Premier League facts for kids
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| Founded | 20 February 1992 |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 20 (since 1995–96) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | EFL Championship |
| Domestic cup(s) | |
| League cup(s) | EFL Cup |
| International cup(s) | |
| Current champions | Arsenal (4th title) (2025–26) |
| Most championships | Manchester United (13 titles) |
| Most appearances | James Milner (658) |
| Top goalscorer | Alan Shearer (260) |
| TV partners |
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The Premier League is England's top professional football league. It is the highest level of English football and features 20 clubs. Teams move between the Premier League and the EFL Championship through a system called promotion and relegation. Seasons usually run from August to May. Each team plays 38 matches, playing every other team twice, once at home and once away. Most games happen on weekend afternoons.
The league started as the FA Premier League on February 20, 1992. This happened after clubs from the top division decided to create a new league. The Premier League is a company owned by its member clubs. It earns a lot of money from TV rights deals, which helps make it one of the richest sports leagues.
The Premier League is the most-watched sports league globally. It is shown in 212 countries to billions of people. For the 2024–25 season, it had the highest average attendance of any football league worldwide, with over 40,000 fans per game. English clubs are also very successful in European competitions, holding the top spot in UEFA's rankings.
Fifty-one clubs have played in the Premier League since 1992. Seven clubs have won the title: Manchester United (13 times), Manchester City (8), Chelsea (5), Arsenal (4), Liverpool (2), Blackburn Rovers (1), and Leicester City (1). Six clubs have played in every season: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Contents
History of the Premier League
How the League Started
In the 1980s, English football faced challenges. Stadiums were old, and there were problems with fan safety and behavior. English clubs were even banned from European competitions for five years. The top league was not as popular as those in Italy or Spain. Many top English players moved to play abroad.
By the early 1990s, things began to improve. England reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1990. The ban on English clubs in Europe was lifted, and Manchester United won a European trophy in 1991. A report called the Taylor Report suggested that stadiums needed to be made safer with all-seater stands. This meant clubs had to spend a lot of money.
Around this time, major clubs started to think more like businesses. They wanted more money and influence. They began asking for higher fees from TV companies. This led to the idea of a new league. In 1990, representatives from the "Big Five" clubs (Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and Arsenal) met to discuss breaking away from the Football League. The Football Association supported this plan, seeing it as a way to make English football stronger.
Founding and Manchester United's Early Success (1990s)
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Manchester United | Aston Villa |
| 1993–94 | Manchester United | Blackburn Rovers |
| 1994–95 | Blackburn Rovers | Manchester United |
| 1995–96 | Manchester United | Newcastle United |
| 1996–97 | Manchester United | Newcastle United |
| 1997–98 | Arsenal | Manchester United |
| 1998–99 | Manchester United | Arsenal |
| Double winners Treble winners |
||
On July 17, 1991, the top clubs agreed to create a new league. This new league would manage its own TV and sponsorship deals. The goal was to bring more money into English football. This money would help English clubs compete better with teams across Europe. The Premier League became a single division, separate from the old Football League system.
BSkyB won the first TV rights deal for £304 million over five years. The BBC got the rights to show match highlights. On May 27, 1992, 22 clubs left the Football League to form the FA Premier League.
The first Premier League season was 1992–93. The first goal was scored by Brian Deane for Sheffield United. Manchester United won the first title, ending a 26-year wait. They quickly became the strongest team, winning seven of the first nine titles. Key players included Eric Cantona and young talents like David Beckham.
In 1995, the league reduced its size from 22 to 20 clubs. This meant teams played 38 matches instead of 42. Blackburn Rovers, led by Alan Shearer, won the title in 1994–95. Arsenal also became strong contenders, winning the league and FA Cup in 1997–98. In 1998–99, Manchester United achieved a historic "treble," winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.
The "Big Four" Era (2000s)
| Season | ARS | CHE | LIV | MUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2001–02 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| 2002–03 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2003–04 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 2004–05 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| 2005–06 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2006–07 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2007–08 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2008–09 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Top four | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| out of 10 | ||||
| League champions Champions League group stage Champions League third qualifying / play-off round Champions League first qualifying round UEFA Cup / Europa League |
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The 2000s were dominated by four teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United. These were known as the "Big Four." Manchester United won six titles, Arsenal won two, and Chelsea won two. Arsenal's 2003–04 team, known as "The Invincibles," finished the season without losing a single match.
