The best Fantasy Premier League defenders for 2025-26

Joško Gvardiol enters the 2025-26 FPL season with a £6 million price tag, a reflection of his growing influence at Manchester City and the attacking threat he demonstrated in the latter half of last season.

Originally viewed as a centre-back, Gvardiol has evolved into a dynamic left-back under Pep Guardiola, often pushing high up the pitch and even contributing with goals.

With City known for their defensive solidity and dominant possession play, Gvardiol could offer steady points across multiple categories, making him a valuable asset despite the slightly premium price.

Nikola Milenković has been handed a £5.5 million price tag in FPL this season following last summer's move to the Premier League and a standout debut season. 

While clean sheets will likely be his primary source of points, Milenković’s ability to chip in with the occasional goal or bonus points makes him a tempting differential pick in the mid-price bracket. He picked up 145 points last season, only second to Gvardio. However, he would have been the top scorer if the new points system was in place. 

Virgil van Dijk is priced at £6 million for the 2025-26 Fantasy Premier League season, reaffirming his status as one of the game's premium defensive assets.

The Liverpool captain remains a dominant figure at both ends of the pitch - marshalling the backline with authority while continuing to pose a significant threat from set-pieces. His aerial presence and knack for scoring crucial goals make him more than just a clean sheet merchant.

Under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool’s defensive structure will continue to evolve, but van Dijk’s role as a leader and constant starter is unlikely to change.

With the potential for regular minutes, clean sheets, and the odd attacking return, van Dijk offers both stability and upside for FPL managers willing to invest a bit more in defence.

Daniel Munoz enters the 2025-26 FPL season as one of Crystal Palace’s most intriguing defensive options, offering attacking flair at a budget-friendly price.

With Palace leaning into a more aggressive, wing-back-friendly system, Muñoz could deliver strong value through both clean sheets and attacking contributions.

For managers seeking an under-the-radar pick with upside, especially in a side with favorable fixtures, Muñoz presents a compelling option in the mid-to-lower price bracket.

Liverpool’s new left-back Milos Kerkez comes into the 2025-26 Fantasy Premier League season priced at £6.0 million, following an impressive campaign with Bournemouth that earned him a big move to Anfield.

Known for his attacking instincts, high energy, and overlapping runs, Kerkez is expected to slot into Arne Slot’s system as an aggressive, forward-thinking full-back - a role that could see him rack up assists and bonus points in addition to clean sheet returns.

While £6.0m places him in the premium defender bracket, his attacking upside and likely guaranteed minutes make him a potentially high-reward option for FPL managers looking to tap into Liverpool’s defensive and offensive output.

If Marc Cucurella can carry his impressive form into the upcoming season, FPL managers will have fun with him in the team. 

His price tag of £5 million made him an appealing option last season, but now he is a premium option costing £6m.

Now at West Ham United and priced at just £4.5 million, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has quickly become the most popular budget defender in FPL, featuring in over 31.7% of squads ahead of the 2025-26 season.

The former Manchester United right-back is expected to be a regular starter under Julen Lopetegui, offering managers a reliable source of minutes at a cut-price. Known for his defensive solidity and one-on-one ability, Wan-Bissaka may not offer as much attacking upside as others, but his potential for clean sheets and bonus points makes him a valuable squad enabler.

With West Ham looking to improve their defensive consistency, Wan-Bissaka presents an appealing low-risk, high-utility option — ideal for rotating in during favourable fixtures or freeing up funds for premium assets elsewhere.

Now priced at just £4.5 million, Micky van de Ven offers incredible value as the most nailed-on budget defender in Tottenham’s back line under new head coach Thomas Frank.

The Dutch centre-back combines elite recovery pace with composure and intelligent positioning, making him a vital part of Spurs’ defensive setup. While he isn’t known for attacking output, his ability to pick up clean sheets and bonus points makes him a standout option in the lower price bracket.

For FPL managers seeking a cheap, reliable starter with clean sheet potential in a top-six side, Van de Ven is one of the strongest picks available.

West Ham’s new signing El Hadji Malick Diouf could be one of the early hidden gems in FPL 2025-26, priced at just £4.5 million and owned by a little over two percent of managers heading into Gameweek 1.

The Senegalese left wing-back arrives with strong attacking pedigree, having scored seven goals and registered three assists for Slavia Prague last season. Diouf could be given the license to bomb forward and contribute in the final third -  a valuable trait for FPL managers looking for attacking returns from defenders.

With West Ham’s early fixture run looking favorable, Diouf represents an enticing differential option at the same price point as the more popular Wan-Bissaka. If he nails down a starting spot and adapts quickly to Premier League intensity, he could offer explosive value in the budget defender bracket.

Maxime Esteve stands out as the most promising £4m defender in FPL 2025-26, offering rare starting potential at the lowest possible price.

Burnley’s incredible defensive record in the Championship last season - 30 clean sheets and no matches with more than one goal conceded - highlights their tactical discipline and strong backline, with Estève playing a key role after joining mid-season.

At £4m, he’s one of the few defenders with genuine upside and near-guaranteed game time - a rare combination in this price bracket.