Premier League Yo-Yo Clubs: Which Teams Have Had the Most Top-Flight Spells?

Some clubs settle into the Premier League, while others treat it like a revolving door. Ahead of 2026-27, here is how the best-known shuttle sides compare, and why staying up remains so difficult.

Norwich City: Most Premier League Spells

Founder members in 1992-93, Norwich have had six separate stints, more than any other club. Their last three promotions each ended in immediate relegation, a punishing pattern for supporters.

Burnley and Sunderland: Short Stays, Big Swings

Burnley have been promoted five times and relegated on every occasion, with three of those spells lasting a single season. Sunderland’s history is just as fragmented. They have had five spells, including a decade-long run that ended in 2016-17. A slide to League One followed, and they spent eight years outside the top flight before returning in 2025-26.

West Brom and Leicester: Sharp Declines

West Bromwich Albion have been relegated from all five of their Premier League spells, despite the famous 2004-05 “Great Escape”. Leicester City’s fall is arguably the most startling. Ten years after their fairytale title win, they find themselves in League One after five top-flight relegations.

Crystal Palace: Breaking the Cycle

Palace prove the yo-yo label need not be permanent. Their first four spells each lasted one season, yet they have remained in the division since 2013-14. They then won the FA Cup in May 2025 and the Conference League in May 2026, their first European trophy.

Ipswich Town and Southampton: The Latest Returners

Ipswich are back for a fourth spell in 2026-27 after going straight up following relegation in 2024-25. Southampton have had three spells, and their 2024-25 drop was confirmed with seven games left, the earliest in Premier League history.

Our Take

Palace’s rise suggests patient recruitment and a settled squad matter more than big summer spending. Promoted sides who overhaul half their team, as Norwich did repeatedly, seem to lose the cohesion that got them up.

Ipswich will be worth watching. Bouncing back quickly is a good sign, but the gap between the Championship and the top flight punishes clubs that only keep pace with it. Their summer business will shape everything.