Chelsea’s Joao Pedro Leads Fantasy Premier League Ownership Trends

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) continues to dominate the football gaming space with a record 11.5 million players last season, reflecting its status as the world's largest fantasy football game. Early trends in the 2025/26 FPL season show managers favoring new signings like Chelsea’s £60 million Joao Pedro, who impressed with three goals in four games during the Club World Cup, alongside established stars like Mohamed Salah, who remains the most expensive player at £14.5 million. AI technology is increasingly influencing football recruitment, with companies like SentientSports using simulation models to predict how potential signings will perform with new teammates, factoring in elements like playing style compatibility and even language barriers. This AI-driven approach offers clubs more nuanced insights beyond traditional stats, as exemplified by Liverpool’s signing of Florian Wirtz, tracked by AI since 2021. These developments highlight a growing intersection between data analytics, fantasy sports enthusiasm, and football club strategy in the 2025 season.