Value defenders are the backbone of any strong Fantasy Premier League squad.
They help free up cash for premium midfielders and strikers, and this season, there's even more reason to pay attention to the budget backline.
The new Defensive Contributions rule adds extra upside, rewarding players with 2 bonus points for every 10 blocks, tackles, interceptions, or clearances. That means centre-backs and full-backs who are active defensively now offer more potential than ever.
With that in mind, here are five of the best £4.5m defenders you should consider for your 2025/26 FPL draft.
Wan-Bissaka impressed under Graham Potter last season, registering two goals and six assists – the highest assist tally of any £4.5m defender, as shown in the Opta Stats Sandbox. He also topped the charts for interceptions (66) among all defenders.
His blend of attacking output and defensive contributions makes him one of the most well-rounded £4.5m options for the 2025/26 season.
While West Ham struggled defensively last campaign, their fixtures in the first 10 Gameweeks – including Sunderland (A), Palace (H), Brentford (H) and Leeds (H) – rank 8th-best for defensive difficulty in our Fixture Planner.
The former Manchester United full-back is currently in Tarek Balbaa’s draft alongside Colwill (£5.0m) and Gabriel (£6.0m).
Tarek boasts 10 top 10k finishes, including a 4,842nd-place rank in 2024/25. You can view his full team now in the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool.
If the Hammers can tighten up at the back, AWB could be one of the best value defenders in the game.
One of Konsa’s biggest appeals is his reliability — he racked up 2,936 minutes and 33 starts last season, making him one of the most nailed-on options in Unai Emery’s back line.
Villa conceded 51 goals and kept 9 clean sheets, ranking 9th and 11th respectively in the league, according to the Opta Stats Sandbox. Solid mid-table numbers – and more than acceptable for a £4.5m defender.
From Gameweek 3 onwards, their fixtures improve significantly, with matches against Palace (H), Everton (A), Sunderland (A) and Burnley (H). Villa rank one spot below West Ham for defensive fixture difficulty in our Fixture Planner.
For managers looking to rotate defenders, Konsa pairs well with Wolves, who also have £4.5m starting options, as shown in the Rotation Planner tool.
Palace’s relatively solid defence and Guehi’s nailed status make him a strong budget pick.
The Eagles kept 11 clean sheets last season — the joint 7th most in the league, level with Chelsea, according to the Opta Stats Sandbox.
Guehi also ranked third for clearances (163) among all £4.5m defenders — an important stat under the new Defensive Contributions rule, which rewards players for blocks, tackles, interceptions, and clearances.
A potential move to Liverpool would boost his upside significantly, but even if he remains at Selhurst Park, he offers good clean sheet potential in home games like Forest (H), Sunderland (H) and Brentford (H).
That said, Palace sit just 13th for defensive fixture difficulty over the first 10 Gameweeks, as shown in our Fixture Planner tool.
Matt Corbidge (5x top 5k finishes) currently has Guehi in his draft alongside Cucurella (£6.0m) and Mykolenko (£5.0m).
He’s managed to squeeze in Haaland, Palmer, and Saka — but no Mo Salah! You can check out Matt’s full team now on the Elite XI: Team Reveal tool.
Van de Ven offers exciting upside if he secures a starting role under new Spurs boss Thomas Frank.
While Spurs’ defence struggled last season, Frank is expected to bring greater organisation — and van de Ven’s pace and progressive play could thrive in a more structured setup.
Spurs have six defenders priced at £4.5m this season, so picking the right one could prove crucial. If van de Ven is first choice, he could be the standout pick among them.
The fixtures are appealing too. In the first 10 Gameweeks, Spurs face Burnley (H), Bournemouth (H), Wolves (H) and Everton (A) — with only Man City (A) in Gameweek 2 looking particularly difficult. They rank 3rd for defensive fixture difficulty in our Fixture Planner.
Spurs also rotate well with Aston Villa and Wolves, making van de Ven a strong candidate for those looking to rotate £4.5m defenders, as shown in the Rotation Planner tool.
New signing Maxim De Cuyper could emerge as Brighton’s top budget option if he nails down the left-back spot, with Estupiñán likely to leave.
✅ 3 goals & 6 assists for Club Brugge in 24/25
— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) July 24, 2025
✅ FUL (H) & EVE (A) in the first two
✅ Estupiñán likely to leave
Is De Cuyper the best £4.5m defender in FPL? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4LQloDhYOd
De Cuyper produced three goals and five assists for Club Brugge last season and is known for his attacking threat and set-piece delivery.
Brighton’s system encourages attacking full-backs, so if he starts regularly, De Cuyper could become a £4.5m sensation.
While budget defenders might not be the most glamorous picks, selecting the right ones can unlock funds for heavy hitters elsewhere.
Whether you’re building a rotating backline or looking for nailed starters, these five players offer upside under the new FPL rules.
Keep an eye on pre-season minutes and defensive setups – and don’t underestimate the impact of the Defensive Contributions bonus when locking in your £4.5m enablers.
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