English clubs also did very well in European competitions. Between 2005 and 2012, an English team reached seven of eight Champions League finals. Liverpool (2005), Manchester United (2008), and Chelsea (2012) all won the trophy. New owners with lots of money, like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, started to change the league's financial landscape.
The "Big Six" Era (2010s)
| Season | ARS | CHE | LIV | MCI | MUN | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| 2010–11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 2011–12 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2012–13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2013–14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| 2014–15 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 2015–16 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 2016–17 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2018–19 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Top four | 7 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| Top six | 10 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| out of 10 | ||||||
| League champions Champions League group stage Champions League play-off round Europa League |
||||||
After 2009, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City often joined the top four. This created a "Big Six" group of dominant clubs. Manchester City's title win in 2011–12 was the first by a club outside the "Big Four" since 1995.
Competition for the four Champions League spots became very tough. In 2015–16, Leicester City surprised everyone by winning the league. They were the first non-"Big Six" champion since Blackburn in 1995. The "Big Six" clubs have a lot of financial power due to their global popularity and TV deals.
Recent Premier League Seasons (2020s)
| Season | ARS | CHE | LIV | MCI | MUN | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2020–21 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 2021–22 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| 2022–23 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 2023–24 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| 2024–25 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 17 |
| 2025–26 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| Top four | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Top six | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| out of 7 | ||||||
| League champions Champions League Europa League Conference League |
||||||
The video assistant referee (VAR) system was introduced in the 2019–20 season. That same season, Liverpool won their first Premier League title, ending a 30-year wait. In October 2020, a plan called "Project Big Picture" was suggested to change how top Premier League clubs and lower leagues worked together.
In April 2021, a match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace paused. This allowed Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast. This was believed to be the first time a Premier League game stopped for this reason. The 2022–23 season paused for six weeks for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Players also chose to "take the knee" at certain times to show their commitment to ending racial prejudice. In the 2023–24 season, Manchester City made history by winning their fourth consecutive league title. In the 2024-25 season, Liverpool won the title. Arsenal are the current champions for the 2025-26 season.
How the Premier League Works
League Structure and Rules
The Football Association Premier League Ltd (FAPL) is a company owned by the 20 member clubs. Each club has one vote on important decisions like rule changes. The clubs choose a chairman, chief executive, and board of directors to manage the league daily. The Football Association (FA) has a special role. It can veto decisions about the chairman, chief executive, and new rules.
The current chief executive is Richard Masters. The chair is Alison Brittain. Premier League clubs also send representatives to the European Club Association. This group helps make decisions about European competitions like the Champions League.
| Office | No. | Name | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | 1 | Rick Parry | 1991–1997 |
| 2 | Richard Scudamore | 1999–2018 | |
| 3 | Richard Masters | 2019– | |
| Chair | 1 | Sir John Quinton | 1991–1999 |
| 2 | Dave Richards | 1999–2013 | |
| 3 | Anthony Fry | 2013–2014 | |
| 4 | Richard Scudamore | 2014–2018 | |
| 5 | Gary Hoffman | 2020–2022 | |
| 6 | Alison Brittain | 2023– |
Competition Format
[The Premier League] is very tough and is different. If you compare this league to another league, it's like playing another sport.
In [The Premier League] you never really know what is going to happen, there is very little between the teams.
There are 20 clubs in the Premier League. Each club plays every other club twice in a season, once at home and once away. This means 38 games in total. Teams get three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. If points are equal, goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded) is used. If still tied, goals scored is used. If teams are still equal, they share the same position. For important ties (like for the championship or relegation), a play-off match might be played.
Promotion and Relegation
Teams can move between the Premier League and the EFL Championship. The three teams at the bottom of the Premier League table are relegated to the Championship. The top two teams from the Championship are promoted to the Premier League. An additional team is promoted after play-off matches between the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-placed clubs in the Championship. The league reduced its size from 22 to 20 teams in 1995. FIFA once asked all major European leagues to reduce to 18 teams, but the Premier League decided to stay at 20.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
Video assistant referee (VAR) was introduced in the 2019–20 season. It uses technology to help the referee make decisions on the pitch. VAR can be used for goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents, and cases of mistaken identity. VAR officials review video footage and talk to the referee. The referee still makes the final decision. Fans and experts have mixed feelings about VAR. Some like its accuracy, while others worry it slows down the game or causes confusion.
