The concept of “yo-yo clubs” – teams that bounce repeatedly between the Premier League and EFL Championship – has long been a fixture of English football, fuelled by parachute payments that give relegated clubs a financial edge in the second tier.
However, recent seasons suggest this cycle is breaking down. The growing financial and competitive gulf between the PL and Championship means relegated teams are no longer “cruising” to promotion as often.
Instead, they’re facing stiffer resistance from ambitious non-parachute clubs, leading to longer stints in the Championship and a potential end to the yo-yo era.
Between 2015 and 2025, 30 teams were relegated from the Premier League, but only 15 (50%) returned immediately.
But since 2022, only 33% (4/12 teams) have successfully made an immediate return.
So why are relegated clubs finding it harder to compete?
Decline of the Parachute Clubs
Thirteen matchdays into 2025/26, the five EFL parachute recipients – Southampton, Leicester City, Ipswich Town from 2024/25, Luton Town (now in League One), and Sheffield United from 2023–24 – are struggling.
| Parachute Team | Current Position | PPG | Win % |
| Southampton | 21st | 1.0 | 15% |
| Leicester City | 14th | 1.3 | 30% |
| Ipswich Town | 9th | 1.6 | 42% |
| Luton Town | 10th (League One) | 1.5 | 46% |
| Sheffield United | 22nd | 0.7 | 23% |
| Average | 15th | 1.2 | 31.2% |
Relegated PL Teams In The Championship
| Season | Relegated Teams | Immediate Promotions Back To PL |
| 2016/17 | Newcastle, Norwich, Aston Villa | Newcastle (1/3) |
| 2017/18 | Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland | None (0/3) |
| 2018/19 | Swansea, Stoke, West Brom | None (0/3) |
| 2019/20 | Cardiff, Fulham, Huddersfield | Fulham (1/3) |
| 2020/21 | Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich | Norwich, Watford (2/3) |
| 2021/22 | Fulham, West Brom, Sheffield Utd | Fulham (1/3) |
| 2022/23 | Burnley, Norwich, Watford | Burnley (1/3) |
| 2023/24 | Leicester, Leeds, Southampton | Leicester, Southampton (2/3) |
| 2024/25 | Luton, Burnley, Sheffield Utd | Burnley (1/3) |
| 2025/26 | Ipswich, Leicester, Southampton | – |
Just 9 out of the last 27 relegated teams have gone back up to the PL at the first time of asking. But what about the second and third times of asking?
Post-relegation success drops sharply since 1992/93:
- Year 1: 27% promotion rate.
- Year 2: Only 9 teams in the last 32 years
- Year 3: Just two teams have returned at this stage (Norwich & Aston Villa)
Rise of Non-Parachute Clubs
Non-Parachute Teams (clubs that haven’t been relegated from the Premier League in any of the three seasons prior) have found success by being cost-effective and well-run.
In 2024/25, Sunderland, who had been in League One more recently than the Premier League, won the play-offs over Sheffield United (a parachute club), ending their 8-year top-flight exile.
Over the last five years, four of fifteen Championship to Premier League promotions went to non-parachute teams – double the rate from 2010–2015.
So which clubs have exemplified this most recently?
Luton Town 2022/23 – A campaign in which Luton completed the charge from non-league to the Premier League, the Hatters implemented a direct style of play in the Championship, and became unlikely promotion candidates before defeating Coventry in dramatic fashion in the final. Their story showed you don’t have to splash the most cash to make it to the Premier League.
Ipswich Town 2023/24 – Kieran McKenna took Ipswich from League One to the Premier League in just two seasons, after the club spent numerous transfer windows rejuvenating a poor squad. Belief in the young manager and his style of play won Ipswich 194 points in just two successful campaigns.
Sunderland 2024/25 – Sunderland fans experienced a sorrowful few years before the appointment of Regis Le Bris, who proved to be the right man to lead their Premier League return attempts. And what a return to the top flight the Black Cats are having, sitting in the top six and looking fearless. Parachute money isn’t essential!
Which Clubs Could Be Next?
Coventry City currently sit top of the Championship, losing just one of their first thirteen games, and look like early frontrunners to stake a claim for an automatic place. They haven’t been in the Premier League since the 2000/01 season and would love to return now that the top flight looks as competitive as ever!
The two media-named ‘Hollywood clubs’ – Birmingham City and Wrexham – have brilliant backing from their respective owners, and both clubs will want to be in the top flight very soon. Their documentary viewing figures may depend on it!
Quality Over Quantity
The pattern is clear – clubs spending more time building a project are quickly becoming the Championship’s elite. From Coventry to Stoke City, to Middlesbrough, their squads, being built steadily, are more effective than the likes of Southampton, who are in such a period of transition and instability that they cannot cope.
Could we even see another year where none of the four Championship parachute clubs fail to go up? It’s shaping up that way! The second tier is an open shop; clubs are welcome to compete, but they have to be well-run.
