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 Who are the best £4.0m defenders are in FPL 2025/26?
Expert Fantasy Premier League manager Abdul Rehman (<a href="https://twitter.com/FPL_Salah">FPL Salah</a>) has narrowed down dozens of options into his ultimate shortlist.
We'll be keeping this list of £4.0m defenders regularly updated before the Gameweek 1 deadline, so make sure to bookmark this page.
And check out our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-ultimate-guide-fpl-tips">Ultimate Guide to FPL</a> for all our best player articles and much more.
 
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">Best FPL £4.0m defenders 2025/26</h2>
This season, there are a few more £4.0m options than usual who look to be relatively important players for their team.
Keep an eye on transfer proceedings and <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-pre-season-results-guide">pre-season friendlies</a>. There will be plenty of activity from now, until the start of the season, therefore we should have a few more viable options at this price point.
Here are our top selections:
<h3>Joe Rodon (£4.0m) – Leeds</h3>
Leeds are likely to be the strongest of the promoted teams.
Rodon looks like one of the most reliable £4.0m starters heading into the new campaign. A mainstay in Leeds’ backline last season, he started all 46 games in the Championship last season.
Being a centre-back for a newly promoted side, he should have plenty of chances to get defensive contribution points.
While he won't offer much clean sheet potential or attacking threat in the Premier League, his CBIT potential (clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles) means he could pick up points consistently.
Leeds’ early fixtures look mixed but at £4.0m, he’s the perfect bench enabler who can step in when needed. 
<div id="attachment_73521" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73521" class="size-full wp-image-73521" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rodon.jpg" alt="Joe Rodon. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="699" />
Joe Rodon. Picture by Getty Images
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<h3>Gabriel Gudmundsson (£4.0m) – Leeds</h3>
Gudmundsson is an interesting £4.0m option. A versatile left-back who also played midfield roles during his time at Lille, he offers more attacking upside than most defenders in this price bracket. 
He managed two goals in Ligue 1 last season, so has some attacking threat. 
Gudmundsson has been bought in to replace Junior Firpo, who left for Real Betis, and the fact the new recruit has been taking corners in pre-season tells me that the left-back spot is his.
Set-pieces are a nice bonus for the Swede and although he may not be as good as Rodon for defensive bonus, the attacking threat probably makes him just as good an option.
 If you’re looking for a £4.0m defender who can get forward, Gudmundsson could be one of the best picks. 
<h3>Maxime Esteve (£4.0m) – Burnley</h3>
Esteve is the safest and most reliable £4.0m defender in the game right now. 
He started all 46 games in the Championship last season, leading them to an astonishing 30 clean sheets and only 16 goals conceded. 
His defensive numbers look good, with 48 tackles, 58 blocks, 41 interceptions and 234 clearances. 
Burnley will face tougher opposition in the Premier League but that will likely mean even more clearances and defensive actions from Esteve.
Being a centre-back for a team who is likely to be on the backfoot a lot, the CBIT bonus could make him a bonus points magnet. 
If you want a no-nonsense £4.0m starter who’s guaranteed minutes, he is the one. 
<div id="attachment_73180" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73180" class="size-full wp-image-73180" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Maxime-Esteve.jpg" alt="Maxime Esteve. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" />
Maxime Esteve. Picture by Getty Images
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<h3>Reinildo (£4.0m) – Sunderland</h3>
Sunderland’s defenders are currently ravaged by injuries but new recruit Reinildo, who just signed from Atletico Madrid, looks set to take a starting role from Gameweek 1. 
He’s naturally a left-back but can also slot in at centre-half - versatility that mean he should get plenty of minutes.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
He should be a safe pick for minutes given the current situation. He also scored two goals and assisted one for Atletico in the 2023/24 season, so can chip in with attacking returns.
With Sunderland’s backline thin on numbers, Reinildo could be a nailed-on budget starter for the first few weeks at least. 
The Black Cats are probably going to be the poorest side in the league this campaign but regardless he’s still a fine option to have on your bench. 
<h3>Ayden Heaven (£4.0m) – Manchester United</h3>
Heaven is more of a pre-season watchlist pick but comes with exciting potential. 
The young defender joined United from Arsenal in January 2025 and really impressed in two league starts before an injury curtailed his run. 
It's not beyond the realms of possibility that he forces his way into Ruben Amorim's plans, especially with Luke Shaw's injury record.
Heaven has also impressed in recent friendlies, winning a penalty for Bruno Fernandes and scoring against Hong Kong in their post-season match. 
He's been getting the minutes, which is always a good sign.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}"> 
 If he nails down a place, Heaven could be a £4.0m dream pick - but monitor United’s friendly lineups before committing. 
<div id="attachment_73520" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73520" class="size-full wp-image-73520" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ayden-Heaven.jpg" alt="Ayden Heaven. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" />
Ayden Heaven. Picture by Getty Images
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<h3>Aaron Hickey (£4.0m) – Brentford</h3>
Hickey is another one to watch before the season starts. He was out for around 21 months due to injury, which halted the young 23-year old's career.
But he looks to be fit now and has played minutes in Brentford's pre-season games.
In the 2021/22 season, he managed five goals and and an assist in 36 games for Bologna, so clearly has plenty of potential.
His versatility allows him to play both left-back and right-back and he's also spent time in midfield, which could help him reclaim a starting role. 
Brentford have strengthened their full-back options through Michael Kayode (£4.5m), so Hickey isn’t guaranteed starts yet - but he’s one to monitor as fitness improves.
If he can become a first-team regular, Hickey could be one of the season’s best budget defenders. 
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Best FPL £4.0m defenders 2025/26: Top tips</h2>
The £4.0m price point is only available for defenders and goalkeepers in Fantasy Premier League. It is a great spot to use to save a bit of money, and invest more into your starting 11.
If you are picking a £4.0m defender, it's usually a good idea to have them as your third substitute and make sure your other two subs are sure starters.
It’s a very risky strategy if you are using your £4.0m defender as a starting player.
Even if they are nailed to start every game, the chances of them scoring many points are slim.
Their main purpose is as a means to bolster the rest of your squad, while having a starter on your bench to come in if needed.
Although this spot in your squad should only be looked at once you have assembled the rest of your team, it should still be researched, and we should aim to pick the best one.
I would value the best £4.0m defenders as those who have the best chance of starting.
We have had some £4.0m gems in the past such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the 2018/19 season - and who can forget £4.0m hero John Lundstram, who scored 144 points with five goals and four assists in 2019/20?
Another factor in picking the best £4.0m defender in FPL is that the best pick is more likely to either increase in price or not go down, thus preserving our team value.
<a href="https://twitter.com/FFH_HQ/status/1494649218274840581"><img class="wp-image-56087 size-full aligncenter" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screenshot-2023-07-27-at-16.54.02.jpg" alt="" width="892" height="1004" /></a>
<h2>Best FPL £4.0m defenders: Abdul's rankings</h2>
I will now rank this season's options, exclusively for Hub <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">members</a>.
Rankings are given with respect to the player's FPL potential looking at price, fixtures and overall value.
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Best £4.0m FPL defenders 2025/26

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