Premier League Clubs
Champions
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 13 | 7 | 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13 |
| Manchester City | 8 | 4 | 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Chelsea | 5 | 4 | 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17 |
| Arsenal | 4 | 9 | 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2025–26 |
| Liverpool | 2 | 5 | 2019–20, 2024–25 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1 | 1994–95 |
| Leicester City | 1 | 0 | 2015–16 |
Italics indicate former Premier League champions that are currently outside the Premier League.
Teams in the 2025–26 Season
Twenty clubs are competing in the 2025–26 Premier League season. These include the top seventeen teams from the previous 2024–25 season. Also, three teams were promoted from the Championship. Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton were relegated. Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland were promoted.
| 2025–26 Club |
2024–25 Position |
First season in top division |
First season in Premier League |
Seasons in top division |
Seasons in Premier League |
First season of current spell in top division |
No. of seasons of current spell in Premier League |
Top division titles |
Most recent top division title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 2nd | 1904–05 | 1992–93 | 109 | 34 | 1919–20 (100 seasons) | 34 | 13 | 2003–04 |
| Aston Villa | 6th | 1888–89 | 1992–93 | 112 | 31 | 2019–20 (7 seasons) | 7 | 7 | 1980–81 |
| Bournemouth | 9th | 2015–16 | 2015–16 | 9 | 9 | 2022–23 (4 seasons) | 4 | 0 | – |
| Brentford | 10th | 1935–36 | 2021–22 | 10 | 5 | 2021–22 (5 seasons) | 5 | 0 | – |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 8th | 1979–80 | 2017–18 | 13 | 9 | 2017–18 (9 seasons) | 9 | 0 | – |
| Burnley | 2nd (EFL) | 1888–89 | 2009–10 | 62 | 10 | 2025–26 (1 season) | 1 | 2 | 1959-60 |
| Chelsea | 4th | 1907–08 | 1992–93 | 91 | 34 | 1989–90 (37 seasons) | 34 | 6 | 2016–17 |
| Crystal Palace | 12th | 1969–70 | 1992–93 | 26 | 17 | 2013–14 (13 seasons) | 13 | 0 | – |
| Everton | 13th | 1888–89 | 1992–93 | 123 | 34 | 1954–55 (72 seasons) | 34 | 9 | 1986–87 |
| Fulham | 11th | 1949–50 | 2001–02 | 31 | 19 | 2022–23 (4 seasons) | 4 | 0 | – |
| Leeds United | 1st (EFL) | 1924–25 | 1992–93 | 54 | 16 | 2025–26 (1 season) | 1 | 3 | 1991–92 |
| Liverpool | 1st | 1894–95 | 1992–93 | 111 | 34 | 1962–63 (64 seasons) | 34 | 20 | 2024–25 |
| Manchester City | 3rd | 1899–1900 | 1992–93 | 97 | 29 | 2002–03 (24 seasons) | 24 | 10 | 2023–24 |
| Manchester United | 15th | 1892–93 | 1992–93 | 101 | 34 | 1975–76 (51 seasons) | 34 | 20 | 2012–13 |
| Newcastle United | 5th | 1898–99 | 1993–94 | 94 | 31 | 2017–18 (9 seasons) | 9 | 4 | 1926–27 |
| Nottingham Forest | 7th | 1892–93 | 1992–93 | 60 | 9 | 2022–23 (4 seasons) | 4 | 1 | 1977–78 |
| Sunderland | 4th playoffs (EFL) | 1890–91 | 1996–97 | 87 | 17 | 2025–26 (1 season) | 1 | 6 | 1935-36 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 17th | 1909–10 | 1992–93 | 91 | 34 | 1978–79 (48 seasons) | 34 | 2 | 1960–61 |
| West Ham United | 14th | 1923–24 | 1993–94 | 68 | 30 | 2012–13 (14 seasons) | 14 | 0 | – |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16th | 1888–89 | 1992–93 | 71 | 12 | 2018–19 (8 seasons) | 8 | 3 | 1958–59 |
- Only two clubs have stayed in the Premier League since their first promotion: Brentford (5 seasons) and Brighton & Hove Albion (9 seasons).
Welsh Clubs in the Premier League
In 2011, Swansea City became the first Welsh club to play in the Premier League. The first Premier League match outside England was Swansea City's home game in August 2011. Later, Cardiff City also played in the league. Welsh clubs can represent England in European competitions if they qualify through English leagues. For example, Swansea took an English spot in the Europa League in 2013–14. Currently, there are no Welsh clubs in the Premier League.
