FPL Price Changes Explained
Player prices in FPL change daily based on transfer activity. Understanding how this works helps you build team value and avoid losing money on players you want to sell.
How price changes work
FPL updates player prices once per day, usually around 2:30 AM GMT. Prices change based on net transfer activity relative to the total number of managers who own the player. The exact algorithm is proprietary, but the community has reverse-engineered the key mechanics.
The threshold system
Each player has a price change threshold based on their current ownership. When net transfers in (or out) cross that threshold, the price rises (or falls) by£0.1m. The threshold varies but is roughly tied to a percentage of the total player base.
Key facts
- *Prices can change by a maximum of £0.3m per day (very rare)
- *Price changes do not happen during an active gameweek (between the deadline and the last match finishing)
- *Highly-owned players need more transfers to trigger a change (absolute numbers, not percentage)
- *Wildcard transfers do not count towards price changes
- *A player cannot fall below their initial starting price for the season
The selling price rule (50% profit)
This is the most important and most misunderstood aspect of FPL pricing. When you sell a player, you only keep half of any price increase (rounded down). Your purchase price determines the profit split.
Selling price examples
| Bought at | Current price | Profit | You keep (50%) | Sell price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £6.0m | £6.4m | £0.4m | £0.2m | £6.2m |
| £7.5m | £8.0m | £0.5m | £0.2m | £7.7m |
| £10.0m | £10.3m | £0.3m | £0.1m | £10.1m |
| £5.5m | £6.5m | £1.0m | £0.5m | £6.0m |
| £8.0m | £7.5m | £-0.5m | £0.0m | £7.5m |
Key implication
If a player rises by £0.1m, you need them to rise by £0.2m total before you can sell at a profit. A £0.1m rise gives you a selling price equal to your purchase price (0.1 * 50% = 0.0 rounded down). This means chasing single price rises is not profitable, you need sustained demand.
Approximate transfer thresholds
The exact thresholds are hidden by FPL, but community tracking sites estimate them based on historical data. These numbers are approximate and vary throughout the season.
These thresholds change as the season progresses and the total player base grows. Early season thresholds tend to be lower.
Price change strategy
Make transfers early in the week to catch rises
If you know you want a player, transferring them in early gives you a chance of a price rise before the deadline. But only do this if you are genuinely planning to keep the player.
Do not chase price rises for profit
Transferring in a player just because they are about to rise is usually a bad idea. A £0.1m rise does not help your selling price, and you have burned a free transfer on someone you might not want.
Hold players who are about to drop if you need them
A price drop on a player you want to keep is cosmetic. It only matters if you plan to sell them. Do not make a panic transfer to avoid a drop if the player is still in your plans.
Team value matters less than you think
Top-ranked managers typically end the season with squad values of £103-106m. The extra £1-2m from aggressive early-season value building helps, but does not win seasons. Points win seasons.
Avoid taking hits just to protect value
A -4 point hit to save a £0.1m price drop is almost always a bad trade. You are losing 4 guaranteed points to save a hypothetical £0.05m (after the 50% selling rule).
Use monitoring tools
Sites like fplstatistics.co.uk and fantasyfootballfix.com track live transfer activity and predict price changes. Check them before making early transfers.
Common questions
When do price changes happen?
Daily around 2:30 AM GMT, except during live gameweeks (between deadline and last match).
Can a player rise and fall in the same day?
No. A player can only change price once per day, in one direction.
Do free transfers affect price changes?
Yes. Every transfer (free or hit) counts towards the price change threshold, except transfers made during a Wildcard.
What is my team value?
Your team value is the sum of all 15 players' current prices. Your selling value is lower because of the 50% profit rule. Your budget for transfers is: bank balance + selling value of players you are removing.
Can prices change during a Wildcard?
Yes. Player prices still change while you have your Wildcard active. If you plan to Wildcard, monitor which players might rise or fall before you confirm your team.
Track price movers for your squad
Our AI advisor highlights which of your players are rising or falling in price, and recommends transfers that balance value and points.
Analyse my teamData from the official FPL API. Analysis powered by FPL AI.