2026 Topps Merlin Premier League Soccer Checklist, Box Details and Key Cards

Topps Merlin is back in the Premier League trading card space, and the 2026 release brings the brand’s familiar fantasy styling to a full domestic checklist loaded with stars, rookies, autographs, retro tributes, and short prints. It is the first Merlin Premier League card set in years, and it arrives as part of Topps’ broader expansion under its newer licensing agreement with England’s top flight.

For collectors, the headline is simple. Every hobby box is expected to deliver one autograph. Beyond that, the product leans heavily into colorful Refractors, retail exclusives, nostalgic throwback designs, and several insert themes that blend modern chrome presentation with Merlin’s long-running wizard motif.

2026 Topps Merlin Premier League Soccer at a glance

The set has a 200-card base checklist covering veterans and rookies across the Premier League. Hobby and value configurations each use four-card packs, but the box formats are built quite differently.

• Release date: May 28, 2026
• Set size: 200 cards
• Cards per pack: 4
• Hobby packs per box: 18
• Value packs per box: 7
• Hobby boxes per case: 12
• Value boxes per case: 40

What to expect in a hobby box

• 1 autograph
• 9 common inserts
• 6 base Refractors
• 3 base Mojo parallels
• 1 base Vintage Merlin parallel

What to expect in a value box

• 1 numbered parallel
• 2 Ta-Da inserts
• 3 common inserts
• 2 base Refractors
• 3 base RayWave parallels
• 1 base VHS Refractor

Base set and parallel lineup

The main set runs 200 cards and includes established stars, major club names, and a healthy rookie crop. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and the rest of the league all receive solid base representation, while clubs such as Sunderland and Burnley help deepen the rookie and breakout appeal.

The parallel structure is one of the main selling points. Standard Refractors, Mojo versions, RayWave, and Vintage Merlin all appear, but the real personality comes from the nostalgic additions. VHS Refractors are exclusive to value boxes, while Battle Of Britpop Refractors are also a retail-only chase and are numbered to 95.

• Refractor: Hobby 6 per box, Value 2 per box
• RayWave: Value 3 per box
• Mojo: Hobby 3 per box
• Vintage Merlin: Hobby 1 per box
• VHS Refractor: Value 1 per box
• Pink Refractor: Hobby 1:47, Value 1:29
• Aqua Refractor: Hobby 1:42, Value 1:46
• Aqua Mojo: Hobby 1:20
• Blue Refractor: Hobby 1:56, Value 1:61
• Blue Mojo: Hobby 1:27
• Green Refractor: Hobby 1:96, Value 1:82
• Green Mojo: Hobby 1:40
• Battle Of Britpop Refractor: Value 1:51
• Purple Refractor: Hobby 1:120, Value 1:113
• Purple Mojo: Hobby 1:53
• Gold Refractor: Hobby 1:215, Value 1:151
• Gold Mojo: Hobby 1:79
• Orange Refractor: Hobby 1:355, Value 1:346
• Orange Mojo: Hobby 1:157
• Black Refractor: Hobby 1:1,040, Value 1:791
• Black Mojo: Hobby 1:392
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:1,825, Value 1:1,786
• Red Mojo: Hobby 1:784
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:5,712, Value 1:17,679

Notable base cards and rookies

Several clubs stand out immediately in the base checklist. Arsenal brings Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and rookie Max Dowman. Liverpool counters with Rio Ngumoha RC, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, and Alexander Isak. Chelsea adds Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Estêvão Willian RC, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, and Alejandro Garnacho.

Manchester City has Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Divine Mukasa RC, and Antoine Semenyo. Manchester United includes Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, Leny Yoro, Shea Lacey RC, and Amir Ibragimov RC. Newcastle United features Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade, Sandro Tonali, and Kieran Trippier.

Some of the rookie names likely to attract early attention include Julio Soler, Veljko Milosavljevic, Max Dowman, Yasin Ayari, Tom Watson, Estêvão Willian, Rio Ngumoha, Divine Mukasa, Amir Ibragimov, Shea Lacey, Igor Jesus, Chris Rigg, Noah Sadiki, Eliezer Mayenda, Tolu Arokodare, Fer Lopez, and Mateus Mane.

