Southampton makes return to Premier League after gaining promotion

The newly promoted teams for the 2024/2025 Premier League season have all been confirmed, and two of the three teams that were relegated to the championship from the 2022/2023 season made an instant return to the top flight immediately.

Leicester City were the first team to secure promotion after winning the second division title to stage an immediate comeback, and on Sunday, they were joined by Southampton who secured their promotion spot via the playoffs final against Leeds United on Sunday.

The Saints became the third team after the Foxes and Ipswich Town got promoted via the league places, to secure promotion thanks to their 1-0 win over Leeds.

Adam Armstrong scored his 24th goal of the season in the 24th minute of the game to send Southampton up, and despite the criticism of Saints manager Russell Martin, he defended his style ane and promised fans that his team would prove themselves in the top-flight.

“I know possession won’t win you games, but it is a vehicle for us to give ourselves the best opportunity to show the best version of ourselves; I really believe that. If you win this way, to me, it is the best way, not the right or wrong way, but it’s the best. It’s up to us to prove ourselves in the Premier League next season,” Martin added.

Southampton finished fourth in the regular season, a place behind Leeds United, and then defeated West Brom over two legs in the semi-final before Sunday’s win.

The result is worth £140m for the Saints, who endured twelve additional minutes and a Leeds United strike hitting the crossbar late on.

For Leeds United, they will have to do another season in the second division. They have lost their last three finals at Wembley without scoring and have been unsuccessful in all six of their playoff campaigns.