West Ham United have been relegated from the Premier League for the first time in 15 years, despite a 3-0 victory over Leeds United on the final day of the season. The Hammers needed to win and hope Tottenham Hotspur lost to Everton, but Spurs secured a 1-0 win over Everton, sealing West Ham's fate.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side trailed by two points heading into the final round of fixtures. Joao Palhinha's first-half goal for Tottenham put them ahead, while West Ham were booed off at half-time with the score 0-0. Second-half goals from Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen, and Callum Wilson gave West Ham a comfortable win, but it was not enough to keep them up.
The club posted a £104.2 million loss for the last financial year, and relegation is expected to trigger a fire sale of key players. Captain Jarrod Bowen, the club's top scorer for five consecutive seasons, and midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who joined for £42 million last summer, are among the most valuable assets likely to be sold.
West Ham's relegation also has financial implications for London taxpayers, who will see an extra £2.5 million diverted from public services to cover increased operating costs at the London Stadium. The Hammers have the most favourable rent deal for the stadium, but relegation will still increase costs.
For Tottenham, the win secured back-to-back 17th-place finishes. Manager Roberto De Zerbi, the third manager of the season after Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, has been vindicated in keeping the club up. Spurs will need a major rebuild over the summer to avoid a repeat of their poor campaign.
West Ham's change from Graham Potter to Nuno in September did not pay off, and the club now faces a revolution before starting life in the Championship next season.
