The 2021–22 season was Stoke City's 105th season in the Football League, the 45th in the second tier and eighth in the Championship. Stoke had a busy summer transfer window with the permanent departure of 13 players, which enabled O'Neill to make several new additions to his squad. A new look squad began the season well, gaining 35 points from the first 23 matches and they were just outside the play-off places at the turn of the year. However a poor run of results from January saw Stoke drop down the league and finish in a mid-table position for a fourth consecutive season.