The Premier League Trophy is the top prize in English football. The Premier League awards it to the team that finishes first after 38 matches. You can also see the complete Premier League Winners list to discover every club that has lifted the trophy.
People around the world focus on the trophy because of its design, materials, and weight. It uses sterling silver, a malachite base, and gold details. Fans also show interest in how heavy it is and how it feels to lift. Its design and size make it one of the most recognisable trophies in world sport.
This article explains its history, structure, and meaning. It covers how the Premier League created the trophy in 1992, how designers built it, and how its design reflects English football tradition.
Premier League Trophy History
EPL Trophy Meaning And Role In English Football
The Premier League trophy represents the highest achievement in English domestic football. The winner is the club that finishes first in the Premier League after 38 matches. The league structure rewards consistency across the season.
It is the main domestic prize in English football. Clubs win it through league performance, not knockout rounds. Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool use league titles to define success.
A gold crown sits on top to mark the champion. The lions on the design reflect the Three Lions identity of English football.
Premier League Formation And Trophy Creation In 1992
The Premier League was formed in 1992 when top English clubs left the Football League First Division. They aimed to modernise the game, grow revenue, and expand global broadcasting. The league’s commercial success has also helped many clubs become some of the richest Premier League clubs in world football.
Designers created the trophy before the 1992–93 season. British silversmiths built it in sterling silver with a silver-gilt finish. It includes a gold crown, a malachite base, and an engraved plinth. The trophy stands over one metre tall and weighs about 25 kilograms.
Premier League Trophy Design Evolution And Global Status
The original 1992 design used an ornate style. Later refinements created a cleaner, modern look.
Design evolution:
- 1992–2000: ornate design
- 2000–2008: refinement phase
- 2008–present: modern design
The trophy still uses the crown and lions as core symbols.
The Premier League trophy now holds global recognition. The league reaches worldwide audiences through broadcast coverage and international fan bases. Players and managers from many countries also strengthen their global profile.
The trophy now represents elite club football worldwide. Alongside the FIFA World Cup Trophy, it has become one of the most recognised trophies in football.
EPL Trophy Design
The trophy design combines English heraldry, silversmith craft, and football symbolism. Designers build it in sterling silver with gold details and a green malachite base. The design reflects prestige and English football tradition.
Crown Symbolism And English Heritage Influence
The designers place a gold crown at the top to show authority and victory. It links to English royal symbolism and the “Three Lions” football identity. Two lions sit above the handles, while the third appears when the captain lifts the trophy.
Two Handles And Balanced Structure
The trophy uses a twin-handle “loving cup” design. This shape improves balance and makes lifting easier for captains.
Designers attach coloured ribbons to both handles. They update them each season with the winning club’s colours. This connects past champions with current success and highlights team achievement.
Green Enamel Band And Decorative Detailing
The base features a polished green malachite band that represents the football pitch. Designers choose this material to ground the trophy in the sport.
A silver band around the base carries engraved names of all Premier League winners since 1992. Engraved lions and refined metalwork strengthen the design and ensure durability.
Shape And Visual Identity
The trophy has a tall cup shape with a wide base and tapered top. It stands about 104 cm high and weighs over 25 kg.
Designers prioritise visibility during broadcasts and stadium celebrations. The silver body, gold crown, and green base create a strong visual identity recognised worldwide.
Who Designed The Premier League Trophy
British silversmiths designed the Premier League trophy through a collaboration between Garrard & Co and Asprey London. Trevor Brown and Paul Marsden contribute to its development.
The EPL trophy does not come from a single designer. A team of British silversmiths and designers creates its final form. Asprey London produces it using traditional silversmith methods and modern precision tools.
Premier League Trophy Materials and Weight
What Is the Premier League Trophy Made Of?
If you are asking what the trophy is made of, the answer is sterling silver, gold-plated silver and malachite.
Skilled silversmiths make the trophy’s main body from sterling silver (.925 silver), which contains 92.5% pure silver. They finish it with a 24-carat gold-plated crown and mount it on a solid green malachite base.
The trophy includes:
- Sterling silver body
- 24-carat gold-plated (silver-gilt) crown
- Green malachite base
- Silver band engraved with every Premier League champion
Sterling Silver and Gold-Plated Elements Explained
The trophy is not made from solid gold.
Manufacturers use sterling silver because it is strong, durable and easy to polish. It keeps its appearance even after years of lifting, travelling and engraving.
