Best £4.0m Defenders in FPL 2026/27: Budget Enablers Ranked

The best £4.0m defenders for 2026/27

A playing £4.0m defender can be one of the most valuable players in your Fantasy Premier League squad.

They are unlikely to become your leading points scorer. That is not their job. Their purpose is to release money for players such as Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer and Gabriel, while still providing useful points when injuries, rotation or difficult fixtures force them into your starting XI.

There are currently 46 defenders priced at £4.0m in FPL. Twenty-six of them represent the three promoted clubs: Coventry City, Hull City and Ipswich Town. Unlike previous seasons, managers have plenty of potential starters to choose from rather than being forced to select a non-playing substitute.

The challenge is identifying which players offer more than appearance points. The strongest £4.0m defenders should provide at least two of the following:

• Regular starts
• Defensive-contribution points
• Attacking potential
• Set-piece threat
• Useful fixtures
• Low rotation risk
• Low enough ownership to avoid an immediate price fall

This guide ranks the strongest current options for the opening part of the 2026/27 season. Every player included below is currently listed as a £4.0m defender in the official Fantasy Premier League game, but the rankings should still be checked after the final pre-season matches and before the Gameweek 1 deadline.

For the next price bracket, compare these picks with our best £4.5m defenders guide. Your cheap defender should support the rest of your squad, not force you into a weak bench or an unreliable formation.

Quick verdict

Best £4.0m defenders at a glance

The FPL Assistant scores below are editorial ratings based on expected minutes, defensive contributions, attacking threat, fixtures and selection risk. They are not official FPL projections.

Why defensive contributions matter

Defenders earn two extra FPL points when they register ten clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles in a match. These are commonly referred to as defensive contributions or DefCon.

For a cheap defender playing for a promoted club, DefCon may be more dependable than clean sheets. Coventry, Hull and Ipswich will frequently defend for long periods against stronger Premier League teams, creating more opportunities for centre-backs to make clearances, blocks and interceptions.

This changes how we should assess the £4.0m bracket. Traditionally, managers looked for an attacking full-back. That can still work, but a centre-back who regularly earns two DefCon points could return three or four points even when their team concedes.

That is why Bobby Thomas and Charlie Hughes rank ahead of some more attacking alternatives.

What is the current FPL community consensus?

The most popular £4.0m defenders are not necessarily the best. Milan van Ewijk is appearing in many early drafts because he recorded eight assists last season. Issa Diop has also attracted ownership above 20 per cent following his move to Ipswich and an impressive World Cup.

However, experienced managers and recent community analysis are increasingly favouring Bobby Thomas, Charlie Hughes and John Egan. Their appeal is based on three factors:

1. They are expected to start.
2. Their ownership is lower.
3. They have stronger defensive-contribution potential.

A rough community-consensus ranking currently looks like this:

1. Milan van Ewijk
2. Bobby Thomas
3. Issa Diop
4. Charlie Hughes
5. Leif Davis
6. John Egan
7. Dara O’Shea
8. Jacob Greaves
9. Ryan Giles
10. Adam Aznou

FPL Assistant places more importance on repeatable DefCon points and price stability. That moves Thomas and Hughes above the two highly owned options.

FPL Assistant’s top 10 £4.0m defenders

1. Bobby Thomas — Coventry City

FPL Assistant score: 8.5/10

Bobby Thomas is our leading £4.0m defender. He combines the qualities normally found in two different types of defender.

As a centre-back, he has realistic defensive-contribution potential. He averaged 8.56 defensive actions per 90 minutes in the Championship, and that figure could rise when Coventry face stronger opposition and spend more time defending.

Thomas also carries genuine attacking threat. He scored three goals and supplied four assists across 33 league appearances last season. He attempted 37 shots, including 29 headers, and three of his assists came from dead-ball situations. That is rare for a £4.0m centre-back.

Coventry kept 17 clean sheets and conceded the fewest goals in the Championship last season. Premier League clean sheets will be much harder to achieve, but Thomas has more routes to points than most promoted defenders.

The fixtures are not ideal for starting him immediately. Coventry face Arsenal in Gameweek 1 and Manchester City in Gameweek 3, with a much more appealing home match against Hull City between them. That should not matter if Thomas is your fifth defender: he can sit on the bench for the hardest matches and enter your team when the fixture improves.

