Fantasy Premier League 2025/26: Official Rule Changes and Updates
A complete breakdown of the official FPL rule changes for the 2025/26 season — including DEFCON points, new chip rules, bonus system tweaks, and more.
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View Campaign OfferFantasy Premier League 2025/26: Official Rule Changes and Updates
The 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season introduces several significant rule changes and new features, as confirmed by official Premier League announcements. Below is a comprehensive summary of all the key updates for 2025/26, covering scoring, chips, squad rules, price changes, and more.
🛡️ Defensive Contribution Points Rewarded
New Defensive Actions Scoring: For the first time, FPL will award points for certain defensive contributions by outfield players.
- Defenders: Earn +2 points if they make 10 combined clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles (CBIT) in a match.
- Midfielders/Forwards: Earn +2 points if they make 12 defensive contributions, including ball recoveries.
This means defensive midfielders and center-backs can now score FPL points for their off-the-ball work.
🃏 Two Sets of Chips (Eight Chips Total)
Managers now get two full sets of chips per season:
- 2 Wildcards
- 2 Free Hits
- 2 Triple Captains
- 2 Bench Boosts
🚨 The first set expires by GW19 (30 Dec 2025). Use them or lose them.
🚫 The "Assistant Manager" chip has been removed.
🎯 Simplified Assist Rules
Broader assist criteria now apply:
- Deflected passes into the box can now earn assists even if the original target wasn't the goalscorer.
- Handball-induced penalties/free-kicks now grant assists regardless of whether the handball was “forced”.
🧮 These changes would have added 41 more assists last season under the new rule.
📈 Bonus Points System Tweaks
Key BPS updates:
- GK Saves: 3 BPS (inside box), 2 BPS (outside box), 8 BPS for penalty saves (was 9)
- Goalline Clearances: 9 BPS (was 3)
- Penalty Goals: All positions now get 12 BPS (was higher for FWDs/MIDs)
- Tackles: Each successful tackle = +2 BPS (no longer subtracting failed attempts)
These changes make defenders and defensive mids more viable for bonus points.
🔄 Extra Free Transfers for AFCON Planning
In Gameweek 16, every manager gets bumped to 5 free transfers, allowing easier squad reshuffling before AFCON 2026.
This is a one-time "mini-wildcard" to help deal with players leaving mid-season.
🌍 New Elite Global Leagues
FPL has introduced:
- Elite 1% League: For managers finishing in the top 1% last season
- Elite 10% League: For top 10% finishers
These auto-enrolled leagues offer bragging rights and new competition tiers.
🛡️ Custom Team Badges
You can now create and upload custom digital badges for your team using Adobe Express.
This is purely cosmetic but adds personal flair to your FPL profile and leagues.
🔁 Core Rules Remain Unchanged
- Squad Size: 15 players, £100m budget
- Transfers: 1 per GW, max 2 saved
- Autosubs: Based on bench order and formation rules
- Deadlines: 90 minutes before the first match of each GW
- Price Changes: Still based on net transfers with 50% profit margin retained
✅ Summary
The 2025/26 FPL season introduces:
- DEFCON points for defensive work
- 8 total chips
- Better assist criteria
- Revamped BPS
- AFCON transfer boost
- Elite global leagues
- Custom team branding
The core mechanics remain stable, but there's more tactical depth than ever for managers who understand the new points systems.
📢 Good luck and enjoy the season!
Sources:
- Premier League Official Announcements
- FPL Rulebook and Updates (July 2025)
- FPL News: "All You Need to Know About Changes to FPL 2025/26"