Collector Club
Panini has announced a landmark multi-year partnership with the English Football League (EFL), marking the return of official EFL trading cards and stickers for the first time in nearly two decades.
Starting from the 2025/26 season, this collaboration will encompass all 72 clubs across the Championship, League One, and League Two, offering fans a comprehensive collecting experience.
A brand-new era for EFL collectibles
This partnership introduces the first-ever EFL hobby trading cards, featuring player autographs and memorabilia, providing collectors with unique and personal connections to their favourite clubs and players. In addition to trading cards, Panini will produce a range of stickers and associated memorabilia, celebrating the rich history and culture of the 72 EFL football clubs.
The initiative aims to strike at the heart of football fan culture, offering a unique opportunity for supporters to engage with their clubs in a new and exciting way. By bringing together all 72 EFL clubs under one collectible umbrella, Panini and the EFL are set to create a unified and comprehensive collection that resonates with fans across the leagues.
Celebrating the news, Chief Commercial Officer at the EFL, Ben Wright, said: “The EFL is part of the fabric of life for hundreds of millions of fans across the world. This new partnership with Panini provides the opportunity and new ways for the League and our Clubs to engage with supporters, in particular, younger fans.
“Traditional football collectables have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, appealing to fans aged eight to 80. We look forward to working with Panini on this exciting new venture, where the League, following the inaugural season of Fantasy EFL, will continue to provide ways for new and existing audiences to engage with EFL football beyond just the 90 minutes on the pitch.”
Head of Marketing for Sport at Panini, Katie Gritt, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with the EFL to bring the magic of collecting Panini to fans of all 72 EFL clubs.
“The EFL is integral to the football pyramid, and with every club set to feature in our collections, fans will soon be able to enjoy finding their favourite players from the clubs they love. We can’t wait for the first collection to launch later this year and look forward to celebrating the incredible talent throughout the EFL, in true Panini style.”
Panini’s continued commitment to UK football
This deal reaffirms Panini’s dedication to the UK football market, following its successful partnerships with other major football organisations including the Premier League in past years. The introduction of EFL trading cards and stickers complements Panini’s existing collections, offering fans a broader range of products to celebrate their passion for the game.
As the 2025/26 season approaches, collectors and fans alike can look forward to the launch of these new products, which promise to add a fresh dimension to the football collecting landscape.
It’s fair to say this partnership has been a long-time coming with some HUGE clubs getting cards for the first time in a long time… We’re looking at you Cardiff City, Derby County, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, West Brom and yes, even you Wrexham!
Keep coming back to Collector Club for all the latest sports card news and trading card news, keeping you up-to-date with everything that’s going on in the hobby!
4 comments
Will there be an official launch of the new EFL cards and is there any date the cards will be launched
There’s no confirmed release date just yet, however, we have spoken to the good folks at the EFL following the announcement and we understand a launch event is in the diary for late July / early August. With that in mind we’d expect these new sets to be out in time for the start of the 2025/26 season!
Where’s the best place to get the first information about the sets for the EFL coming out?
We’re the only UK-focused sports card and trading card collectible site, so keep checking back here as we’ll post any news about the sets (including its official release date) the second it’s available. If you have Instagram you can follow us @collectorclubuk and it’ll be there too. Odds are your club will also announce the release date on their official site, like many teams have done for the original announcement.