2025–26 Stoke City F.C. season

The 2025–26 season is Stoke City's 109th season in the Football League, and the 49th in the second tier.

After avoiding relegation on the final day of the 2024–25 season, manager Mark Robins quickly released his retained list. leaving the club were Lynden Gooch, Michael Rose, Enda Stevens and Jordan Thompson whilst Lewis Baker signed a one-year extension.^[2] Stoke made their first signing of the summer, bringing in Welsh winger Sorba Thomas from Huddersfield Town on a three-year contract.^[3] Also coming into the team were veteran left-back Aaron Cresswell, Ukrainian centre-back Maksym Talovierov, Slovak forward Róbert Boženík and the return of Steven Nzonzi. Jamie Donley, Divin Mubama and Ashley Phillips joined on season-long loans. Departing the club were Wouter Burger, and Sol Sidibe.^[4]

Stoke played friendlies against Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Crewe Alexandra, Liverpool, Shrewsbury Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[5]

Stoke began their 2025–26 Championship campaign at home against Derby County.^[6] Stoke came from a goal down to beat the Rams 3–1 with late debut goals from Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas.^[7] The first away game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough was played with the home supporters protesting against their owner Dejphon Chansiri. His lack of funding lead to Wednesday starting the season with a threadbare squad and Stoke took full advantage, winning 3–0 with a brace from Million Manhoef and another for Mubama.^[8] Stoke won their third game in a row against relegated Southampton, despite having Mubama sent-off for two bookable offences.^[9] Their winning start came to an end after losing 1–0 to midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion after Nat Phillips capitalised on a dropped catch by Johansson.^[10] Stoke's final transfer activity saw them bring in Slovak midfielder Tomáš Rigo from Czech side Baník Ostrava.^[11]

Following the international break, new signing Rigo started as Stoke took on promoted Birmingham City. Bosun Lawal scored his first Stoke goal, a looping header over the stranded Ryan Allsop to earn a narrow 1–0 victory.^[12] Stoke were then beaten by the same scoreline away at Queens Park Rangers.^[13] In their next home match against Norwich City, Stoke dominated for long periods but went behind after slack defending allowed Jovon Makama to score from close range. Thomas equalised soon after half time and despite having 23 shots on goal Stoke were unable to score a second.^[14] They ended September with a goalless draw against early Championship leaders Middlesbrough, although Lawal suffered a hamstring injury.^[15]

Stoke drew a third game in a row after Augustus Kargbo cancelled out Manhoef's opener away at Blackburn Rovers.^[16] Following the second international break Stoke took on newly promoted Wrexham in what was the first league meeting between the sides since 2002. Stoke had an early let off as Ryan Longman missed an open goal before a cross from Sorba Thomas deceived Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo.^[17] They were then beaten 2–0 by Millwall with early goals from Femi Azeez and Tristan Crama.^[18] A closely fought game away at Portsmouth was settled in the 70th minute after a cross from Thomas was headed into his own net by Hayden Matthews.^[19]

Mubama scored an early tap-in against Brsitol City before being gifted a second goal by Robins goalkeeper Radek Vítek who failed to collect a loose ball. Mubama then set up Manhoef to make it 3–0 before half-time. In the second half Mubama completed his hat-trick and Junior Tchamadeu scored a rare goal whilst Mark Sykes got a late consolation for Bristol City.^[20] Stoke then eased to a 3–0 win away at Oxford United with a brace from Baker and Steven Nzonzi scoring his first since his return.^[21] With Stoke in 2nd position the faced the early league leaders, Coventry City. In what was a tight match between the top two it was settled by a late overhead kick by Ephron Mason-Clark.^[22] On 21 November, Robins and his coaching staff signed new three-and-a-half year contracts with the club.^[23] After the final international break of the year Stoke travelled to Leicester City where they were 2–0 down at half time after goals from Stephy Mavididi and Patson Daka. Bae Jun-ho pulled one back just after half-time but Stoke were unable to find an equaliser with former keeper Asmir Begović making some important saves.^[24] Sorba Thomas scored twice from crosses against Charlton Athletic in a 3–0 victory.^[25] Stoke ended November with a 2–1 defeat against Hull City to slip down to 4th.^[26]

Stoke were well beaten 4–0 by a rejuvenated Sheffield United in the first game in December.^[27] The team dropped out of the play-off places for the first time this season after losing 1–0 at Ipswich Town after an early goal from Jaden Philogene.^[28] They recovered the following week beating Swansea City 2–1 with Ben Pearson scoring his first goal for the club.^[29] Stoke then suffered another narrow defeat, losing 1–0 at Watford.^[30] On Boxing Day, Stoke played out a drab goalless draw with Preston North End.^[31] 2025 was ended with a 2–1 defeat against Sheffield United.^[32]

2026 began with the news that Tommy Simkin had been recalled from his loan at Leyton Orient after it was revealed that Viktor Johansson had injured his shoulder. Simkin went straight into the starting line-up at Hull City and was able to keep a clean sheet as Róbert Boženík scored his first Stoke goal, although he suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the second half, which led to 17 minutes of injury time.^[33] Stoke then defeated relegation threated Norwich City 2–0 with late goals from Gallagher and Thomas.^[34] Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, joined Stoke on loan for the remainder of the season and he went straight into the starting line-up on as City played out an uneventful goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers where they lost Divin Mubama to a serious ankle injury.^[35] The injury crisis continued as Bazunu picked up a thigh injury in training.^[36] Simkin came back into the team against promotion chasing Middlesbrough, Stoke taking a first half lead through Tomáš Rigo's first goal in English football but Boro turned the game around in the second half to win by two goals to one.^[37] A patched up Stoke team managed to come from a goal behind to draw 1–1 away at Birmingham City.^[38] Stoke ended January with a poor performance against Southampton, losing 2–0.^[39]

In the Winter transfer window Stoke brought in goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, wingers Ato Ampah and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and Dutch striker Milan Smit, whilst departing the club were Jack Bonham, Jaden Dixon and André Vidigal.^[40]

The slide down the table continued with a dour goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion and a narrow defeat at Charlton Athletic.^[41][42] Assistant manager Paul Nevin departed the club on 17 February less then three months after signing a new contract.^[43] The first team moved into a new £10 million facility at their Clayton Wood Training Ground.^[44] Despite Ben Wilmot giving Stoke an early lead against relegation threatened Leicester City a woeful second half saw them fall 2–1 behind before Wilmot scored again to salvage a 2–2 draw.^[45] Stoke ended their winless run with a 2–1 victory over struggling Oxford United with Lamine Cissé and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, scoring their first Championship goals for the Potters.^[46] Stoke looked set for a hard fought point away at top of the table Coventry City but were defeated by a stoppage time goal at the Coventry Building Society Arena for a second season running.^[47]

Stoke slipped to a 2–0 defeat at Swansea City in their next game, as Sorba Thomas was sent-off in the first half for two bookable offences.^[48]

Stoke were drawn at home to Coventry City in the third round^[50] and to Fulham in the fourth round.^[51]

Stoke were drawn at home to Walsall in the first round^[52][53] and to Bradford City in the second round.^[54][55]

As of match played 20 March 2026