Fantasy Bundesliga tips: Defenders to consider for the start of the 2026/27 season | OneFootball

With the 2026/27 Bundesliga season just around the corner, we're here to give you a helping hand with your Fantasy Bundesliga team.

In the second article of our series highlighting key players by position, we take a look at the defenders you should have on your radar when building your squad for the start of the season. 

Budget options:

Jan Gyamerah, Elversberg – 1.99m

At 1.99 million, Elversberg right-back Jan Gyamerah is currently the cheapest starting defender available – and that alone makes him worth considering at the start of the game, when enablers like him could be crucial to finding room for stars such as Michael Olise and Harry Kane. Gyamerah scored once and provided three assists in 28 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga last season, and while he's unlikely to be a major points scorer, he could prove to be a useful squad player.

Keita Kosugi, Eintracht Frankfurt – 3.2m

Japanese defender Keita Kosugi looks like one of the best enablers available at the start of the game, costing just 3.2 million. Following Nathaniel Brown's big-money move to Bayern Munich, Kosugi looks set to step in at left-back after impressing in pre-season under new Eintracht coach Adi Hütter. Most recently, he provided three assists as Die Adler thrashed SC St. Tönis 11-0 in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.

Elias Baum, Eintracht Frankfurt – 5m

Priced 1.8 million higher than Kosugi, Baum is another very attractive budget option from the Eintracht backline. After a hugely impressive loan spell at Elversberg in the 2. Bundesliga in 2024/25, expectations were high following his return to Frankfurt, but he ultimately made just five substitute appearances last season. However, with Rasmus Kristensen having returned to Denmark, the path now appears clear for the 20-year-old, who scored against SC St. Tönis, to establish himself as a regular starter under Hütter.  

Mid-range options:

Philipp Mwene, Mainz – 6.8m

Mainz have one of the most attractive opening fixtures, hosting newly promoted SC Paderborn. With that in mind, it naturally makes sense to look at a few players from Die Nullfünfer, particularly as some are available at relatively low prices. Operating as a wing-back in a fairly advanced role, Mwene offers solid attacking potential for the price. Most recently, he set up two goals as Mainz thrashed Oberliga side Krieschow in the DFB-Pokal.

Anthony Caci, Mainz – 9.2m

If you have a little more to spend, Caci looks like an even more appealing option from the Mainz backline. After an impressive 2024/25 season, in which he scored once and provided seven assists, the French wing-back missed the majority of the 2025/26 campaign, which was a major blow for Mainz. Now fully fit and available, Caci is a very intriguing pick thanks to the combination of strength in duels and attacking prowess he offers.

Daniel Svensson, Borussia Dortmund – 9.8m

Nailed on to start at left wing-back for the team that kept the most clean sheets (15) and conceded the fewest goals (34) in the Bundesliga last season, Svensson looks like an attractive pick at €9.8 million. The fact that BVB face favourable home fixtures against Hamburger SV and SC Paderborn within their first three games only adds to his appeal.

Premium options:

Julian Ryerson, Borussia Dortmund – 12.8m

If you're considering Svensson, you may want to see if you can find a way to squeeze Ryerson into your squad instead. He's slightly more expensive but certainly an even better pick. The Norwegian international provided an impressive 18 assists in 42 appearances in all competitions last season and is an aggressive defender who can also rack up plenty of points by winning duels.

Nathaniel Brown, FC Bayern – 15.5m

With Jamal Musiala sidelined and Ismael Saibari still working his way back to full fitness and settling in at his new club, Brown started in a central attacking midfield role in Bayern's 2-1 DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund at the weekend – and even got on the scoresheet. Given that impressive performance, and with Musiala set to miss out again, Brown is expected to start in the same role on Friday. If that proves to be the case, he'll be very difficult to ignore and looks like the most obvious star-man pick at the back.

David Raum, RB Leipzig – 18.1m

The RB Leipzig captain recorded 12 goal involvements last season, scoring three goals and providing nine assists in 34 games in all competitions. As a nailed-on starter and set-piece taker for one of the Bundesliga's top sides, who also have an attractive opening schedule, he remains a very attractive options. However, his high price tag could make it difficult for Fantasy managers to find room for him from the start of the game.