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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).
Our review has led to the upcoming inaugural publication of the Premier League Diversity Report, a club-by-club analysis of the league's representation of Black and Brown players.
We analysed data from the 551 footballers (Black, Brown and White), who registered an appearance during the 2025-26 EPL season.
Our preliminary findings are listed below;
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 match-weeks (21-30) saw the highest representation of Black and Brown players.
48.3% of all starting line-ups comprised of Black and Brown players.
Europe (32.6%), the UK (24.7%) and Africa (20%) are the global regions with the league's highest Black and Brown player representation.
The UEFA Conference League winners Crystal Palace were the team with the highest Black and Brown player representation figure.
Black and Brown players scored the majority of the league's goals.
Black and Brown players scored more goals than their White counterparts in the vast majority of match-weeks.
Club-by-club analysis
Crystal Palace top the inaugural Premier League Diversity report, with a representation average of 7.6 (down from 8.8 in 2024-25).
Their first elevens were distributed amongst 24 players, of which 18 were Black and Brown players (75%). From the available 418 starting berths, 288 were awarded to Black and Brown players.
Full-back Tyrick Mitchell registered 36 starts, whilst academy graduate Rio Cardines became the Premier League’s 13th Trinidad and Tobago international.
Their total playing squad converged from sixteen nations, with players from the regions of Africa (4), Asia (1), the Caribbean (1), North America (1), South America (3), Europe (8) and England and Wales (12).
The Black Soccer Academic Research Group
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607