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In a significant shift in the sports collectibles industry, Fanatics will regain the licensing rights to produce trading cards and stickers for the Premier League, the pinnacle of professional soccer, starting from the 2025/26 season. This acquisition comes five years after Fanatics lost the license to Panini, who will continue its agreement with the league until May 2025.

Fanatics, which acquired the iconic Topps brand in January 2022, currently holds rights to several major sports leagues and events, including the NBA, NFL, UFC, and Formula 1, as well as the Bundesliga and UEFA Club Competitions. This new deal with the Premier League is poised to significantly bolster Fanatics' portfolio, particularly enhancing its footprint in the European market.

The Premier League, home to six of the world's ten most valuable soccer clubs, has a global fanbase, enhancing the potential impact of this partnership. Premier League Chief Commercial Officer Will Brass expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting Fanatics' commitment to innovation and its track record in enhancing fan engagement through collectibles.

David Leiner, President of Trading Cards at Fanatics Collectibles, shared with ESPN the company's strategy to expand the trading card segment in Europe, a region traditionally dominated by sticker collecting. Leiner highlighted the Premier League's interest in Fanatics' approach not only to collectibles but also in how the company has been managing player relationships, citing partnerships with athletes like Tom Brady and Ronald Acuna Jr.

Additionally, Fanatics maintains e-commerce and licensed apparel partnerships with The FA and several Premier League clubs, integrating deeper into the fabric of English football. This new agreement promises to reshape the collectibles landscape, offering fans across the globe a more immersive and extensive collecting experience starting in the 2025/26 season.