Premier League Cristiano Ronaldo Pep Guardiola Manchester City United compositeGetty/Goal

What year did the Premier League start & which teams have played in it over the years?

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.

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Full list of clubs to have played in the Premier League

ClubSeasons in Premier LeagueDebut seasonHighest finishDivision in 2019-20
Arsenal281992-931stPremier League
Aston Villa251992-932ndPremier League
Barnsley11997-9819thChampionship
Birmingham72002-039thChampionship
Blackburn181992-931stChampionship
Blackpool12010-1119thLeague One
Bolton131995-966thLeague One
Bournemouth52015-169thPremier League
Bradford21999-0017thLeague Two
Brighton32017-1815thPremier League
Burnley62009-107thPremier League
Cardiff22013-1418thChampionship
Charlton81998-997thChampionship
Chelsea281992-931stPremier League
Coventry91992-9311thLeague One
Crystal Palace111992-9310thPremier League
Derby71996-978thChampionship
Everton281992-934thPremier League
Fulham142001-027thChampionship
Huddersfield22017-1816thChampionship
Hull52008-0916thChampionship
Ipswich51992-935thLeague One
Leeds121992-933rdChampionship
Leicester141994-951stPremier League
Liverpool281992-932ndPremier League
Manchester City231992-931stPremier League
Manchester United281992-931stPremier League
Middlesbrough151992-937thChampionship
Newcastle251993-942ndPremier League
Norwich91992-933rdPremier League
Nottingham Forest51992-933rdChampionship
Oldham21992-9319thLeague Two
Portsmouth72003-048thLeague One
QPR71992-935thChampionship
Reading32006-078thChampionship
Sheffield United41992-9314thPremier League
Sheffield Wednesday81992-937thChampionship
Southampton211992-936thPremier League
Stoke102008-099thChampionship
Sunderland161996-977thLeague One
Swansea72011-128thChampionship
Swindon11993-9422ndLeague Two
Tottenham281992-932ndPremier League
Watford71999-0011thPremier League
West Brom122002-038thChampionship
West Ham241993-945thPremier League
Wigan82005-0610thChampionship
Wimbledon81992-936thDefunct
Wolves62003-047thPremier 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.

Man Utd 1992-93Getty

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.

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