Leeds United and Burnley have been promoted to the Premier League after Scott Parker’s side beat third-placed Sheffield United on Monday.
Leeds moved on to 94 points via a 6-0 win over Stoke City on Monday afternoon, before Burnley’s 2-1 victory at Turf Moor put them on 94 as well and ensured Sheffield United could no longer better their rivals’ tally.
“I’m speechless. All that hard work this season,” said Burnley captain Josh Brownhill, who scored both of his team’s goals on Monday. “We’ve been written off so many times, people calling us boring. We’ve bored our way to the Premier League.
“It takes a whole team. It’s not just a back four, a goal keeper, it takes everybody. I don’t think a lot of the lads will sleep. I’m so buzzing for the lads that haven’t played Premier League football.”
With two games remaining, the Championship title will be decided between Leeds, who host Bristol City and finish the season away to Plymouth Argyle, and Burnley, whose remaining games include a road trip to Queens Park Rangers and a home match with Milwall.
Sheffield United are assured of a spot in the Championship playoffs along with Sunderland and two other sides for the remaining spot in the Premier League.
Former NFL star J.J. Watt, who played for the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals, and his wife Kealia are minority owners of Burnley.
After clinching promotion, Watt posted on social media: “WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!!!!!! Come On Burnley!!!!!”
The race for the automatic promotion spots has been typically competitive this season, but a run of three straight defeats for Sheffield United in the first half of April spelled the end of their challenge.
Burnley have leaned on their miserly defence to secure a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking after they were relegated, along with Sheffield United, last season. Leeds dropped to the second tier in 2022-23 and lost the Championship playoff final at Wembley to Southampton in May 2024.
