How to play FPL – Fantasy Premier League
To help all debuting 2024/25 managers, here is an overview of basic information on how to play the FPL game. Including where to register, updated rules and how to score points.
With over 10 million participants last season, Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is one of the world’s biggest games. If you’re new to it, the basic premise is simple: within a £100m budget, pick a squad of 15 players and select a starting line-up that you think will score the most points based on real-life goals, assists, saves and clean sheets.
WHERE TO REGISTER
To play FPL for the first time, you must register on the official site.
Once you’ve entered an email address, set up a password and typed in a team name, you’re ready to start picking a squad.
BASIC RULES
Your 15-man squad must contain two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards. There’s a maximum of three players per Premier League club.
Then, before each Gameweek deadline – 90 minutes before the first match kicks off – you get to pick a starting 11. Popular formations include 3-4-3, 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 but you can even choose a five-man defence.
One player gets handed the captain’s armband, allowing him to score double points. Should he be absent, your vice-captain takes over.
Furthermore, any unused players in your line-up will be replaced by one of the four substitutes – so make sure you’ve ordered your bench!
HOW TO SCORE POINTS
Below is a complete list of how players gain – or occasionally lose – FPL points.
On top of this, each match will see at least three individuals be awarded up to three bonus points. The Bonus Points System (BPS) utilises a range of statistics to create a final score for every player.
MAKING TRANSFERS
Until the very first deadline of Friday 16 August at 18:30 (BST), managers can make unlimited changes to their squad.
Once Gameweek 1 begins, you’ll get one free transfer per week with any additional ones costing four points. If you have no need to make a transfer, it can be rolled over until the next Gameweek – managers are now allowed to save up to five of these.
CHIPS
2024/25 sees the addition of a ‘Mystery Chip’, where more will be revealed closer to January.
This sits next to some other special tools available throughout the season.
| CHIP | HOW MANY? | WHAT DOES IT DO? |
|---|---|---|
| Bench Boost | 1 | Includes the points of your four substitutes in the Gameweek total |
| Triple Captain | 1 | Multiplies the chosen captain’s points by three, rather than the usual two |
| Free Hit | 1 | Using unlimited free transfers to form a squad for one Gameweek only |
| Wildcard | 2 (one up to GW19, one from GW20) | Using unlimited free transfers to transform your squad for current and future Gameweeks |
Only one chip can be used in a single Gameweek. Except for when activating Wildcards, any previously saved free transfers will return afterwards alongside the original squad.
Hopefully this all makes sense and you’re still excited to get started on your 2024/25 FPL journey. Here’s the official website and feel free to check out our in-depth coverage of the game.
