The 2024-25 Premier League season has drawn to a close, and with it, the race for European qualification has delivered a compelling narrative for football fans across the UK. Nine English clubs have secured their spots in UEFA’s prestigious competitions for the 2025-26 season. A testament to the league’s competitive depth.
As the dust settles, six Premier League clubs prepare for the Champions League. While others have secured Europa League and Conference League spots. Ensuring a strong English presence across UEFA’s elite competitions next season.
Here’s how the European picture looks for each tier and how the Premier League European places line up.
Record Six Premier League Sides Set to Compete in the Champions League
For the 2025/26 Champions League campaign, the Premier League will be represented by a record six teams. It makes it the most English clubs ever to feature in the competition’s group stage.
Liverpool, crowned champions with a commanding campaign, head the list of qualifiers. Arsenal, runners-up for the third consecutive season, continue their impressive consistency under Mikel Arteta. Manchester City’s third-place finish means Pep Guardiola’s side maintains their remarkable run of Champions League appearances. Chelsea’s resurgent form under new management saw them clinch fourth spot.
Newcastle United, despite losing on the final day, secured fifth place and the extra Champions League berth that was awarded to England thanks to the strong European performances of Premier League clubs this season. Tottenham Hotspur, who finished outside the top five in the league, also qualified. In fact, they finished 17th, just one place above the relegation zone. Nevertheless, the Spurs earned direct entry by winning the Europa League. A route that has become a valuable alternative for English clubs in recent years.
This is the first time that any league has featured so many clubs in the Champions League. Based on how the English clubs have been performing and their popularity, it is no surprise that they are the first country to manage this feat.
Villa and Palace Carry the Flag in the Europa League
Despite the Champions League rightly grabbing headlines, the Europa League remains a prestigious and competitive tournament. It still manages to offer clubs a genuine chance at silverware and further European experience.
Aston Villa, who finished sixth in the Premier League, have earned a place in next season’s Europa League. The Villans were in it till the very end, but ultimately failed after losing to Manchester United by 2-0 in the very last game of the season.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, secured their Europa League spot by lifting the FA Cup. For Palace. The Eagles managed to lift their first major trophy and also qualified for their first major European group stage competition in their history.
The FA Cup route remains a vital backdoor for clubs who may not finish in the top six but have the quality and determination to succeed in knockout football. Both Villa and Palace will be looking to make an impact and perhaps emulate the success of previous English clubs in the competition.
Conference League Forest’s Reward for Consistency
The Europa Conference League, UEFA’s newest club competition, offers a platform for clubs to gain valuable European experience. Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League, have qualified for next season’s Conference League. Their consistent form across the campaign, particularly in the latter stages, ensured they edged out rivals for the final European spot available through league position.
This will be Forest’s first attempt at Europe after the 1995/96 season, when they played in the UEFA Cup. The Tricky Trees actually almost managed to qualify for the Champions League. They ranked third in the league for quite a while. Unfortunately, the pressure of finishing high got to them and they lost significant points in games they really shouldn’t have.
The Conference League provides an opportunity for Forest to build on their domestic progress and test themselves against a variety of opponents from across Europe. For supporters, it promises a fresh challenge and the excitement of seeing their club in a different setting.
