An incredible XI of Premier League players signed from relegated clubs

 

An incredible XI of Premier League players signed from relegated clubs Relegated clubs often offer Premier League teams the chance to find hidden gems at a discount, and top sides like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United have taken full advantage. Liam Delap could be the latest name added to that list. Following Ipswich’s relegation, Chelsea activated his £30 million release clause and moved swiftly to secure the deal. From future Manchester United captains to some of the greatest defenders in football history, here’s our ultimate XI:

GK: Jordan Pickford Despite his best efforts, Pickford couldn’t keep boyhood club Sunderland up. After their relegation, Everton swooped in, paying £25 million then the third-highest fee ever for a goalkeeper. It’s proven a smart investment. Now England’s No.1, Pickford has made over 300 appearances for the Toffees and will face his former club for the first time in the 2025–26 season.

RB: Glen Johnson West Ham’s 2003 relegation sparked a mass exodus of talent, including a young Glen Johnson. The full-back joined Chelsea for £6 million; the first signing under Roman Abramovich. He went on to win the Premier League and League Cup with the Blues before moving to Portsmouth in 2006.

CB: Harry Maguire No, not for his record move to Manchester United but for the step before that. After Hull’s 2017 relegation, Maguire joined Leicester for £12 million, impressing enough to earn an £80 million switch to Old Trafford just two years later.

CB: Phil Jagielka Jagielka’s Sheffield United were relegated in controversial fashion in 2007, as West Ham stayed up thanks to Carlos Tevez’s winner on the final day a player later ruled ineligible due to third-party ownership. Despite legal battles and £30 million in compensation for the Blades, it was Jagielka’s handball in a decisive match against Wigan that sealed their fate. He later moved to Everton and became a club stalwart.

LB: Andy Robertson Hull’s 2017 drop to the Championship was Liverpool’s gain. For just £8 million, they picked up Robertson, who blossomed into one of the league’s best left-backs. A cornerstone of Klopp’s system, he formed a dynamic duo with Trent Alexander-Arnold and ranks second for most assists by a Premier League defender.

CM: Roy Keane Arguably the best-ever signing from a relegated side. After Nottingham Forest finished bottom in 1993, Manchester United signed Keane for a British record £3.75 million. He spent 13 seasons at Old Trafford, won seven league titles, four FA Cups, a Champions League—and became one of the club’s greatest-ever captains.

CM: Georginio Wijnaldum After Newcastle’s 2016 relegation, Wijnaldum jumped ship to Liverpool. There, he played a pivotal role in their 2019 Champions League triumph, scoring twice in the unforgettable 4–0 comeback against Barcelona.

CM: Scott Parker West Ham’s 2011 relegation didn’t dent Parker’s appeal. He joined Spurs shortly after, making 50 appearances over two seasons before moving to Fulham his third London club in a row.

RW: Paolo Di Canio The iconic Italian fell out with manager Glenn Roeder during West Ham’s 2002–03 relegation run-in, but returned under Trevor Brooking to score a vital goal against Chelsea. It wasn’t enough to keep them up. Di Canio left on a free to join Charlton, helping them to a top-seven finish.

LW: Joe Cole Another casualty of West Ham’s 2003 relegation, Cole departed for Chelsea after 13 years at the club. It proved a masterstroke he won three league titles, two FA Cups, and the League Cup in 2005.

ST: Jermain Defoe Defoe jumped ship after West Ham’s 2003 drop though he actually forced his way out the following January after a series of disciplinary issues and an immediate transfer request. Spurs got their man, while West Ham received Bobby Zamora in return.

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