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Leeds United and Burnley clinched promotion to the Premier League after securing the highest points in the 2024-2025 championship league, achieving this with two games remaining in the season.
Leeds United triumphed over Stoke City with a commanding 6-0 victory, while Burnley managed a 2-1 win against Sheffield United during the week 44 matches.
Both clubs solidified their promotion on Monday following these matches, making their ascent to the Premier League practically a formality.
Leeds secured their spot with two games still to play after Sheffield United's loss to Burnley, confirming the Clarets' return to the top tier as well.
Under the leadership of Daniel Farke, Leeds decimated Stoke City earlier on Monday, emphasizing that promotion was virtually guaranteed.
They are on track to win the title if they secure victories against Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle in their remaining matches, unless there is an extraordinary shift in goal difference from Burnley.
Last season, Leeds finished third with 90 points but were defeated by Southampton in the play-off final.
During the summer, they parted ways with promising academy player Archie Gray, who transferred to Tottenham, and Championship player of the season Crysencio Summerville, who left for West Ham. While these departures were anticipated, the unexpected sale of talented forward Georginio Rutter to Brighton following the season's start was a setback.
Nevertheless, Leeds retained a formidable squad, bolstered by permanent signings like Spurs defender Joe Rodon, former Sheffield United full-back Jayden Bogle, and Japan international midfielder Ao Tanaka, along with loan signings Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon from Bournemouth and Tottenham, respectively, which enhanced their quality.
The season began poorly for them with no wins from their first three matches in all competitions, but they soon turned things around with a 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday and maintained their momentum thereafter.
Despite a narrow home loss to Burnley on September 14, their only defeat at Elland Road this season, Leeds climbed to second by the third international break in November.
After a 1-0 home defeat to Blackburn, they went on an impressive three-month unbeaten streak in the league, featuring a 7-0 thrashing of Cardiff and thrilling comebacks against top-four contenders Sunderland and Sheffield United in consecutive matches in February.
The victory over the Blades left Leeds five points ahead at the top, and with a seemingly favorable run of fixtures leading to the end of the season, promotion seemed assured.
However, March yielded only one win from five matches, and a 2-2 draw with Swansea prompted Farke to substitute goalkeeper Illan Meslier for Karl Darlow after a series of costly errors from the Frenchman.
Farke faced criticism for claiming that the point earned from the 1-1 draw against lowly Luton was a positive outcome, but it turned out to be so as Sheffield United faltered with three straight defeats, allowing Leeds to regain the top spot, five points clear of Chris Wilder’s side with three games remaining.
The resounding victory over struggling Stoke on Monday ensured that, due to a significantly better goal difference, even a point from their last two matches would suffice for promotion, although they did not need it thanks to Burnley’s success.
Farke, who opted not to make additional signings in the January transfer window, is on the verge of securing a third title at this level, having previously won two with Norwich.
A critical summer lies ahead as Leeds aims to break the concerning trend of all teams promoted to the Premier League in the past six seasons immediately getting relegated again. Plans to prevent such a fate will commence earnestly on Tuesday, but for the moment, Farke and Leeds supporters, who were deprived of a proper celebration for their last top-flight promotion in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, can relish a job well done.