Seasons in English Top Flight Football
There have been 65 teams that have played in the top English football league (both the Football League First Division and the Premier League) since the 1888–89 season. The teams in bold are currently in the Premier League. No team has played in every top-flight season; Everton has played the most, with 123 seasons.
- 123 seasons: Everton (2026)
- 112 seasons: Aston Villa (2026)
- 111 seasons: Liverpool (2026)
- 109 seasons: Arsenal (2026)
- 101 seasons: Manchester United (2026)
- 97 seasons: Manchester City (2026)
- 94 seasons: Newcastle United (2026)
- 91 seasons: Chelsea (2026), Tottenham Hotspur (2026)
- 87 seasons: Sunderland (2026)
- 81 seasons: West Bromwich Albion (2021)
- 73 seasons: Bolton Wanderers (2012)
- 72 seasons: Blackburn Rovers (2012)
- 71 seasons: Wolverhampton Wanderers (2026)
- 68 seasons: West Ham United (2026)
- 66 seasons: Sheffield Wednesday (2000)
- 65 seasons: Derby County (2008)
- 63 seasons: Sheffield United (2024)
- 62 seasons: Stoke City (2018)
- 61 seasons: Middlesbrough (2017), Burnley (2026)
- 60 seasons: Nottingham Forest (2026)
- 57 seasons: Birmingham City (2011)
- 56 seasons: Leicester City (2025)
- 54 seasons: Leeds United (2026)
- 47 seasons: Southampton (2025)
- 46 seasons: Preston North End (1961)
- 34 seasons: Coventry City (2001)
- 33 seasons: Portsmouth (2010)
- 32 seasons: Huddersfield Town (2019)
- 31 seasons: Fulham (2026)
- 30 seasons: Notts County (1992)
- 28 seasons: Blackpool (2011)
- 27 seasons: Norwich City (2022), Ipswich Town (2025)
- 26 seasons: Charlton Athletic (2007), Crystal Palace (2026)
- 23 seasons: Queens Park Rangers (2015)
- 22 seasons: Bury (1929)
- 17 seasons: Cardiff City (2019), Luton Town (2024)
- 14 seasons: Wimbledon (2000), Watford (2022)
- 13 seasons: Brighton & Hove Albion (2026)
- 12 seasons: Grimsby Town (1948), Oldham Athletic (1994), Bradford City (2001)
- 10 seasons: Brentford (2026)
- 9 seasons: Bristol City (1980), Swansea City (2018), Bournemouth (2026)
- 8 seasons: Wigan Athletic (2013)
- 5 seasons: Accrington (1893), Hull City (2017)
- 3 seasons: Bradford (Park Avenue) (1921), Oxford United (1988), Reading (2013)
- 2 seasons: Darwen (1894), Millwall (1990)
- 1 season: Glossop North End (1900), Leyton Orient (1963), Northampton Town (1966), Carlisle United (1975), Swindon Town (1994), Barnsley (1998)
Seasons in the Premier League
Fifty-one teams have played in the Premier League since it started in 1992. The teams in bold are currently in the Premier League. Six teams have played in every Premier League season: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
- 34 seasons: Arsenal (2026), Chelsea (2026), Everton (2026), Liverpool (2026), Manchester United (2026), Tottenham Hotspur (2026)
- 31 seasons: Aston Villa (2026), Newcastle United (2026)
- 30 seasons: West Ham United (2026)
- 29 seasons: Manchester City (2026)
- 25 seasons: Southampton (2025)
- 19 seasons: Fulham (2026)
- 18 seasons: Blackburn Rovers (2012), Leicester City (2025)
- 17 seasons: Crystal Palace (2026), Sunderland (2026)
- 16 seasons: Leeds United (2026)
- 15 seasons: Middlesbrough (2017)
- 13 seasons: Bolton Wanderers (2012), West Bromwich Albion (2021)
- 12 seasons: Wolverhampton Wanderers (2026)
- 10 seasons: Stoke City (2018), Norwich City (2022), Burnley (2026)
- 9 seasons: Coventry City (2001), Bournemouth (2026), Brighton & Hove Albion (2026), Nottingham Forest (2026)
- 8 seasons: Sheffield Wednesday (2000), Wimbledon (2000), Charlton Athletic (2007), Wigan Athletic (2013), Watford (2022)
- 7 seasons: Derby County (2008), Portsmouth (2010), Birmingham City (2011), Queens Park Rangers (2015), Swansea City (2018)
- 6 seasons: Sheffield United (2024), Ipswich Town (2025)
- 5 seasons: Hull City (2017), Brentford (2026)
- 3 seasons: Reading (2013)
- 2 seasons: Oldham Athletic (1994), Bradford City (2001), Cardiff City (2019), Huddersfield Town (2019)
- 1 season: Swindon Town (1994), Barnsley (1998), Blackpool (2011), Luton Town (2024)
International Competitions
Qualifying for European Tournaments
The top four teams in the Premier League automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League. This is Europe's biggest club competition. The winners of the Champions League and UEFA Europa League can also qualify. This means up to seven English teams could play in the Champions League.