1996 throwback and retro appeal

A big nostalgia hook in the product is Merlin Premier League 1996 Edition, a 50-card short printed insert set that uses the design language of the 1995-96 Merlin Premier League stickers. It is one of the cleanest bridges between Merlin’s heritage and the modern chrome release style.

Collectors will find names such as Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, Estêvão Willian, Mohamed Salah, Rio Ngumoha, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Bruno Fernandes, Nick Woltemade, Chris Rigg, Granit Xhaka, Xavi Simons, and Andre in the throwback lineup.

• Merlin Premier League 1996 Edition odds: Hobby 1:375, Value 1:1,804
• Black Refractor: Hobby 1:2,201, Value 1:7,577
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:4,157, Value 1:19,183
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:23,382, Value 1:90,160

Autographs and signed subsets

Autographs anchor the hobby format, with Base Autographs serving as the main signature chase. The checklist is broad and includes stars, prospects, and key names from across the league. Among the most notable signers are Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Estêvão Willian, Mohamed Salah, Rio Ngumoha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, Leny Yoro, Bruno Guimaraes, Ollie Watkins, Mohammed Kudus, Chris Rigg, and Nick Woltemade.

• Base Autographs odds: Hobby 1:65, Value 1:229
• Blue Refractor: Hobby 1:104, Value 1:2,227
• Green Refractor: Hobby 1:147, Value 1:2,947
• Purple Refractor: Hobby 1:175, Value 1:3,870
• Gold Refractor: Hobby 1:246, Value 1:5,152
• Orange Refractor: Hobby 1:466, Value 1:7,213
• Black Refractor: Hobby 1:1,132, Value 1:12,880
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:2,195, Value 1:20,491
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:11,004, Value 1:90,160

Additional autograph sets deepen the product:

• Mystic Afternoons Autographs, 11 cards, featuring Adam Wharton, Evanilson, Estêvão Willian, Erling Haaland, Kevin Schade, Kyle Walker, Mohammed Kudus, Martin Odegaard, Ollie Watkins, Rio Ngumoha, and Yasin Ayari
• Enchanted Pen, 18 cards, with names including Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Federico Chiesa, Erling Haaland, Estêvão Willian, Junior Kroupi, Rio Ngumoha, and Tijjani Reijnders
• Spellbinding Trios, 6 cards, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth combinations
• Merlin’s Magical Ink, 25 cards, mixing current stars and legends such as Alan Shearer, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Lampard, Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, Ian Wright, Mohamed Salah, Steven Gerrard, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic
• Merlin’s Match Ball Signatures, 33 cards, including Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins, Chris Rigg, Shea Lacey, and William Saliba

Merlin’s Magical Ink should be especially popular because it uses hard-signed gold ink versions, giving that subset a distinct identity within the checklist.

Common inserts and retail exclusives

The common insert side of the release is broad without feeling repetitive. Four main themes combine to fall nine times per hobby box and three times per value box. Gold, Orange, Black, Red, and Superfractor parallels are spread across these insert lines at shared odds.

• Gold Refractor: Hobby 1:220, Value 1:707
• Orange Refractor: Hobby 1:480, Value 1:1,145
• Black Refractor: Hobby 1:1,066, Value 1:3,837
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:2,598, Value 1:5,094
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:11,691, Value 1:36,064

Fantasy Football

This 40-card insert includes names such as Ben White, Kai Havertz, Junior Kroupi, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Kobbie Mainoo, Joelinton, Cristian Romero, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Mystic Afternoons

This 20-card insert is the brighter Premier League counterpart to Merlin UCC’s Mystic Nights concept. The checklist includes Martin Odegaard, Ollie Watkins, Estêvão Willian, Rio Ngumoha, Erling Haaland, Casemiro, Mohammed Kudus, Virgil van Dijk, and Tolu Arokodare.

Merlin’s Young Magicians

This 20-card rookie and youth-driven insert features Max Dowman, Tom Watson, Estêvão Willian, Tyler Dibling, Rio Ngumoha, Divine Mukasa, Leny Yoro, Eliezer Mayenda, Chris Rigg, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Freddie Potts.

