Southampton Football Club, featuring Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, suffered a devastating blow as they were relegated from the English Premier League following a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
This loss cemented their fate with an unprecedented seven games still remaining in the season, marking the earliest relegation in Premier League history.
The Saints, who had struggled throughout the 2024-2025 campaign, amassed just 10 points from 31 matches, a tally that underscored their dismal performance and sealed their return to the Championship.
Kamaldeen Sulemana, Southampton’s club-record signing from Stade Rennes in January 2023 for £22 million, was a standout figure amidst the gloom. The 23-year-old Ghanaian international played the full 90 minutes against Tottenham, showcasing his talent by providing a superb assist for Mateus Fernandes’ late consolation goal in the 90th minute. Fernandes chested down Sulemana’s pinpoint cross and fired home, offering a fleeting moment of hope for the traveling Southampton faithful.
However, this spark was quickly extinguished when Tottenham’s Mathys Tel converted a penalty in added time, finalizing the scoreline and Southampton’s demise.
The match itself was a microcosm of Southampton’s season—moments of promise overshadowed by defensive frailties and a lack of clinical finishing.
Tottenham took the lead in the 13th minute through Brennan Johnson, who capitalized on a well-executed move involving James Maddison and Djed Spence. Johnson struck again just before halftime, flicking in a header from Maddison to double the hosts’ advantage.
Despite Southampton’s improved possession after the break and Sulemana’s near-miss earlier in the game—his volley deflected onto the post by Pedro Porro—the Saints could not overturn the deficit. The late penalty, awarded after Johnson was fouled, merely rubbed salt into an already gaping wound.
For Sulemana, this relegation marks a bitter repeat of history. Having joined Southampton midway through the 2022-2023 season, he experienced relegation in his first half-year with the club, which finished bottom of the Premier League with 25 points.
Despite the drop, Sulemana chose to stay, contributing to Southampton’s promotion back to the top flight via the Championship playoffs in May 2024. His resilience was evident as he lifted the playoff trophy, smiling broadly with the promise of a fresh start. Yet, less than a year later, he finds himself facing the same fate, raising questions about his future at St Mary’s.
Southampton’s struggles this season were apparent early on. Rooted to the bottom of the table since November, they secured just one league win, a statistic that painted a grim picture of a team unable to adapt to the Premier League’s relentless demands.
Sulemana, despite battling injuries in previous campaigns, emerged as one of the few bright spots in 2024-2025. With one goal and one assist in 19 league appearances prior to the Tottenham match, his pace, dribbling, and trickery offered glimpses of the potential that had once made him a sought-after talent across Europe.
Post-match, the Southampton players, including Sulemana, were applauded by their loyal supporters, a gesture that acknowledged their effort despite the season’s failures. Manager Ivan Juric, who had taken over in December 2024, had previously expressed hope in Sulemana’s ability to turn the tide. After a standout performance in a 3-0 FA Cup win over Swansea in January 2025—where Sulemana scored and assisted—Juric praised his quality, urging him to stay and help the relegation fight. “He’s a good player, and right now, good players need to stay at Southampton,” Juric had said. However, with relegation now confirmed, that plea may fall on deaf ears.
Sulemana’s next steps are uncertain. In May 2023, after his first relegation with Southampton, he told BBC Radio Solent Sport, “I’m ready for whatever’s next. If I stay, I’ll stay and help the team bounce back. If there’s an opportunity to explore, I will take it.”
Now, with interest from clubs like Nantes, Roma, Ajax, and Nice previously reported, the winger faces a crossroads. Southampton, keen to recoup a fraction of their £22 million investment, reportedly favor a permanent transfer over a loan, a stance that could complicate negotiations with potential suitors.
For Kamaldeen Sulemana, the story of Southampton’s relegation is not just one of collective failure but also of personal resilience. From his roots in Techiman, Ghana, through the Right to Dream Academy, to his stints at Nordsjælland and Rennes, he has consistently risen to challenges.
