2026-27 Premier League: all you need to know about the 20 clubs in the English top flight

Arsenal FC, 2025-26 Premier League champions, will defend their title from Friday 21 August 2026, when the 2026-27 season kicks off.

Manchester City FC, who finished second behind the Gunners in 2025-26, Manchester United FC (3^rd), Aston Villa FC (4^th, also winners of the 2025-26 Europa League) and Liverpool FC (5^th) will join Arsenal in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, which will therefore include five English clubs among its 36 participants.

AFC Bournemouth (6^th), Sunderland AFC (7^th) and Crystal Palace FC - who finished 15^th in the Premier League but won the 2025-26 Conference League - will represent England in the UEFA Europa League. Brighton & Hove Albion FC (8^th) will face Tromsø IL (Norway) in the UEFA Conference League play-offs (on 20 and 27 August 2026).

The three…