Since its inception, the Premier League has established itself as the most popular sports league on the planet.
While English football didn’t begin in the 1990s, the sport was changed forever as money flooded into the game and clubs began to lure top talent from all over the world.
The first Premier League season took place in 1992-93, and comprised 22 teams. As of 2019-20, 49 clubs have played in the Premier League, with the full list below.
Full list of clubs to have played in the Premier League
| Club | Seasons in Premier League | Debut season | Highest finish | Division in 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 28 | 1992-93 | 1st | Premier League |
| Aston Villa | 25 | 1992-93 | 2nd | Premier League |
| Barnsley | 1 | 1997-98 | 19th | Championship |
| Birmingham | 7 | 2002-03 | 9th | Championship |
| Blackburn | 18 | 1992-93 | 1st | Championship |
| Blackpool | 1 | 2010-11 | 19th | League One |
| Bolton | 13 | 1995-96 | 6th | League One |
| Bournemouth | 5 | 2015-16 | 9th | Premier League |
| Bradford | 2 | 1999-00 | 17th | League Two |
| Brighton | 3 | 2017-18 | 15th | Premier League |
| Burnley | 6 | 2009-10 | 7th | Premier League |
| Cardiff | 2 | 2013-14 | 18th | Championship |
| Charlton | 8 | 1998-99 | 7th | Championship |
| Chelsea | 28 | 1992-93 | 1st | Premier League |
| Coventry | 9 | 1992-93 | 11th | League One |
| Crystal Palace | 11 | 1992-93 | 10th | Premier League |
| Derby | 7 | 1996-97 | 8th | Championship |
| Everton | 28 | 1992-93 | 4th | Premier League |
| Fulham | 14 | 2001-02 | 7th | Championship |
| Huddersfield | 2 | 2017-18 | 16th | Championship |
| Hull | 5 | 2008-09 | 16th | Championship |
| Ipswich | 5 | 1992-93 | 5th | League One |
| Leeds | 12 | 1992-93 | 3rd | Championship |
| Leicester | 14 | 1994-95 | 1st | Premier League |
| Liverpool | 28 | 1992-93 | 2nd | Premier League |
| Manchester City | 23 | 1992-93 | 1st | Premier League |
| Manchester United | 28 | 1992-93 | 1st | Premier League |
| Middlesbrough | 15 | 1992-93 | 7th | Championship |
| Newcastle | 25 | 1993-94 | 2nd | Premier League |
| Norwich | 9 | 1992-93 | 3rd | Premier League |
| Nottingham Forest | 5 | 1992-93 | 3rd | Championship |
| Oldham | 2 | 1992-93 | 19th | League Two |
| Portsmouth | 7 | 2003-04 | 8th | League One |
| QPR | 7 | 1992-93 | 5th | Championship |
| Reading | 3 | 2006-07 | 8th | Championship |
| Sheffield United | 4 | 1992-93 | 14th | Premier League |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 8 | 1992-93 | 7th | Championship |
| Southampton | 21 | 1992-93 | 6th | Premier League |
| Stoke | 10 | 2008-09 | 9th | Championship |
| Sunderland | 16 | 1996-97 | 7th | League One |
| Swansea | 7 | 2011-12 | 8th | Championship |
| Swindon | 1 | 1993-94 | 22nd | League Two |
| Tottenham | 28 | 1992-93 | 2nd | Premier League |
| Watford | 7 | 1999-00 | 11th | Premier League |
| West Brom | 12 | 2002-03 | 8th | Championship |
| West Ham | 24 | 1993-94 | 5th | Premier League |
| Wigan | 8 | 2005-06 | 10th | Championship |
| Wimbledon | 8 | 1992-93 | 6th | Defunct |
| Wolves | 6 | 2003-04 | 7th | Premier League |
How has the Premier League changed since its formation?
In its first season, the league included 22 teams: the top 19 sides from the previous season’s First Division, plus the top two and play-off winners from the Second Division.
Manchester United were the first Premier League winners, finishing 10 points clear of Aston Villa in second. Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest were the first teams to be relegated.
The 22-team structure remained until the 1995-96 season, when the league was reduced to 20 teams. Four sides were relegated in 1994-95, with only two being promoted.
Since the Premier League was formed, 49 clubs have played in it. Of those 49, only six - Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs – have played in the top flight every season.
And, while the Premier League may pride itself on its competitiveness, only six of the 49 clubs to have played in it have actually won it.
Arsenal, Blackburn, Chelsea, Leicester, Manchester City and Manchester United are the only six clubs to have won the Premier League, though Liverpool look likely to take that total to seven.
Three clubs – Barnsley, Blackpool and Swindon – have spent just one season in the Premier League; Swindon in 1993-94, Barnsley in 1997-98 and Blackpool in 2010-11.
The newest additions to the list are Brighton and Huddersfield, who were both promoted from the Championship in the 2016-17 season.