Who are the Best FPL Budget Forwards for 2025/26 Season?

The Fantasy Premier League is back with its usual drama, surprises, and headaches! One of the most debated strategies every summer is how to find the best budget forwards for FPL; those little gems priced between £4.5M and £5.5M who can glue your team together and unlock those big-money spots in midfield or defence. Let’s look at the top picks for FPL budget forwards for the upcoming 2025/26 season.

Why Budget Forwards are Gold

Every FPL manager knows you can’t have a squad full of Haalands, Sakas, and Van Dijks if you want to build the best FPL team. That’s why budget forwards FPL picks are so crucial. They’re enablers who let you spread cash where it matters, but the right ones can occasionally come up with a game-winning haul themselves.

Top 5 FPL Budget Forwards for 2025-26 Season

Here's a look at the top 5 budget FPL forwards for the 2025-26 season:

1. Eliezer Mayenda (Sunderland, £5.5M)

• Grew stronger as last season progressed: 10 goals, 5 assists, and a call-up to Spain U21.
• Super versatile (striker, No.10, or winger), and likely to take penalties too.
• Averages a shot every 38.4 minutes and creates a chance every 93.2 minutes, making him Sunderland’s most likely starter up front early in the season.
• Potential challenge: If Sunderland’s attacking chemistry takes time to click, he may start slow, but he’s probably the safest 5.5M play.

2. Thierno Barry (Everton, £5.5M)

• Everton’s new target man is tailor-made for Moyes’ love of crosses and direct play.
• Last season at Villarreal: 11 goals, 4 assists across 25 starts and 10 sub appearances.
• Everton’s early fixtures are friendly, and Barry should see good minutes; if he hits form in pre-season, he could become a favourite for budget FPL managers.
• The only worry: Competition from Beto, who finished last season strong.
  3. Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest, £5.5M)
• Impressed on the Club World Cup stage; 2 goals against high-quality opponents.
• Loves to shoot (3.44 shots per 90, 0.49 non-pen xG) and has a spotless penalty record (6/6 career).
• Has the potential to play both up top and deeper, depending on Forest’s plans for Gibbs-White.
• Forest’s first six Gameweeks are loaded with potential: They face two newly-promoted sides early.
• May start as a rotational option behind Chris Wood, but the upside is undeniable.

4. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland, £5.5M)

• Sunderland’s top scorer last year (12 goals, 3 assists), with the second-highest xG in the Championship (15.2).
• His shot output is also best-in-class for the price bracket (one every 33.7 minutes).
• Could play second fiddle to Mayenda, or the two could rotate based on form and tactics, so his starting status deserves a watch in pre-season.

5. Beto (Everton, £5.5M)

• Proven option under David Moyes, with solid spells up top last season.
• Everton’s fixture run is gentle, and he starts as first-choice, but Thierno Barry’s arrival introduces risk.
• Scored 2 in his last 12 games but offers plenty of physicality and a consistent role. Great if you want a secure bench forward.

Honourable Mentions

• Igor Thiago (Brentford, £5.5M): High goal conversion in Belgium, physical presence suits the Premier League. However, faces fierce rotation and minor injury worries.
• Joel Piroe (Leeds, £5.5M): Top Championship scorer (19 goals, 7 assists) and Leeds’ penalty taker, but Leeds may bring in another striker.
• Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham, £5.5M): Wild card option, recently scored 8 goals from 8 starts, but minutes are uncertain unless he moves clubs.

Deep Budget Dives: £4.5M–£5.0M Category

• Chido Obi (Manchester United, £4.5M): Talented but unlikely to see major minutes with United’s striker pool.
• Eli Junior Kroupi (Brighton, £4.5M): If not loaned out, possibly the best 4.5M pick after scoring 22 in Ligue 2 last campaign. Monitor pre-season for any hint of real minutes.
• Lukas Nmecha (Leeds, £5.0M): If he shakes off injuries, he could be a utility attacker for Leeds.

Tips for Picking Your FPL Budget Forwards

• Track Pre-Season Minutes: Starters separate from bench rotators during pre-season.
• Check Early Fixtures: More favourable first six Gameweeks can yield early price rises and points.
• Balance Safety and Upside: Often, pairing one nailed starter (say, Mayenda) with a high-ceiling punt (like Kroupi) is the best play.

Final Thoughts

This season’s pool of best budget forwards Fantasy Premier League managers can pick from is notably deep in the £5.5M bracket, with younger talent from promoted and midtable clubs leading the way. Use these picks to free up crucial funds for the “Big Hitters” in midfield, and keep a hawk’s eye on team news and the final flurry of pre-season friendlies.
Choose wisely, tinker shamelessly, and good luck hunting for those FPL best budget forwards. They’re rarely glamorous, but sometimes they make all the difference to your final rank.