The Black Soccer Academic Research Group

The Premier League Diversity Report

2026: Preliminary Findings

The Black Soccer Academic Research Group has undertaken a groundbreaking review of the representation of Black and Brown footballers in the English Premier League (EPL).

Led by former Manchester United professional Richard Flash, our inaugural publication of the Premier League Diversity Report is a club-by-club analysis of the league's representation of Black and Brown players.

We analysed data from the 551 players (Black, Brown and White), that played during the 2025-26 Premier League season.

A 'small' sample of our preliminary findings are listed below and the full report will be published shortly;

• Black and Brown player representation was at its highest in the league's 34 year history.

• There was a record number of match-weeks where Black and Brown players outnumbered their White counterparts.

• The third phase of Premier League match-weeks saw the highest representation of Black and Brown players.

• Europe (32.6%), the UK (24.7%) and Africa (20%) are the global regions with the Premier League's highest Black and Brown player representation.

The Black Soccer Academic - 1607