Watford were last in the Premier League in 2021/22. They finished 19th out of 20 clubs with 23 points and were relegated.
Most recent season and where that leaves them
That 2021/22 campaign is still Watford's latest Premier League season. They then spent 4 straight seasons outside the competition, and Watford are also not one of the 20 clubs in the 2026/27 Premier League.
So the timeline is clear: there has been no return since that relegation. The last Premier League season on Watford's record remains 2021/22.
Watford's Premier League spells
Watford's time in the Premier League breaks into four separate spells.
| Spell | Seasons | How it ended |
|---|---|---|
| 1999/00 | 1 | Relegated (20th, 24 points) |
| 2006/07 | 1 | Relegated (20th, 28 points) |
| 2015/16–2019/20 | 5 | Relegated (19th, 34 points) |
| 2021/22 | 1 | Relegated (19th, 23 points) |
The first Premier League season in club history was 1999/00. From there, Watford returned in separate bursts rather than staying in the division continuously.
The longest stay lasted five seasons, and every spell ended in relegation.
Overall Premier League record
The full top-flight record in the Premier League era gives the wider picture.
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 8 |
| Matches played | 304 |
| Wins | 73 |
| Draws | 66 |
| Losses | 165 |
| Goals for | 310 |
| Goals against | 518 |
| Goal difference | -208 |
| Points | 285 |
| All-time Premier League rank | 37th |
Those figures cover every Watford Premier League season from 1999/00 to 2021/22. They show a club with repeated entries into the league, but not a permanent place in it.
Watford have never won the Premier League. Their best finish is 11th, recorded in 2018/19, while their lowest finish is 20th, which happened in 1999/00 and 2006/07.
How promotion and relegation shaped the timeline
Watford were promoted for 1999/00, 2006/07, 2015/16 and 2021/22. They were relegated at the end of 1999/00, 2006/07, 2019/20 and 2021/22.
That pattern explains why their Premier League history comes in distinct blocks. Every spell ended with relegation, so each return had to be earned again before the next appearance.
FAQ
Have Watford ever been in the Premier League?
Yes. Watford's first Premier League season was 1999/00, and they appeared in the competition across four separate spells.
How many Premier League seasons did Watford play?
They played 8 Premier League seasons in total. Across those seasons, they took part in 304 matches.
Have Watford won the Premier League?
No. Watford have never been Premier League champions, and their highest finish in the competition is 11th.
Are Watford in the Premier League now?
No. They have been outside the Premier League for 4 seasons after 2021/22, and they are not in the 2026/27 Premier League either.
When were Watford relegated from the Premier League?
They have been relegated 4 times from the Premier League. Those relegations came at the end of 1999/00, 2006/07, 2019/20 and 2021/22.