The Premier League season is over, and while the final day failed to deliver the drama that many fans have been used to in recent years, the table finished largely as it was going into the final matches of the season.
Arsenal were already confirmed as champions, the European places had settled, and the only real movement at the top end of the table would have required a series of results that would’ve defied all the odds.
The one story that had any hope of producing drama was in the battle for survival. With Wolves and Burnley already doomed to the Championship weeks ago, West Ham needed to win and hope Tottenham slipped up at home to Everton in order to move out of 18th place.
The Hammers did their part, beating Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium. But Joao Palhinha’s goal was enough to give Spurs a 1-0 win over Everton, and in doing so confirmed West Ham’s relegation. It was a painful end to a difficult season for a club that lifted the Europa Conference League just three years ago.
With the final positions now confirmed, all 20 clubs will receive their share of the Premier League’s merit prize money, distributed based on where they finish in the table.
20-16
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest
Wolves finished bottom of the pile, collecting just £2.7 million in merit prize money, a figure that highlights the financial devastation that accompanies relegation. Wolves themselves have had serious financial issues in recent years, with a need to sell their best players year-on-year, without replacing them, a key reason for their drop to the Championship.
Burnley join them in the bottom two on £5.4 million, while West Ham, whose relegation was the last to be confirmed, receive just £8.1 million.
Tottenham, who survived by the skin of their teeth, take home £10.8 million, a figure that their fans will hardly care for given how priceless Premier League survival is. Europa League semi-finalists, Nottingham Forest, round out the bottom five with £13.5 million.
2025/26 Premier League Prize Money – 20-16
Rank
Team
Money
20th
Wolverhampton Wanderers
£2.7m
19th
Burnley
£5.4m
18th
West Ham United
£8.1m
17th
Tottenham
£10.8m
16th
Nottingham Forest
£13.5m
15-11
Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Fulham
Crystal Palace occupy 15th, collecting £16.2 million, with the Europa Conference League final to look forward to as some consolation for a modest league campaign and what will be Oliver Glasner’s last match in charge of the Eagles.
Leeds United, in their first season back in the top-flight after promotion, take home £18.9 million for 14th, a respectable return for a newly promoted side finding their feet again at the top level. Everton scooped £21.6 million for 13th, completing their first ever Premier League season away from Goodison Park.
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Newcastle’s £24.3 million return for a 12th-place finish will make for uncomfortable reading at St James’ Park. Given their ambitions and investment that’ve gone into the club in recent years, Eddie Howe is now facing calls for his sacking, and many of their top players are linked with moves away. Fulham round out the group with £27 million for an 11th-place finish.
2025/26 Premier League Prize Money – 15-11
Rank
Team
Money
15th
Crystal Palace
£16.2m
14th
Leeds United
£18.9m
13th
Everton
£21.6m
12th
Newcastle United
£24.3m
11th
Fulham
£27m
10-6
Chelsea, Brentford, Brighton, Sunderland, Bournemouth
Chelsea’s 10th-place finish, their second-worst in the Premier League, and £29.7 million payout represent another disappointing return for the reigning Club World Cup champions. They’ve spent mind-blowing sums of money in recent transfer windows, but Xabi Alonso will have to make do with taking over a club with a smaller budget in the summer, with European football and the revenue that comes with it now out of the window.
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Brentford’s £32.4 million for ninth reflects another solid season from a club consistently punching above their weight. Brighton collected £35.1 million for eighth, while Sunderland’s seventh-place finish and £37.8 million payout is the success story of this section, back in the Premier League for the first time in years and finishing higher than anyone would’ve predicted.
Bournemouth finished sixth and grabbed £40.5 million, another remarkable season from a club that continues to exceed expectations, but they’ll go into next season and their first-ever European campaign with Marco Rose in charge, who replaces Andoni Iraola, who’s heavily tipped to take the Newcastle job if Eddie Howe is given his marching orders.
2025/26 Premier League Prize Money – 10-6
Rank
Team
Money
10th
Chelsea
£29.7m
9th
Brentford
£32.4m
8th
Brighton
£35.1m
7th
Sunderland
£37.8m
6th
Bournemouth
£40.5m
5-1
Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal
Liverpool’s fifth-place finish yields £43.2 million, though the mood at Anfield will be one of reflection rather than celebration, given the standards they’d set in recent seasons. Mohamed Salah has played his final match for the Reds and they will need to try and restore their challenge at the very top of the league without their all-time highest scorer in the Premier League.
Europa League champions Aston Villa collect £45.9 million for fourth place, securing Champions League football for a second time in three seasons. Manchester United’s third-place finish under Michael Carrick earns them £48.6 million and a Champions League spot, a significant turnaround from earlier in the season under Ruben Amorim. United’s Bruno Fernandes made history on the final day, taking the all-time assist record for himself and earning Premier League Player of the Season honours.
Manchester City take £51.3 million for second. Despite winning an FA Cup and League Cup double, the Premier League title was the one City fans would have wanted to win before waving goodbye to Pep Guardiola.
And Arsenal, the champions, collect the maximum merit prize money of £54 million, a fitting financial reward for a title-winning season that ended a 22-year wait. It could yet get better and more lucrative for the Gunners, who’ll play in the Champions League final against PSG a week after lifting the trophy.
2025/26 Premier League Prize Money – 5-1
Rank
Team
Money
5th
Liverpool
£43.2m
4th
Aston Villa
£45.9m
3rd
Manchester United
£48.6m
2nd
Manchester City
£51.3m
1st
Arsenal
£54m