Fantasy Premier League managers are always searching for the next budget defender who can outperform his price tag, and Adrien Truffert (£5.5m) could be one of the best options to consider in FPL 2026/27. While his price has increased by £1m from the £4.5m he started at in 2025/26, the Bournemouth left-back could still represent excellent value.
In fact, his numbers from last season suggest that managers may be overlooking a defender who has already proven he can deliver at a high level.
Truffert Was One of FPL's Best Defenders Last Season
The biggest argument for Truffert is simple: 165 FPL points in his first Premier League season.
According to the official FPL player data, Truffert finished the 2025/26 campaign with 165 points. That made him the sixth-highest-scoring defender in the game, an outstanding return considering he was playing his first-ever season in English football.
Even more impressively, only nine defenders managed to reach at least 154 points last season. Truffert was the cheapest of that group at his new £5.5m price, with every other defender in that bracket costing £6.0m or more.
That makes the Bournemouth full-back particularly interesting for managers trying to squeeze maximum value out of their defensive budget.
£5.5m Is Still Cheap for His Potential
Yes, there is an obvious drawback compared with last season: Truffert has gone from £4.5m to £5.5m.
A £1m increase is significant in FPL, especially when managers are looking for reliable £4.5m options to fill their benches. However, the question should not simply be whether Truffert is more expensive than he was last season. Instead, it should be whether £5.5m is still a good price for a defender capable of producing 150-plus points**.
The answer could be yes.
His 165-point campaign puts him in an elite group of defenders, while his attacking output gives him another route to FPL returns. Truffert finished 2025/26 with one goal and five assists while also starting all 38 Premier League matches for Bournemouth.
For a £5.5m defender, that combination of availability and attacking involvement is extremely appealing.
The Kerkez Replacement Who Outperformed Expectations
Truffert's arrival at Bournemouth was closely connected to the departure of Milos Kerkez, who left the Cherries for Liverpool in the summer of 2025.
Bournemouth signed Truffert from Rennes on a five-year deal, with the move widely viewed as preparation for Kerkez's departure.
The expectation was that replacing an established Premier League full-back would be difficult. Instead, Truffert immediately adapted to English football and produced an excellent debut campaign.
Interestingly, Kerkez endured a difficult first season at Liverpool, while the player brought in to replace him at Bournemouth became one of the standout budget defenders in FPL.
That makes Truffert's 165-point season even more impressive. He wasn't simply filling a vacant position; he quickly established himself as a dependable and productive part of Bournemouth's team.
Why Truffert Could Be Even Better in FPL 26-27
The most exciting aspect for FPL managers is that Truffert should now enter the new campaign with something he did not have last year: a full Premier League season of experience.
The 2025/26 campaign was his introduction to the intensity, physicality and tactical demands of English football. Yet he still managed 38 league appearances, 3,380 minutes, one goal and five assists.
With that adaptation period behind him, there is reason to believe his attacking numbers could improve further.
Truffert is a forward-thinking full-back who was described by the Premier League as comfortable operating along the left flank and capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch.
If he can add a few more goals or assists while maintaining his availability, another strong FPL campaign could be on the cards.
Is Truffert an FPL '26-'27 Bargain?
There is no guarantee that Truffert will repeat his 165-point haul, and Bournemouth's defensive fixtures will always need to be considered before making him a Gameweek 1 pick.
However, the underlying argument is difficult to ignore.
A defender who scored 165 points, ranked sixth among defenders, produced one goal and five assists, and started every Premier League match last season is now available for £5.5m.
That £1m price increase from 2025/26 may initially make Truffert look less attractive, but his previous season suggests he could still be one of the best-value defenders in FPL 2026/27.
With a full Premier League season under his belt and plenty of room to improve, Adrien Truffert looks like a potential bargain hiding in plain sight.
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