While the Football League is already in full swing, the big curtain raiser for lots of English football fans is just around the corner.
The Premier League season starts tomorrow, with Champions Liverpool facing AFC Bournemouth at 20:00pm.
Most pundits predict a more closely fought title race than last year, and at Bloomsbury Football Foundation we agree. The volume of quality on display is frightening, but what do you need to know? What clubs have won the transfer window? Who’s the most exciting young talent to watch?
Get up to speed ahead of the new season with our comprehensive Premier League 2025/26 preview.
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Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s squad have been the so-close-but-not-quite team in recent years. The players he’s brought in are a real statement of intent.
Martin Zubimendi joins Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to make a formidable midfield trio that rivals any other in the division.
Victor Gyokeres’ arrival from Sporting Lisbon comes after years of fans clamoring for a old-fashioned number nine. The expectation of the Swede’s shoulders will be enormous, and only time will tell if he was the missing piece of the puzzle.
Star Player: Bukayo Saka, Forward (England)
One to watch: Victor Gyokeres, Forward (Sweden)
Bloomsbury predicts: 4th – injuries to key players will hamper their campaign once again.
Aston Villa
Villa fans have been frustrated by their lack of spending in this summer’s transfer window – hindered by the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations that limit how much clubs can spend vs. how much money they make.
Last season’s big names, including Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, will need to step up again if they’re to maintain their ambitions of European football.
Star Player: Emi Martinez, Goalkeeper (Argentina)
One to watch: Evan Guessand, Forward (Ivory Coast)
Bloomsbury predicts: 6th – too little squad depth to crack the Champions League places.
Bournemouth
If you didn’t watch Bournemouth last season, you missed out. Andoni Iraola’s side were the neutrals’ favourites for their expansive, exciting football.
Their problem for 2025/26? Their amazing defence has been decimated – Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi and Kepa all departing – but thankfully they’ve made £150 million from those player sales.
The key will be trying to settle their new signings after a big summer of change.
Star Player: Antoine Semenyo, Forward (Ghana)
One to Watch: Djordje Petrovic, Goalkeeper (Serbia)
Bloomsbury predicts: 13th – they’ll struggle to replicate the defensive solidity with so much change.
Brentford
West London’s underdogs have far exceeded expectations since promotion to the Premier League four seasons ago.
But, that feels threatened this season – they’ve lost manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham, star man Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and captain Christian Norgaard to Arsenal.
We think they’ll need to keep hold of 20-goal-a-season forward Yoane Wissa and make additional signings to guarantee another year in the top flight.
Star Player: Yoane Wissa, Forward (DR Congo)
One to watch: Jordan Henderson, Midfielder (England)
Bloomsbury predicts: 15th – they’ll stay up, but not without difficulty.
Brighton and Hove Albion
The Seagulls stuttered under new manager Fabian Hurzeler in the early months last season before finishing the season strong.
Adopting their typical transfer policy of buying low and selling high (see Joao Pedro and Simon Adingra’s recent departures), the next generation of ballers you’ve never heard of are already arriving on the south coast.
Expect another solid season from Brighton (and James Milner possibly breaking the all-time appearances record, if he can get on-pitch 16 more times).
Star Player: Kaoru Mitoma, Forward (Japan)
One to watch: Charalambos Kostoulas, Forward (Greece)
Bloomsbury predicts: 10th – the definition of an established Premier League team.
Burnley
Straight back up to the Premier League under Scott Parker’s management, Burnley have spent big to ensure that they can try and compete in the top flight.
Incoming players include Chelsea pair Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu, as well as Sporting Lisbon’s Marcus Edwards.
Plus, they’ve signed veteran Kyle Walker to bolster last year’s imperious defence (which conceded only 16 goals in 46 Championship matches) – essential given they’ve lost keeper James Trafford to Manchester City.
Parker’s only goal will be avoiding relegation and becoming the newest yo-yo club.
Star Player: Zeki Amdouni, Forward (Switzerland)
One to watch: Kyle Walker, Defender (England)
Bloomsbury predicts: 20th – the drop beckons for Scott Parker and his men.
Chelsea
World Champions. That’s what Chelsea fans will use to underline their title credentials for next season.
