FPL 2026-27 rules explained: chips, deadlines, bonus points and every change this season
Eight chips in two sets, a Gameweek 19 deadline, five banked transfers and a reworked bonus points system: everything Fantasy Premier League managers need to know for 2026-27.
Fantasy Premier League kept its big changes from last season — two sets of chips and defensive contribution points — and added a handful of new ones for 2026-27. Here is everything you need to know, in one place.
Chips: eight in total, two sets of four
Every manager gets four chips in each half of the season:
| Chip | What it does |
|---|---|
| Wildcard | Unlimited permanent transfers for one gameweek |
| Free Hit | Unlimited transfers for one gameweek; your squad goes back to normal afterwards |
| Triple Captain | Your captain scores triple points instead of double |
| Bench Boost | Points from your four substitutes count |
The key deadline: the first set must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline, 13:30 GMT on Saturday 2 January 2027. Unused chips do not carry over — they are simply lost. The second set then becomes available for the rest of the season.
Two more rules to remember:
- You can only play one chip per gameweek.
- The Free Hit cannot be used in Gameweek 1, and if you use your first Free Hit in Gameweek 19, you cannot use the second in Gameweek 20.
Free transfers: bank up to five
You still get one free transfer per gameweek, and you can bank up to five. Every extra transfer beyond your free ones costs four points.
There will be no extra free transfers in December this time. Last season, managers were given extra transfers for the Africa Cup of Nations; this season the tournament is in the summer.
Defensive contributions stay
The defensive contribution (DEFCON) points introduced last season remain, rewarding players for clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles — and, for midfielders and forwards, ball recoveries.
What is new in 2026-27
Live points and live ranks
Points now update during matches for appearances, goals, assists, clean sheets and DEFCON. Projected bonus points appear after 20 minutes, and mini-league tables update in real time.
Bonus Points System changes
- Players no longer lose a bonus point for being tackled.
- Clearances, blocks and interceptions now earn +1 BPS for every three, instead of every two.
- Goalkeepers get +2 BPS for any save, plus +1 for saving a shot from inside the box; saves from outside the box get no extra.
- Goalkeepers earn +1 BPS for saving a big chance.
- A penalty save is worth +7 BPS, down from +8 (plus the big-chance bonus).
Price change predictions
A new tool predicts likely price rises and falls, based on transfer activity. It updates daily at midnight UK time — but it is a guide, not a guarantee.
Later gameweek lockdown
Scores are now finalised at 09:00 UK time the morning after the last match, instead of an hour after the final whistle, giving the stats provider more time to check bonus and DEFCON points.
How to use this
The simplest plan for the first half: keep your Wildcard for a moment when your team needs rebuilding (for example after injuries pile up), use the Free Hit for a gameweek where many of your players do not play, and save the Triple Captain and Bench Boost for gameweeks where your players have two games. Just do not get to January with chips still unused.
For player form and goals, see our top scorers and Premier League stats pages.
FAQ
When do I have to use my first set of FPL chips in 2026-27? Before the Gameweek 19 deadline, 13:30 GMT on Saturday 2 January 2027.
How many free transfers can I save in FPL? Up to five.
Can I play two chips in the same gameweek? No, only one chip can be played per gameweek.
