The AFLE Confirms London Warriors as its Eighth Franchise Ahead of the 2026 Season
The AFLE is proud to announce that its eighth and final franchise will compete in the 2026 season as the London Warriors. The name and logo of the team have officially been revealed, bringing one of British football’s most storied programmes to the European professional stage.
A name with meaning
The London Warriors are one of the most successful American football clubs in the United Kingdom. Based in Croydon, London, the programme was built on a simple but powerful idea: that every junior team should have a senior team to progress to. That philosophy has shaped the Warriors since the beginning in 2005. In 2007, as the original junior players came of age, the senior team was formed to give them a place to continue their careers. From there, the rise was rapid.
Starting in Division 2 in 2008, the team won the national Division 2 championship in their very first season and earned promotion to Division 1. The following year, they won Division 1 and secured their place in the Premier Division. By 2011, they had already made their first BritBowl appearance, and in 2013 they won their first national championship. Between 2011 and 2025, the Warriors qualified for BritBowl 12 times and won seven championships. That record speaks for itself.
The Warriors have also developed players and coaches who have progressed to the very top of the game. Warriors players have represented Great Britain, played for top European teams, earned scholarships to US colleges, high schools and top British university teams, and been selected for the NFL Academy and the NFL’s International Player Pathway Programme. Five former players have earned scholarships at Division 1 colleges.
Three former Warriors players have gone on to play in the NFL. These include defensive end Efe Obada, who is still active at the highest level, and Seydou Traore, who was recently selected by the, Miami Dolphins in the 2026 NFL Draft. Former Warriors coach Aden Durde is currently serving as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and recently became the first British coordinator to win a Super Bowl.
The Warriors are not just a club with history. They are a programme that has consistently produced results and developed talent at every level of the game.
Months of work behind the scenes
While the public announcement is new, the work behind it is not. The London Warriors have been building their AFLE project since November, with intensive preparations taking place behind the scenes over the past months. Roster construction, coaching structures and operational planning have all been underway long before today’s reveal.
The franchise will take to the field as a fully prepared and competitive team when the AFLE season kicks off at the end of May, ready to represent London and the United Kingdom at the highest level of European football.
Marvin Allen: From Warriors player to AFLE General Manager
Few people embody the London Warriors’ identity as personally as General Manager Marvin Allen. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver played for the London Warriors from 2008 to 2011 before later joining the coaching staff. Now, he leads the franchise into a new era as General Manager of the AFLE team. Allen knows exactly what this name means and what it demands.
“The London Warriors name carries real weight. This programme has won championships, developed players who made it to the NFL, and built a fan base that has been loyal for years. We have put in a huge amount of work over the past months to make sure we are ready to compete at this level, and I am incredibly proud of everything the team has already accomplished behind the scenes. I would also like to personally thank, on behalf of the Club, our various legal advisers who have helped us reach this point – particularly Simmons & Simmons, The Media Lawyer and Bates Wells, for their expert guidance and relentless support in helping to make this a reality. Now we get to share it with the world. I cannot wait to see the fans in the stands and show them what this team is truly capable of.”
London joins eight teams competing for the AFLE Gold Bowl
With the London Warriors now officially confirmed, all eight AFLE franchises for the 2026 season are in place. Rhein Fire and Berlin Thunder from Germany, the Vienna Vikings from Austria, the Wroclaw Panthers from Poland, the Alpine Rams from Switzerland, the Paris Lights from France, the Firenze Red Lions from Italy, and now the London Warriors from the United Kingdom will all compete for the right to play in the AFLE Gold Bowl on September 6, 2026, at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg. Tickets for all AFLE games, including the AFLE Gold Bowl, will be available through official ticketing partner Eventim. Logos of all eight AFLE franchises, including the London Warriors, are available for download via the AFLE Press Portal linked below.
