The Essential Rules of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) – 2025/26 Edition
23rd July 2025
Fantasy Premier League is back and with a few new twists! Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned veteran, here’s everything you need to know about how FPL works this season, including new bonus points for defensive actions, how to use your free transfers, what’s changed for AFCON, and how to win the long game.
Build Your Squad
Each manager starts with a £100 million budget to create a 15-player squad:
- 2 Goalkeepers
- 5 Defenders
- 5 Midfielders
- 3 Forwards
You can have a maximum of 3 players from any one Premier League team.
Transfers & Team Management
Managing your squad is a week-to-week process, and knowing how transfers work can make a huge difference in your score.
Free Transfers – What You Should Know
- You receive 1 free transfer per gameweek
- If you don’t use it, it carries over; so a maximum of 5 free transfers at any time
- Any additional transfers beyond that cost -4 points each
- Use transfers smartly to rotate in-form players, fix injuries, or jump on bandwagons before price rises
Special Case: AFCON – 5 Free Transfers Bonus
To help managers deal with player absences during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), FPL is giving 5 free transfers in the week before the tournament. That’s your chance to reshuffle your squad with no points deductions, specifically for players departing for AFCON duty (from GW17, so you’d get 5 free transfers on GW16).
Points Scoring System
Here’s how players score FPL points during matches:
Attacking & Defensive Actions
| Action | GK/DEF | MID | FWD |
| Goal | +6 | +5 | +4 |
| Assist | +3 | +3 | +3 |
| Clean Sheet | +4 | +1 | — |
| Playing 60+ mins | +2 | +2 | +2 |
| Playing < 60 mins | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Yellow Card | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Red Card | -3 | -3 | -3 |
| Own Goal | -2 | -2 | -2 |
| Missed Penalty | -2 | -2 | -2 |
NEW for 2025/26: Defensive Contributions Bonus
This season introduces a new points system rewarding defensive effort, especially for defenders and deep-lying midfielders.
- Defenders will earn +2 points if they make 10 or more combined defensive actions in a match.
- These are: Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, Tackles (CBIT)
- These are: Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, Tackles (CBIT)
- Midfielders and Forwards will also earn +2 points if they hit 12 combined defensive actions, including Ball Recoveries
- This group is measured by Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, Recoveries, Tackles (CBIRT)
- This group is measured by Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, Recoveries, Tackles (CBIRT)
This rule boosts the appeal of centre-backs and defensive midfielders, rewarding players who may not score or assist, but consistently impact the game defensively.
Want to see which players are excelling at CBIT/CBIRT stats? Check out advanced player data and defensive metrics at Statz.ai.
Chips – Power Moves That Can Flip Your Season
In FPL, you get four special chips to use over the season, and this year, you get a second set unlocked at mid-season (Gameweek 20).
- Wildcard – Make unlimited free transfers in a gameweek
- Bench Boost – Earn points from all 15 players in your squad
- Triple Captain – Your captain scores 3x instead of 2x
- Free Hit – Temporary team change for 1 gameweek, then reverts
Plan your chips around double gameweeks, blanks, and AFCON absences for maximum impact.
Captaincy Is Everything
Each week you choose:
- Captain – earns double points
- Vice-captain – steps in if the captain doesn’t play
Captaining the right player can single-handedly win your gameweek so track stats, form, and fixtures carefully.
Don’t Miss the Deadline
All transfers, captaincy, and chips must be confirmed 90 minutes before the first match of the gameweek. Set those alarms or use the FPL app notifications to stay on top of deadlines.
Final Thoughts & Tips
- Monitor form, fixtures, and injury news weekly
- Use chips wisely, don’t panic early!
- Watch out for double and blank gameweeks
- Take advantage of defensive bonus points (CBIT/CBIRT)
- Check data on Statz.ai for player comparisons, trends, and rankings
Want to outsmart your rivals this season? Use your chips wisely, and let Statz.ai show you where the real value lies.