The Exclusive Six: Clubs that have never been relegated from the Premier League

Throughout the history of the Premier League, many teams have moved between divisions. Until now, there are six clubs that have never experienced relegation.

Today, soccerwayuk.com lists those six clubs that have never been relegated from the Premier League.

Clubs that have never been relegated from the Premier League

In the Premier League, the bottom three teams are relegated to the Championship, with no playoff system to remain in the league. As a result, the battle for survival is extremely intense every season. However, these six clubs have never experienced life in the Championship.

Arsenal

Since the early days of English football, Arsenal have been one of the biggest names in the game for more than 100 years. They were the first club from southern England to join the Football League in 1893, before entering the First Division in 1904. In the Premier League era, Arsenal were among the clubs that supported the creation of a new league separate from the Football League system.

Over more than 30 years in the Premier League, Arsenal have won three league titles. They have also lifted nine FA Cups and one FA Community Shield, but have failed to win a European trophy. For most of this period, under manager Arsène Wenger, Arsenal remained competitive at the top level and never dropped into the Championship.

Chelsea

Another London club on the list is Chelsea, who have also never been relegated from the Premier League. Founded in 1905, Chelsea were among the clubs that agreed to take part in the newly formed competition and have stayed in it ever since. During this time, they have won three Premier League titles and completed a full set of European trophies, including the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and recently got the FIFA Club World Cup trophy in America. 

Chelsea’s most successful period came after Roman Abramovich bought the club from Ken Bates for £140 million. Since then, they have become one of the most well-known clubs in world football, with squads built around many young talents. However, they are also known for frequent managerial changes, with Claudio Ranieri remaining the longest-serving manager in their Premier League era.

Everton

Although not usually included among the “Big Six,” Everton have shown remarkable consistency since joining the Football League system. In the Premier League era, they have often finished in mid-table positions, rarely challenging for the title but generally staying clear of relegation. In some seasons, they came close to the drop but managed to survive.

Liverpool

Often regarded as one of the biggest clubs in England, Liverpool have a long and rich history. Founded in 1892, they became the most successful English club before the Premier League era, winning 18 league titles and four European Cups.

However, after the Premier League was formed, Liverpool went almost 30 years without winning a league title. Despite remaining a top club, they struggled to secure their 19th championship. That wait ended in the 2019/20 season. They later added another title in the 2024/25 season, drawing level with Manchester United.

Manchester United

Alongside Liverpool, Manchester United are the only club that can match them in terms of legacy in English football. They are often considered the most successful club of the Premier League era, having won 13 titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. During more than 20 years in charge, Ferguson developed numerous talents and ensured United never faced relegation.

Since his departure, Manchester United have experienced a period of decline. They have struggled to regain past success, endured inconsistent results and failed to find a long-term solution in the managerial position. During this time, they have also failed to win another Premier League title.

Tottenham Hotspur

The final club in this group is Tottenham Hotspur, often compared to Everton for their consistency. They have never been relegated from the Premier League and are usually contenders for European qualification, sometimes reaching the Champions League. Like Arsenal, they have not won the Premier League title, although they did lift the Europa League trophy last season after defeating Manchester United in the final.

Tottenham have remained in the top tier of English football for 48 consecutive seasons, dating back to the 1978/79 campaign. Their last league title came in the 1960/61 season, more than 60 years ago. Currently, they are competing in mid-table, but their record of staying in the Premier League continues, alongside the other clubs in this exclusive group.

Above, Soccerway UK has listed the six clubs that have never been relegated from the Premier League. For more news and updates on English football, visit here.