GW6 DEADLINE UPDATE — 7 October 2026. De Cuyper is above 325,000 GW6 transfers in in the latest official snapshot.
The upside remains obvious.
The risks are now equally clear:
- Mitoma return;
- Brighton Europe;
- accumulated international minutes;
- role change from advanced left position.
Owners: hold. Fresh buyers: buyable, not automatic. Wildcard: compare against Hall and DefCon value.
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Updated for the 26 September 2026 international-break snapshot. Prices, ownership and transfer counts can continue to move before the GW6 deadline.
Maxim De Cuyper has become one of the biggest defender stories in FPL. At the current snapshot he is £5.0m, owned by roughly 27.6% of managers and has 38 points after five Gameweeks. He has started all five league matches and played 423 of a possible 450 minutes.
The easy conclusion is that this is a straightforward buy.
The more useful question is what happens after the international break, when Brighton expect Kaoru Mitoma back and their Conference League schedule begins adding another source of rotation pressure.
The short answer
| Manager situation | OneFPL view |
|---|---|
| Already own De Cuyper | HOLD / MONITOR |
| Buying only because of recent transfers-in | WAIT |
| Buying for attacking upside plus several fixtures | BUYABLE, but check role first |
| Wildcarding | Keep on shortlist, compare with more secure defenders |
| Weak bench + worried about Europe | Prefer stronger minutes security |
De Cuyper is still a good FPL asset. The risk is that some of the attacking role that made him so attractive may not be permanent.
Why De Cuyper has been so valuable
De Cuyper is listed as a defender, but Brighton's availability issues in wide areas allowed him to play much higher than a conventional full-back.
That matters enormously in FPL.
A defender who spends meaningful time in winger-like areas can combine:
- clean-sheet points;
- attacking returns;
- bonus potential;
- a lower price than premium midfielders;
- easier squad construction.
This is why simply looking at Brighton's defensive strength does not explain his popularity.
Use Player Lab to compare his current output with other defenders rather than judging only from total points.
Latest FPL news
The Mitoma return changes the question
Brighton have indicated that Kaoru Mitoma is expected back after the international break.
That does not automatically mean De Cuyper is dropped.
But it creates several possible outcomes:
- De Cuyper stays in the XI and returns to a more natural left-back role.
- De Cuyper remains advanced because Brighton find a way to use both.
- De Cuyper rotates between roles depending on opponent.
- Competition increases once more wide players are available.
The important FPL point is that role can change even if minutes remain secure.
A £5.0m defender playing as a winger is a very different asset from a £5.0m defender playing as a conventional full-back.
Current FPL snapshot
| Metric | Snapshot |
|---|---|
| Price | £5.0m |
| Ownership | ~27.6% |
| FPL points | 38 |
| Starts | 5/5 |
| Minutes | 423/450 |
| GW transfers in | ~279k |
| GW6 fixture | Sunderland (A) |
The transfer volume is important because it shows demand. It should not be treated as proof that the move is correct.
The GW6 Most Transferred page tracks that market separately.
Does Sunderland away make him a buy?
Brighton's GW6 trip to Sunderland is playable enough that De Cuyper can remain in transfer plans.
But a defender transfer should normally be judged across several Gameweeks, not one fixture.
Before buying, check:
- expected role after Mitoma returns;
- whether he still gets advanced touches;
- start probability;
- Brighton's European rotation;
- the quality of your current defenders;
- what the £5.0m price point prevents elsewhere.
Use Fixtures and the Transfer Planner rather than treating GW6 in isolation.
Conference League rotation matters
Brighton now have European football to manage.
For FPL, this can create three different risks:
1. Rest
A player can miss a league start entirely.
2. Reduced minutes
A regular starter may come off earlier than normal after a European match.
3. Role rotation
De Cuyper could start both matches but in different positions, reducing his attacking ceiling in one of them.
This does not make every Brighton asset a sell. It simply increases the value of secure alternatives and a playable bench.
Read the Best FPL Defenders guide for the broader comparison.
De Cuyper for current owners
Current owners are in a better position than fresh buyers.
You already own the price movement and early points. There is no need to sell solely because Mitoma is returning.
The better process is:
- hold through the break if fit;
- monitor Brighton's first-choice shape;
- check the Conference League lineup;
- watch whether De Cuyper remains advanced;
- only sell if the role or minutes genuinely deteriorate.
Owner verdict: HOLD / MONITOR.
De Cuyper for fresh buyers
Fresh buyers should be more demanding.
At £5.0m, the decision is no longer the same as buying a £4.5m defender before the season.
Ask what you are paying for:
- an attacking defender with strong minutes;
- a temporary out-of-position role;
- or a popular player whose best role may be changing.
If you are Wildcarding, compare him with your other defender slots inside the GW6 Wildcard Team.
Buyer verdict: BUYABLE, but not a blind transfer.
What would make the case stronger?
The strongest post-break evidence would be:
- De Cuyper starts with Mitoma also in the XI;
- he continues getting touches high on the left;
- he retains strong expected minutes;
- Brighton do not heavily rotate him around Europe;
- his attacking involvement remains repeatable.
What would weaken the case?
Downgrade him if:
- he loses the advanced role completely;
- starts become less secure;
- European rotation begins affecting league minutes;
- another defender offers similar upside with much stronger minutes security.
OneFPL verdict
De Cuyper is still one of the most interesting defenders in the game, but the reason for owning him now matters more than the early points.
Existing owners can hold.
Fresh buyers should wait long enough to understand how Mitoma's return changes Brighton's left side. If De Cuyper remains an advanced, secure starter, the £5.0m price can still be attractive. If the role becomes conventional or rotation increases, his value needs to be re-rated.
Use Team News before the GW6 deadline and compare the move in the Transfer Planner.
FAQ
Is Maxim De Cuyper still a good FPL buy for GW6?
He remains a strong option, but fresh buyers should now factor in Kaoru Mitoma's expected return and Brighton's European schedule before assuming De Cuyper keeps the same advanced role.
What is Maxim De Cuyper's FPL price and ownership?
At the 26 September 2026 snapshot used for this update, De Cuyper is £5.0m and owned by about 27.6% of managers.
Will Mitoma's return make De Cuyper lose his place?
That is not confirmed. The main risk is that Mitoma's return could change De Cuyper's position or reduce the need for him to play as high up the pitch.
Should current De Cuyper owners sell?
Not on role speculation alone. Owners can hold while monitoring Brighton team news, European rotation and De Cuyper's actual position after the break.
Who should I compare De Cuyper with?
Compare him with similarly priced defenders and secure starters using OneFPL Player Lab, then model the budget impact in the Transfer Planner.
Sources
- Brighton & Hove Albion — official Mitoma return update.
- Premier League / Fantasy Premier League — player price, ownership, points and minutes snapshot.
- OneFPL — Best FPL Defenders, GW6 Wildcard Team, GW6 Most Transferred and Transfer Planner.
- Community discussion is used only as a signal of manager interest, not as confirmation of Brighton selection.