Pros: Expected to start; three goals and four assists last season; strong set-piece threat; good DefCon potential; lower ownership than Van Ewijk and Diop; multiple routes to points.

Cons: Difficult Gameweeks 1 and 3; recurring calf problems disrupted last season; Coventry have added another centre-back; Premier League clean sheets will be difficult.

Buy Thomas if you want a £4.0m defender who can provide both DefCon and occasional attacking returns. Avoid him if pre-season suggests Coventry will rotate their centre-backs or another signing threatens his place.

Verdict: The strongest all-round £4.0m option and our preferred fifth defender.

2. Charlie Hughes — Hull City

FPL Assistant score: 8.3/10

Charlie Hughes may be the best pure DefCon option at £4.0m. He averaged 11.77 defensive contributions per 90 minutes in the Championship—the highest figure among defenders from the three promoted clubs.

Hughes made 41 league appearances last season and has won Hull City’s Young Player of the Year award in consecutive campaigns. His position in the team appears considerably safer than many other budget defenders.

The problem is Hull’s defence. Hull conceded an expected-goals total of 80.1 in the Championship, the second-worst figure in the division. Do not select Hughes expecting regular six-point returns. His value comes from turning a match in which Hull concede into three points: two appearance points, two DefCon points and a possible deduction if Hull concede twice.

Pros: Outstanding DefCon numbers; expected regular starter; strong clearance and block volume; low ownership; useful emergency substitute.

Cons: Hull’s defensive numbers were poor; very limited goal and assist threat; clean sheets may be rare; low weekly ceiling.

Buy Hughes if you want the safest possible source of bench points. Avoid Hughes if you want to rotate your £4.0m defender into the starting XI regularly and expect attacking returns.

Verdict: The best DefCon specialist and an ideal low-maintenance substitute.

3. Milan van Ewijk — Coventry City

FPL Assistant score: 8.1/10

Milan van Ewijk is the most popular attacking option in this bracket. He started 43 of Coventry’s 44 league matches last season and made one substitute appearance. His only absences were enforced, while his only benching came after promotion had already been secured.

Van Ewijk also supplied eight assists and created 44 chances, including ten big chances. His expected-assists total of 5.92 supports the idea that his attacking returns were not simply luck. He regularly advances from right-back and can also create chances through long throws.

The weakness is DefCon. Van Ewijk averaged only 6.42 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, so he may struggle to reach the ten-action threshold. You are choosing between different profiles: Thomas offers DefCon and set-piece threat, while Van Ewijk offers assists and secure minutes.

Buy Van Ewijk if you want the £4.0m defender with the clearest assist potential. Avoid him if you would rather prioritise DefCon and lower ownership.

Verdict: The best attacking Coventry defender, but Thomas is our preferred overall pick.

4. Leif Davis — Ipswich Town

FPL Assistant score: 7.9/10

Leif Davis has the strongest creative statistics of any £4.0m defender. He recorded two goals and four assists in the Championship last season, but those returns do not fully reflect his creativity: 8.90 expected assists, 14 big chances created, 69 chances created and 17 clean sheets.

His expected-assists figure was the highest among Championship defenders, while his 69 chances ranked third. During Ipswich’s previous Premier League campaign, Davis created 61 chances and 12 big chances in 33 appearances. His delivery and overlapping runs can remain effective even when Ipswich struggle defensively.

His weakness is DefCon. Davis averaged only 4.29 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, making him heavily dependent on attacking returns and clean sheets. Ipswich also face Manchester United and Liverpool in Gameweeks 2 and 3, so those matches should probably keep him on your bench.

Buy Davis if you want an attacking defender who can occasionally start during favourable home fixtures. Avoid Davis if you want predictable bench points rather than an occasional attacking haul.

Verdict: The most creative £4.0m defender, but better used selectively than every week.

5. John Egan — Hull City

FPL Assistant score: 7.7/10

John Egan is the experienced alternative to Charlie Hughes. He averaged 10.08 defensive contributions per 90 minutes last season, placing him above the threshold required for DefCon points. He also scored three Championship goals and helped Hull record 11 clean sheets.

Egan has already shown that he can produce FPL points at Premier League level. He scored 133 points for Sheffield United during the 2019/20 season. Hughes has the stronger defensive-action numbers and greater long-term potential, but Egan offers experience, set-piece threat and extremely low ownership.

