FPL 2026/27
Who changed position
— and what it costs them
A reclassification quietly re-writes a player scoring in two directions at once. Ball recoveries count towards a midfielder defensive total but not a defender one, and the threshold moves between 12 and 10. Below is last season rate as it was recorded, and the same season re-counted under this season rule.
BIGGEST RE-BASING FIRST
9 PLAYERS- WiefferMID → DEFBHA · £5.0m · threshold now 10
His 102 ball recoveries no longer count. Same season, re-counted: 12.7 becomes 7.9 per 90.
-4.8actions/90 - DorguDEF → MIDMUN · £6.0m · threshold now 12
His 77 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 6.1 becomes 10.9 per 90.
+4.8actions/90 - Lewis-PotterDEF → MIDBRE · £5.5m · threshold now 12
His 96 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 3.4 becomes 7.8 per 90.
+4.4actions/90 - Lewis-SkellyDEF → MIDARS · £5.5m · threshold now 12
His 30 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 3.2 becomes 7.1 per 90.
+3.9actions/90 - BogardeDEF → MIDAVL · £5.0m · threshold now 12
His 43 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 5.2 becomes 8.9 per 90.
+3.7actions/90 - SessegnonMID → DEFFUL · £4.5m · threshold now 10
His 74 ball recoveries no longer count. Same season, re-counted: 10.8 becomes 7.1 per 90.
-3.7actions/90 - GeorginioMID → FWDBHA · £5.5m · threshold now 12
His 61 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 6.6 becomes 6.6 per 90.
+0.0actions/90 - Kroupi.JrFWD → MIDBOU · £7.5m · threshold now 12
His 61 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 6.1 becomes 6.1 per 90.
+0.0actions/90 - MarmoushMID → FWDMCI · £7.0m · threshold now 12
His 20 ball recoveries now count. Same season, re-counted: 5.1 becomes 5.1 per 90.
+0.0actions/90
Players with 600+ minutes and 8+ starts in 2025/26 whose 2026/27 position differs. Snapshot 2026-07-27.
QUESTIONS
Why does a position change affect defensive contribution points?
Two things move at once. The counting rule changes, because ball recoveries count towards a midfielder total but not a defender one. And the threshold changes, from 12 for midfielders and forwards to 10 for defenders. A player moved from midfield to defence loses his recoveries but needs a lower total; moved the other way he gains recoveries but needs a higher total. The net effect is not something you can judge by eye.
Does a defender-to-midfielder move help or hurt?
It usually helps for defensive contribution, because ball recoveries are typically the largest of the categories for a deeper midfielder, and that gain often outweighs the higher threshold. It also changes everything else — a midfielder earns 1 point for a clean sheet instead of 4, but 5 for a goal instead of 6.
Where does FPL get its positions from?
FPL classifies players by the role they are recorded as playing rather than by where they nominally line up, which is why an attacking midfielder who plays as a second striker is usually listed as a midfielder. Positions are set before the season and can be revised in later seasons rather than mid-season.