All 20 teams that will compete in the 2026/27 Premier League season have now had plenty of time to navigate the transfer market and shape their squads. Naturally, the first thing fans look for each summer is the star names signed – and, just as importantly, those who have been moved on or forced their way out.

For neutrals, however, judging a team’s chances solely by the name on the back of the shirt can be something of a fool’s errand. Indeed, Arsenal are the favourites to retain the title according to the Supercomputer, while Chelsea and Tottenham – having splashed out the most on net spend so far – will be hoping for much-improved campaigns.

That said, experience and top-flight know-how can often be another overlooked but useful yardstick for success. There is a caveat, though: younger squads can play with a freedom and fearlessness that sometimes catches more seasoned opponents off guard. With that in mind, and thanks to Transfermarkt (via Tribuna), every squad has been ranked from oldest to youngest – and the results are interesting.

20-16

Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

The oldest squad in the Premier League as things stand is Fulham, who look set to need all the experience they can get if they are to avoid slipping down the table towards the relegation zone. The departures of long-term manager and goalscorer Marco Silva and Harry Wilson have already seen Jeff Stelling predict that they are doomed to go down.

Their average age of 27.5 just about edges out last season’s Championship play-off winners Hull City (27.4), Leeds United (27.2) and Ipswich Town (27.1).

Aston Villa, who won the Europa League, have the fifth-oldest squad, with Emiliano Martinez, John McGinn and Tyrone Mings among their more seasoned players, while Ollie Watkins is no longer the young striker he once was at 30.

15-11

In 15th, and therefore around the mid-table mark, are Coventry City, who will be hoping Frank Lampard can finally prove his Premier League management credentials this time around by avoiding relegation.

Sunderland are next, with their squad age of 26.3 reflecting a group that has constantly changed over the last 18 months. The hierarchy have given their full backing to manager Regis Le Bris, allowing a turnover of more than 20 players during that time.

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, who have been locked in an unlikely rivalry over the course of the last season after their battles over Europa League qualification – as well as Evangelos Marinakis hiring Oliver Glasner and then suing the Eagles’ fanbase over a banner at a match last season – are level on a squad age of 26.2. Everton, meanwhile, have an average age of 26.1, placing them just outside the top 10.

10-6

After going 22 years without winning a league title, it would seem Mikel Arteta is now at a point in his Arsenal tenure where he has struck the perfect balance between youth and experience to continue building a dynasty after last season’s league triumph. An average age of just shy of 26 means most of their players are entering their prime years, with the signing of Bruno Guimaraes only strengthening that balance.

Manchester United have the same average age, with Michael Carrick now expected to build on a third-placed finish, while Tottenham (25.7) are tipped to undergo a huge transformation under Roberto De Zerbi after spending more than £330 million in the transfer window to ensure they are not operating precariously above the dotted line.

Newcastle (25.6) and Liverpool (25.5) round out this section. With 10 players aged 23 or under, the Magpies continue to let go of their star players while they are still in their prime, meaning they could be left thin on the ground next season and need to put their faith in youth to keep the squad fresh. Liverpool’s sixth-youngest squad, meanwhile, could prove to be a strength for Andoni Iraola, with his high-pressing attacking system reliant on high energy rather than the experience needed to grind out results.

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5-1

Chelsea’s Danny Welbeck via REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Despite signing both Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck to try to bring their squad age up, Chelsea still have the youngest squad by some distance. Todd Boehly continues to pump money into youth, which often backfires as the Blues are then forced to pay huge amounts to either capture players from rival clubs or re-purchase academy players they had previously sold.

Their average age of 24.1 is nearly a year younger than second-placed Brentford, while Brighton’s youthful approach isn’t exclusive to a never-ending conveyor belt of academy prospects and a well-functioning scouting system reliant on statistical databases, but also manager Fabian Hurzeler – the Premier League’s youngest-ever boss, who is still only 33.

Manchester City (25.3) have only three players over the age of 30, which could work for or against them in life after Pep Guardiola. Rodri is by far their best leader, but he looks set for a move to Spain, with Ruben Dias next in line to prove his senior capabilities. Elsewhere, Bournemouth rank fifth and are also going through a transition period with new manager Marco Rose.

The UFC has continued to trim the fat from its organisation, cutting a myriad of veteran fighters from its roster.

With Dana White‘s Contender Series having started up just days ago on the 11th of August, a brand-new crop of aspiring stars will be attempting to find their place on the MMA ladder, which has led to the need to create space for its latest crop of talent.

According to UFC Roster Watch, which keeps track of additions and removals to the UFC fighter roster, the world’s leading MMA promotion has removed several fighters from its roster in the past few days.

Some of these fighters have struggled in the Octagon, while others have not competed for an extended period of time or have chosen to move on entirely.

According to the account, six fighters have been cut from the organisation.

