FPL transfers explained — free transfers, hits and rolling
You get one free FPL transfer each Gameweek and can bank unused ones up to a maximum of five; every transfer beyond what you have banked costs four points, known as a hit. A −4 only pays off if the player coming in out-scores the one you drop by more than four points over the time you own them, so hits are worth taking for lasting upgrades and injuries, and rarely for chasing last week's points.
Transfers are how your team changes over the season — swapping players out for ones you think will do better. It sounds simple, and mostly it is, but the rules around free transfers and points hits trip up a lot of newcomers. Here's the whole thing, clearly. (For everything else about the game, see how to play Fantasy Premier League.)
How many free transfers do you get?
You get one free transfer each Gameweek. If you don't use it, it rolls over — you can bank them up to a maximum of five. So if you sit tight for a few weeks, you can come back and make several moves at once for free.
Before the season's very first deadline it's different: you can make unlimited free transfers while setting up your initial squad, so tinker away.
What's a "hit"?
If you want to make more transfers than you have banked, you can — but each extra one costs you four points. That's a "hit," usually written as −4. Take two extra transfers and that's −8, and so on. The points come straight off your Gameweek score.
When is a hit actually worth it?
Here's the honest maths: a −4 hit only pays off if the player you're bringing in scores at least four more points than the one you're removing, over the time you'll own them. That happens less often than it feels like in the heat of a bad Gameweek.
A sensible rule of thumb: take a hit for a clear, lasting upgrade or to solve a real problem — an injured player who's out for weeks, or bringing in someone with a genuinely better run of games. Don't take a hit to chase last week's points or to fix a single bad result. Most weeks, rolling your transfer or making just your one free move is the disciplined, higher-scoring choice. If your squad needs several fixes at once, a Wildcard is almost always cheaper than a run of hits.
Rolling transfers: the underrated move
Banking a transfer instead of using it feels like doing nothing, but it's often the smart play. Two free transfers next week gives you flexibility — you can react to an injury and make a planned move without paying for it. Patience is a real strategy in FPL, not a lack of one.
The cheapest upgrades in the game
Not every worthwhile transfer is a premium one. Swapping a £4.5m defender who does nothing for one who consistently hits his defensive contribution threshold costs you almost nothing and can add two points most weeks — and unlike chasing a hat-trick scorer, it's a change that keeps paying all season. Upgrades at the cheap end of your squad are the least glamorous transfers you'll make and often the best value.
Price changes and transfers
Players' prices drift up and down slightly based on how many managers are buying or selling them. It's tempting to rush transfers to catch a price rise, but a fraction of a million pounds is almost never worth a rushed decision or a needless hit. Make the move because the player is right, not because of the price. Overreacting to prices is one of the common mistakes beginners make.
Frequently asked questions
How many free transfers do I get each week? One, and you can save them up to a maximum of five.
What does −4 mean in FPL? It's a "hit" — the four-point cost of making one transfer more than you have banked.
Is it worth taking a −4 hit? Only if the incoming player will out-score the one you drop by more than four points over the time you hold them. For a lasting upgrade or an injury fix, often yes; to chase last week's hero, usually no.
Should I make a transfer to catch a price rise? Rarely. The small price gain isn't worth a rushed move or a points hit. Transfer for the player, not the price.
Knowing whether this week's transfer is an upgrade or a knee-jerk is the hard part — and it's exactly what coachme weighs up for you, suggesting the move that's actually worth making before each deadline. Try it free.
Questions
- How many free transfers do I get each week?
- One, and you can save them up to a maximum of five.
- What does −4 mean in FPL?
- It's a "hit" — the four-point cost of making one transfer more than you have banked.
- Is it worth taking a −4 hit?
- Only if the incoming player will out-score the one you drop by more than four points over the time you hold them. For a lasting upgrade or an injury fix, often yes; to chase last week's hero, usually no.
- Should I make a transfer to catch a price rise?
- Rarely. The small price gain isn't worth a rushed move or a points hit. Transfer for the player, not the price.