Leeds United and Burnley have sealed their return to the Premier League for the 2025/26 season, while Sheffield United will have to battle it out in the Championship play-offs.
Leeds hit Stoke at Elland Road
Leeds produced a dominant display, thrashing Stoke City 6-0 in front of their home fans at Elland Road.
Dutch striker Joel Piroe was the star of the show, scoring four goals, including a 20-minute hat-trick.
Junior Firpo and Wilfried Gnonto added to the tally as Daniel Farke’s men moved to 94 points, sealing promotion after Sheffield United’s later result.
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It marks a remarkable return for Leeds, who were relegated from the Premier League in the 2022/23 season and suffered heartbreak in last season’s play-off final.
Farke praised his side’s resilience
“To deliver such an emphatic performance is amazing. All the credit goes to the boys for the spirit they have shown. Joel [Piroe] had a tough period, but today was like shaking a bottle of ketchup suddenly; everything came out.”
Leeds are now unbeaten in four and remain the league’s top scorers with 89 goals.
Burnley break records to join Leeds in top flight
Burnley also hit the magic 94-point mark after a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Turf Moor, clinching an immediate return to the Premier League.
Josh Brownhill struck twice, including a penalty, to down the Blades and extend Burnley’s unbeaten run to a club-record 31 games, breaking a 104-year-old record.
The win secured promotion for Scott Parker’s side and condemned Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United to the play-offs.
Brownhill was emotional after the final whistle. “I’m speechless. We’ve been written off so many times, people calling us boring. Well, we have bored our way to the Premier League.”
Sheffield United slip into play-offs
Despite a strong campaign, Sheffield United’s late-season slump, with just one win in five, sees them finish third and now face the tension of the Championship play-offs.