Merlin Speaks

This 20-card crystal ball styled insert includes Riccardo Calafiori, Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Bruno Fernandes, Nick Woltemade, Rayan Cherki, Simon Adingra, and Mikkel Damsgaard.

Ta-Da

Ta-Da is the retail exclusive common insert set, with 50 cards and two per value box. It mixes current names and legends, including Declan Rice, Tony Adams, Youri Tielemans, Ashley Cole, Virgil van Dijk, Fernando Torres, Yaya Toure, Bryan Mbeumo, Robin van Persie, Sandro Tonali, Edgar Davids, and Hwang Hee-Chan.

• Green Refractor: Value 1:194
• Purple Refractor: Value 1:256
• Gold Refractor: Value 1:384
• Orange Refractor: Value 1:781
• Black Refractor: Value 1:1,965
• Red Refractor: Value 1:3,972
• Superfractor: Value 1:21,467

Short prints and case-hit chase cards

The short printed section is where the Merlin identity gets most creative. Some themes were previously seen in Merlin UEFA Club Competitions, but this is their first run in a Premier League-only release. Others are completely new.

Merlin’s Mythical Art

This 11-card case-hit style chase uses original art. The lineup includes Antoine Semenyo, Alan Shearer, Bryan Mbeumo, Clint Dempsey, Eberechi Eze, Estêvão Willian, Florian Wirtz, Gareth Bale, Rio Ngumoha, Rodri, and Thierry Henry.

• Odds: Hobby 1:216 packs
• Kaleidoscope: Hobby 1:3,131
• Shimmer: Hobby 1:7,877
• RayWave: Hobby 1:15,588
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:74,823

Magic In His Boots

This 40-card short print set mixes current stars and club greats. Names include Martin Odegaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Eden Hazard, Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Chris Rigg, Gareth Bale, Mohammed Kudus, Gianfranco Zola, and Harry Kane.

• Odds: Hobby 1:998, Value 1:3,604
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:5,543, Value 1:18,032
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:29,929, Value 1:75,134

The Shiny

This 20-card SP insert includes Junior Kroupi, Declan Rice, Kaoru Mitoma, Estêvão Willian, Alan Shearer, Chris Rigg, Heung-Min Son, and Gianfranco Zola.

• Odds: Hobby 1:502, Value 1:1,779
• Gold Speckle: Hobby 1:46,764, Value 1:450,800

Renaissance

Another SP theme, Renaissance includes Ian Wright, Max Dowman, Kaoru Mitoma, Moises Caicedo, Sandro Tonali, Rio Ngumoha, Erling Haaland, Granit Xhaka, Luka Modric, Joe Cole, and Michael Carrick.

• Odds: Hobby 1:832, Value 1:9,016
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:10,392, Value 1:45,080
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:53,445, Value 1:225,400

Merlin’s Magnum Opus

This new 20-card SP set is stacked with big names, including Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, Bukayo Saka, Max Dowman, Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Estêvão Willian, Bruno Fernandes, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Steven Gerrard, Kevin De Bruyne, Heung-Min Son, and Martin Zubimendi.

• Odds: Hobby 1:4,517, Value 1:45,080
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:46,764, Value 1:450,800

Mask Off and Rainbow Flick

Mask Off makes its sports debut here with a one-card insert devoted to Viktor Gyokeres and his signature celebration. It is one of the rarest cards in the product.

• Mask Off odds: Hobby 1:24,941, Value 1:45,080
• Red and White Refractor: Hobby 1:93,528, Value 1:150,267
• Black Refractor: Hobby 1:106,890, Value 1:300,534
• Red Refractor: Hobby 1:249,408, Value 1:450,800
• Superfractor: Hobby 1:748,224

Rainbow Flick is a value-exclusive SP insert with 30 cards, including Matheus Cunha, Tyler Dibling, Ryan Gravenberch, Gabriel Martinelli, Savinho, Anthony Gordon, Max Dowman, Fer Lopez, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, and Santi Cazorla.

