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 Who are the best Fantasy Premier League (FPL) mid-priced defenders for 2025/26? Expert Fantasy Premier League manager Abdul Rehman (<a href="https://twitter.com/FPL_Salah">FPL Salah</a>) has it covered.
We'll be keeping this list of mid-priced midfielders, priced between £5.0m and £5.5m, 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>Best FPL mid-priced defenders 2025/26</h2>
The mid-priced Fantasy Premier League defenders present us with some great options every season - the key is to identify them early.
Over the last few years, the emergence of wing-backs has given more importance to the defender slot in FPL.
The best defenders in the game are those with not only clean sheet potential, but also a plethora of attacking threat.
And now we also have another factor to consider with the addition of <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-2025-26-changes-defensive-contributions">defensive contributions</a>. For defenders, these consist of clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT).
If a defender reaches 10 defensive contributions in a single match, they gain an extra two points.
Here are our top selections:
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<h2>Murillo (£5.5m) - Nottingham Forest<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}"> </h2>
Murillo was one of the most nailed defenders for Forest last season, starting 36 games and scoring two goals. 
He ranks high in interceptions, clearances and blocks, which means he will have a strong baseline bonus (BPS). He actually ranked third among all defenders last season for defensive contributions, <a href="https://x.com/FPL__Fran/status/1946160844275962270">registering 11.02 per 90</a>. Great work from Hub ambassador FPL Fran to calculate this. 
So under the new rules he could be a great option. Attacking wise he’s not prolific but he has the odd goal in him. 
We saw last season that Forest can be a resolute defence and with good fixtures they can be fantastic value. 
They play Brentford (H), West Ham (H), Burnley (A), Sunderland (H) and Manchester United (H) in the first 10 so they have plenty of scope for clean sheets.
Murillo is looking like a standout pick who can offer value through defensive contributions and clean sheet potential. 
Forest’s opening fixtures makes him an attractive option and their defensive stats suggest he’s a reliable long-term pick too.<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}"> 
<div id="attachment_73422" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73422" class="size-full wp-image-73422" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Murillo-bordered.jpeg" alt="Murillo Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Murillo's stats
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<h2>James Tarkowski (£5.5m) - Everton<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}"> </h2>
Everton's Tarkowski looks like another standout pick in the mid-priced defenders category. 
With Everton conceding just 44 goals last season (fourth-least) they are a solid defence and Tarkowski is absolutely nailed. 
He was the defender who would have benefited the most from the defensive contributions points last season and ranks fourth for <a href="https://x.com/FPL__Fran/status/1946160844275962270">CBIT per 90 (10.32)</a>.<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 also has some goal threat from set-pieces and is capable of chipping in with a couple of goals over the season. 
Everton start with Leeds (A), Brighton (H) and Wolves (A), which is a fairly favourable run and a few clean sheets are likely. They play Aston Villa (H), West Ham (H) and Crystal Palace (H) in the first seven too.
The Toffees' defensive stability makes Tarkowski a reliable option for clean sheets and bonus points.  
The 32-year-old underwent hamstring surgery so may be a doubt for the start of the season however. It's worth keeping an eye on Everton's <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fpl-pre-season-results-guide">pre-season games</a>.
<div id="attachment_73423" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73423" class="size-full wp-image-73423" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Tarkowski-bordered.jpeg" alt="James Tarkowski Stats" width="840" height="690" />
James Tarkowski's stats
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<h2>Daniel Munoz (£5.5m) - Crystal Palace<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}"> </h2>
Munoz has cemented himself as one of the most exciting defenders in the Premier League. 
Palace conceded 51 goals last season and are a mid-table defensive team.
But the Colombian's forward runs and attacking involvement gives him a high ceiling. 
He doesn't rank well for the new defensive contributions rule but with four goals and six assists last season, I don’t think he needs to. 
He pretty much plays as a winger and with his regular overlapping runs and crosses, I am sure he picks up plenty of attacking returns again. 
Palace open away at Chelsea but also play Forest (H), Sunderland (H), West Ham (A), Everton (A) and Bournemouth (H) during the first eight games. 
I also think Munoz is the type of player you wouldn't mind playing against any opposition due to his immense attacking threat.
From an FPL perspective, his appeal comes from his attacking output rather than his defensive actions.  
<div id="attachment_73424" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73424" class="size-full wp-image-73424" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Munoz-bordered.jpeg" alt="Daniel Muñoz Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Daniel Munoz's stats
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<h2>Ruben Dias (£5.5m) - Manchester City<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}"> </h2>
Dias is one City’s most nailed defenders. 
They had a really poor season by their own high standards but still finished as the fourth best team in terms of goals conceded (44). 
Dias rarely rotates and is often first choice under Pep Guardiola and with Rodri back you would think City will improve massively at the back. 
The Portuguese doesn't rank highly when it comes to defensive contributions but the clean sheet potential with him is much higher than any other defender in the mid-price price bracket. 
City are historically a solid defence and I would be confident that last season was an anomaly.<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}"> 
Another reason for Dias’s inclusion is that City’s opening games look good from a defensive viewpoint. They play Wolves (A), Spurs (H), United (H), Burnley (H) and Everton (H) in the first eight.
Dias’s lack of CBIT isn’t surprising given City’s style of play, as they tend to dominate possession, so defenders are naturally less busy defensively. 
His appeal is based purely on clean sheet potential.<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}"> 
<div id="attachment_73425" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-73425" class="size-full wp-image-73425" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/playerstats-Ruben-bordered.jpeg" alt="Rúben Dias Stats" width="840" height="690" />
Rúben Dias Stats
</div>
<h2>Best FPL mid-priced defenders: Abdul's rankings</h2>
I will now rank these options, exclusively for Hub <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/join">members</a>.
Rankings are given for the player's FPL potential looking at price, fixtures and overall value.
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Best FPL mid-priced defenders 2025/26: £5.0m-£5.5m

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