Nine Premier League clubs are in UEFA competition in 2026/27: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool are in the Champions League; AFC Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace are in the Europa League; Brighton & Hove Albion start in the Conference League play-off round.
Premier League clubs in Europe
Here are the Premier League clubs playing in UEFA competitions.
| Club | Competition | 2025/26 league position |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | UEFA Champions League | 1 |
| Manchester City | UEFA Champions League | 2 |
| Manchester United | UEFA Champions League | 3 |
| Aston Villa | UEFA Champions League | 4 |
| Liverpool | UEFA Champions League | 5 |
| AFC Bournemouth | UEFA Europa League | 6 |
| Sunderland | UEFA Europa League | 7 |
| Crystal Palace | UEFA Europa League | 15 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | UEFA Conference League (play-off round) | 8 |
How the places are split
Premier League clubs are spread across all three UEFA competitions. There are five in the Champions League, three in the Europa League, and one in the Conference League, with Brighton & Hove Albion entering at the play-off stage.
Premier League Rule L.12 states that qualification for UEFA club competitions comes through sporting merit in domestic competitions controlled or sanctioned by The Football Association.
Aston Villa won the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League, the club's first major European trophy in 44 years, and qualified for the Champions League. Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League in May 2026, and AFC Bournemouth qualified for Europe for the first time.
Key dates
These are the main European dates linked to the Premier League clubs.
| Competition | Stage or round | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Conference League | Play-offs | 20 and 27 August 2026 |
| Champions League | Matchday one | 8 to 10 September 2026 |
| Europa League | Matchday one | 16 and 17 September 2026 |
| Europa League | Final | 26 May 2027, Frankfurt |
| Conference League | Final | 2 June 2027, Istanbul |
| Champions League | Final | 5 June 2027, Madrid |
What European fixtures do to the Premier League schedule
European matchweeks affect domestic scheduling. Champions League games are mostly played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while Europa League and Conference League games are usually on Thursdays.
A club playing in the Champions League on a Tuesday would not normally have a Premier League match on the Sunday before. Clubs playing on a Thursday evening in the Europa League or Conference League cannot be scheduled for a Premier League match on the Saturday after.
FAQ
Which Premier League teams are in the Champions League?
There are five: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Do Premier League teams play in the Champions League?
Yes. In 2026/27, the league has five clubs in the competition, and entry is based on sporting merit through domestic competitions under The Football Association.
Which Premier League teams are in the Europa League?
Three clubs are in the Europa League: AFC Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
Where do Brighton & Hove Albion enter in Europe?
Brighton & Hove Albion are in the Conference League. Their campaign starts in the play-off round, on 20 and 27 August 2026.