Bournemouth's European Fairytale: A Premier League Power Shift
For Bournemouth fans, the current season feels like a dream come true.
On Thursday night, the Cherries pulled off a stunning 3-0 win against the renowned AC Milan in just their third European match ever. Justin Kluivert, son of legendary striker Patrick Kluivert, netted the first goal at Vitality Stadium—31 years after his father scored the decisive goal for Ajax in the Champions League final against the same Italian giants.
Reflecting on this surreal journey, Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie told TNT Sports, "It's mega. In terms of the story of the club, it's ridiculous. Someone reminded me today that 15 years ago, we were sitting 17th in League One, so to be here now is pretty incredible."
The night took a bizarre turn when Milan's goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, was sent off just 27 minutes in, but before that, Bournemouth clearly looked the stronger side. It’s remarkable considering their shaky start in the Premier League this season, having garnered only six points from seven matches, while Milan sits comfortably in fourth place in Serie A.
Bournemouth's victories over Real Sociedad, Sturm Graz, and now Milan—teams with recent Champions League experience—paint a picture of a fairy tale unfolding. But for the rest of Europe, it raises an unsettling question: is the Premier League becoming a nightmare for its continental rivals?
Just five months after a missed penalty from Arsenal prevented a clean sweep of European titles for English clubs, Bournemouth's triumph signals the growing dominance of English teams on the continent.
This week, Premier League clubs played nine European matches and lost only once. Overall, they've dropped just four out of 26 games across the Europa League and Conference League this season, with Manchester United accounting for half of those defeats.
In the last five seasons since the Conference League began, no league has managed to win all three major competitions. However, English clubs have consistently excelled, claiming two titles in three separate years. Notably, they have won all 21 knockout ties against non-English teams in the past two seasons.
Despite this impressive record, the Champions League has proven elusive, with Manchester City being the only English side to lift the trophy in the last five years.
So, what’s fueling this success in the Europa League and Conference League, while the Champions League remains out of reach? A glance at the financial landscape reveals much.
Fifteen of last season's Premier League teams ranked in the top 30 of Deloitte's Money List for 2026, underscoring the financial clout of English clubs in European competitions. With over £1.37 billion earned annually from TV rights, the Premier League's financial power dwarfs that of La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 combined.
This season, Brighton stands as the wealthiest club in the Conference League, while Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also in the top 30. Last season, Aston Villa triumphed in the Europa League final, boasting revenues that were more than double those of their opponent, Freiburg.
Similarly, Crystal Palace's Conference League win came against Rayo Vallecano, with revenues almost four times higher than the Spanish side. In 2025, Tottenham claimed the Europa League title while finishing 17th in the Premier League, and West Ham secured the Conference League despite finishing 14th last season.
The financial backing and collective strength of the Premier League is evident. When you set aside the continent's wealthiest clubs, English teams dominate the field.
The summer transfer window showcased this further, with English clubs breaking transfer spending records at £3.49 billion, outpacing their European rivals. Of the 20 most expensive transfers, only six involved clubs outside the Premier League.
Wages in England are generally higher, making it a more attractive destination for top talent from across Europe. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire noted that aside from a few global giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Premier League can outspend most clubs.
Even with the recent successes in the Europa League and Conference League, the Champions League poses a greater challenge. While English teams have triumphed over top clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the group stages, they’ve faltered in crucial knockout rounds. Last season, Chelsea, City, Newcastle, and Liverpool faced aggregate defeats from these top European teams.
In fact, no English club made it to the top four of Deloitte's Money List, as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and PSG led the rankings. Between them, these clubs have lifted the Champions League trophy five times in the last seven years. English clubs are certainly competitive in the Champions League, but the path to glory remains steep.