The fifth-placed team in the Premier League and the winners of the FA Cup qualify for the Europa League. The winner of the EFL Cup qualifies for the UEFA Conference League. If a team has already qualified through another way, their spot goes to the next highest-placed team in the league.
England is currently ranked first in the UEFA coefficient rankings. These rankings are based on how well teams from each country perform in European competitions.
| Ranking | Member association (L: League, C: Cup, LC: League Cup) |
Coefficient | Teams | Regular places in 2026–27 season | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Mvmt | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | Total | CL | EL | ECL | Total | ||
| 1 | 1 |  – |
 England (L, C, LC) |
24.357 | 21.000 | 23.000 | 17.375 | 29.464 | 115.196 | 4/9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | 2 | – |
 Italy (L, C) |
16.285 | 15.714 | 22.357 | 21.000 | 21.875 | 97.231 | 0/7 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | – |
 Spain (L, C) |
19.500 | 18.428 | 16.571 | 16.062 | 23.892 | 94.453 | 2/8 | ||||
| 4 | 4 | – |
 Germany (L, C) |
15.214 | 16.214 | 17.125 | 19.357 | 18.421 | 86.331 | 2/7 | ||||
| 5 | 5 | – |
 France (L, C) |
7.916 | 18.416 | 12.583 | 16.250 | 17.928 | 73.093 | 2/7 | ||||
English Clubs in European Competitions
English clubs have won 52 UEFA club competition trophies. This makes them the second most successful in Europe, after Spain. In the Champions League, six English clubs have won 15 titles. In the Europa League, English clubs have won 11 titles. English clubs have also won the FIFA Club World Cup five times.
Premier League Sponsors
The Premier League has had several sponsors over the years. From 1993 to 2001, it was known as the FA Carling Premiership. Then, Barclaycard and later Barclays sponsored the league. From 2016 onwards, the league decided not to have a main title sponsor. They wanted to build a "clean" brand, similar to major sports leagues in the United States.
| Period | Sponsor | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–1993 | No sponsor | FA Premier League |
| 1993–2001 | Carling | FA Carling Premiership |
| 2001–2004 | Barclaycard | FA Barclaycard Premiership |
| 2004–2007 | Barclays | FA Barclays Premiership |
| 2007–2016 | Barclays Premier League | |
| 2016–present | No sponsor | Premier League |
The Premier League also has official partners. Puma is the official ball supplier. Panini makes collectables like stickers and trading cards. Castrol currently sponsors awards like the Golden Boot.
Premier League Finances
The Premier League has the highest revenue of any football league in the world. In 2009–10, clubs earned €2.48 billion. By 2013–14, Premier League clubs made a net profit of over £78 million. This was more than any other football league. The league has even won an award for its contribution to international trade.
Premier League clubs are among the richest globally. This is largely thanks to the huge amounts of money from TV rights. In 2019, the league generated about £3.1 billion per year from TV rights. Clubs have agreed to rules to control costs and prevent too much money from going straight to players' wages.
Relegation Challenges
Teams promoted to the Premier League often find it hard to stay up. Since the league started, at least one promoted team has been relegated almost every season. This shows how tough the competition is.
The Premier League gives "parachute payments" to relegated clubs. This money helps them adjust to losing the high TV revenue from the Premier League. However, some people argue these payments make the gap wider between Premier League teams and lower league teams. Clubs that fail to get promoted back quickly can face serious financial difficulties.
