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Fulham FPL team guide 2026/27

Squad, fixture runs and rotation partners

Squad
26
Available of 27
Avg FDR
3.60
Next 5 fixtures
For attackers
2.80
Bawler's attack-side split
For defence
3.20
Bawler's defence-side split

Squad leaders

The fastest routes into this club's player pool.

Points leader
168 pts
Form leader
31 in last 6
Under 10% owned
1.1% owned

Points and form from 2025/26.

Schedule pulse

Difficulty across the next 5 listed fixtures.

Avg FDR
3.60
Difficult
FDR 1–2
0
Favourable
FDR 4–5
3
Difficult
Open full schedule

Attack vs defence

Bawler's own split — the same run can be kind to one end and cruel to the other.

For attackers
2.80
Balanced
For defence
3.20
Balanced

Rated 1 (easiest) to 5 from the opponent's attacking and defensive strength, not the official single number. How it's built →

Squad

27 players in the FPL game, by position.

PlayerOwnedPtsxPtsPrice
Goalkeepers
LELenoNailed2.3%1223.00£5.0
MCMcNallyFringe0.0%00.00£4.0
LELecomteBackup0.7%00.20£3.9
Defenders
RORobinson0.9%652.77£4.9
TETeteBattle0.2%811.67£4.5
ANAndersenOUT2.8%1232.08£4.4
BABasseyNailed0.8%1032.86£4.4
CACastagneBattle0.2%611.86£4.3
JCJ.CuencaRotation0.1%391.33£4.3
DIDiop0.1%31£4.3
AMAmissah0.1%0£3.8
Midfielders
IWIwobiNailed1.1%1033.00£6.1
WIWilson17.4%168£5.8
KEKevin0.1%492.17£5.7
SRSmith Rowe0.5%802.37£5.6
SESessegnonRotation0.1%951.81£5.4
CHChukwueze0.1%62£5.3
BOBobb0.2%422.28£5.1
BEBerge0.1%911.64£4.9
LULukić0.1%67£4.9
CACairneyFringe0.0%410.83£4.8
RIRidgeon0.0%0£4.5
KIKingRotation1.6%631.29£4.4
REReedFringe0.3%150.85£4.3
Forwards
RARaúl1.8%112£5.9
MUMunizRotation0.7%361.56£5.3
KAKusi-AsareBackup0.1%60.53£4.5

Points from 2025/26. xPts is Bawler's projected points per gameweek — fixture-adjusted and weighted by how likely the player is to start. Full projections →

Rotation partners

Own one from each pair and start whichever has the kinder week.

Scored by taking the easier of the two clubs' fixtures each gameweek across the listed horizon.

Fixture run

Every listed fixture ahead, coloured by official FPL difficulty.

GW1
CHE H
GW2
SUN A
GW3
CRY H
GW4
LIV A
GW5
MUN H
Researched 30 July 2026 — pre-season picture, check team news before the deadline. Everything below comes from the cited sources at the foot of the page; where a fact could not be verified, the guide says so instead of guessing.

Latest updates

5 August 2026Team news
Arbeloa deploying high full-backs; Fulham penalty duty unresolved

In the 2-1 pre-season win at Farense on 1 August, Ryan Sessegnon started at right-back in Arbeloa's high full-back system, with Antonee Robinson advanced on the left. Both Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz converted penalties in that match, leaving the taker unclear after Jimenez's departure.

FPL: Robinson and Sessegnon gain attacking-return appeal as advanced full-backs, though the same system dents Fulham's clean-sheet odds. Do not pay up for a Fulham penalty taker yet — the duty is genuinely unsettled with Garcia now added.

5 August 2026Transfer in
Fulham complete second Real Madrid deal for midfielder Cesar Palacios

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder signed from Real Madrid until summer 2031 with a one-year option, for a reported €10m as part of a combined €50m double deal with Garcia. He takes the No.8 shirt vacated by Harry Wilson. Palacios made seven first-team appearances under Arbeloa at Madrid.

FPL: A cheap-enfranchised midfielder to watch, but unproven in the Premier League — wait for friendly minutes before investing. His arrival further reduces the case for Fulham's incumbent creative midfielders.

5 August 2026Transfer in
Fulham sign striker Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid for £34m

The 22-year-old Spain international joined on a five-year deal to 2031 with a club option for a further year, for a fee of €40m (£34m). He takes the No.7 shirt vacated by Raul Jimenez. Club media ran his first interview and first-day content on 4 August.

FPL: Fulham's marquee signing and direct replacement for Jimenez — a genuine premium-forward candidate. He also converted 6 of 7 penalties for Real Madrid Castilla last season, so he is a live contender for spot-kicks.

5 August 2026Manager
Arbeloa hails Gonzalo Garcia as "one of the best strikers in the world"

At Garcia's unveiling on 4 August, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa praised the £34m signing's pace, physical strength, pressing intensity and technical quality, saying "I'm so happy to have him with us." Arbeloa coached Garcia at Real Madrid in the second half of last season.

