Premier League clubs unanimously approve 10-year EFL partnership proposal

Herz — Sport Desk · 30 July 2026 at 17:43 · 30s summary · 4 min read

What we know

On July 30, 2026, all 20 Premier League clubs voted unanimously for a funded strategic partnership with the English Football League. The EFL represents the 72 professional clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two, the three divisions below the Premier League. According to the BBC, the proposed agreement would run for 10 years and begin in the 2026/27 season.

The partnership is expected to be financed through a levy on player transfers. Each Premier League club would contribute a share of its transfer spending, with its contribution scaled proportionately to its income.

The Premier League has not disclosed an official value for the agreement. Sky News reported that it could be worth £1.5 billion over 10 years, a figure the Premier League has neither confirmed nor denied.

The proposal is due to be formally presented to EFL clubs for discussion and a vote in the days following the Premier League’s decision. Before the vote, the EFL board will examine the potential benefits and implications and assess whether the plan aligns with the long-term interests of its 72 members.

Why the proposal matters

The Independent Football Regulator, a statutory regulator established by the UK government, is monitoring the issue. The IFR has backstop powers to impose a binding financial settlement on the Premier League and the EFL if the two leagues cannot reach a voluntary agreement.

The Premier League already commits a record £1.6 billion every three years to the wider game and local communities.

A substantial financial gap separates the leagues. The Premier League receives approximately £3.84 billion a year in television income, while the EFL receives just over £1 billion across five years. On an annualised basis, the Premier League’s figure is roughly 13 times higher.

The funding dispute traces back to a UK government-commissioned review of football governance in 2021. That review followed crises including the failed European Super League proposal and the financial collapse of Bury FC, which was expelled from the professional leagues in August 2019.

In March 2024, UK government officials formally warned the Premier League that a financial settlement would be imposed if it failed to reach an agreement with the EFL, foreshadowing the IFR’s backstop powers.

Timeline

1. 2021
   The UK government commissions a review of English football governance after the failed European Super League proposal and the financial collapse of Bury FC.
2. UK government officials warn the Premier League that a financial agreement will be imposed if it cannot reach a deal with the EFL.