As three players are added to the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, managers are being given early clues about how the competition’s evolving points model could reward different profiles of signings.

The focus in this update falls on Brentford‘s club-record midfield signing Mamadou Sangare (£5.5m), whose underlying numbers suggest he could emerge as a specialist asset for defensive contribution (DC) points under the Premier League’s official fantasy format, run in conjunction with the Premier League.

Sangare’s profile under the DC metric

Brentford’s new midfielder has the statistics to suggest he could be this season’s equivalent of Elliot Anderson (£6.5m) in terms of earning DC points in Fantasy.

Based on his performances for Lens in Ligue 1 last season, Sangare would have collected two additional points for his defensive actions in 19 of his 32 starts under the DC scoring model.

That output translates into a DC success rate when starting of 59.3 per cent. Among midfielders in the 2025/26 Fantasy season, that figure was bettered by only two players: Manchester City’s Anderson, in his final Fantasy campaign while at Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur (£5.5m).

In terms of aggregate DC returns, Sangare’s projected total of 38 points from those games would have matched the output of Leeds United’s Ethan Ampadu, who is also set at £5.5m in this pricing band.

Balancing defensive output with attacking returns

Alongside his defensive metrics, Sangare offers measurable attacking potential for a budget midfielder. In the French top division last season, he scored three goals and provided four assists.

That combination – regular DC involvement and a steady level of attacking returns – positions Sangare as a value-focused option for managers who prioritise structure and reliability over explosive, high-ceiling midfield picks. His price point at £5.5m places him alongside other mid-range options but with differentiated value under the evolving DC scoring layer.

There will inevitably be an adaptation period as Sangare moves into a new league. However, if he adjusts quickly to the Premier League and maintains similar defensive involvement, he has the profile of a consistent, low-cost contributor in Fantasy squads, even if his overall points ceiling remains modest compared with premium midfielders.

How DC-focused players can shape FPL strategy

The emphasis on Sangare’s DC potential underlines a broader strategic shift for FPL managers. The DC category rewards actions such as tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries that do not always translate into traditional attacking returns, giving extra relevance to midfielders who operate in deeper or hybrid roles.

For clubs, this means new signings whose real-world value lies in out-of-possession work are now more visible in the Fantasy ecosystem. For managers, it opens a route to stabilise overall points scoring with reliable DC contributors, particularly when balancing budgets across premium forwards and defenders.

New entries for 3 August

The 3 August update introduces three players at key price points for squad construction:

• Mamadou Sangare (Brentford midfielder) – £5.5m
• Antonio Silva (Bournemouth defender) – £5.0m
• Lukas Hornicek (Newcastle goalkeeper) – £5.0m

Each of the three addresses a different structural need within FPL squads: a mid-priced midfielder with DC and modest attacking output, a £5.0m defender bracket that often houses first-choice starters from mid-table sides, and a £5.0m goalkeeper slot that typically targets regular minutes and save potential.

All players added since the game’s launch

Since the launch of the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League season, a number of new signings and returning names have been priced and added into the game across all positions. Their roles and prices are summarised below:

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