Defence is where FPL managers find their value — clean sheets plus the odd attacking return, usually at a fraction of a midfielder’s price. These are the best defenders for 2026/27 by our FPL AI Rating. The headline: the top-rated defender in the game is cheap. See the full board in our FPL AI Player Rankings.
Best all-round defenders (£6.0–£6.5)
- Marc Guéhi (MCI, £6.0) — 88, the top-rated defender in the game
- Virgil van Dijk (LIV, £6.5) — 87
- Nico O’Reilly (MCI, £6.5) — 87
- Marcos Senesi (TOT, £6.0) — 86
- James Tarkowski (EVE, £6.0) — 85
The premium option (£8.0)
Gabriel (ARS, £8.0, rating 85) is the one genuinely premium defender — an aerial and set-piece threat at both ends. Worth it only if you want a defender who chips in with goals.
Budget gems (£5.0–£5.5)
- Jan Paul van Hecke (TOT, £5.0) — 85, the best cheap defender by a distance
- Daniel Muñoz (CRY, £5.5) — 84
- Nordi Mukiele (SUN, £5.5) — 83
- Chris Richards (CRY, £5.0) — 82
- Neco Williams (NFO, £5.0) — 82
- Malick Thiaw (NEW, £5.0) — 81
How to use this
The smart move in defence is to load up on £5.0–£6.0 options rated 82+ and spend the savings on your premium midfielders. These picks also headline our best value list. How the ratings are built: the methodology; how to balance a squad: the team-building guide.
Full list: FPL AI Player Rankings (Top 50). Test your picks against other readers in our mini-league.
Ratings are generated by our AI model from official FPL data and refreshed every gameweek.