Leeds United have secured their return to the Premier League after a two-year absence, with their promotion confirmed on Monday following results in the EFL Championship.
Daniel Farke’s side produced a dominant performance earlier on Monday, thrashing Stoke City 6-0 at Elland Road, with striker Joel Piroe scoring four first-half goals. That victory left them on the brink of promotion.
Their return to the top flight was officially sealed later in the evening when third-placed Sheffield United lost 2-1 away to second-placed Burnley, a result which also confirmed Burnley’s promotion.
The promotion marks a successful turnaround for Leeds after the disappointment of losing last season’s playoff final to Southampton.
The club navigated significant player turnover in the summer, losing key talents like Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter, but strengthened with additions including Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle, Ao Tanaka, and loan signings Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon.
Despite a slow start to the campaign with no wins in their first three games, Leeds built formidable momentum under Farke, embarking on a three-month unbeaten league run from December to February.
This included impressive results like a 7-0 demolition of Cardiff and dramatic comeback wins against fellow promotion contenders Sunderland and Sheffield United.
A brief wobble in March, where they won just one of five games and saw Farke change goalkeepers after some errors from Illan Meslier, temporarily halted their progress.
However, strong recent form, culminating in the emphatic win over Stoke, put them in pole position. Sheffield United’s subsequent defeat meant Leeds’ promotion was confirmed with two games to spare.
Currently top of the Championship table on 94 points, level with Burnley but ahead on goal difference, Leeds will now aim to secure the title in their final two matches against Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.
For manager Daniel Farke, it marks his third promotion from the Championship, having previously achieved the feat twice with Norwich City.
Leeds fans can now look forward to Premier League football next season and celebrate this promotion properly, unlike their return to the top flight in 2020 which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The club now faces a crucial summer as they prepare for the challenge of staying in the Premier League and avoiding the trend of recently promoted teams suffering immediate relegation.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.