We return to the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) price list analysis with a rundown of the best £4.5m defenders.
In our position-by-position guides, we will examine the key players competing for a spot in managers’ opening squads.
- READ MORE: Best £4.0m defenders for FPL 2025/26: All 79 assessed!
- READ MORE: Best £5.0m defenders for FPL 2025/26
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is currently the most popular £4.5m defender in Fantasy, with an ownership of 32.3%.
The West Ham United wing-back had an impressive debut season in east London, starting 35 out of the Hammers’ 38 Premier League matches.
He made notable strides offensively, delivering five assists in 17 appearances under Graham Potter, the most of any FPL defender from his appointment onwards.
He also topped his team in tackles (70) and interceptions (66), and hypothetically, would have contributed 12 defensive contribution points in 2024/25.
Above: West Ham defenders sorted by total defensive contributions (Tot) in 2024/25
That combination of attacking threat and defensive ability suggests Wan-Bissaka could emerge as one of the very best budget defenders this season.
West Ham managed only three clean sheets in 18 matches under Potter, but their fixtures in the first six Gameweeks – including Sunderland (a), Crystal Palace (h) and Everton (a) – are rated as the fourth-best from a defensive perspective on our Season Ticker.
Joachim Andersen
Fulham only managed to secure five clean sheets in 2024/25, the fewest among all teams that were not relegated. However, if they can bank a few more next season, Joachim Andersen (£4.5m) will likely provide value.
The underlying statistics indicate potential for improvement, as the Cottagers ranked sixth for expected goals conceded (xGC) and joint-third for big chances conceded last term.
As for Andersen, he would have racked up 26 defensive contribution points in 2024/25, the 12th-most of any FPL defender.
The Dane, although he didn’t score, was also a threat from set plays, racking up 14 headed goal attempts from such situations – only six FPL defenders had more.
Fulham’s initial run of fixtures may not look that good at first glance, but their opening run of home matches looks favourable: Manchester United, Leeds United and Brentford all visit Craven Cottage in the first five Gameweeks.
Ezri Konsa
Ezri Konsa may not be the most exciting selection, yet he provides a nailed-on route into Aston Villa’s defence, a backline that showed considerable improvement towards the end of the 2024/25 season.
Unai Emery’s team achieved six clean sheets across their final 10 matches, with their xGC visibly dropping:
Above: Aston Villa’s rolling six-match xG against average in 2024/25
The fixtures are very decent, too, with Villa ranked second on our Season Ticker from a defensive perspective in Gameweeks 1 to 7.
It is true that Konsa does not offer much attacking upside, considering he only averaged a shot every 266.7 minutes last season.
Points from defensive contributions may also be hard to come by due to his style of play; however, the initial fixtures – including Sunderland (a), Fulham (h) and Burnley (h) – indicate that Konsa might still be able to provide value.
Micky van de Ven
Micky van de Ven delivered just 32 FPL points in the 2024/25 season. However, it is important to note that he was restricted to just 12 starts due to injury.
A significant factor in his appeal this season is the appointment of Thomas Frank as Tottenham Hotspur’s new head coach.
The Danish tactician, who prioritises defensive organisation, is expected to enhance Spurs’ clean sheet potential. His creative approach to set-pieces may also yield additional benefits at the other end of the pitch.
With a favourable set of opening fixtures, including Burnley (h) in Gameweek 1, van de Ven has the potential to start well.
Another £4.5m defender at Tottenham, Destiny Udogie, is an early doubt for the start of the 2025/26 season due to a knee injury. This situation may provide an opportunity for Djed Spence to be considered, although additional information is first required on the severity of Udogie’s injury.
Marcos Senesi
The loss of Kepa Arrizabalaga (£4.5m), Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez (£6.0m) will have plenty of Fantasy managers concerned about Bournemouth’s defence this season.
But in Djordje Petrovic (£4.5m), Illia Zabarnyi (£5.0m) and Marcos Senesi, head coach Andoni Iraola still looks to have plenty of quality at the back.
The underlying numbers were decent in 2024/25, too, as they ranked eighth for xGC:
Senesi, who was limited to only 17 appearances, averaged 9.41 defensive contributions per 90 last season.
He also has a keen eye for attacking, having registered four goals and five assists in the 2023/24 season.
Bournemouth open their campaign with a daunting trip to champions Liverpool.
However, beyond that, there are several favourable fixtures right through until the end of October.
Sepp van den Berg/Michael Kayode
There are some decent £4.5m routes into Brentford’s defence in 2025/26.
Sepp van den Berg, who showed his versatility last season by playing at both centre-back and right-back, is one option.
He started 19 Premier League matches in his natural position at centre-half last term and would have delivered defensive contribution points in seven of those outings.
Michael Kayode, meanwhile, cemented his place at right-back for the final six matches of the campaign and played an influential role, registering an assist in the 4-3 win over Manchester United. His long throws are a key part of his game, something Keith Andrews will be eager to utilise.
Brentford have lost their manager, goalkeeper, captain and top-scorer this summer, but do have some reasonable opening fixtures to tap into, including Sunderland (a) in Gameweek 3.
Others
Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion find themselves at the wrong end of the Season Ticker in Gameweeks 1 to 6, but if used as part of a defensive rotation, Patrick Dorgu, Marc Guehi/Chris Richards and Maxim De Cuyper could still be useful picks.
Wing-back Dorgu was a regular threat down United’s flanks last season, racking up 10 shots and 12 key passes across 12 Premier League appearances.
Guehi and Richards, meanwhile, played their part in a solid-ish Palace backline. Guehi ranked 17th among all defenders for total defensive contributions last season, but Richards was ahead on a per 90 basis, leading by 9.03 to Guehi’s 7.94.
As for De Cuyper, he is one to monitor for Brighton – his total of 90 chances created was the second-highest among all players in the Belgian top-flight in 2024/25. He’ll be competing with Ferdi Kadioglu for a regular place in Fabian Hurzeler’s team, but could emerge as an option.
Finally, Emmanuel Agbadou is another name to watch. He would have claimed defensive contributions in seven of his 16 appearances last season, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ fixtures particularly appealing in Gameweeks 5 to 9, as they face all three newly promoted teams during that period.