Pros: Strong DefCon average; first-choice centre-back last season; Premier League experience; three goals last season; very low ownership; previous 133-point FPL campaign.

Cons: Hull’s defence is weak; older than Hughes; clean sheets may be scarce; Hull could strengthen at centre-back.

Buy Egan if you want a low-owned alternative to Hughes with similar DefCon potential. Avoid Egan if you prefer the younger and more statistically dominant Hull centre-back.

Verdict: A sensible differential, but Hughes narrowly wins the Hull comparison.

6. Issa Diop — Ipswich Town

FPL Assistant score: 7.4/10

Issa Diop is currently one of the most-owned £4.0m defenders. Ipswich signed him from Fulham for £8.5m after he started five matches for Morocco at the World Cup. He brings 173 Premier League appearances and should expect to compete for a regular centre-back place.

Ipswich were one of the Championship’s strongest defensive teams, keeping 17 clean sheets and ranking second for expected goals conceded. However, Diop’s position is not guaranteed yet. Dara O’Shea is club captain, Jacob Greaves was a regular starter, and Ipswich could use either a back four or a back three.

His DefCon history is respectable rather than exceptional. His ownership is also a risk: a highly owned £4.0m defender who starts on the bench could quickly be sold and lose value.

Buy Diop if he starts Ipswich’s final pre-season matches alongside O’Shea or Greaves. Avoid Diop if Ipswich continue experimenting with their centre-back combination.

Verdict: A potential bargain, but his ownership currently reflects more certainty than we actually have.

7. Dara O’Shea — Ipswich Town

FPL Assistant score: 7.3/10

Dara O’Shea may be the safest existing Ipswich centre-back. He is the club captain and helped the team keep 17 clean sheets last season. He averaged 8.74 defensive contributions per 90 minutes and produced 42 shots, including 28 headers. His expected-goals figure of 3.28 suggests he could have scored more than his single Championship goal.

The uncertainty comes from Ipswich’s shape. A back three could allow O’Shea, Diop and Greaves to start together, while a back four would force one of them onto the bench. Captaincy should work in O’Shea’s favour, but it does not make him completely immune from competition.

Buy O’Shea if Ipswich’s final pre-season line-ups confirm he remains central to the defence. Avoid O’Shea if you prefer Davis’s attacking upside or Diop’s Premier League experience.

Verdict: A solid lower-owned pick whose value depends on Ipswich’s formation.

8. Jacob Greaves — Ipswich Town

FPL Assistant score: 7.0/10

Jacob Greaves is the forgotten Ipswich option. He was already established in the team before Diop’s arrival and averaged 9.62 defensive contributions per 90 minutes in the Championship. His lack of hype may be useful: Diop’s ownership is inflated by the transfer, while Greaves could quietly start while being selected by far fewer teams.

The risk is obvious: Ipswich now have three credible centre-backs competing for two or three positions. Diop has arrived for a significant fee and O’Shea is captain.

Buy Greaves if he starts consistently throughout the remaining pre-season programme. Avoid Greaves if Ipswich use O’Shea and Diop as their first-choice pair.

Verdict: A legitimate low-owned alternative, but team selection must come first.

9. Adam Aznou — Everton

FPL Assistant score: 6.8/10

Adam Aznou is the most exciting non-promoted option at £4.0m. David Moyes has used a back-five system during pre-season, with Aznou starting at left wing-back in consecutive matches. A £4.0m wing-back starting for Everton would be an extraordinary bargain, and Everton also have one of the strongest opening fixture schedules.

But his position is not secure. Vitalii Mykolenko remains an established senior player, and Everton may abandon the wing-back system once the competitive season begins. Aznou should therefore be treated as a pre-season watchlist player, not a confirmed starter.

Buy Aznou if he starts Everton’s final friendlies and Moyes confirms the wing-back system. Avoid Aznou if Mykolenko returns to the first-choice team.

Verdict: The biggest potential bargain—and the biggest selection gamble—in this ranking.

10. Aurèle Amenda — Coventry City

FPL Assistant score: 6.6/10

Aurèle Amenda is a possible Coventry starter following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt. He became a regular towards the end of last season and averaged 8.97 defensive contributions per 90 minutes, reaching the ten-action threshold in seven of his 18 starts.

