Erling Haaland is the most expensive player in FPL history at £15.5m.
He earned the price after finishing 2025/26 as the top-scoring player on 239 points, with 27 goals and eight assists.
Selecting him leaves £84.5m for the other 14 players.
The correct question is not whether Haaland will score goals. It is whether his points and captaincy are worth the sacrifices required elsewhere.
Haaland's profile
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| FPL position | Forward |
| Launch price | £15.5m |
| Previous points | 239 |
| Previous goals | 27 |
| Previous assists | 8 |
| Main role | Manchester City's central striker |
| Penalties | First-choice candidate |
| Main advantage | Highest captaincy and hat-trick ceiling |
| Main concern | Record price and World Cup preparation |
Manchester City's first seven fixtures
| Gameweek | Opponent | Venue | Official FDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bournemouth | Home | 3 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | Away | 3 |
| 3 | Coventry City | Home | 2 |
| 4 | Manchester United | Away | 4 |
| 5 | Sunderland | Home | 2 |
| 6 | Liverpool | Away | 4 |
| 7 | Ipswich Town | Home | 2 |
The home fixtures against Coventry and Ipswich create major Triple Captain interest.
The case for owning Haaland
1. Captaincy
Haaland offers the highest probability of explosive returns.
A 10-point score becomes 20 with the captaincy. A 15-point score becomes 30.
This makes his value different from a normal forward.
2. Fast starts
Official analysis says Haaland has been the top-scoring FPL player after the opening six Gameweeks in each of his four Manchester City seasons.
He has averaged nine goals and 61.3 points across those opening six-Gameweek samples.
3. Penalties
Penalty responsibility adds high-quality chances and reduces reliance on open play.
4. Promoted opponents
Coventry in Gameweek 3 and Ipswich in Gameweek 7 are among the strongest early captaincy fixtures.
5. Effective ownership protection
Haaland's early ownership has already moved above 70 percent.
When a highly owned Haaland is captained by most managers, going without him creates major rank exposure.
The case against Haaland
1. £15.5m opportunity cost
The price can prevent:
- A second premium midfielder
- Gabriel or another premium defender
- A strong bench
- Three mid-priced attackers
- Flexible transfers
2. World Cup workload
Haaland played for Norway at the World Cup and reached the quarter-finals.
His final friendly minutes and readiness should be monitored.
3. Strong alternative captains
Bruno Fernandes starts against Hull and Ipswich.
Saka begins at home to Coventry.
Palmer offers penalties and a lower price.
4. Difficult fixtures within the run
Manchester United away and Liverpool away reduce the appeal of a completely automatic captaincy strategy.
5. Team balance
A Haaland squad can become dependent on several cheap players whose minutes are uncertain.
Haaland versus no Haaland
| Category | Haaland team | No-Haaland team |
|---|---|---|
| Gameweek 1 captain | Haaland | Bruno, Saka or Palmer |
| Premium cost | £15.5m forward | Money spread across positions |
| Rank protection | Very high | Very low against a Haaland haul |
| Midfield strength | Usually reduced | Can contain several premiums |
| Defence | More budget-dependent | Can include Gabriel and other premium defenders |
| Bench | Often cheaper | Can be stronger |
| Triple Captain | Direct access | Requires a later transfer |
| Transfer flexibility | Difficult to remove and redistribute | Difficult to buy without restructuring |
Illustrative Haaland structure
| Position group | Typical plan |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | One £4.5m starter and a cheap reserve |
| Defenders | One premium plus several £4.0m-£5.0m options |
| Midfield | Bruno plus mid-priced value |
| Forwards | Haaland plus two affordable starters |
| Bench | One reliable substitute and cheap enablers |
This structure can work when the budget players genuinely start.
Illustrative no-Haaland structure
The £15.5m can be divided among:
- Saka
- Palmer
- Gabriel
- Isak
- Watkins
- A stronger goalkeeper
- A deeper bench
A no-Haaland team should invest the money. Leaving several million in the bank defeats the purpose.
Complete-squad comparison
Do not compare Haaland directly with one player.
Compare:
Haaland + budget midfielder + budget defender
against:
Premium midfielder + premium defender + stronger forward
The correct answer depends on the combined expected points.
Build both versions in the OneFPL Planner.
What happens when Haaland scores?
Suppose Haaland scores 10 points.
At 75 percent ownership with heavy captaincy:
- Owners receive 10
- Captainers receive 20
- Triple captainers receive 30
- Non-owners receive zero
A non-owner needs several upgraded players to compensate.
This is why the decision carries more risk than avoiding a normal premium.
What happens when Haaland blanks?
A blank creates an opportunity for no-Haaland teams.
Their extra money may produce:
- Several attacking returns
- Better bench coverage
- A premium midfielder captain
- More defensive points
- Greater formation flexibility
One blank does not prove the structure is correct. The strategy must be assessed across several Gameweeks.
Can you start without him and buy later?
Yes, but the route can require:
- Two or three transfers
- Selling a premium midfielder
- Downgrading a defender
- A points hit
- Lost team value
Plan the exact route before the deadline.
Can you start with him and sell later?
Yes.
Selling after Gameweek 3 can release money before Manchester United and Liverpool away.
The risk is needing several later transfers to redistribute the funds effectively.
Triple Captain decision
Gameweek 3 against Coventry and Gameweek 7 against Ipswich are obvious watchlist opportunities.
Do not activate the chip until checking:
- Fitness
- Pre-season workload
- European schedule
- Expected minutes
- Team form
- Other first-half opportunities
OneFPL verdict
Haaland is worth £15.5m when he is your captain in several early Gameweeks.
He is less valuable when managers own him but repeatedly captain someone else.
The safest opening approach is to start with Haaland when:
- He completes suitable pre-season minutes
- He is expected to start Gameweek 1
- The budget players in the squad have secure roles
- You plan to captain him
- You accept a thinner bench
Going without is viable, but it requires a stronger complete squad and confidence in alternative captains.
FAQ
How much does Haaland cost?
£15.5m.
Is he the most expensive FPL player ever?
Yes.
How many points did he score last season?
239.
What are the best early Triple Captain fixtures?
Coventry at home in Gameweek 3 and Ipswich at home in Gameweek 7 are leading watchlist matches.
Is a no-Haaland draft too risky?
It carries major effective-ownership risk, but it can work when the savings strengthen several positions.
Internal reading
Sources
OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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