The 2025-26 season has largely concluded across Europe's 'Big Five' football leagues, confirming the teams that will descend from their respective top flights. Relegation from the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League, LaLiga, Serie ACompetition·Serie A, BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga, or Ligue 1Competition·Ligue 1 carries significant financial implications, including reduced broadcasting revenue and the formidable challenge of rebuilding for an immediate return.
In the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League, two clubs have already been confirmed for relegation to the EFL Championship. Wolverhampton WanderersTeam·Wolverhampton Wanderers were the first to drop on April 20, 2026, followed by BurnleyTeam·Burnley on April 22, 2026, after a home loss to Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City. Wolverhampton WanderersTeam·Wolverhampton Wanderers finished with 19 points, while BurnleyTeam·Burnley secured 21 points. The third and final relegation spot will be decided today, May 24, 2026. Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur, currently in 17th place with 38 points, controls their destiny, needing to avoid defeat against EvertonTeam·Everton at home. West Ham UnitedTeam·West Ham United, sitting in the relegation zone at 18th with 36 points, must secure a victory against Leeds UnitedTeam·Leeds United and hope Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur loses to retain any realistic hope of survival. West Ham UnitedTeam·West Ham United's potential relegation would be a notable event, given their recent European success.
LaLiga has seen three clubs relegated to the Segunda DivisiónCompetition·Segunda División. Real OviedoTeam·Real Oviedo finished with 29 points, marking a short-lived return to the top flight with a goal difference of -31. GironaTeam·Girona, who finished third in LaLiga just two seasons prior, could only manage a 1-1 draw against ElcheTeam·Elche on the final day, confirming their relegation with 41 points. MallorcaTeam·Mallorca also faced the drop, despite a 3-0 victory over Real OviedoTeam·Real Oviedo in their final match, concluding their season with 42 points. MallorcaTeam·Mallorca midfielder Sergi DarderPlayer·Sergi Darder expressed the team's sentiment, stating, "I am torn up. It's our fault we are going down."
In Serie ACompetition·Serie A, two teams have been confirmed for relegation to Serie BCompetition·Serie B. PisaTeam·Pisa finished with 18 points, conceding a league-high 69 goals in a challenging return to Serie ACompetition·Serie A. Hellas VeronaTeam·Hellas Verona also dropped, accumulating 21 points. The third relegated team will be determined today between LecceTeam·Lecce, currently 17th with 35 points, and CremoneseTeam·Cremonese, 18th with 34 points.
The BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga season concluded on May 16, 2026, with two clubs relegated to 2. BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga. FC St. Pauli finished at the bottom of the table with 26 points, following a final-day defeat to Wolfsburg. FC HeidenheimTeam·FC Heidenheim also faced relegation, tied on points with FC St. Pauli and an identical goal difference of -31. VfL Wolfsburg, finishing 16th with 29 points, will now enter a promotion/relegation playoff against PaderbornTeam·Paderborn, the third-place finisher in 2. BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga, to retain their top-flight status.
Finally, the Ligue 1Competition·Ligue 1 season concluded on May 17, 2026, confirming two clubs for relegation to Ligue 2Competition·Ligue 2. MetzTeam·Metz finished with 17 points, enduring a particularly long winless run of 22 matches during the campaign. NantesTeam·Nantes also dropped from the top flight, securing 23 points by the season's end.
Hee Chan Hwang of Wolves before the Premier League match against Burnley at Turf Moor. Sports Press Photo/IMAGO
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