The Premier League has secured a fifth place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, following Arsenal’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid.
The result, confirmed by the league on Wednesday, means at least five English clubs will participate in Europe’s top club competition for the 2025/26 season.
Typically, only the top four Premier League teams automatically qualify for the Champions League.
However, due to the impressive performance of English clubs across UEFA’s three European competitions this season, England is now assured of finishing in the top two of UEFA’s association club coefficient rankings. That achievement grants an additional Champions League berth through what UEFA refers to as a European Performance Spot.
England currently tops the rankings, with Spain and Italy following closely behind. Five English clubs remain active in the quarter-finals across the three European tournaments: Arsenal and Aston Villa in the Champions League, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, and Chelsea in the Conference League.
The number of English teams in next season’s Champions League could rise to seven, depending on who wins the ongoing European competitions. If an English club wins either the Champions League or the Europa League but finishes outside the Premier League’s top five, they will still qualify, adding to the total representation.
Liverpool are on course to claim the Premier League title, with Arsenal in second and firmly in control of their own Champions League qualification.
However, the battle for the remaining spots remains intense, with just six points separating third-placed Nottingham Forest from seventh-placed Aston Villa.
Arsenal’s dominant performance over Real Madrid on Tuesday has boosted English hopes further, while Aston Villa are due to face Paris Saint-Germain in their quarter-final clash on Wednesday.
