Fantasy football has been around for a long time now, with the first competition probably having taken place at the start of the 1990s. There are now a whole host of different options when it comes to playing this intoxicating and highly addictive game. However, the official Fantasy Premier League game, or FPL, is by far the most popular.
FPL boasts more than 10 million players and is the biggest fantasy competition of any domestic football league in the world. It was first played in 2002, when just 76,200 fans took part, but has grown at a rapid pace since then and now attracts players from all around the world. Only one of the last seven champions has been based in England, with winners from Norway, Azerbaijan, Ireland, the USA, Tanzania and New Zealand!
It’s not too late to get involved with the 2024/25 season of FPL, although you’ll have a bit of catching up to do in terms of taking the overall prize. If you want some pointers as to how might be worth signing, let’s take a look back at the official FPL Team of the Season from 2023/24. This is the top-scoring XI from last term.
| Player | Team | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Pickford | Everton | Goalkeeper | 153 |
| Ben White | Defender | Arsenal | 182 |
| William Saliba | Defender | Arsenal | 164 |
| Gabriel | Defender | Arsenal | 149 |
| Cole Palmer | Midfielder | Chelsea | 244 |
| Phil Foden | Midfielder | Man City | 230 |
| Bukayo Saka | Midfielder | Arsenal | 226 |
| Son Heung-Min | Midfielder | Tottenham | 213 |
| Mo Salah | Midfielder | Liverpool | 211 |
| Ollie Watkins | Striker | Aston Villa | 228 |
| Erling Haaland | Striker | Man City | 217 |
As well as providing some pointers for specific players you might want to add, it is also helpful in terms of the types of player that are valuable. In addition, it is also noteworthy that for the sixth occasion in the last eight seasons, the best XI sets up as a 3-5-2, indicating how important attacking midfielders are to the ever-evolving world of FPL.
Jordan Pickford (Everton) – 153 Points
The Team of the Season in 2023/24 was notable for having seven different clubs represented. Only Arsenal (four) and Man City (two) had multiple players in the XI and in goal it was Everton and England’s number one, Jordan Pickford. The former Sunderland man had a stellar European Championship with the Three Lions and that came on the back of a fine season with the Toffees.
Everton kept 13 clean sheets last term, with only David Raya managing more than Pickford. England’s most-capped stopper at major tournaments was one of just four goalies to play every minute of every game last term and barely put a foot – or glove – wrong.
Ben White (Arsenal) – 182 Points
Ben White didn’t want to play for England but England could have certainly used him. He was absolutely brilliant for the Gunners, keeping 13 clean sheets but registering four goals and four assists to really boost his FPL points total. He made no errors leading to goals and although he was booked eight times he was not sent off.
William Saliba (Arsenal) – 164 Points
No player kept more clean sheets than Saliba last term and the brilliant French centre back is a key cog in the Arsenal defence. With pace, power, composure and more, he also registered two goals and an assist last term. Saliba will be an obvious pick for many FPL teams in 2024/25 with Arsenal again set to be very strong at the back.
Gabriel (Arsenal) – 149 Points
Gabriel’s total of 149 points is the lowest total to make the all-star cast since back in 2014/15 (Phil Jagielka, 142 points) but along with Saliba, White and Raya (who just missed out in goal), Gabriel was immense at the back for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners. He was part of 15 clean sheets and scored four goals, with one own goal slightly reducing his tally.
Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – 244 Points
Cole Palmer was a rare bright spark in a dark season for Chelsea and he was the leading scorer in the entire FPL. His output was outstanding last term, with the youngster bagging an incredible 22 goals, with only Erling Haaland (see below) ahead of him. The former City player added a further 11 assists and has hit the ground running in 2024/25 too so is sure to be popular with managers this season.
Phil Foden (Man City) – 230 Points
Phil Foden is another of England’s bright, attacking players and he was crowned Premier League Player of the Season in 2023/24 (as well as winning the PFA equivalent). From an FPL perspective his 19 goals put him joint-fourth in the PL, whilst he provided eight assists as well.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – 226 Points
The only attacking Gunner in the Team of the Season, Saka again lit up the Premier League. He is still just 22 and has been two European Championship finals. If he can maintain his growth and continue to improve, which he has done for each of the last three seasons, he will be a genuinely world-class footballer. FPL managers who selected him were rewarded with 16 goals and nine assists.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham) – 213 Points
As with Mo Salah (see below), it is debatable that Son should really be classed as a midfielder but getting this sort of player into your team is key to success in FPL. The Spurs ace contributed 17 goals and 10 assists and it is easy to see why he is so popular with his real-life manager and the many who selected him for their fantasy squads.
Mo Salah (Liverpool) – 211 Points
Amazingly there were times when fans and pundits questioned Salah’s commitment and performances for the Reds. There will be a lot of clubs around the world wishing they could have such lack of motivation and drive from a player who delivered 18 league goals, near-constant menace and a further 10 assists to boot!
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – 228 Points
Villa had a wonderful season and qualified for the Champions League and the rapier pace, incisive runs, hard work and excellent all-round play of Ollie Watkins played a massive part in that. Watkins topped the pile in terms of assists with a stunning 13 and also scored 19 goals as well. He outscored his FPL strike partner in terms of points too, and that takes some doing!
Erling Haaland (Man City) – 217 Points
Hard as it is to believe, Haaland, like Salah, came in for some criticism last term. Afterall, he scored “just” the 27 goals, a shocking performance and one he really should be ashamed of. OK, he didn’t amass the 36 he got from 2022/23 but even so, he once again won the PL Golden Boot (and leads the way at the time of writing in 2024/25).