The Six Fighters Cut From the UFC

Ron Chenoy via Imagn Images

To start with, Hailey Cowan is just a formality following her retirement from MMA. The 34-year-old had never truly broken into the UFC, with the American fighter retiring from the sport with a 0-4 record.

Next on the cutting block is Bekzat Almakhan. The cutting of the Kazakhstani fighter should also not come as too much of a surprise for anyone, with the 28-year-old going 1-3 in his four UFC fights. Seeing as most UFC contracts are four fights, his time in the organisation was up.

Almakhan did fight some tough opponents, however, with his opponents’ average Elo rating being 2861. With a bit of luck and a few winning fights outside of the UFC, he may get another shot at stardom.

Cody Gibson is the most seasoned fighter on this list. With a record of 3-8, the veteran American’s bout against Canada’s Brad Katona back in 2023 was awarded Fight of the Night.

The American is now 38 years of age, and is on a three-fight losing streak, so it is no surprise that he has been cut from the organisation.

One that may be a surprise at first look is China’s Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. The 5ft 8in star had a 3-3 record, winning one of his fights as an underdog. But, despite his equal record, he had not fought since the 15th of June 2024, when he lost to Brazilian fighter Melquizael Costa. There were also reports that he wanted to leave the UFC.

Stewart Nicoll may have felt hard done by, but when your record is 0-4 in a professional fighting institution, you will always be at risk of getting cut. The Solomon Islands/Australian fighter was handed some tough opponents – an average opponent Elo of 2665 – and it is unlikely that we will see him back in the organisation.

Last on the list is Jessie Rosas.

Out of all six fighters on the list, Rosas is the most undeserved.

The Mexican MMA star has a record of 8-1 outside of the UFC, and when finally given a chance to star in the foremost MMA promotion, a cut on his head forced him to withdraw from his UFC debut due to doctors’ orders.

The 23-year-old was expected to face off against Miles John on the 8th of August, but just hours before he would finally grace the eminent Octagon, he was forced to withdraw.

While Rosas was removed from the roster, he never got to show what he was truly made of. With a bit of luck and keeping on the UFC’s good graces, it is likely we will see him in the Octagon in the near future.

UEFA’s new plans to remove Gianni Infantino from his role as FIFA president have emerged this week, with the sixth and final confederation now issuing a statement about the 2026 World Cup’s arch villain.

It has long been known that Aleksander Ceferin and some of Europe’s biggest football powers – such as England and Germany – have wanted the Swiss millionaire removed from his position following a failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

But with a FIFA meeting concluding that Infantino will hold on to power until March’s important election adjudges otherwise, the 56-year-old’s position is safe for now. Nations have withdrawn written support, while UEFA have looked at other candidates they could put forward.

As progress on getting the 56-year-old out of office has stalled in recent weeks, seemingly seeing the conversation around the World Cup die down, the confederation has now drawn up new ideas to get their plan back up and running.

UEFA’s Two New Ideas For Changing FIFA’s Leadership Revealed

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Senior figures from European football convened in Salzburg this week for a series of pivotal discussions over the FIFA governance crisis, with the UEFA Super Cup providing the backdrop for high-level diplomacy. UEFA president Ceferin and European Football Clubs chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi were photographed together as the latter’s Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday evening.

From the meeting, as per GOAL, it has emerged that UEFA’s ambitions extend well beyond simply changing the personnel at the top of FIFA. The European body is exploring a fundamental reimagining of the presidency itself.

One proposal would see the role rotated between the continental confederations, mirroring models used by multinational institutions such as the European Union. This would ensure no future occupant could amass the level of authority wielded by Infantino or his predecessors.

An alternative under consideration would abolish the presidential title altogether, replacing it with a chairman of the board supported by multiple vice-chairs, in an effort to strengthen institutional oversight. Both options would be backed by a significantly enhanced administrative apparatus, functioning along similar lines of a civil service.

UEFA also favours a clear separation of FIFA’s commercial, operational and regulatory functions – a direct rebuke to Infantino’s drive to consolidate those divisions under a partly privatised subsidiary.

Oceania Issue Statement Revealing Gianni Infantino Stance

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

The OFC, football’s smallest confederation with 11 full members, has said the region had benefited from FIFA’s leadership after discussing the private investment plan at a meeting on Wednesday, revealing their support for the current president.

“The OFC Executive Committee welcomes FIFA’s decision to withdraw the FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise) proposal and its commitment to review the issues surrounding the project,” the OFC said in a statement, as per The Standard.

However, New Zealand, the only Oceania nation to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, said it had withdrawn support for Infantino’s reelection bid at next year’s FIFA Congress (as seen above). “In addition, NZF (New Zealand Football) is also seeking an independent review of the steps undertaken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme,” it said.

“After careful consideration, NZF has formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.”