Skonto Rigga
The anticipation is building for the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2026/27 season as we inch closer to the reveal of player prices.
This upcoming season will include positional reclassifications featuring several key Premier League players. Notably, four players – Eli Junior Kroupi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Omar Marmoush, and Patrick Dorgu – were seemingly confirmed by the FPL X account before that post was hastily removed.
In what follows, we’ll break down these changes and examine the rationale for repositioning a number of other players.
Once all details are confirmed after the launch, we’ll also analyze how each reclassified player would have performed tallying points in their new roles.
CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA IN FPL
FPL generally applies the following criteria to classify players:
| Defenders | Players positioned as centre-backs, full-backs, or wing-backs (e.g., in a 3-4-3/3-5-2 formation) |
| Midfielders | Central midfielders, wingers, and players on the flanks in a front three |
| Forwards | Central strikers and those playing in partnerships or frontline trios |
The players’ designated positions are primarily determined by their roles highlighted in the previous season. Forget about underlying stats like heatmaps or shot counts; for FPL, the starting position on the team sheet has historically been decisive.
A change in the criteria would be necessary to see players like Antoine Semenyo labeled as forwards, given that his recent appearances have been predominantly as a 'winger' on paper.
FPL's positional classifications typically derive from what players achieved during the last season.
↓ CONFIRMED CHANGING POSITIONS ↓
ELI KROUPI (BOURNEMOUTH): FROM FORWARD TO MIDFIELDER
A managerial shift at Bournemouth brings a wave of uncertainty. Will Marco Rose opt for Eli Junior Kroupi to play a central role, as Andoni Iraola began to do towards the end of the last season? With Alvaro Rodriguez’s arrival likely indicating a strikers competition with Evanilson, Kroupi’s classification as a midfielder could make a lot of sense.
However, there’s always the chance another club might recruit the talented Kroupi.
Last season, he kicked off 15 matches as an attacking midfielder while starting only six as a centre-forward. With his prominence in the forward line assumed, this classification certainly seems like a logical evolution in FPL. His dozen substitute entries, however, mostly rolled out as a striker still present a potential override on this.
Scoring double digits with both goals (13) and clean sheets (10) last season, Kroupi's performance would be even more rewarding in the midfielder role, given the enhanced points structure there.
OMAR MARMOUSH (MANCHESTER CITY): MIDFIELDER TO FORWARD
Similar prospects lie ahead for Omar Marmoush. While there's a strong case for a positional reclassification, the uncertainty posed by new manager Enzo Maresca’s strategies might complicate matters.
This doubt seems to hold no weight with FPL, though. Just a year back, Marmoush transitioned from being classified as a midfielder to playing more routinely on the left flank, drifting inside during his debut season in the north-west.
However, in 2025/26, he fulfilled a largely different role, frequently covering for Erling Haaland at the frontline. Of his last five league starts, he had transitioned to a forward role, coupled with extensive appearances as a substitute as well.
PATRICK DORGU (MANCHESTER UNITED): DEFENDER TO MIDFIELDER
Patrick Dorgu, formerly a wing-back under the now-departed Ruben Amorim, found himself transformed into a left-winger after the managerial change when Michael Carrick implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation.
After appearing in the early fixtures as a wing-back, a mid-season injury sidelined him for three months, but Dorgu finally returned to make a starting appearance again in Gameweek 38.
This shift in positioning was again evident during United's recent pre-season matchup, where he expressed comfort in playing further up the pitch: “It’s good to play a bit higher up, you have cover from your left back and have a bit more freedom in the pitch, so it’s nice to play there. Hopefully I will play many more games to improve my game there and to be even sharper in that position.”
It’s fair to predict a classification as a midfielder for Dorgu this season.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (ARSENAL): DEFENDER TO MIDFIELDER
Similarly, Myles Lewis-Skelly appears set for another evolution; he transitions back to midfielder after having had a season classified as a defender.
Yet, had it not been for an accidental leak by FPL, this reclassification might have gone unnoticed.
Lewis-Skelly spent a significant portion of the previous season on left-back duty before being creatively repurposed as a central midfielder at the season's end, leading to this reevaluation of his position by FPL.
However, he faces stiff competition for his place with established players like Rice, Odegaard, Zubimendi, and Merino already on board, and rumors suggesting additional signings.
↓ PROBABLE POSITION CHANGES ↓
MATS WIEFFER (BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION): MIDFIELDER TO DEFENDER
Moving on to players whose changes haven't yet been revealed, Mats Wieffer is almost certainly in line for a reclassification. He started 23 matches for Brighton last season, all at right-back.
Had he been recognized as a defender a year prior, his performance would have seen a favorable points increase from two goals and six clean sheets.
Wieffer has also been a consistent contributor defensively, accruing contributions in 11 of the 17 matches where he played over 75 minutes. Had he been classified as a defender, he might have only missed eligibility for ‘recoveries’ in three of those fixtures.
So, as things stand, he's a solid candidate for defender classification this season, particularly if he can overcome the minor injuries that troubled him earlier this year.
RYAN SESSEGNON (FULHAM): MIDFIELDER TO DEFENDER
Ryan Sessegnon was classified as a midfielder last summer — and it seems poised to revert back again this month.
The remarkable uncertainty surrounding player positions as we approach the 2026/27 season cannot be overstated. Take Ryan Sessegnon, for example. He stepped in to play left-back throughout the 2025/26 season due to Antonee Robinson's inconsistent performances, earning 20 starts. In the process, Sessegnon managed three goals and maintained a respectable six clean sheets. These contributions added up to 21 additional Fantasy Premier League points as a defender. However, with Alvaro Arbeloa now at the helm, Sessegnon’s role remains unclear. Will he continue to be a valuable asset, possibly even playing out of position? Or will he revert to a support role if Robinson recovers? This brings us to a broader issue: positioning fluidity and its potential impact on fantasy managers. As we've seen with players like Sessegnon, the arrival of new coaching staff often triggers shifts in strategy and player deployment that can dramatically affect an athlete's value. And while some transitions may appear insignificant at first glance, they can carry weight in the Fantasy landscape. Comparably, let’s consider Georginio Rutter at Brighton and Hove Albion. Traditionally seen as a fringe forward, he clocked nearly twice as many appearances as a striker in 2025/26, primarily due to Jack Hinshelwood’s strong showing in the central attacking role. Similarly, Bryan Mbeumo's situation at Manchester United highlights the ongoing ambiguity. Although he played mostly as a right-sided attacking midfielder early in the season, his role shifted significantly under Michael Carrick, where he ended up as a striker in several matches. Ultimately, the upcoming season is laden with potential distributions of roles that could reshape player expectations. Whether it’s Lamare Bogarde, who appears set to transition into a budget midfield option, or the more uncertain futures of others like Nick Woltemade and Kai Havertz, the implications for Fantasy Premier League choices are vast. Managers must remain vigilant and ready to adapt to these changes. In a league as unpredictable as the Premier League, adjustments are par for the course. The offseason will be key for all these players and their respective teams as strategies evolve and new possibilities arise. Always keep a close eye on shifting roles—knowing when to pivot can make all the difference in your Fantasy success.