FPL: Strong signal Garcia is being bought as the first-choice No.9, not squad depth. Treat him as the likely starting striker ahead of Rodrigo Muniz until a friendly XI proves otherwise.

Tracked daily from cited sources. News for every club is on team news.

Manager & style

Álvaro Arbeloanew this summer

Appointed 7 July 2026, replacing Marco Silva (left 2 June 2026 after five seasons; joined Benfica). A new manager means last season's roles, minutes and set-piece duties do not automatically carry over.

Front-foot, possession-and-pressing. At Real Madrid Castilla and in his caretaker Real Madrid spell he built around 'offensive joy': short goal-kick build-up, circulate to one flank to draw the press then break vertically through the centre. A midfielder (Valverde at Madrid, Harrison Reed in Fulham pre-season) drops alongside the centre-backs to form a back three in build-up, turning the shape into 3-2-5/3-4-3 with both full-backs pushed high and wide and midfielders/striker occupying central lanes. Pressing is controlled and trigger-based rather than indiscriminate, aimed at rapid re-winning and fast transitions; lines are kept compact and close together. Players are given licence to rotate and interchange. Pre-season reporting notes the flip-side: when possession is lost high, the centre-backs are left exposed with only the single pivot screening. Marked step up in attacking risk versus Marco Silva's more conservative mid-block. Set-piece emphasis unverified.

Usual shape: 4-3-3 base (3-2-5/3-4-3 in possession); a 4-2-3-1 was used in the first friendly v Norwich

Summer transfers

In

PlayerPosFromFeeExpected role
JAJonah Kusi-AsareCFBayern Munich£5.2mYoung back-up/development striker behind Rodrigo Muniz. Came off the bench in the Al-Ahli friendly and was praised for his work rate. Not expected to start GW1.

Out

PlayerPosToFee
Issa DiopCBIpswich Town£8.5m (Wikipedia); 'undisclosed' per Sports Mole
Raúl JiménezCFWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer
Harry WilsonRW/AMLeeds UnitedFree transfer
Steven BendaGKReleased / free agent (Feyenoord reported by one outlet, unconfirmed)Free transfer
Alfie McNallyGKYork City (loan to end of season)Loan

Current injuries

No injuries were flagged in this guide's sources at research time.

Injury picture as of 30 July 2026 — availability moves fast in pre-season, so confirm against official team news.

Expected XI & selection battles

Formation: 4-3-3 (3-2-5 in possession)

  • GK Bernd Leno
  • RB Kenny Tete
  • CB Joachim Andersen
  • CB Calvin Bassey
  • LB Ryan Sessegnon
  • CM Harrison Reed (single pivot / drops into back three)
  • CM Saša Lukić
  • CM Emile Smith Rowe
  • RW Alex Iwobi
  • LW Oscar Bobb
  • ST Rodrigo Muniz

Battles to watch

  • LEFT-BACK — Ryan Sessegnon vs Antonee Robinson. Sessegnon has started both pre-season friendlies at left-back (Norwich 25 Jul, Al-Ahli 28 Jul, scoring in the latter) and was reported 'attacking high up on the left' from day one of pre-season. Robinson reported late after 2026 World Cup duty with the USA and was not involved in the early friendlies. Robinson made only 17 starts in 2025/26 through injury and Sessegnon's form. VERDICT: Sessegnon is favourite for GW1; Robinson is the higher-ceiling option once fit and remains a genuine threat to reclaim the shirt. SOURCES CONFLICT: crowd-sourced lineup predictors (starting11.com, n=21) still list Robinson.
  • RIGHT-BACK — Kenny Tete vs Timothy Castagne vs the youngster 'Zepa'. Fulhamish reported Zepa starting at right-back v Al-Ahli with Tete tucking into midfield, an inverted-full-back role that fits Arbeloa's 3-2-5.
  • STRIKER — Rodrigo Muniz is the clear favourite with Raúl Jiménez gone, but Fulham are actively pursuing Gonzalo García (Real Madrid, ~€60m) and Fulham have been sounded out on Matías Soulé; a late signing would change the front three.
  • CENTRE-BACK — Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey are the incumbents; Jorge Cuenca has appeared in pre-season. Issa Diop's sale thins the depth.
  • MIDFIELD THREE — Reed appears nailed as the deepest man; Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Lukić, Berge and Tom Cairney compete for the two ahead. Pre-season lineups have varied.

