With the Championship season now wrapped up and Wembley’s turf freshly cooled from the high-stakes playoff final, football fans across England are gearing up for the 2025–26 Premier League season. Three promoted teams—Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland—will be joining the top flight, while the relegated clubs return to the lower divisions.
This article is your definitive guide to the three promoted clubs, breaking down their seasons in the Championship, exploring their tactical identity, and evaluating how they stack up against seasoned Premier League teams. Whether you’re a supporter of the newly promoted or nervously looking at the bottom three of the upcoming season, this article gives you everything you need to know.
Which Teams Secured Automatic Promotion to the Premier League in the 2024–25 Season?
Leeds United: Redemption at Last
Leeds United secured automatic promotion by finishing top of the Championship table with 100 points and a blistering goal difference. After their relegation from the Premier League in 2023, the West Yorkshire side launched an aggressive campaign to bounce straight back to the top flight.
Managed by Daniel Farke, Leeds combined their usual high-pressing identity with better defensive stability. Players like Joël Piroe and Crysencio Summerville flourished under the German manager’s system. The club invested wisely, signing young talents and blending them with Premier League-hardened veterans like Pascal Struijk.
Their dominant form throughout the regular season ensured they didn’t have to endure the anxiety of the playoff final at Wembley. The club now hopes this return to the Premier League will mark the beginning of long-term stability at Elland Road.
Burnley: The Clarets’ One-Season Return
Burnley have already returned to the Premier League just one season after being relegated. Under the stewardship of Vincent Kompany, the Lancashire side continued with their tactical philosophy of possession-based football—rare in the Championship but effective when executed well.
They finished second on goal difference, tied with Leeds on 100 points. James Trafford, their young goalkeeper, made headlines for racking up 29 clean sheets—an astonishing statistic that matched the English record. This defensive steel, combined with attacking threats like Zeki Amdouni and Anass Zaroury, made Burnley a complete team.
Burnley’s infrastructure and recent top-flight experience make them one of the most equipped promoted teams to survive the upcoming campaign. They’ve retained a core of players from their relegated squad and added Championship-hardened talent to the mix.
Who Claimed the Final Promotion Spot Through the Playoffs?
Sunderland: Back Where They Belong
The final team to be promoted to the Premier League was Sunderland, thanks to their tense yet clinical 2–1 win over Sheffield United in the playoff final at Wembley. It was a historic occasion on Saturday, 24 May, as more than 82,000 fans watched Sunderland return to the top flight for the first time since the 2016–17 season.
Tony Mowbray’s side finished fifth in the regular season but came alive in the knockout stages. In the final, goals from Jack Clarke and Alex Pritchard edged them past the Blades, sparking jubilant scenes.
This achievement ends a turbulent chapter for a club that previously fell as far as League One. Now, they’re aiming to make the most of this unexpected yet hard-earned opportunity. Following the victory, they broke their transfer record to sign French midfielder Enzo Le Fée and released nine senior players to reshape the squad for the demands of top-flight football.
What Challenges Await the Promoted Clubs?
All three promoted teams will be bracing themselves for a brutal 2025–26 season. The gulf in quality between the Championship and the Premier League is often stark, especially for clubs without top-flight infrastructure or squad depth.
- Sunderland may find it the hardest to adapt, given their long absence from the Premier League and recent stint in League One.
- Burnley, while tactically prepared, must find more goal-scoring consistency.
- Leeds will be wary of repeating the mistakes that led to their 2023 relegation.
Which Teams Were Relegated from the Premier League Last Season?
The three relegated clubs making way for the newly promoted are Sheffield United, Luton Town, and Nottingham Forest. These sides finished in the bottom three of the 2024–25 season, with defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of clinical finishing ultimately costing them.
- Sheffield United endured a historically poor campaign, with only 21 points and a record number of goals conceded.
- Luton Town put up a spirited fight but lacked the resources to compete consistently.
- Nottingham Forest came agonisingly close to survival but were undone by late-season losses.
These clubs will now attempt to regroup in the Championship and aim for a promotion spot next year.
What’s the Financial Impact of Premier League Promotion?
Securing a place in the Premier League is worth over £100 million in broadcasting revenue alone, not to mention the commercial boost from being in one of the world’s most-watched leagues. For Sunderland in particular, this financial injection could transform the club’s long-term stability.
Even for a recently relegated side like Burnley, this return ensures parachute payments aren’t their only lifeline. Leeds, with their vast fanbase and commercial reach, stand to gain significantly as they aim to re-establish themselves in the top flight.
How Have the Promoted Clubs Strengthened So Far?
As of early June 2025, transfer activity has already begun:
- Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing young Premier League loanees and shoring up their midfield.
- Burnley are in the market for a new striker and an experienced full-back.
- Sunderland’s record signing of Le Fée shows intent, and they are rumoured to be targeting free agents with top-flight experience.
The summer window will be crucial in determining whether these sides can survive—or even thrive—in the Premier League.
What Is the Premier League’s History With Newly Promoted Clubs?
Historically, one of the three promoted teams usually drops straight back down. But in the last six seasons, we’ve seen surprises. Brentford and Nottingham Forest both managed to stay up in recent campaigns, bucking the trend.
Yet survival is never guaranteed. Much will depend on how quickly these teams adapt, how they use their transfer budgets, and how well their managers handle the pressure.
Which Fixtures Should Fans Look Forward To?
Expect intense matchups when:
- Sunderland face Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby, back for the first time in nearly a decade.
- Leeds take on Manchester United, reigniting one of English football’s fiercest rivalries.
- Burnley host Manchester City, with Kompany facing off against his former club again.
These clashes add extra spice to an already stacked fixture list in the Premier League.
How Will the Promoted Teams Affect the Premier League Landscape?
The arrival of these teams brings:
- Fresh tactical ideas, particularly from Kompany and Farke.
- Revived rivalries and regional derbies.
- Greater narrative depth for broadcasters, who follow every twist of the promotion and relegation saga closely.
From the stands to the studios, expect these clubs to dominate headlines.
What Will Be the Next Big Story in Promotion and Relegation?
With the 2025–26 season on the horizon, the focus shifts to survival. Can these teams avoid becoming another statistic and remain in the Premier League’s elite? Or will one of them be back in the Championship this time next year?
Expect drama, heartbreak, and perhaps a surprise or two.
Bullet-Point Summary: What You Need to Know
- Leeds United won the Championship with 100 points and secured automatic promotion.
- Burnley finished second and earned an immediate return to the Premier League.
- Sunderland beat Sheffield United in the playoff final at Wembley on Saturday, 24 May.
- Sheffield United, Luton Town, and Nottingham Forest were relegated from the Premier League.
- Premier League promotion is worth over £100 million in revenue.
- All three promoted clubs are already active in the summer transfer market.
- Major rivalries—like Sunderland vs Newcastle—are set to return.
- Survival in the 2025–26 Premier League season will be fiercely contested.
