfield is exceptional for his price point, and he’s proven he can deliver in big games. The move to Manchester City represents a step up, but his quality suggests he can adapt.

At £5.5m, Reijnders could be one of the bargains of the season if he maintains his scoring form. His versatility and technical ability make him an intriguing option for budget-conscious managers. He also performs decently on the defensive metrics, now converting into points in FPL, making 38 interceptions and 25 blocks in Serie A last season.

He played the 90 minutes against Al Hilal (in the FIFA Club World Cup) and ended the match with 77 touches and 2 recoveries.

Caicedo (£5.5m) – Chelsea

The Ecuadorian midfielder is priced attractively after a solid 2024/25 season. While primarily defensive, he managed just 1 goal and 4 assists in 38 appearances, showing occasional attacking threat. His work rate and importance to Chelsea’s system make him likely to rack up bonus points and defensive contribution points.

His CBIRT (Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, Recoveries & Tackles) would have earned him an extra 42 points, taking his total to 140! He made 1.31 Interceptions, 0.27 blocks, and a whopping 6.14 Recoveries per 90 minutes during the last campaign.

Under their system, Caicedo could be set for more advanced positions, potentially increasing his attacking returns. At £5.5m, he offers security and the potential for improvement.

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

Carlos Baleba (£5.0m) – Brighton

The Cameroonian midfielder was excellent in 2024/25, combining defensive solidity with occasional attacking threat. He scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist while leading the league in several defensive categories, including interceptions (46). His energy and box-to-box ability make him ideal for the new defensive contribution points system.

Baleba’s Defensive Contribution Stats from Last Season:

Clearances/90- 1.48
Blocks/90- 0.37
Interceptions/90- 1.55
Tackes- 2.66
Recoveries/90- 6.62
CBIRT/90- 12.68

Brighton’s possession-based style allows Baleba to showcase his passing range while winning back possession regularly. Brighton maintained an average possession of 52.6% last season (ranking 7th in the league). At £5.0m, he’s almost guaranteed to start every game when fit.

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

Simon Adingra (£5.5m) – Sunderland

FPL Budget Enablers - Midfielders (£5.5m or below) - Adingra

The Ivorian winger moved to Sunderland after struggling for consistent minutes at Brighton. In 2024/25, he managed 2 goals and 3 assists in 29 appearances, but his underlying stats suggest potential for improvement with regular game time. Sunderland’s attacking approach should suit his pace and directness. He took 2.72 shots per 90 minutes last season with 1.73 successful dribbles.

At Sunderland, Adingra will be a key player rather than a squad option, which should lead to more consistent returns. His pace and crossing ability offer multiple routes to points.

Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) – Nottingham Forest

FPL Budget Enablers - Midfielders (£5.5m or below) - Anderson — 5.0 million was his price last season

The young midfielder thrived after his move from Newcastle, establishing himself as a key player for Forest. He recorded 2 goals and 6 assists in 37 appearances, with impressive underlying stats including 40 shots and excellent crossing numbers (86 crosses with 23 accurate). He also recorded 68 clearances, 45 tackles won, and 31 interceptions.

Anderson’s set-piece involvement and creative threat make him an excellent budget option. His ability to contribute in multiple ways – goals, assists, bonus points, and now defensive contributions – offers excellent value at £5.5m.

👀Elliot Anderson was 2nd for defensive contributions pts amongst mids last season! He would have had 143 pts, including Defensive Contribution pts, 3 more than Caicedo(140 pts). 5.0-5.5 Mil def mids scoring 140ish points is great value & also saves you transfers as the returns are pretty consistent🔥

Key Stat: Anderson has a 13.4 CBIRT/90 – Likely to get 2 points if he plays 90 minutes!

Further Read: Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £6.0 Million) | 25/26 FPL Season

Emile Smith Rowe (£6.0m) – Fulham

ESR had an excellent debut season at Fulham, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists in 25 starts. His underlying stats are strong – 0.26 goals per 90 and excellent passing accuracy (91.3%). The move from Arsenal has revitalized his career, and he’s clearly enjoying regular football.

At £6.0m, Smith Rowe offers proven Premier League quality with the security of regular starts. His injury concerns seem behind him, making him a reliable option.

Watchlist

Yankuba Minteh (£6.0m): Promising young winger with potential for a breakthrough season.

Romain Faivre (£4.5m) – Bournemouth: Creative midfielder who could benefit from regular opportunities.

Enzo Le Fée (£5.0m) – Sunderland: Good budget attacking option.

FPL Budget Enablers - Midfielders (£5.5m or below) - Enzo Le Fee

👀💎Keeping an eye on Enzo Le Fee for the 5th mid spot:

♦️Most likely a regular starter at 5 M
♦️On all free kicks & corners
♦️Decent attacking potential & could also benefit from def action pts
♦️Sunderland fixtures are decent
♦️Adingra is much more attacking, but 0.5 expensive

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

FPL Budget Enablers – Forwards (£6m or below)

Thierno “Thierry?” Barry (£6.0m) – Everton

Everton’s £27m signing from Villarreal looks set to be their main striker. Other than a close resemblance of his first name to the football legend ‘Thierry Henry’; he scored 11 goals with 4 assists in 2024/25. His physical presence should also suit Premier League football. His aerial ability (3.95 aerials won per 90 in La Liga) makes him perfect for Everton’s direct style, and the transfer fee suggests he’ll be given every opportunity to succeed.

At £6.0m, Barry represents excellent value for a striker expected to lead the line for a Premier League club. His hold-up play and finishing ability offer multiple routes to points. Moreover, Beto (£5.5m) has been linked with a potential transfer move, ensuring Barry to start the initial few games at least.

Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2025/26 FPL Season

Ashley Barnes (£4.5m) – Burnley

The experienced striker has returned to Burnley and could be a shrewd budget pick. His Premier League experience (42 goals in 200 appearances) and physical style make him well-suited to help newly-promoted teams. At 35, he may not play every game, but when he does start, he offers goal threat.

His track record against big teams and ability to find the net in crucial moments make him worth considering as a budget enabler with occasional captaincy appeal. Potentially similar to Jamie Vardy’s last season, just considerably cheaper.

Eliezer Mayenda (£5.5 m) – Sunderland

Eliezer Mayenda, after returning from loan in the 2024/25 Championship, delivered 8 goals and 5 assists in 2,149 minutes. His shot profile underlines his finishing threat with 56 shots, with 48% accuracy. Mayenda also created 1.05 chances per 90 and maintained a 71.5% pass accuracy rate in open play. At £6.0 m, Mayenda’s high minutes, goal rate, and expected involvement make him a strong budget forward for managers seeking both floor and upside.

Rodrigo Muniz (£5.5 m) – Fulham

Rodrigo Muniz finished the 2024/25 Premier League season with 31 appearances (23 starts), 8 goals, and 1 assist, yielding a 0.57 non-penalty xG per 90 and 0.85 goal involvements per 90. He averaged 3.69 shots per 90 with 0.76 goals per 90, demonstrating elite shot volume and efficiency.

He is prone to rotation, with Jimenez being another outstanding option for ‘The Cottagers’. However, at £5.5 m, his proven clinicality and underlying metrics could make him an astute low-priced differential. Muniz is also linked to a move to Leeds, which makes him an even better pick in terms of expected minutes.

Further Read: FanTeam EPL Fantasy Season Game Draft with Keynotes

Watchlist

Eli Junior Kroupi (£4.5m) – Bournemouth: The French teenager scored 22 goals in 30 Ligue 2 appearances last season! At just 19, he represents incredible potential value if he can adapt to Premier League football. His goal-scoring record is exceptional for his age, but minutes will be limited initially.

Brighton Forwards: Tzimas (£5.5 m) & Kostoulas (£5.0 m): Both the forwards are exciting options at a sub-5.5 m budget. Tzimas performed impeccably in the second division of the Bundesliga (12 goals & 2 assists in just 19 starts). Kostoulas, yet to make his PL debut, had 7 goals in Super League Greece along with his UEFA Youth League triumph with 5 goals in 8 matches. The 18-year-old provides Fabian Hurzeler’s team with an exciting offensive option for the season ahead.

Rotation Strategies

The key to maximizing these budget picks is smart rotation. Consider pairing:

Defenders: Konsa + Wan-Bissaka + Guehi offer good fixture rotation and different attacking threats
Midfielders: Hudson-Odoi/Anderson + Caicedo gives a robust midfield with a balanced focus on offensive as well as defensive options.
Budget enablers: Kelleher / Barry / Le Fée to fund premium picks while maintaining a decent floor

If you are looking for a more detailed article on Best FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 season, Don’t forget to check this out!

FPL Rotational Pairs & Combinations for the 2025/26 FPL Season

Final Thoughts

This season’s budget picks offer genuine quality rather than just cheap enablers. Players like Hudson-Odoi, Wan-Bissaka, and Kelleher / Petrovic provide excellent value with proven track records. The key is balancing proven performers with potential breakout stars while ensuring your budget picks can contribute meaningfully to your overall score, as witnessed last season.

Remember to monitor pre-season friendlies and team news for final confirmation of these players’ roles, but these options provide an excellent foundation for building a robust FPL squad without breaking the bank.

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

Student and an FPL and football fanatic. love watching football and analysing it from an FPL perspective.

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Best FPL Budget Enablers For The 2025-26 FPL Season

Best FPL Budget Enablers

FPL Budget Enablers – Goalkeepers (£4.5m & £4.0m)

Djordje Petrović (£4.5m) – AFC Bournemouth

Caoimhín Kelleher (£4.5m) – Brentford

Watchlist

Budget FPL Goal Keeper Rotation for the 2025/26 Season:

FPL Budget Enablers – Defenders (£4m – £4.5m)

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) – West Ham

Wan-Bissaka’s CBIT/90 Stats from Last Season:

Ezri Konsa (£4.5m) – Aston Villa

Marc Guehi (£4.5m) – Crystal Palace

Guehi’s CBIT/90 Stats from Last Season:

Aaron Hickey (£4.0m) – Brentford

Watchlist

FPL Budget Enablers – Midfielders (£5.5m or below)

Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) – Nottingham Forest

Tijjani Reijnders (£5.5m) – Man City

Caicedo (£5.5m) – Chelsea

Carlos Baleba (£5.0m) – Brighton

Baleba’s Defensive Contribution Stats from Last Season:

Simon Adingra (£5.5m) – Sunderland

Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) – Nottingham Forest

Emile Smith Rowe (£6.0m) – Fulham

Watchlist

FPL Budget Enablers – Forwards (£6m or below)

Thierno “Thierry?” Barry (£6.0m) – Everton

Ashley Barnes (£4.5m) – Burnley

Eliezer Mayenda (£5.5 m) – Sunderland

Rodrigo Muniz (£5.5 m) – Fulham

Watchlist

Rotation Strategies

Final Thoughts

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

What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 1 of the 2025/26 FPL Season?

Rohan Bajaj

Latest posts by Rohan Bajaj (see all)

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