How To Play Fantasy Premier League - All FPL Rules Explained

Aug 15, 2025 1:27 PM EDT

Fantasy Premier League is back. On Friday, August 15, Liverpool and Bournemouth will kick off the new season, which means that every week fans can build their own lineups, compete in leagues, and see who scores the most points. Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about FPL rules.

Fantasy Premier League attracts millions of players worldwide each season. Participants manage a virtual squad based on real-life Premier League matches. The game works like any other fantasy sport: you need to stay informed about team form, player fitness, and make your picks based on each player’s features and upcoming matchups.

How the Fantasy Premier League Works?

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is the official game run by the Premier League. Each participant is given a virtual budget of £100 million to select a squad of 15 players: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders, and three forwards. Points are awarded based on actual player performance in Premier League matches, including goals, assists, clean sheets, and minutes played.

Each season, FPL launches ahead of the first official fixture — in 2025, that’s Liverpool vs Bournemouth. Managers must assemble a squad of 15 players within their budget, balancing star picks with budget-friendly options while monitoring injuries, suspensions, and fixture schedules that can affect player availability and point potential.

Managers are able to join public leagues, or create their own private league to compete with friends, family, or colleagues. Transfers are allowed each game week, with one free transfer per week; additional transfers will include point deductions. FPL also includes “chips,” special options that can be used strategically during the season:

• Bench Boost: Allows manager to earn points from all 15 players in their squad
• Free Hit: Unlimited transfer for a full game week, without affecting the regular transfer count. It’s an extra cap to help.
• Triple Captain: It triples the point of the selected captain of the week.

Stay Ahead of Price Inflation Each Game week

The game runs on a weekly cycle, with points calculated after all matches are completed. Player prices fluctuate based on performance and transfer activity across the platform – so stay ahead and plan the next round quickly, based on next features and past performances.

When to Start Playing?

For the 2025/26 Fantasy Premier League season, the transfer market closes 1 hour before the first match of each game week.