These Nigerians have experienced the harsh reality of Premier League relegation even amid illustrious careers:
- Relegated twice with Leicester City in 2022/23 and again in 2024/25, despite being a midfield stalwart.
- Super Eagles legend who suffered relegation with West Bromwich Albion in 2005/06, and again with Portsmouth in 2009/10, after FA Cup glory.
- Faced the drop with Newcastle United in 2008/09, and later with Birmingham City in 2010/11, despite winning the League Cup in between.
- Experienced relegation twice with Southampton—in 2022/23 and again in 2024/25.
- Also relegated twice with Southampton over the same period, arriving midway through their 2022/23 campaign.
- Suffered three Premier League relegations: with Norwich City (1994/95), Leicester City (2001/02), and Sheffield United (2006/07).
- Despite a celebrated career, he was relegated with Wigan Athletic in 2012/13 and again with Luton Town in 2025.
- Prolific striker for Blackburn Rovers, relegated in 2011/12 after scoring 18 Premier League goals.
Editorial
These stories underscore football’s unpredictability even for players with major honours, international caps, or prolific records. Relegation is not measure of talent but often of circumstance.
From Ndidi’s twin relegations at Leicester to Kanu’s battles with West Brom and Portsmouth, each player endured the grind of club adversity. Obafemi Martins and Akinbiyi repeatedly found top-flight exits despite spells of brilliance. Meanwhile, Aribo and Onuachu suffered relegation in their Prime years with Southampton, demonstrating that even established positions don’t guarantee immunity.
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These experiences offer lessons. Clubs must support players during transition; fans must recognise that relegation rarely reflects individual contribution. And players? They must manage resilience amidst collective failure. Football is collective by design. Success and setback are shared. For these Nigerians, relegation chapters do not define legacies they test them. The true stories lie not in division tables, but in recovery and resurgence.
Did You Know?
- Paul Onuachu, dubbed “Tall Paul”, stands at 2.01 m, making him one of the tallest Premier League players ever to face relegation.
- Nwankwo Kanu donated £250,000 to Portsmouth after their administration crisis following relegation a rare act of loyalty.
- Obafemi Martins’ League Cup winner for Birmingham City in 2011 came just months before the club slid into relegation—a rare high amid collapse.
- Ndidi has made over 300 appearances for Leicester since joining in 2017, yet remains one of the few consistent names amid the club’s recent decline.
- Victor Moses secured Olympic gold and won league titles across continents yet his Premier League portal ended in relegation twice.
