Leeds United and Burnley have sealed automatic promotion to the Premier League after a dramatic day in the Championship saw Sheffield United drop out of contention.
Leeds took a significant step earlier on Monday with a dominant 6-0 win over Stoke City, reaching 94 points. Burnley then matched that tally later in the evening with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor, a result that mathematically eliminated third-placed Sheffield United from the race for the top two.
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill, who scored both goals in his side’s crucial win, was elated. “I’m speechless. All that hard work this season… we’ve been written off so many times. People calling us boring — we’ve bored our way to the Premier League,” he said, praising the collective effort of the squad.
With two fixtures remaining, the Championship title will now be decided between the two promoted clubs. Leeds are set to face Bristol City at home before concluding the season against Plymouth Argyle, while Burnley will visit Queens Park Rangers and host Millwall.
Sheffield United, who had a strong start to the campaign, suffered three consecutive defeats in early April that ultimately ended their hopes of automatic promotion. They are now guaranteed a place in the playoffs, alongside Sunderland and two other teams still battling for the final spot in the Premier League.
Adding a celebrity twist to Burnley’s celebrations, former NFL star J.J. Watt — a minority stakeholder in the club along with his wife Kealia — took to social media shortly after the final whistle, posting: “WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!!!!!! Come On Burnley!!!!!”
Burnley return to the Premier League just a year after relegation, while Leeds bounce back from their playoff heartbreak in 2024 to reclaim their spot in England’s top flight.
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