Todd Boelhy’s seemingly unlimited spending may finally be creating a proper team – with new signings Liam Delap and Joao Pedro both impressing in the Club World Cup over the summer.
We expect that the defensive line will be the make or break for Chelsea. If the back five can match the excitement of their forwards, Maresca’s men will be knocking on the door of a league title.
Star Player: Cole Palmer, Midfielder (England)
One to Watch: Joao Pedro, Forward (Brazil)
Bloomsbury predicts: 3rd – Chelsea will be in the title conversation when May arrives.
Crystal Palace
Marc Guehi and friends followed up their first ever major title with another – Dean Henderson’s heroics securing a Community Shield to accompany the FA Cup victory from May.
Oliver Glasner’s squad are tried and tested, having changed very little from last campaign. Keeping hold of their stars like Ebere Eze and Jean Phillipe Mateta will determine their success this year, as well as whether they can manage the demands of the UEFA Conference League in tandem with League form.
Star Player: Eberechi Eze, Midfielder (England)
One to Watch: Daniel Munoz, Defender (Colombia)
Bloomsbury predicts: 11th – the challenges of Europe will prevent further progress.
Everton
This season is Everton’s first in the new Hill Dickinson Stadium – a feat of engineering on the banks of the River Mersey.
Fans have expressed annoyance in previous years about their team’s defensive mindset and at times turgid football. David Moyes’ return to the blue half of Liverpool reversed this trend, and signings like Thierno Barry and Jack Grealish will give supporters hope of a more optimistic campaign this year.
Star Player: Jordan Pickford, Goalkeeper (England)
One to Watch: Jack Grealish, Forward (England)
Bloomsbury predicts: 8th – changing fortunes for Everton this season.
Fulham
The most inspiring part of Fulham’s 24/25 campaign was the return to form of Raul Jimenez. 12 goals for the Mexican, he showed glimpses of his pre-injury excellence that we’ve not seen since his pre-injury days, and got them a strong mid-table finish.
Since, Marco Silva has had a quiet summer. No outfield players signed is matched by very few outgoings. Fans will hope that the core squad has enough talent and energy to improve on their mid table finish last time out.
Star Player: Alex Iwobi, Midfielder (England)
One to Watch: Joshua King, Midfielder (England)
Bloomsbury predicts: 14th – comfortable survivors but nothing more.
Leeds United
Leeds looked set to rejoin the Premier League as early as Christmas, Daniel Farke is facing a squad rebuild for a third time in as many seasons.
Fans are confident that the Bielsa-ball defensive chaos, that saw them ship 157 goals across their last two seasons in the top flight, is gone – but it’s replaced by fears of a lack of clinical finishing up front.
Star Player: Wilifried Gnonto, Forward (Italy)
One to Watch: Gabriel Gudmundsson, Defender (Sweden)
Bloomsbury predicts: 16th – goals will dry up but they’ll just cling on for another season.
Liverpool
The reigning champions will have only one objective – to retain the Premier League title.
Liverpool have spent big in the transfer window. New arrivals include German wunderkind Florian Wirtz and his former Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong, as well as Milos Kerkez and Hugo Etikite.
Arne Slot will not be too disappointed that his new look side lost to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, especially if the rumoured transfer of Alexander Isak gets over the line.
Star Player: Mohammed Salah, Forward (Egypt)
One to Watch: Florian Wirtz, Midfielder (Germany)
Bloomsbury predicts: 1st – back-to-back is on the cards.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is not used to losing. Last season evidently frustrated the Spaniard, City not appearing the well-oiled machine we’ve been accustomed to in recent seasons.
The solution? A summer overhaul. Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne gone. Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tiijani Reijnders in.
Most interesting is the arrival of Pep Lijnders in the dugout, former assistant coach of Jurgen Klopp. The sign of Guardiola learning from his foes and adapting his style to beat a new look Liverpool?
Star Player: Erling Haaland, Forward (Norway)
One to Watch: Tijjani Reinders, Midfielder (Netherlands)
Bloomsbury predicts: 2nd – expect Pep’s side to push Liverpool all the way.
Manchester United
A catastrophic 2024/25 season for United was partially covered up by an improbable run to the final of the Europa League Final, which itself ultimately ended in disappointment.
