10 Biggest Clubs That Have Never Won the Premier League (Ranked)

The Premier League is arguably the most competitive – and often entertaining – league in the world. It is full of drama, chaos and intrigue every season, with the battle for the title often going down to the final day of the season. However, only seven teams have ever won the league since its introduction in 1992: Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Blackburn and Leicester.

That all means that a plethora of huge Premier League teams – present and past – have never won it, despite coming close. Pressure has got to clubs in the final few weeks of the season, which has seen them fade away into the distance. Going up against the likes of Man City, Man United and Liverpool is never easy. They have the luxury of financial power, which sees them sign the best players in the world time and time again.

A monopoly exists at the top of the Premier League, making it even harder for smaller clubs to break into the ‘elite’. The pain of falling short of Premier League glory lives on for several clubs. It might have happened in the 1990s, but knowing they finished in the ‘Top Four’, yet failed to win the ultimate prize will always be a painful experience. Due to this, here is a ranking of the ten biggest clubs to never win the Premier League.

Ranking factors

• Size of the fanbase – Clubs that have bigger fanbases – and more support – have been ranked higher, because they are genuinely seen as ‘bigger’ clubs within the media. It usually leads to more revenue at each club as well.
• How close they’ve come to success – If they came closer to Premier League glory, they have been ranked higher, particularly in recent years where the likes of Tottenham have repeatedly finished in the Top Four.
• Financial power – Teams that are richer – and are thus capable of signing players for huge fees – have been ranked higher, but it wasn’t enough for them to get over the line.

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10

Crystal Palace

Best finish: 10th, 2015 and 2024

Crystal Palace have been one of the perennials of the modern Premier League era, currently into their 12th successive campaign in the top-flight. Roy Hodgson was the longest-serving of those managers, but it was actually under Alan Pardew and current boss Oliver Glasner that the Eagles enjoyed their best campaigns. A 10th placed finish came in the 2014/2015 season, while Glasner’s incredible impact after coming in as manager last year saw the London club fly up the standings towards the closing stages of the campaign and finish in 10th.

9

Wolves

Best finish: 7th, 2020

One of the most impressive rises in recent English football history, Wolves’ rapid ascent from League One to the Premier League in the 2010s was something to behold. Their return to the top-flight came alongside significant investment in promising Portuguese talent – influenced by the super agent Jorge Mendes – and it paid off big time. The 2018/2019 campaign – their first following their return to the Premier League – saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s side finish in an incredible 7th, before they backed that up with another seventh-placed finish the following season. Since then, things have been more of a struggle, with new manager Ivan Juric having to deal with a relegation battle.

8

Ipswich Town

Best finish: 5th, 2001

Ipswich have only had five seasons in the Premier League since 1992, but they are still considered one of England’s biggest clubs – a ‘fallen giant’ now. They have only come close to Premier League glory once when they finished fifth in 2001. On 66 points, they finished three points off Champions League qualification and 14 off the title. It’s not as close as other clubs on this list, but they feature because of their huge fanbase. In that season, 21 goals from Marcus Stewart fired them towards European qualification. They were relegated the season after (2001/2002), highlighting how it was just a flash in the pan.

7

West Ham United

Best finish: 5th, 1999

Unlike Ipswich, West Ham have been a lot more stable, spending most of their time competing in the Premier League. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been fighting for European qualification under David Moyes, even winning the Conference League in 2023, but only one of those seasons, when they finished sixth, features in the table below. Their best season came in 1999 when they finished fifth on 57 points. It was 22 points behind champions Man United, but it continued a strong run of form for West Ham at the end of the century. Ian Wright was their top scorer with just nine goals.

6

Nottingham Forest

Best finish: 3rd, 1995

Nottingham Forest, despite their success in the 1970s and 1980s, have only finished once in the top 3 in the Premier League, doing so in 1995. In the 42-game season, they qualified for the UEFA Cup, but they still finished 12 points behind shock champions Blackburn. Stan Collymore was their main star, scoring 25 goals throughout the season to fire Nottingham Forest to a top-three finish, yet it was only very brief, as they finished ninth the season after. They spent most of their time at the start of the 2000s in the Championship before eventually returning in 2022. The 2024/2025 campaign was unquestionably been one of their greatest in recent memory, and ended up qualifying for the Europa League.

5

Leeds United

Best finish: 3rd, 2000

Leeds used to be one of the best teams in the county before crippling debt sent them spiraling into the Championship. Their best season came in 2000, when they finished third on 69 points. It was comfortably below champions Man United on 91 points, yet it showcased that the Yorkshire club could compete. Signing Rio Ferdinand epitomised that. The following season, they reached the Champions League semi-finals and finished fourth in the league. Mark Viduka was a symbol of Leeds’ success in the final third, scoring 22 goals in that season. It was all going too well though, with Leeds eventually forced to sell Ferdinand before relegation.

4

Aston Villa

Best finish: 2nd, 1993

Villa Park brings an intense atmosphere to every match — and, in the 1990s, it was a symbol of hope for their fans. In the very first Premier League season, they finished second. With 74 points, they finished 10 behind champions Man United, as 16 goals from Dean Saunders saw them qualify for the UEFA Cup. Their success continued in the 1995/1996 season when they finished fourth and won the League Cup as Dwight Yorke scored 25 goals for them. Meanwhile, they qualified for the UEFA Cup in the following two seasons before eventually struggling to maintain consistency at the top of the Premier League.

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3

Everton

Best finish: 4th, 2005

In the 2023/2024 season, Everton are fighting points deductions and the threat of relegation — yet that never used to be the case. Once European regulars, Everton and Goodison Park used to be one of the most feared places to visit. In the 2004/2005 season, they qualified for the Champions League (the only time since the Premier League started) after finishing in fourth with 61 points. Club legend Tim Cahill was their top scorer with 11 goals. They steadily finished in the top seven places up until 2014, when they started to be more inconsistent. But the team built by David Moyes will never be forgotten in Merseyside.

2

Newcastle United

Best finish: 2nd, 1996

Up in the North East of England, Newcastle dominate the scene — and they very nearly conquered England through it. Their qualification into the Champions League in 2023 brought back memories of their success in the 1990s when they came so close to glory. They finished second in the 1995/1996 season, their highest finish in 69 years, but fans have always thought: what if? With 78 points, four behind Man United, they bottled their chance at the end of the season, blowing a 12-point lead in January. They finished second to Man United the season after as well, although at that time it was by seven points. With Saudi Arabian investment, they will be hoping to get back to the promised land at the top.

1

Tottenham Hotspur

Best finish: 2nd, 2017

Tottenham Hotspur finally ended their long-awaited trophy drought since 2008 when they won the Europa League at the end of the 2024/2025 season. When it comes to the Premier League though, they have not fared as successfully though. In 2016, they finished third, 11 points behind shock champions Leicester, although a run of bad form at the end of the season blew their chance of glory. The following season, they were one of the most exciting teams to watch, but they still finished second, behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. Spurs’ opportunity faded away after that as Manchester City and Liverpool started to conquer. They went through a golden era without a single trophy.

All stats via Transfermarkt (correct as of 24/09/2025)