Arsenal have ended their 22-year wait. They are Premier League champions for the fourth time in their history — and for the first time since the iconic Invincibles campaign of 2003-04.
The title was confirmed with one game to spare, meaning the trophy presentation itself will take place at Selhurst Park on Sunday when Arsenal face Crystal Palace in their final match of the season. But what exactly do the champions receive? From the trophy itself to medals, money, golden badges, and European football, here is a full breakdown of everything that comes with winning the Premier League.
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The Premier League Trophy: The Rewards That Come With the Glory
The most recognisable reward of all. Arsenal will be presented with the Premier League Trophy, adorned in the club’s colours of red and white, at Selhurst Park after their final match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Ordinarily, champions receive the trophy at their final home match of the season. Because Arsenal were confirmed as champions after their last home fixture — the win over Burnley on Monday — the presentation will take place away from the Emirates.
The Trophy’s Design and Dimensions
The trophy is an imposing piece of silverware — and a heavy one.
| Premier League Trophy Specifications | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | 3ft 5in (104cm) |
| Width | 2ft (61cm) |
| Total weight | 4st (25.4kg) |
| Weight of engraved base | 2.5st (15.9kg) |
What the Lions Represent
The trophy’s design is based on the theme of “The Three Lions of English Football.” Two lions sit above the handles on either side of the trophy. When the captain of the title-winning side raises the trophy — and its gold crown — above his head at the end of the season, he becomes the third lion.
Is There More Than One Trophy?
There are actually two identical trophies, each with an engraved base detailing past Premier League champions. During the season, one stays with the reigning champions. The other is used by the Premier League itself. Champions are required to return their trophy to the league at least three weeks before their final match of the season.
Premier League Winners’ Medals
Alongside the trophy, Arsenal will receive Premier League winners’ medals — the tangible, personal reward for every player and member of staff who contributed to the title.
How Many Medals Are Awarded?
Under Rule C.13 of the Premier League Handbook, the champions receive 40 commemorative medals, made of silver and measuring 2.25 inches (5.7cm) in diameter.
The rule states that medals are “to be presented by the Club to its Manager and to such of its Players and Officials as it thinks fit, provided that any Player who has entered the field of play in a minimum of five of its League Matches that Season shall receive from the Club a commemorative medal.”
Additional medals beyond the standard 40 can only be awarded with the specific consent of the Premier League Board — and only if more than 39 players have appeared in at least five league matches across the season.
Does Winning the Premier League Come With Prize Money?
Unlike individual tournaments such as The Masters in golf or Wimbledon in tennis — where prize funds are awarded specifically for winning — there is no dedicated prize fund for being crowned Premier League champions.
Instead, clubs receive merit payments based on their final league position, calculated on a sliding scale from 1st to 20th. Arsenal, as champions, are set to receive 20 times the basic merit payment — the maximum possible. The club finishing second receives 19 times, the third-placed side 18 times, and so on down to 20th place.
Last season, each place was worth approximately an additional £2.6 million in merit payments. On that basis, champions Liverpool received £53.1 million in merit payments, while bottom club Southampton received £2.6 million.
| Merit Payment Structure (Based on Last Season’s Rates) | Times the Base Payment | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1st — Arsenal | 20x | ~£53.1 million |
| 2nd | 19x | ~£50.5 million |
| 20th | 1x | ~£2.6 million |
There are also likely to be significant commercial benefits from winning the title. Many commercial partners include bonus clauses in their agreements tied to major achievements, and Arsenal’s negotiating position for future sponsorship and partnership deals will be considerably strengthened as reigning champions.
It is worth noting, however, that success also brings costs. Players and staff frequently have contract clauses that include bonus payments triggered by winning the Premier League — meaning some of the financial reward flows back to those who earned it.
UEFA Champions League Qualification
Premier League champions are guaranteed a place in the following season’s UEFA Champions League — as are the other clubs finishing in the top five this season.
Usually, the top four finishers earn Champions League spots. For the past two seasons, however, the Premier League has earned an additional fifth place in the competition as a reward for English clubs’ collective progress in European football.
Arsenal are already planning for life back in the Champions League — this time as the domestic champions of England.
FA Community Shield
The Premier League champions also earn the right to participate in the FA Community Shield — English football’s traditional curtain-raiser to the new season — where they face the winners of the FA Cup.
Arsenal will face Manchester City on 16 August in Cardiff — a first opportunity for the champions to pick up another piece of silverware before the new season even gets underway in earnest.
The Golden Premier League Badge
Since the 2015-16 season, the Premier League champions have had the privilege of wearing a gold Premier League badge on their sleeves throughout the season in which they defend their title.
This will be the first time Arsenal have ever had the opportunity to wear the golden badge. Fans are already able to purchase next season’s kit with the badge already applied at the Arsenal club shop.
The sight of Arsenal players taking to the field in 2026-27 with that gold badge on their sleeves will be one of the most visible symbols of what this title means — and a constant reminder to opponents of exactly who they are facing.
The Wall of Champions: Writing History
By winning the Premier League title, Arsenal also write their name into permanent history on the Wall of Champions — a record of every club to have lifted the trophy since the competition’s formation in 1992.
Seven clubs appear on the Wall of Champions. Arsenal’s fourth title moves them into sole fourth place in the all-time standings, ahead of Liverpool on two titles and level with Chelsea on four — though Chelsea have now also won five.
| Premier League Titles — All-Time Records | Titles |
|---|---|
| Manchester United | 13 |
| Manchester City | 8 |
| Chelsea | 5 |
| Arsenal | 4 |
| Liverpool | 2 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 |
| Leicester City | 1 |
From record 13-time winners Manchester United to one-time champions Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City, the Wall of Champions is the definitive record of the Premier League era’s greatest achievements. Arsenal have added another chapter.
FAQs
Where will Arsenal receive the Premier League trophy?
Arsenal will receive the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park on Sunday after their final match against Crystal Palace, as they were confirmed champions after their last home game against Burnley.
How many winners’ medals do Arsenal receive?
The Premier League champions receive 40 commemorative silver medals, measuring 2.25 inches in diameter. Any player who has appeared in at least five league matches is entitled to receive one.
Do Arsenal receive prize money for winning the Premier League?
There is no specific prize fund for winning the Premier League title. Instead, Arsenal receive merit payments based on their first-place finish — approximately 20 times the base merit payment, worth around £53 million based on last season’s rates.
What is the golden badge that Arsenal will wear next season?
Since 2015-16, the Premier League champions wear a gold Premier League badge on their sleeves throughout the following season as defending champions. This will be the first time Arsenal have been entitled to wear it.
How many Premier League titles have Arsenal now won?
Arsenal’s 2025-26 title is their fourth Premier League championship, placing them fourth in the all-time list behind Manchester United (13), Manchester City (8), and Chelsea (5).