Current expectations suggest Amenda could replace Liam Kitching alongside Bobby Thomas. However, he is joining a promoted club, adapting to a new league and competing within a defence that already has several options. Thomas and Van Ewijk are currently safer Coventry selections.

Buy Amenda if he starts every remaining pre-season match alongside Thomas. Avoid Amenda if Coventry continue rotating their centre-backs.

Verdict: A player to monitor rather than select immediately.

Full £4.0m defender comparison

Which £4.0m defender should you choose?

Choose Bobby Thomas if you want the best all-round combination of minutes, DefCon and set-piece potential. Choose Charlie Hughes if you want a fifth defender who can provide dependable points from the bench. Choose Milan van Ewijk if you want assist potential and secure minutes.

Choose Leif Davis if you are prepared to chase attacking returns rather than DefCon, and choose John Egan if you want a low-owned, experienced DefCon option.

Should you own more than one £4.0m defender?

Probably not.

There are plenty of credible options, but they still play mainly for promoted teams expected to concede regularly. Selecting two or three £4.0m defenders creates several risks:

• A weak bench
• Limited clean-sheet potential
• Few attacking returns
• Less flexibility if one loses their place
• Too much reliance on DefCon
• Difficulty moving to an emerging £4.5m option

The extra £0.5m can make a major difference. Upgrading one £4.0m defender to a £4.5m option such as Tyrick Mitchell, Luke Shaw, Joe Rodon or Michael Kayode gives you access to a more established defence or a stronger attacking role.

Our preferred structure is two or three starting defenders priced at £4.5m or above, one dependable £4.0m defender and one additional defender chosen according to your formation. Compare the rest of the structure with our budget midfielders guide and budget forwards guide.

Best use of a £4.0m defender

Fifth defender in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2

This is the obvious role. Select a defender such as Thomas or Hughes and leave them second or third on the bench. They provide emergency minutes without using money needed elsewhere.

First substitute

Charlie Hughes or John Egan may work as first substitute because DefCon gives them a route to three or four points even when Hull concede.

Fixture rotation

Van Ewijk and Davis have more upside when selected for favourable home fixtures. Do not start them blindly every week. Rotate them into your team when their attacking role and opponent make a return more realistic.

Bench Boost preparation

A secure £4.0m starter can improve a Bench Boost squad without forcing you to overspend. However, do not use the chip simply because your cheap defender has one reasonable fixture. All four bench players still need a realistic chance of returning points. Read our Bench Boost Gameweek 1 guide before committing the chip.

Players to monitor rather than buy

Ryan Giles — Hull City

Giles recorded eight assists and created 39 chances last season, but Hull have signed Matt Targett to compete at left-back. Until one player clearly wins the position, both are risky.

Matt Targett — Hull City

Targett produced four goals and four assists for Middlesbrough last season. His arrival may reduce Giles’s minutes, but it does not automatically make Targett first choice.

Jay Dasilva — Coventry City

Dasilva started regularly last season and created 48 chances, but Coventry have been linked with additional left-backs. His position is currently less secure than Van Ewijk’s.

Liam Kitching — Coventry City

Kitching offers good DefCon and set-piece numbers, but Amenda’s arrival has created uncertainty over who partners Thomas.

Non-playing big-club defenders

Do not select a £4.0m defender from Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United merely because they represent a strong team. A promoted defender earning 90 minutes is normally more useful than a big-club prospect who never leaves the bench.

For broader opening-week checks, read our Gameweek 1 mistakes guide.

Final FPL Assistant verdict

There is no shortage of playing £4.0m defenders this season. The best option depends on what you need from the position.

Bobby Thomas is our best overall selection because he combines DefCon, set-piece threat and a relatively secure role. Charlie Hughes is the strongest choice for managers prioritising dependable bench points. He may collect DefCon even when Hull fail to keep a clean sheet.

Milan van Ewijk and Leif Davis provide greater assist potential but are less reliable for defensive-contribution points. John Egan is an excellent low-owned alternative, while Issa Diop should not be selected purely because his ownership is high.

The most important rule is simple: do not choose a £4.0m defender who will not play. The £0.5m saving is only valuable when the player can enter your team and contribute. A secure promoted defender is far more useful than a reserve from a top-six club.

For the rest of your structure, compare this article with our goalkeeper strategy guide, budget midfielders guide and budget forwards guide.