Relegated Again: The Premier League Players Who Suffered Back-to-Back Drops

Relegation is one of the most difficult experiences in football, but for some players the disappointment continues into the following season as they suffer consecutive drops either with the same club or after moving elsewhere in search of a fresh start.

The 2025/26 season saw four more players added to that unwanted list after several West Ham and Burnley players suffered relegation for the second consecutive year.

Mateus Fernandes

Mateus Fernandes impressed despite Southampton’s relegation in 2024/25 and earned a move to West Ham. However, the midfielder could not escape another relegation battle as the Hammers also dropped into the Championship the following season.

Mads Hermansen

Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen endured another frustrating campaign as West Ham’s defensive struggles led to a second consecutive relegation for the Dane.

Kyle Walker-Peters

After leaving Southampton following relegation, Kyle Walker-Peters joined West Ham hoping for stability. Instead, the experienced full-back suffered another drop just one season later.

Lesley Ugochukwu

Lesley Ugochukwu also suffered back-to-back relegations after spending the 2024/25 season on loan at Southampton before joining Burnley in 2025/26. Burnley were relegated from the Premier League, meaning the French midfielder endured consecutive drops with two different clubs

Other Players To Suffer Consecutive Relegations

 Aaron Ramsdale

Aaron Ramsdale suffered back-to-back Premier League relegations with Bournemouth in 2019/20 and Sheffield United in 2020/21 before later rebuilding his reputation at Arsenal.

Steven Caulker

Steven Caulker endured consecutive relegations with Cardiff City in 2013/14 and Queens Park Rangers in 2014/15 during a difficult spell in his career.

Roger Johnson – “The Relegator”

Roger Johnson became one of football’s most infamous relegation stories.

The defender was relegated with Birmingham City in 2010/11, Wolves in 2011/12 and then suffered another drop with Wolves into League One in 2012/13. His run of three consecutive relegations earned him the nickname “The Relegator”.

Nathan Blake

Nathan Blake suffered consecutive Premier League relegations with Bolton Wanderers in 1997/98 and Blackburn Rovers in 1998/99.

The Welsh striker joined Blackburn after Bolton’s relegation hoping to remain in the top flight, but Blackburn endured a disastrous campaign and were relegated the following season.

Nigel Quashie

Nigel Quashie experienced back-to-back relegations with Southampton in 2004/05 and West Bromwich Albion in 2005/06.

After Southampton’s relegation, Quashie joined West Brom in search of Premier League survival. However, the midfielder suffered another drop immediately in his first season at The Hawthorns.

Arijanet Muric

Arijanet Muric suffered consecutive relegations after going down with Burnley in 2023/24 before enduring another relegation with Ipswich Town in 2024/25.

The goalkeeper joined Ipswich hoping to establish himself as a Premier League number one, but the club were unable to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Dara O'Shea

Dara O’Shea also endured back-to-back relegations after suffering the drop with Burnley in 2023/24 before joining Ipswich Town and being relegated again in 2024/25.

Despite being one of Ipswich’s more reliable defenders, O’Shea could not prevent another difficult season ending in relegation.

Luke Thomas

Luke Thomas has now suffered relegation in four consecutive seasons.

Leicester City — 2022/23

Sheffield United — 2023/24*

Leicester City — 2024/25

Leicester City — 2025/26

The full-back’s difficult run began with Leicester’s shock relegation from the Premier League in 2022/23. He then joined Sheffield United on loan during the 2023/24 campaign, although the move was cut short after his loan was terminated midway through the season.

Thomas later returned to Leicester, but the Foxes suffered relegation in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, extending his unwanted streak to four consecutive years.

*Loan spell terminated midway through the season.

The “Relegation Curse”

Fans often joke about certain players carrying a “relegation curse” after repeatedly ending up in struggling teams. In reality, relegation is usually caused by wider club issues including poor recruitment, instability and weak squad depth.

Still, once a player suffers multiple relegations, the reputation can be difficult to shake.