Media Coverage of the Premier League
Watching in the UK and Ireland
| Seasons | Sky | Others | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–2001 | 60 | – | 60 | |||
| 2001–2004 | 110 | 110 | ||||
| 2004–2007 | 138 | 138 | ||||
| 2007–2009 | 92 | Setanta | 46 | – | 138 | |
| 2009–2010 | 92 | ESPN | 46 | 138 | ||
| 2010–2013 | 115 | 23 | 138 | |||
| 2013–2016 | 116 | TNT | 38 | 154 | ||
| 2016–2019 | 126 | 42 | 168 | |||
| 2019–2025 | 128 | 52 | Amazon | 20 | 200 | |
| 2025–2029 | 215+ | 52 | – | 270 | ||
Television has been very important to the Premier League's success. The league decided to sell its broadcasting rights to Sky in 1992. This was a new idea at the time. The value of these TV rights has grown a lot over the years.
The Premier League sells its TV rights for all clubs together. This means the money is shared more evenly between teams. Half of the money is divided equally. A quarter is given based on how high a team finishes in the league. The last quarter is paid for games shown on TV. Money from international rights is shared equally among all 20 clubs.
Not all Premier League matches are shown live in the UK. There is a rule that stops games from being broadcast between 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Saturdays. This rule helps encourage fans to go to matches in person.
The first TV deal with Sky was worth £304 million. By 2015, Sky and BT paid £5.136 billion for three years of rights. A new deal started in the 2019–20 season, with more matches shown. Amazon Prime Video also started showing some games. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many more matches were shown live, including some on the BBC for the first time.
UK highlights
| Highlights programme | Duration | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Match of the Day | 1992–2001 2004–present |
BBC |
| The Premiership | 2001–2004 | ITV |
Watching Worldwide
The Premier League is the most-watched football league globally. It is broadcast in 212 countries to 643 million homes. This means a potential audience of 4.7 billion people. The league's own production company, Premier League Productions, creates content for international TV partners.
In the United States, NBC Sports broadcasts the Premier League. They have been praised for their coverage. In November 2021, NBC extended their deal until 2028 for $2.76 billion. Many other broadcasters show the league around the world, including Star Sports in India, beIN Sports in the Middle East, and SuperSport in Africa.
Premier League Stadiums
Since the Premier League started, games have been played in 61 different stadiums. After a safety report in 1989, all stadiums in the Premier League became all-seater. This means there are no standing areas for fans. Stadiums have improved a lot over the years. Some clubs have even built new stadiums.
Stadium capacities vary greatly. For example, Old Trafford, home to Manchester United, holds over 74,000 fans. Dean Court, home to Bournemouth, holds over 11,000. The total capacity for all Premier League stadiums in the 2023–24 season was over 787,000.
Stadium attendance is a big source of income for clubs. In the 2022–23 season, the average attendance per game was over 40,000. This was a record for the league. The total number of spectators that season was over 15 million.
Premier League Managers
I have never known this level before. Of course, there are managers in Germany, Italy, and Spain, but in the Premier League, these are the best managers, the elite managers. The quality, the preparation. The level is so high.
Managers in the Premier League are in charge of the team. They handle training, choosing players, and signing new players. Managers need a special coaching qualification called a UEFA Pro Licence. This is the highest coaching award.
Arsène Wenger is the longest-serving manager in Premier League history. He managed Arsenal for 828 matches from 1996 to 2018. He broke the record set by Alex Ferguson, who managed Manchester United for 810 Premier League matches. Interestingly, no English manager has ever won the Premier League title.
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Italics indicate interim managers.
