Which clubs have had the most Premier League seasons without relegation?

A look at the clubs with the most Premier League seasons without relegation, highlighting the teams with the longest top-flight staying power.

Staying in the Premier League can be a lot harder than getting there.

For every club that establishes itself, several more drift in and out, spending a season or two at the top level before slipping away again. Survival, season after season, is its own kind of achievement. It brings club stability, sponsorship money, exposure, and the chance to build something that actually lasts.

Looking at which teams have had the most Premier League seasons without relegation tells a different story than title counts or points totals. It shows which teams have had the consistency and resilience to avoid disaster, even when trophies aren’t on the line.

What counts as “top-flight” football?

Before getting into the records, it’s worth clarifying the terms.

Top-flight football refers to the highest division in English football at the time. That includes the older First Division before 1992 and the Premier League era that followed soon after. So when we talk about long runs or total seasons, we’re looking across that full history, not just the Premier League years.

That distinction matters, because the Premier League itself is relatively young, and the deeper records stretch far beyond it.

Most consecutive PL runs without relegation

Some clubs have managed something remarkable: staying in the top division without interruption for generations.

As of the 2025–26 season, Arsenal lead the way with 106 consecutive seasons in England’s top tier. Their run began in 1919–20, shortly after the First World War, and has continued ever since.

Everton sit second with 72 consecutive seasons, having remained in the top flight since 1954–55. Despite recent brushes with relegation, their place in top-division history is hard to match.

Next comes Liverpool, who have stayed up for 64 straight seasons since 1962–63. Their modern success is built on a base that has been stable for decades.

Further down the list we’ve got:

• Manchester United – 51 seasons

• Tottenham Hotspur – 48 seasons

• Chelsea – 37 seasons

• Manchester City – 24 seasons

Most PL seasons in England’s top division

When you look at total top-flight seasons rather than uninterrupted runs, the picture changes slightly.

Everton leads the all-time list with 123 seasons spent in England’s top division. Even when silverware has been scarce, they’ve almost always found a way to stay at the highest level.

Aston Villa follow close behind with 112 seasons, narrowly ahead of Liverpool on 111. Arsenal sit on 109, with Manchester United reaching 101 top-flight seasons.

There’s then a clear second group nipping at their heels. Manchester City have featured in 97 top-flight campaigns, Newcastle United in 94, and both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur on 91.

These totals reward clubs that recover quickly when relegation does happen. Short absences don’t hurt the long-term numbers too much, even if the seasons in between were less than ideal.

Does staying up mean dominating?

Not necessarily.

Some clubs have spent decades in the top flight without regularly challenging for titles, while others have dropped out briefly, regrouped, and returned stronger than before. The Premier League is a pretty unforgiving place, and longevity and dominance don’t always go hand in hand.

Everton are the clearest example. Their top-flight record is extraordinary, yet league titles in the modern era have been pretty elusive. On the other hand, clubs like Manchester City have built dominance more recently, and secured trophies after long periods of instability.

Why these records are important

Staying in the top division year after year without being relegated creates advantages that are easy to overlook.

Revenue is steadier, planning is simpler, and the margin for mistakes is slightly wider.

Plus, over long periods, those small edges add up. Clubs that avoid relegation traps tend to stay relevant, even when results take a dip.

That’s why these records feel different to league titles. They’re built slowly, often without much celebration, but are pretty significant in their own way.

Watch the Premier League season unfold with Match Bingo

A Premier League campaign isn’t won in one match. It unfolds across months, through runs of form, rough patches, and quiet recoveries that keep clubs afloat.

Match Bingo is built for following the long game. It tracks real Premier League stats as games happen, so you can keep an eye on how teams are stacking up across the season, not just where they finish.

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