Leicester City have been relegated to League One following a 2–2 draw at home against Hull City. The King Power Stadium that had once witnessed Premier League glory, ended any lingering hope of survival in the Championship.
The 2016 Champions needed nothing less than three points to stay in contention; instead, they now face English football’s third tier for only the second time in the club’s history.
Just ten years ago, Leicester City achieved what many still regard as the greatest sporting upset in football under Coach Claudio Ranieri winning the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season. In 2021, they lifted the FA Cup. A year later, they were competing in a European semi-final. The scale of their rise made their fall all the more staggering.
The Unraveling
The rot set in when Leicester were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. What followed was a painful and rapid dismantling of the squad that had carried the club’s ambitions. Talented players who had developed under the lights of the top flight departed in search of better opportunities.
2015 / 16
Leicester City win the Premier League, the most improbable title triumph in English football history.
2021
FA Cup glory secured. The club lifts silverware at Wembley, further cementing their rise.
2022
European semi-final reached. Leicester remain a credible force on the continent.
2022 / 23
Relegated from the Premier League. James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Çağlar Söyüncü, and Youri Tielemans all depart.
April 2026
A 2–2 draw with Hull City confirms relegation to League One, English football’s third tier.
The exits of players such as James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Çağlar Söyüncü and Youri Tielemans stripped the squad of its creative core and leadership. Replacements did not arrive at the same level, and the structural damage proved too deep to repair across successive seasons.
Ghana’s Two Foxes — Seasons to Remember
Amid the club’s turbulence, two Ghanaian internationals gave Leicester’s supporters moments to hold on to. Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku both delivered solid individual campaigns in the Championship, even as the collective effort ultimately fell short.
Ayew, who joined the Foxes on a free transfer, showed why he remains a reliable presence at this level. He played 44 matches across all competitions, scoring six goals and registering three assists. His shooting output was consistent, recording 51 total shots and 21 on target in the season, all while operating as a dependable outlet in a struggling side. The veteran forward contributed a work rate that went beyond his numbers, often linking play and pressing from the front throughout a difficult campaign.
Issahaku, meanwhile, produced the kind of figures that suggested a player operating well above the club’s current trajectory. The young Ghanaian winger amassed nine goals and seven assists in 43 Championship appearances, logging a remarkable 3,638 minutes on the pitch across the division alone. His creative influence shone through in 55 key passes and 111 successful dribbles, making him one of Leicester’s most dynamic threats throughout the season. The 22-year-old’s form will inevitably draw interest from clubs competing at a higher level.
What Comes Next
Leicester City now face the challenge of rebuilding from England’s third tier, a journey that will demand both financial prudence and a clear footballing identity. For a club of their size and history, League One represents uncharted and uncomfortable territory. The coming months will bring difficult decisions around the squad, coaching staff, and long-term structure.
As for the Ghanaian duo, their futures at the King Power Stadium remain uncertain. Whether they are part of the club’s League One rebuild or move on in search of higher-level football, both Ayew and Issahaku can depart the 2025/26 season with their heads held high.
In a campaign marked by collective failure, they were two of Leicester’s most consistent performers.
The story of Leicester City’s decline, from Premier League champions in 2016 to League One in 2026, will be debated and remembered for years to come.