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The Black Soccer Academic Research Group
The Premier League Diversity Report
2026: Making an Impact
Welcome to the first edition of the Premier League Diversity report, a new annual publication that reviews the representation of Black and Brown footballers in the English Premier League (EPL).
A total of 551 players were used during the 2025-26 season, which included a record percentage of Black and Brown players (51%)
In a football industry first, we examine the starting line-ups and goals scored, to present a club-by-club analysis of the world’s most watched soccer league. We review clubs' last five seasons, to provide a more thorough analysis of Black and Brown representation, than any previous research.
This inaugural report has been created and authored by Richard Flash, a former Manchester United professional and the Managing Director at The Black Soccer Academic Research Group.
Representation matters
Representation can be analysed in several ways. In the Diversity Report we review the first elevens of Premier League clubs to produce a statistical analysis.
Each club has 418 'starting' berths in a 38-game season. We calculated the mean average (representation average) of Black and Brown players in the first elevens.
The 2025-26 season set a new record, as the overall percentage of Black and Brown players in starting line-ups increased to 48%.
We identified a record nine rounds of fixtures, where the number of Black and Brown players in first elevens, exceeded the number of White players.
We also observed a record 13 match-weeks where the number of Black players in starting line-ups reached 100 or more.
The gap between the number of Black and Brown, and White players is closing, and our analysis reveals the clubs that are driving the league’s diversity.
The UEFA Conference League winners Crystal Palace lead the way with the highest representation statistics. Season-long data shows the Eagles with a representation average of 7.6, whilst Everton and Newcastle present the lowest figure of 3.3.
Fourteen of the twenty clubs returned a representation average of 5.1 or more, a benchmark that allows us to digest the breadth of Black and Brown player representation. Indeed, the league's Black and Brown average 'per team' continues to show growth.
Significantly, both the league and team representation averages grew when compared to the 2024-25 season. This occurred despite the absence of thirty-two players in December and January due to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Despite thirty-two of the league’s African internationals participating in AFCON between match-weeks 17-22, there was an overall increase in the representation of Black and Brown players during the 2025-26 season.
Previous industry reports have stated that racial discrimination hinders the employment of Black and Brown individuals off the pitch. However, the trajectory of their representation on the pitch is on an upward trend.
With this knowledge, it is feasible that Black and Brown footballers may soon become the racialized majority in Premier League starting line-ups.
Goals win games
1045 goals were scored in the 2025-26 Premier League season, equating to 2.75 goals per game. This fell short of the 2.93 average from the previous season.
The highest number of goals scored in a round of fixtures was 37, and this occurred in match-week 35. The lowest scoring rounds were match-week’s 22 and 30 with 16 goals.
The representation of Black and Brown players is high in our goals analysis, as they scored 59.3% of the season's goals, a figure that rises to 59.9% after removing own goals.
Reviewing each round of fixtures, we also found that the Black and Brown players scored a higher number of goals in 32 of the 38 match-weeks, a statistic of 84.2%. Hence, as a collective their goal scoring excellence is clear.
Additionally, the top goal scorers at fourteen clubs are Black or Brown players, again highlighting the breadth of representation, as well as their individual goal scoring intelligence.
Historically, Black and Brown players have become the targets of racial and religious abuse when not converting goalscoring opportunities. However, they are making an impact in English football by scoring the majority of the goals, in the world’s most valuable soccer league.
Representation in the league's Golden Boot award is also high, with eight out of the top ten positions filled by ‘Black’ players.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago (22 goals) and Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo (17) followed Erling Haaland, who topped the list with 27 goals. There are four English players in the league’s top ten with Ollie Watkins (16), Morgan Gibbs-White (15), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (14) and Danny Welbeck (13) all enjoying excellent seasons.
Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze scored the league’s 400th hat-trick on November 23rd. It was one of seven hat-tricks scored during the season and all seven were scored by a player with African or Caribbean ancestry.
From the league’s early goal scorers such as Brian Deane and Andy Cole to the more recent Riyad Mahrez and Mohammed Salah, Black and Brown footballers are strongly represented when analysing the Premier League’s goal charts.
Goals win games and the proportion of goals scored by Black and Brown players throughout the 2025-26 season is significant. As a result, this element of player performance can be viewed as a key contributor to the entertainment and commercial success of the Premier League.
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).
In second place are the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup winners Chelsea, with a representation average of 7.0 (down from 7.4 in 2024-25).
Their first elevens were distributed amongst 27 players and 266 Black and Brown players occupied their starting berths.
Chelsea's squad was bolstered by the additions of Joao Pedro, Jorrell Hato, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens, and Robert Sanchez topped their starting appearances.
Eleven nations were represented in their first elevens, with players from Africa (1), South America (7), Europe (11) and England (11). They used a total playing squad of 30.
In third position are Burnley, the surprise package in our analysis, as they ended 2025-26 with a 6.8 representation average.
The Clarets have jumped from 165 Black and Brown starting berths in the 2023-24 season to 259.
Veteran full-back Kyle Walker was amongst their top appearance makers, and their total playing squad of 28 converged from 17 nations, including the regions of Africa (3), South America (2), Europe (15) and England (8).
Club-by-club analysis (league table)
Summary
The 2025-26 Premier League season witnessed growth in the number of its Black and Brown players. Indeed, the past five years has seen an overall increase in the number of Black and Brown players starting Premier League matches.
The force behind this increase is multi-faceted, and includes the changing demographics of society, inward player migration, international coaches and senior management teams, and international ownership structures.
Collectively, these drivers make a positive impact on the league to enhance its entertainment and commercial value, as well as bolstering its established broadcasting revenue.
Our statistics indicate that Black and Brown players may soon become the racialized majority in matchday line-ups. As their representation increases, it will in no doubt bring new challenges of racial and religious discrimination, that the players will continue to overcome.
Closing comment
The 2026 Premier League Diversity report was created and authored by Richard Flash, Director at The Black Soccer Academic Research Group.
We would like to thank Dr Rebecca Wallace, Dr Cecilia Daso, Mohammed Seghum and Russell Poulton in providing guidance and support in its production.
We also thank former Premier League stars Emile Heskey, Jason Roberts and Trevor Sinclair, for supporting our research platforms and providing us with words of encouragement.
We hope that you enjoyed reading the first edition of this publication, which is dedicated to Harrison and Dylan Flash, and to the memory of Professor Jason Arday.
Glossary of terms
The Black Soccer Academic Research Group
The Black Soccer Academic - 1607