The pre-season murmurings from the United camp have been positive, though. Perceived troublemakers have been replaced by players that fit Ruben Amorim’s rigid 3-4-3 formation. A new look front three of mercurial talents Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko could make all the difference, even if defensive frailties remain.
Star Player: Bruno Fernandes, Midfielder (Portugal)
One to Watch: Matheus Cunha, Forward (Brazil)
Bloomsbury predicts: 5th – back competing with the big clubs after years in the wilderness.
Newcastle United
There’s hope Newcastle fans, the transfer window is almost over! It’s been a painful summer for the Toon as rumoured targets have fallen through left right and centre – including Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike.
That’s ignoring the transfer saga of the summer – whether Alexander Isak will join Liverpool for a whopping £150 million. The mood is bad around St. James’ Park and Anthony Elanga’s arrival hasn’t done anything to mitigate that.
Expect a tough Autumn for Newcastle.
Star Player: Bruno Guimaraes, Midfielder (Brazil)
One to Watch: Tino Livramento, Defender (England)
Bloomsbury predicts: 9th – a challenging season awaits.
Nottingham Forest
We’re not sure we’ve seen a confirmed transfer that’s then been reversed before. But then again, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis does do things differently.
Morgan Gibbs-White looked to have confirmed his transfer to Spurs before the owner got involved and surprised many by announcing the Englishman had signed a new long-term deal.
You’ll always get fireworks at the City Ground – but this off-pitch attention, coupled with managing player minutes in the Europa League, will likely mean Forest will struggle more in the league than last year.
Star Player: Morgan Gibbs-White, Midfielder (England)
One to Watch: Nikola Milenkovic, Defender (Serbia)
Bloomsbury predicts: 12th – back to reality after flying high last season.
Sunderland
Life is always tough for the team that arrives in the Premier League via the playoffs. Sunderland’s strategy to fight those nerves has been to spend and spend some more.
Of the 10 signings they’ve made, totalling well over £150 million, former Arsenal man and Leverkusen Invincible Granit Xhaka is the standout. His no nonsense attitude and experience will win many new fans in the North East – if he can keep his cool, he could lead this team of young talents to great things.
Star Player: Granit Xhaka, Midfielder (Switzerland)
One to Watch: Simon Adingra, Forward (Ivory Coast)
Bloomsbury predicts: 17th – by the skin of their teeth, they’ll stay a Premier League club.
Tottenham Hotspur
Win the Europa League, end a club’s infamous trophy drought, get sacked. That was the tough reality for Ange Postecoglou following the conclusion of last season.
Few Ange lovers would argue, though, that his all-guns-blazing approach was catastrophic in the Premier League. Thomas Frank will bring a pragmatism to North London not seen for two years, and inevitably a higher finish than 17th beckons.
On their day, Spurs can contest with anyone – as they did for 85 minutes with PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. Finding consistency will be key.
Star Player: Cristian Romero, Defender (Argentina)
One to Watch: Mohammed Kudus, Forward (Ghana)
Bloomsbury predicts: 7th – a successful start to the Thomas Frank rebuild.
West Ham United
Might this be the last gasp for the Hammers? Two seasons ago, the Hammers were winning European trophies – now there’s genuine concern among the fanbase that the club could be in trouble.
With Mohammed Kudus, Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio and Kurt Zouma among the many departures, West Ham lack depth and firepower, and cannot rely again on Jarrod Bowen to drag them out of a relegation battle.
Star Player: Jarrod Bowen, Forward (England)
One to Watch: Crysencio Summerville, Forward (Netherlands)
Bloomsbury predicts: 19th – we expect a managerial merry-go-round and a relegation disaster.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Losing two of your best players would damage any squad. Wolves face that reality for this term, now that Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha have moved on.
Vitor Pereira got the best out of an ailing squad in the second half of last season, but could struggle to produce the same results now that those talents are no longer at his disposal. One for the drop? It’s certainly a possibility.
Star Player: Joao Gomes, Midfielder (Brazil)
One to Watch: Jorgen Strand Larsen, Forward (Norway)
Bloomsbury predicts: 18th – three teams have to go down, Wolves are the third.
What do you make of our predictions? Agree or disagree? Either way, we hope that you feel more prepared for the new Premier League Season. We can’t wait to see you again on the pitch! 💥