Once managers in Fantasy Premier League have completed the registration process, they can begin picking their squad.
Picking a squad: The basics
Managers are given an initial budget of £100.0m to spend on a squad of 15 players, who have each been allocated prices.
That squad must comprise of:
- 2 goalkeepers
- 5 defenders
- 5 midfielders
- 3 forwards
A maximum of THREE players can be chosen from any one Premier League club.
To select a player for your squad by club, click on the "All players" dropdown filter in the left-hand column and scroll down to the club of the player you would like to select. Click on a club and click "Save changes".
To add the player to your squad, click on the "+" sign alongside their name and then "Make Transfers" below the pitch graphic.
You then have access to the club's player list, which is sorted by position. Clicking on the player will place him in your squad.
Alternatively, you can type the player's surname into the menu search function to find them, as shown below.
If you are short of time or need some assistance, you can use the "Auto Pick" function, which will build a squad for you. After clicking "Auto Pick", click on "Make Transfers" and then "Confirm".
Picking a squad: Top tips
So, which players should you pick? Here are four top tips for compiling a squad.
1. Balance
Try and put together a squad that is strong across all four positions. While it's tempting to fill your team with all of the best attacking players, you don't want to be left short of funds in defence.
Selecting bargain attackers can pay off - over the last couple of seasons, both Cole Palmer (£10.5m) and Morgan Rogers (£7.0m) enjoyed strong campaigns despite having starting prices of £5.0m.
With the introduction of defensive contribution points for 2025/26, cheap players like Moises Caicedo (£5.5m) and Elliot Anderson (£5.5m) are expected to deliver plenty of Fantasy points.
That being said, £4.5m goalkeepers have excelled in recent seasons and, handily for managers in 2025/26, there appear to be a host of £4.0m-priced defenders among the promoted clubs who are regular starters.
2. Beware of ownership
At the start of a season, it's not a bad idea to follow the herd so you don't get left behind.
In the "Total points" dropdown filter in the left-hand column, click and scroll down to "Team selected by %". This sorts players by their ownership.
Many of the most-owned players are widely selected for a reason. These are often the proven performers who have delivered in the past.
If you go without a lot of these players, and they then make a strong start to the season, you'll already be playing catch-up. So, if you're not sure who to pick, there's often some wisdom in the crowd. You can always increase your appetite for risk during the season.
3. Fixtures
Good fixtures can breed good form. While selecting your squad, make sure to check out the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR) for the weeks and months ahead.
The FDR is based on a complex algorithm developed by FPL experts. A set of formulas generate a rank for the perceived difficulty of each Gameweek opponent, ranking from one (easy) to five (hard).
It is designed to help FPL managers plan their transfer and team selection strategy. It is reviewed on a weekly basis and updated as the season progresses.
Chelsea, for example, have just one match with an FDR rating higher than three across the first 12 Gameweeks. As a result, many Fantasy managers will be selecting two or three Chelsea players in their opening squad.
4. Leave money in the bank
Players' FPL prices will go up and down depending on whether they're being bought or sold by the masses.
So, it's advisable to leave a bit of money in the bank when picking your squad. Having £0.5m or £1.0m left over may mean that you can more easily transfer in someone who catches your eye in the first few Gameweeks.