FPL 2024/25 tips: Top three defenders to sign
We’re preparing for Gameweek 2 of the 2024/25 Premier League season. So FPL managers may have some decisions to make.
After the opening gameweek, managers will either be happy or unhappy with their squads. And there may be changes afoot.
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Defence is certainly an interesting position. Despite having room for five defenders, most ideal formations for FPL will have you using as few as possible i.e., three.
So, how do you plan your defensive unit? Do you go big on three defenders and go extremely cheap on the other two, allowing funds for elsewhere? Or do you build from the bottom up?
Whatever your gameplan, we’ve got some suggestions for you.
Ben White
- Club: Arsenal
- Price: £6.5m
- Points: 6
Arsenal had the best defence in the Premier League last season so it’s understandable that all of their assets are high up on the list. They had the top three defenders in FPL last season and top of the charts, and our list, is Ben White.
It’s an easy pick to make on the face of it, considering he had more points than any other FPL defender last season. But the numbers back it up. White was directly involved in nine FPL goals, scoring four and providing five assists. He brought 14 bonus points and 72 of his 182 total points came from clean sheets. He started this season with six points against Wolves, the same as Gabriel and William Saliba.
Ian Maatsen
- Club: Aston Villa
- Price: £5.0m
- Points: 1
Yes, Ian Maatsen did play for Chelsea in the Premier League last season, getting 11 points from his 200 minutes and one start. But we’re not advocating for him because of his 4.95 points per 90 minutes. No, we’re being serious and see Maatsen as a good prospect at £5.0m.
For Borussia Dortmund last season in the Bundesliga, Maatsen was directly involved in four goals in 16 matches, scoring two and providing two assists. He averaged 0.78 shots per 90 minutes and 0.57 chances created, with Dortmund keeping six clean sheets while he was on the pitch. But what makes Maatsen enticing for FPL is that he’s very much an attacking full-back and can play high up the pitch if Unai Emery desires. But he’s still placed as a defender in FPL, so any goals would be worth six points. He did only play 16 minutes against West Ham, but give it time.
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Leif Davis
- Club: Ipswich
- Price: £4.5m
- Points: 1
Leif Davis doesn’t have a 2023/24 FPL points total to look back to, as he was playing in the Championship last season. But if he did, it’d be fantastic. The left-back was one of Ipswich’s stars as they gained automatic promotion to the Premier League.
In 43 games for Ipswich in the Championship last season, Davis recorded 18 assists more than any other player. That came at an average of 0.43 per 90 minutes, or an assist every 210 minutes. He also sat top of the division for chances created (125), while Ipswich kept 10 clean sheets and conceded 56 goals while Davis was playing. It’s a tough start to the season for Ipswich, but once they get past their next game against Man City, Davis could be the choice.