• Odds: Value 1:280 packs
• Black Refractor: Value 1:3,990
• Red Refractor: Value 1:8,754
• Superfractor: Value 1:53,036

Team-by-team names collectors will want to know

The checklist is deep enough that team collectors have plenty to chase. Arsenal is one of the strongest clubs in the product, built around Saka, Odegaard, Eze, Gyokeres, and rookie Max Dowman, plus a one-card Mask Off chase. Liverpool is similarly loaded with Salah, Van Dijk, Wirtz, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Ekitike, and several autograph and SP insert options.

Chelsea has one of the most balanced checklists thanks to Cole Palmer, Estêvão Willian, Moises Caicedo, Reece James, and multiple legend-driven inserts featuring Gianfranco Zola, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Eden Hazard, and Didier Drogba. Manchester City offers Haaland, Foden, Rodri, Reijnders, Doku, Cherki, Semenyo, and Divine Mukasa, while Manchester United counters with Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Sesko, Leny Yoro, and Shea Lacey.

Newcastle collectors get Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Nick Woltemade, Alan Shearer inserts, and multiple autograph opportunities. Tottenham has Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Conor Gallagher, Dominic Solanke, Joao Palhinha, plus key insert names like Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, David Ginola, Luka Modric, and Heung-Min Son. Sunderland is one of the better under-the-radar team chases because of Chris Rigg, Noah Sadiki, Eliezer Mayenda, Chemsdine Talbi, and Granit Xhaka.

Among smaller team checklist standouts, Bournemouth features Junior Kroupi, Julio Soler, Veljko Milosavljevic, Alex Scott, and Evanilson. Brighton has Yasin Ayari, Tom Watson, Kaoru Mitoma, and Stefanos Tzimas. Everton offers Tyler Dibling, Jack Grealish, Jordan Pickford, and Iliman Ndiaye. Wolves provide Tolu Arokodare, Fer Lopez, Andre, and Joao Gomes. Those clubs may offer some of the most interesting value if the early market focuses too heavily on the usual headline teams.

Key checklist snapshots

Selected base rookies

• 4 Julio Soler, AFC Bournemouth RC
• 9 Veljko Milosavljevic, AFC Bournemouth RC
• 20 Max Dowman, Arsenal RC
• 41 Yasin Ayari, Brighton and Hove Albion RC
• 42 Tom Watson, Brighton and Hove Albion RC
• 63 Estêvão Willian, Chelsea RC
• 91 Josh King, Fulham RC
• 111 Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool FC RC
• 126 Divine Mukasa, Manchester City RC
• 132 Amir Ibragimov, Manchester United RC
• 138 Shea Lacey, Manchester United RC
• 151 Igor Jesus, Nottingham Forest RC
• 163 Chris Rigg, Sunderland RC
• 181 El Hadji Malick Diouf, West Ham United RC
• 191 Tolu Arokodare, Wolverhampton Wanderers RC
• 194 Fer Lopez, Wolverhampton Wanderers RC
• 200 Mateus Mane, Wolverhampton Wanderers RC

Selected autograph names

• Bukayo Saka
• Martin Odegaard
• Eberechi Eze
• Cole Palmer
• Estêvão Willian
• Erling Haaland
• Mohamed Salah
• Rio Ngumoha
• Bruno Fernandes
• Ollie Watkins
• Chris Rigg
• Mohammed Kudus
• Nick Woltemade

Best nostalgic insert names

• Thierry Henry
• Dennis Bergkamp
• Frank Lampard
• Gianfranco Zola
• Steven Gerrard
• David Beckham
• Wayne Rooney
• Alan Shearer
• Gareth Bale
• Harry Kane
• Kevin De Bruyne
• Luis Suarez

With a 200-card base set, one autograph per hobby box, a strong rookie class, several unusual retail exclusives, and some of the better retro design work Topps has used in a Merlin release, 2026 Topps Merlin Premier League Soccer looks positioned to attract both set builders and hit chasers. Collectors focusing on rookies, team collecting, or color matching parallels should have plenty to target once boxes arrive on May 28.