The battle to stay in the Premier League is often one of the hardest parts of an English football season. While clubs at the top compete for trophies and European places, those near the bottom face a very different challenge: avoiding relegation to the EFL Championship. At the end of every Premier League campaign, the three lowest-placed teams are relegated. Their departure creates space for three clubs promoted from the Championship for the following season.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Wolves' relegation confirmed?

Wolverhampton Wanderers became the first team relegated from the Premier League in 2025/26. Their relegation was mathematically confirmed on 20 April 2026.

Were Burnley and Wolves already relegated before the final day?

Yes. Both Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers had already been relegated before the final round of fixtures.

How many teams are relegated from the Premier League every season?

Three teams are relegated from the Premier League to the EFL Championship at the end of each season.

Which Teams Were Relegated From the 2025/26 Premier League?

The three teams relegated from the 2025/26 Premier League were:

1. West Ham United

2. Burnley

3. Wolverhampton Wanderers

All three clubs moved down to the EFL Championship for the 2026/27 season.

West Ham United Were Relegated on the Final Day

West Ham United's relegation was confirmed on the final day of the 2025/26 Premier League season. The club entered the final round of matches still with a chance of survival. However, Tottenham Hotspur's victory over Everton meant West Ham could no longer remain above the relegation zone. Tottenham finished two points clear of the bottom three, confirming West Ham's place among the relegated clubs. The final-day outcome made West Ham the last team to have its relegation confirmed in the 2025/26 campaign.

Burnley Finished 19th

Burnley were relegated after finishing 19th in the Premier League. Their return to the Championship came after only one season in the top flight. Burnley's relegation was confirmed before the final day of the campaign. The club's final Premier League position meant that they would compete in the EFL Championship during the 2026/27 season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Finished Bottom

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished 20th, at the bottom of the 2025/26 Premier League table. Wolves were the first club to have their relegation mathematically confirmed during the season. Their relegation was confirmed after West Ham United drew with Crystal Palace on 20 April 2026, making it impossible for Wolves to finish outside the bottom three. Wolves and Burnley were already relegated before they met on the final day of the season.

How Was Relegation Decided?

The Premier League consists of 20 clubs, with each team playing 38 matches during the season. After all matches have been completed, the three clubs finishing in the bottom three positions are relegated to the EFL Championship.

For the 2025/26 season, the bottom three were:

1. 18th: West Ham United

2. 19th: Burnley

3. 20th: Wolverhampton Wanderers

These three positions resulted in automatic relegation.

What Happens to Relegated Premier League Teams?

Relegated clubs move from the Premier League to the EFL Championship for the following season. West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers therefore began the 2026/27 campaign outside the Premier League. Relegation can create significant challenges for a football club. Teams must adapt to a different competition, prepare for squad changes, and build a campaign capable of securing promotion. The Championship is highly competitive, with only three promotion places available for clubs hoping to return to the Premier League.

Can West Ham, Burnley and Wolves Return to the Premier League?

Yes. All three clubs can return to the Premier League through promotion from the EFL Championship. The Championship provides two automatic promotion places to the teams finishing first and second. The final promotion place is decided through the Championship play-offs. This means West Ham, Burnley and Wolves have the opportunity to return to the Premier League, although promotion is never guaranteed. Their immediate objective will be to rebuild and compete for one of the three available promotion places.

The Difference Between Relegation and Promotion

Relegation and promotion are central parts of the English football system. The three lowest Premier League clubs move down to the Championship, while three Championship clubs move up to replace them. For the 2026/27 season, the departures of West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers created three available places in the Premier League. Those places were filled by the clubs that earned promotion from the Championship.

Wind Up

West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers were the three clubs relegated from the 2025/26 Premier League. Wolves finished bottom of the table, Burnley finished 19th, and West Ham occupied the final relegation place after the battle for survival was decided on the last day of the season. Their relegation ended their participation in the Premier League for the 2026/27 campaign and sent all three clubs into the Championship. For each club, attention now turns to the challenge of rebuilding, competing in one of England's most demanding divisions and attempting to earn a route back to the Premier League.