For years, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have only gone after the best attack-minded midfielders. This year, FPL captains have a lot more to think about, thanks to the introduction of Defensive Contributions (DEFCON) – but just who are the best FPL midfielders to have in your squads for the 2025/26 season?
DEFCON will reward midfielders with an additional two points whenever they record 12 clearances, blocks, interceptions, ball recoveries, and tackles over the 90 minutes. The points are capped at two per player, but these actions will boost a player’s Bonus Points System.
If this season's new #FPL defensive contributions points were available when Joao Palhinha was at Fulham 👀 pic.twitter.com/vNrMH0QtDL
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) August 3, 2025
This naturally makes some central midfielders and central-defensive midfielders a lot more lucrative. And SportsCasting is here to help you make the right calls.
After listing the best defenders to own in FPL 2025/26, we are combing through the midfield. Below, we have the best midfielders to own in the Fantasy Premier League this season.
Best Midfielders in FPL 2025/26
Midfielders are priced between £4.5 million and a chart-topping £14.5 million in the FPL 2025/26 season. Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is the most expensive player in the game this year, breaking a FPL record Cristiano Ronaldo set in 2008.
Most Selected Midfielders in FPL 2025/26
Despite his steep £14.5 million price tag, Salah is still the most owned midfielder in FPL this season, with 56.8% managers picking him. Considering the fact that he secured a massive 344 points last season, the stat hardly comes as a surprise.
On the other end of the spectrum sits Aaron Ramsey. The Burnley midfielder is worth a mere £4.5 million in FPL 25/26, making him one of the best bargain picks in midfield. Since he plays as a winger / attacking midfielder, he promises decent attacking returns.
Refer to the table below to check out the most selected midfielders in FPL 25/26.
| Player | Club | Cost | Selected By | Points Last Season |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | £14.5m | 56.8% | 344 |
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | £10.5m | 53.0% | 214 |
| Florian Wirtz | Liverpool | £8.5m | 33.6% | DNP |
| Mohammed Kudus | Spurs | £6.5m | 25.8% | 106 |
| Morgan Rogers | Aston Villa | £7.0m | 25.4% | 161 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | Man Utd | £8.0m | 17.0% | 236 |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | £10.0m | 15.6% | 127 |
| Omar Marmoush | Man City | £8.5m | 14.0% | 73 |
| Bruno Fernandes | Man Utd | £9.0m | 13.3% | 174 |
| Aaron Ramsey | Burnley | £4.5m | 12.8% | DNP |
FPL Midfielders with the Highest Points Floor Last Season, Including DEFCON
The introduction of Defensive Contributions is set to have a massive impact on FPL this season. Two points may not seem like much, but over 38 Gameweeks, it adds up to a substantial number.
Twitter user @FPL_TomHadley has analysed how midfielders would have fared had defensive contributions been at play last season. Adding defensive contributions, he has listed which players would have given a return of at least four points in the highest number of games.
Eight seasons at Liverpool, eight seasons with over 200 points 🙌
No player has surpassed 200 points in a season more times than Mohamed Salah 🇪🇬👑#FPL pic.twitter.com/Bv6yhPaNtN
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) June 9, 2025
Mohamed Salah has once again topped the list by scoring four or more points in 74% of the games he featured in. However, most of these points have naturally come from attacking contributions. Similarly, Cole Palmer scored four or more points in 44% of Premier League matches.
These players provide a good framework, but they are not the benchmark when it comes to Defensive Contributions. Refer to the list below to meet the players who would have earned handsomely through Defensive Contributions last season:
| Rank | Player | 4 + pt-game % | FPL Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casemiro | 56 % | £5.5 m |
| 2 | Bruno Fernandes | 55 % | £9.0 m |
| 3 | Moises Caicedo | 53 % | £5.5 m |
| 4 | Elliot Anderson | 52 % | £5.5 m |
| 5 | Tyler Adams | 52 % | £5.0 m |
| 6 | Christian Norgaard | 50 % | £5.5 m |
| 7 | Declan Rice | 47 % | £6.5 m |
| 8 | Alexis Mac Allister | 47 % | £6.5 m |
| 9 | Lewis Cook | 47 % | £5.0 m |
| 10 | Ryan Christie | 46 % | £5.0 m |
Man Utd star Casemiro is the obvious standout, having earned four or more points in 56% of games despite scoring just one goal. Nottingham Forest man Elliot Anderson also looks rather lucrative, as he brings both attacking and defending to your midfield. At £5.5 million, he appears to be a better option than Chelsea central-defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Sportscasting Picks Best Midfielders for FPL 2025/26
You need to have five midfielders in your 2025/26 FPL squad. We prefer a nice blend of proven talents and potential big hitters, especially with DEFCON in play.
Here are the five midfielders we like the most this year, that could also be used in your squads with the best FPL budget goalkeepers this season.
- Ultra Premium Pick (£14.5m): Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Premium Pick (£10.5m): Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Upper Mid Range Pick (£7.5m): Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
- Mid Range Pick (£6.5m): Mohammed Kudus (Spurs)
- Budget Pick (£5.5m): Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Explanation
Mohamed Salah became the highest-scoring player in FPL history last season. While he is unlikely to replicate that in 2025/26, we are still confident about getting a decent return from him.
As always, the Egyptian is expected to play a pivotal role in Liverpool’s title challenge again – and the football betting sites agree making the Reds the 2/1 favourites to lift the title.
Cole Palmer fizzled out in the second half of the season. But with more experience under his belt, we are backing him to do better when the going gets tough this season.
Cody Gakpo has been reclassified into midfield this season. His commendable attacking output makes him a lucrative option to have in midfield.
In mid-range, Mohammed Kudus looks like a no-brainer. He scored 106 points in FPL last season and is expected to yield even higher returns at Spurs.
Lastly, we have Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest. Despite having quality in both attacking and defending, he is owned by just 3.9% of Fantasy managers.
If you want even cheaper options, you could have a look at Ryan Christie (owned by 0.5%) or Carlos Baleba (owned by 4.6%). Both midfielders cost £5.0 million and are brilliant in defensive work.
You can make unlimited changes to your FPL lineup for now. The privilege will expire at 6:30 PM on August 15, just ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
