Sports

Jackson Becomes Most‑Bought Player, Joao Pedro Most‑Sold in Fantasy Premier League

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

Nicolas Jackson (£6.9 m) has become the most‑bought player in a single Gameweek, with more than 2.3 million Fantasy Premier League managers transferring in the Aston Villa forward for Gameweek 9. He overtakes the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in Gameweek 4 of the 2021/22 season, when the Portuguese star rejoined Manchester United. On that occasion, Ronaldo scored two goals at home to Newcastle United to reward his 2.2 m new owners with a 13‑point haul. Jackson came close to emulating that performance as Unai Emery’s side drew 1‑1 with Fulham at Villa Park, after scoring and claiming the maximum three bonus for a nine‑point return. The Senegal international is currently the most in‑form player in Fantasy, having totalled 39 points since Gameweek 5.

In total, three players have been transferred in by more than a million managers this Gameweek, the second time that has happened this season, after Gameweek 3. Marcus Tavernier (£6.5 m) gained 1.5 m new owners for Gameweek 9 as AFC Bournemouth embark on a kind run of matches. Over the next ten Gameweeks, they play just one side rated above three in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), where the easiest possible match is rated as one and the hardest possible is rated as five. That run began with a home encounter against Leeds United on Saturday, which the Cherries won 2‑0 thanks to goals from Evanilson (£6.3 m) and Amine Adli (£4.8 m), but Tavernier blanked for the first time in three appearances. Goalscorer Evanilson was the third player recruited by over a million Fantasy bosses in Gameweek 9. His goal was his fourth in as many matches, earning his new owners nine points as he claimed the maximum three bonus.

With Jackson becoming the most‑bought player of all time, Joao Pedro (£7.8 m) became the most‑sold. The Brazilian was ruled out of Chelsea’s 2‑0 win over Manchester United on Saturday by manager Xabi Alonso and is set for a spell on the sidelines. More than 3.3 m FPL managers promptly pared company with him. His total sellers surpass the previous high of 3.2 m recorded by Cole Palmer (£9.8 m) in Gameweek 3 last season.