They coat the crown with 24-carat gold to give it its famous finish. This process creates the look of solid gold while keeping the trophy practical and durable.
The design also has symbolic meaning. The two lions on the handles represent two of the Three Lions, while the winning captain becomes the third lion by lifting the trophy. The golden crown represents the champions of English football.
Why These Materials Were Chosen
The Premier League chose these materials for strength, quality and tradition.
Sterling silver lasts for decades and allows engravers to add each new champion without damaging the trophy. The gold-plated crown gives the trophy its distinctive appearance, while the malachite base adds stability and reflects the green of a football pitch.
Premier League Trophy Weight and Physical Handling
The official EPL trophy weight is 25.4 kg (56 lb or four stone).
| Specification | Measurement |
| Height | 104 cm (3 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 61 cm (2 ft) |
| Premier League trophy weight | 25.4 kg (56 lb) |
| Base weight | 15.9 kg (35 lb) |
The heavy malachite base accounts for more than half of the total weight. Players need both hands to lift the trophy, and many pass it between teammates during celebrations.
The Premier League keeps two identical trophies. The reigning champions hold the original during the season, while officials use the second trophy if the title race finishes on the final day.
Premier League Trophy Engraving and Presentation
How Winners’ Names Are Added
The trophy engraving process begins after a club mathematically wins the title. Skilled craftsmen hand engrave the champions’ name onto the solid malachite base of the official trophy. They match the lettering used for previous winners, creating a continuous record of every Premier League champion since 1992.
The Premier League still uses traditional hand engraving instead of laser technology. The malachite base weighs about 15.9kg (35lb). In May 2026, the league released footage showing Arsenal’s name being engraved after the club ended its 22-year wait for the league title.
When Premier League Trophy Engraving Takes Place
Officials begin the EPL trophy engraving process only after the title race is over. They never engrave the trophy while another club can still finish first.
If the champions secure the title before the final weekend, engravers complete the work before the presentation ceremony. If the race goes to the final day, the Premier League prepares two identical official trophies. Officials place one at each possible title venue so the winners receive the trophy immediately after the final whistle.
Premier League Trophy Presentation Ceremony
The Premier League usually presents the trophy after the champions’ final match of the season. If the club has already won the title before its last home fixture, the ceremony normally takes place at that stadium.
The league can change the venue when the fixture list requires it. Arsenal won the 2025–26 title after its final home match, so the Premier League presented the trophy after the club’s final away game against Crystal Palace.
Players received their winners’ medals before the captain lifted the trophy, decorated with ribbons in the club’s colours. Winning the league also brings significant financial rewards through Premier League prize money.
Premier League Replica Trophies
The Premier League keeps two identical official trophies. This system allows the league to cover every possible result on the final day.
The reigning champions hold one trophy during the season, while the Premier League keeps the other. Clubs must return the official trophy at least three weeks before the final match of the following season. Most champions then display a high-quality replica in their museum or trophy cabinet, while the league keeps the official trophies for future presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Premier League Trophy?
The Premier League gives the trophy to the club that finishes first in the league each season.
What is the Premier League Trophy made of?
Craftsmen make the EPL Trophy from sterling silver, silver gilt, a malachite base, and a gold crown.
How much does the Premier League Trophy weigh?
The full Premier League Trophy weighs about 25.4 kg (56 lbs).
How heavy is the Premier League Trophy?
The trophy weighs about 9.5 kg (21 lbs). Its malachite base weighs about 15.9 kg (35 lbs).
Who keeps the trophy permanently?
No club keeps the original Premier League Trophy forever. The champions return it before the end of the next season.
Do players get to keep the trophy?
No. Players receive winners’ medals, and the winning club receives a full-size replica of the trophy.
How many trophies exist for presentation?
The Premier League keeps two identical official trophies. This allows organisers to present the trophy at different stadiums if needed.
When is the EPL Trophy awarded?
The Premier League usually presents the trophy after the champions play their final home league match.
Has any club kept the original trophy?
No. The Premier League has never allowed any club to keep the original trophy permanently.
Conclusion
The Premier League Trophy is the biggest prize in English football. Its Three Lions design, sterling silver body, gold crown, 25.4 kg weight, and green malachite base make it one of the most famous trophies in the game. Since 1992, it has marked the team that finishes at the top of the Premier League.
Today, it stands as one of the most recognised and respected trophies in world sport. To see every club that has won the title since 1992, read our complete Premier League Winners List.