Set-piece takers

Treat with care: the sources themselves flag part of this hierarchy as carried over from last season or unverified — and a new manager can rewrite it entirely. The detail below spells out exactly what is and is not confirmed.
Penalties
Antonee Robinson — listed as Fulham's penalty taker by Fantasy Football Scout's set-piece takers page (stamped 'last verified GW31' of 2025/26) and corroborated by crowd-sourced trackers, which add Alex Iwobi as second in line. CAVEAT: this predates Arbeloa's appointment and Raúl Jiménez's departure, and Robinson may not even start (see left-back battle). Treat as low confidence for GW1.
Free kicks
No direct free-kick taker listed by Fantasy Football Scout. Crowd-sourced trackers suggest Alex Iwobi and Saša Lukić (low confidence).
Corners
Alex Iwobi and Saša Lukić per Fantasy Football Scout (verified GW31 of 2025/26); crowd-sourced trackers add Kevin. Harry Wilson's departure to Leeds removes a previous deliverer.

FPL winners & losers

Looking up
RSRyan Sessegnon
Arbeloa pushes both full-backs high and wide in a 3-2-5; Sessegnon has started pre-season at left-back, is already scoring from that role, and at £4.5m is the cheap route into an attacking full-back berth — provided he holds off Robinson.
RMRodrigo Muniz
Raúl Jiménez's exit to Wolves leaves him as the only senior centre-forward; a front-foot, higher-volume system should raise his shot count materially versus Silva's cautious setup.
AIAlex Iwobi
One of the league's safest sources of midfield minutes and creativity, and Harry Wilson's departure removes a direct competitor for creative/set-piece duty; priced under £5.5m.
OBOscar Bobb
£27m January 2026 signing from Man City now has a full pre-season and a manager whose 3-2-5 gives wingers permanent high-and-inside positions; Wilson's exit clears the path to a nailed wide start.
EREmile Smith Rowe
Has started pre-season in an advanced role in the midfield three; Arbeloa's vertical, rotation-heavy attack suits a between-the-lines runner.
Handle with care
BLBernd Leno
Arbeloa's high line and single-pivot structure left Fulham's centre-backs exposed in both pre-season friendlies; clean sheets look harder than under Silva, and FFS explicitly flags clean-sheet doubts under a 'more front-foot approach'.
ARAntonee Robinson
Returned late from the 2026 World Cup, missed the early friendlies and is behind Sessegnon in the pecking order; 17 starts in 2025/26 means his 'nailed' status is a genuine question, not a formality.
FTFulham defenders generally (Andersen, Bassey, Tete)
Front-foot pressing plus an inverted full-back leaving the back line short-handed on transition points to a lower clean-sheet rate than 2025/26.
TCTom Cairney
Left out of the Al-Ahli starting XI while apparently fit; at his age he looks a rotation option in a system demanding high-intensity pressing.

Research calls from the sources below, not model output — the model's numbers for these players are on predicted points.

Key uncertainties

The honest list — what this guide could not pin down as of 30 July 2026. Any of these can change the FPL picture before Gameweek 1:

  • LEFT-BACK is the single biggest open question. Pre-season evidence points firmly to Sessegnon, but Robinson only returned from World Cup duty in mid-July and has not yet had a chance to compete. Sources disagree: match reports say Sessegnon, crowd-sourced predictors still say Robinson.
  • Arbeloa is a first-time senior head coach outside Spain — he managed Real Madrid Castilla and only took the Real Madrid first team from January 2026 after Xabi Alonso left for Chelsea. His Premier League tactical baseline is genuinely unproven and pre-season form is poor (winless: 0-2 v Norwich, 1-1 v Al-Ahli).
  • The squad is unfinished. Only one confirmed signing (Kusi-Asare, £5.2m) against three senior departures (Jiménez, Wilson, Diop). Fulham are in live talks for Gonzalo García (~€60m, Real Madrid), César Palacios and Matías Soulé. Any of these would materially reshape the attack before GW1.
  • No centre-forward cover behind Muniz beyond the 18-year-old Kusi-Asare — a Muniz injury would be severe.
  • Penalty and set-piece duties are genuinely unassigned following Jiménez's and Wilson's departures; treat all set-piece attribution as low confidence until GW1.
  • Transfer records conflict between outlets: Wikipedia lists the Issa Diop fee as £8.5m, Sports Mole as undisclosed; one aggregator wrongly listed Benjamin Lecomte, Oscar Bobb, Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze as summer 2026 signings — Lecomte joined in July 2025 and Bobb in January 2026 (£27m). Chukwueze is unverified and should not be treated as a Fulham player.
  • No injuries are currently listed by Transfermarkt or the club; late-returning World Cup players (Robinson and others) may still be short of match fitness for 21 August, but no source confirms specific doubts.
  • Three further friendlies remain (Farense 1 Aug, Crystal Palace 7 Aug, Stuttgart 15 Aug) which should firm up the XI.

Sources

About this guide

A point-in-time research snapshot compiled 30 July 2026, showing the six most recent of the sources the research drew on. It does not update in real time — line-ups, fitness and transfers can all move before the deadline, so always confirm against official team news. All 20 club guides are on team guides.

FPL is a free fantasy game — this is squad research, not betting advice.

Updated 13 August 2026, 07:21 UK · Source: Official FPL API