| Manager | Nationality | Club | Appointed | Time as manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pep Guardiola | Spain |
Manchester City | 1 July 2016 | 9 years, 337 days |
| Mikel Arteta | Spain |
Arsenal | 20 December 2019 | 6 years, 165 days |
| Marco Silva |  Portugal |
Fulham | 1 July 2021 | 4 years, 337 days |
| Eddie Howe | England |
Newcastle United | 8 November 2021 | 4 years, 207 days |
| Unai Emery | Spain |
Aston Villa | 1 November 2022 | 3 years, 214 days |
| Andoni Iraola | Spain |
Bournemouth | 19 June 2023 | 2 years, 349 days |
| Daniel Farke | Germany |
Leeds United | 4 July 2023 | 2 years, 334 days |
| Oliver Glasner |  Austria |
Crystal Palace | 19 February 2024 | 2 years, 104 days |
| Arne Slot |  Netherlands |
Liverpool | 1 June 2024 | 2 years, 2 days |
| Fabian Hürzeler | Germany |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 15 June 2024 | 1 year, 353 days |
| Régis Le Bris | France |
Sunderland | 1 July 2024 | 1 year, 337 days |
| David Moyes |  Scotland |
Everton | 11 January 2025 | 1 year, 143 days |
| Keith Andrews |  Ireland |
Brentford | 27 June 2025 | 341 days |
| Nuno Espírito Santo | Portugal |
West Ham United | 27 September 2025 | 249 days |
| Rob Edwards |  Wales |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 November 2025 | 203 days |
| Michael Carrick | England |
Manchester United | 13 January 2026 | 141 days |
| Vítor Pereira | Portugal |
Nottingham Forest | 13 February 2026 | 110 days |
| Roberto De Zerbi | Italy |
Tottenham Hotspur | 31 March 2026 | 64 days |
| Mike Jackson | England |
Burnley | 30 April 2026 | 34 days |
| Xabi Alonso | Spain |
Chelsea | 1 July 2026 | −28 days |
Premier League Players
Most Appearances
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James Milner holds the record for the most appearances in the Premier League, having played 658 matches. Many other famous players have also played over 500 games in the league.
| Rank | Player | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  James Milner (ENG) |
658 |
| 2 | Gareth Barry (ENG) |
653 |
| 3 |  Ryan Giggs (WAL) |
632 |
| 4 | Frank Lampard (ENG) |
609 |
| 5 | David James (ENG) |
572 |
| 6 | Gary Speed (WAL) |
535 |
| 7 | Emile Heskey (ENG) |
516 |
| 8 |  Mark Schwarzer (AUS) |
514 |
| 9 | Jamie Carragher (ENG) |
508 |
| 10 | Phil Neville (ENG) |
505 |
| . Italicised players still playing professional football. Bolded players still playing in Premier League. |
||
Player Transfers and Foreign Players
Clubs can only buy and sell players during specific "transfer windows." These windows are usually in the summer and in January. Each club must register a maximum 25-player squad. At least eight players must be "home-grown," meaning they trained in England or Wales for a certain time.
When the Premier League started in 1992, very few players were from outside the UK or Ireland. By 2004–05, almost half of the players were foreign. In 2005, Arsenal became the first team to have a squad of 16 players all from outside England. By 2020, players from 117 different countries had played in the league. After Brexit, new rules mean all foreign players need a special endorsement to play in the UK.
Top Goal Scorers
The Premier League Golden Boot award goes to the top goal scorer each season. Alan Shearer holds the record for the most Premier League goals with 260. Thirty-five players have scored 100 or more goals. Thierry Henry and Mohamed Salah have won the Golden Boot four times each. Erling Haaland holds the record for most goals in a single 38-match season, with 36 goals in 2022–23. Ryan Giggs scored in the first 21 seasons of the league and also holds the record for most assists (162).
| Rank | Player | Years | Goals | Apps | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Shearer |
1992–2006 | 260 | 441 | 0.59 |
| 2 | Harry Kane |
2012–2023 | 213 | 320 | 0.67 |
| 3 | Wayne Rooney |
2002–2018 | 208 | 491 | 0.42 |
| 4 |  Mohamed Salah |
2014–2015, 2017–2026 |
193 | 328 | 0.59 |
| 5 | Andy Cole |
1992–2008 | 187 | 414 | 0.45 |
| 6 |  Sergio Agüero |
2011–2021 | 184 | 275 | 0.67 |
| 7 | Frank Lampard |
1995–2015 | 177 | 609 | 0.29 |
| 8 | Thierry Henry |
1999–2007, 2012 |
175 | 258 | 0.68 |
| 9 | Robbie Fowler |
1993–2007, 2008 |
163 | 379 | 0.43 |
| 10 | Jermain Defoe |
2001–2003, 2004–2014, 2015–2019 |
162 | 496 | 0.33 |
Italics denotes players still playing professional football,
Bold denotes players still playing in the Premier League.
_(cropped).jpg)
Player Wages and Transfer Fees
There are no limits on how much teams can pay players in the Premier League. Because of the valuable TV deals, player wages have increased a lot. In the 2018–19 season, the average annual salary for a player was about £2.99 million. This is higher than in most other European leagues.
