Frank Christian
Ascending to the Premier League from the second tier of English football is regarded as one of the most rewarding advancements for any club worldwide.
The 24 clubs in the Championship competed fiercely for one of the three coveted spots in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Burnley and Leeds United, which both faced relegation last season, clinched their places through automatic promotion spots. Sunderland triumphed over Sheffield United in the playoff final, marking an end to their eight-year absence from the top tier of English football.
The Sporting News offers a comprehensive overview of the promotion landscape following the conclusion of the season and the playoff final.
2025 Premier League Promoted Teams
The two teams securing automatic promotion were Leeds United and Burnley, while Sunderland earned the third promotion spot by winning the playoff final against Sheffield United.
Final regular season standings
| Pos. | Club | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | Leeds United-x | 46 | 100 | 29-13-4 | +65 |
| 2. | Burnley-x | 46 | 100 | 28-16-2 | +53 |
| 3. | Sheffield United | 46 | 90 | 28-8-10 | +27 |
| 4. | Sunderland-y | 46 | 76 | 21-13-12 | +14 |
| 5. | Coventry City | 46 | 69 | 20-9-17 | +6 |
| 6. | Bristol City | 46 | 68 | 17-17-12 | +4 |
x – confirmed automatic promotion
y – playoff champions
Leeds United Claim Championship Title
Leeds has earned promotion back to the Premier League after a brief two-season stint in the Championship.
They were relegated following a 19th-place finish in the 2022/23 Premier League, having spent three seasons in the top division.
Last season, they were poised for automatic promotion but faltered in the final stretch, finishing third before losing to Southampton in the playoff final. This season, they achieved a total of 100 points, placing them at the top of the table, tied with Burnley but surpassing them in goal differential.
Joel Piroe was the club’s leading scorer with 19 goals across all competitions. Other key players included former Fulham teammates Daniel James and Manor Solomon, both scoring in double digits, along with USMNT’s Brenden Aaronson who concluded the season with nine goals.
Burnley Achieves Automatic Promotion
Although Burnley fell just short of the Championship title, securing promotion is a significant achievement, and they accomplished this with several weeks remaining in the season.
They have bounced between the Premier League and Championship for four consecutive seasons, starting with their relegation from the Premier League in 2021/22. They reclaimed the Championship title the following year but finished 19th last season and were relegated once more.
They now look forward to another opportunity for stability in the Premier League next season, bolstered by a squad featuring a wealth of experienced talent. Their standout player last season was 29-year-old midfielder Josh Brownhill, who netted 18 goals, supported by loanees Zian Flemming, Jaidon Anthony, and Jeremy Sarmiento.
Sunderland Triumph in Championship Playoffs
After a lengthy and challenging journey through lower leagues, Sunderland has finally returned to the Premier League by winning the playoff.
A dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United saw Sunderland come back from behind, clinching the win with a goal from Tom Watson in the final moments.
This long-awaited success marks Sunderland’s return to the top flight, from which they were relegated in 2016/17. Following that, they quickly dropped to League One, experiencing two consecutive relegations to the third tier, where they remained for four seasons before earning promotion back to the Championship in 2021/22.
After three seasons in the Championship, they have now secured their move back to the Premier League with a solid fourth-place finish and a playoff final victory.