The record for a player transfer fee in the Premier League has also grown. Alexander Isak is currently the most expensive player bought by a Premier League club, costing £125 million in 2025.
| Rank | Player | Fee (£ million) | Year | Transfer | Reference(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alexander Isak (SWE) |
£125 | 2025 | Newcastle United |
Liverpool |
|
| 2 |  Enzo Fernández (ARG) |
£106.8 | 2023 | Benfica |
Chelsea |
|
| 3 |  Florian Wirtz (GER) |
£100 | 2025 | Bayer Leverkusen |
Liverpool |
|
 Moisés Caicedo (ECU) |
£100 | 2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
Chelsea |
||
| Declan Rice (ENG) |
£100 | 2023 | West Ham United |
Arsenal |
||
| Jack Grealish (ENG) |
£100 | 2021 | Aston Villa |
Manchester City |
||
| 7 |  Romelu Lukaku (BEL) |
£97.5 | 2021 | Inter Milan |
Chelsea |
|
| 8 |  Paul Pogba (FRA) |
£89 | 2016 | Juventus |
Manchester United |
|
| 9 |  Antony (BRA) |
£82 | 2022 | Ajax |
Manchester United |
|
| 10 | Harry Maguire (ENG) |
£80 | 2019 | Leicester City |
Manchester United |
|
| Rank | Player | Fee (£ million) | Year | Transfer | Reference(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Isak (SWE) |
£125 | 2025 | Newcastle United |
Liverpool |
|
| 2 | Philippe Coutinho (BRA) |
£105 | 2018 | Liverpool |
Barcelona |
|
| 3 | Moisés Caicedo (ECU) |
£100 | 2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
Chelsea |
|
| Declan Rice (ENG) |
£100 | 2023 | West Ham United |
Arsenal |
||
| Jack Grealish (ENG) |
£100 | 2021 | Aston Villa |
Manchester City |
||
| 6 | Eden Hazard (BEL) |
£89 | 2019 | Chelsea |
Real Madrid |
|
| 7 | Harry Kane (ENG) |
£86.4 | 2023 | Tottenham Hotspur |
Bayern Munich |
|
| 8 | Gareth Bale (WAL) |
£86 | 2013 | Tottenham Hotspur |
Real Madrid |
|
| 9 |  Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) |
£80 | 2009 | Manchester United |
Real Madrid |
|
| Harry Maguire (ENG) |
£80 | 2019 | Leicester City |
Manchester United |
||
Premier League Awards
The Premier League Trophy
The Premier League has two trophies: the real one for the champions and a replica. This is so a trophy can be presented right away, even if the title is decided on the last day. The trophy was designed by Garrard & Co/Asprey of London. It has a golden crown and a green base made of malachite. The green color represents the football field. The design also features three lions, a symbol of English football. In 2004, a special gold trophy was made for Arsenal. This was to celebrate them winning the title without losing a single game.
Player and Manager Awards
Besides the main trophy, many other awards are given out each season.
- A "man-of-the-match" award is given to the best player in each game.
- Monthly awards include "Manager of the Month," "Player of the Month," and "Goal of the Month."
- Annual awards include "Manager of the Season," "Player of the Season," and "Goal of the Season."
- The "Young Player of the Season" award is for the best player under 23.
- The Golden Boot goes to the top goal scorer.
- The Playmaker of the Season is for the player with the most assists.
- The Golden Glove is for the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets.
- New awards from 2021–22 include "Save of the Season," "Game Changer of the Season," "Most Powerful Goal," and "Most Improbable Comeback."
- Players also receive special awards for reaching milestones like 100 appearances or 50 goals.
20 Seasons Awards
In 2012, the Premier League celebrated its 20th anniversary with special awards:
- Fantasy Team of the 20 Seasons
- Panel Choice: Peter Schmeichel, Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer
- Public Vote: Peter Schmeichel, Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Nemanja Vidić, Ashley Cole, Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer
- Best Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
- Best Player: Ryan Giggs
- Most Appearances: Gareth Barry (652)
- Top Goalscorer: Alan Shearer (260)
- Most Clean Sheets: David James (173)
- 500 Club: Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Gareth Barry, Ryan Giggs, David James, Gary Speed, Frank Lampard, Emile Heskey and Sol Campbell
- Best Goal: Wayne Rooney, 12 February 2011, Manchester United vs Manchester City
- Best Save: Craig Gordon, 18 December 2010, Sunderland vs Bolton Wanderers
- Best Team: Arsenal 2003–04
See also
In Spanish: Premier League para niños
