On a thrilling final day of the Championship season, Ipswich Town secured their promotion to the Premier League, while Hull City clinched the last playoff spot.
George Hirst and Jaden Philogene both scored within the first nine minutes to alleviate any pre-match tension, with Kasey McAteer adding a late third goal just five minutes from the final whistle.
This achievement marks Kieran McKenna as the first manager in Ipswich’s history to oversee three promotions, including two to the top tier.
Ipswich needed a win to fend off challenges from both Millwall and Middlesbrough, who were closely trailing.
Millwall recorded a 2-0 win against Oxford, while Middlesbrough could only manage a 2-2 draw with Wrexham, leaving Ipswich a point ahead in second place.
Ipswich’s last Premier League season was in 2024-25, marking their first return to the top flight following a 22-year absence. However, they were relegated after finishing with only 22 points, which included just four victories.
The squad underwent significant changes, with key players departing; notable among them were Liam Delap, who transferred to Chelsea for £30 million ($40.7 million), and Omari Hutchinson, who moved to Nottingham Forest for £37.5 million ($51 million).
In total, eleven new players were brought in to strengthen the squad, including winger Sindre Walle Egeli from Nordsjælland, Darnell Furlong from West Bromwich Albion, and Marcelino Núñez from rivals Norwich.
Under McKenna, the revamped team had a rough start to the Championship, waiting until September for their first league win, a commanding 5-0 against Sheffield United.
They were also eliminated from the EFL Cup by League Two’s Bromley in August via penalties.
After a challenging autumn, Ipswich began to find form, with a 1-0 victory over West Brom on October 25 igniting a run of ten league matches, suffering just one defeat.
By Christmas, they were in third place, trailing only Middlesbrough and eventual champions Coventry City.
After a slow start, McKenna’s squad solidified their performance after the holiday break, transforming Portman Road into a fortress with only one home defeat all season.
With Delap no longer in the lineup, goals were distributed effectively among the team, with Jack Clarke netting 16 goals, the fourth highest in the league.
Jaden Philogene, acquired from Aston Villa, emerged as a significant threat on the left wing, scoring 11 goals, while George Hirst contributed a solid 10 when playing as a forward.
As the season progressed, it became evident that Ipswich was determined to claim the second automatic promotion spot, eager to bypass the tensions of the playoffs.
In their last 15 matches of the season, Ipswich continued their strong performance, with only one defeat during that stretch. They managed to hold rivals Millwall and Middlesbrough to draws in March and April, which helped them maintain their position.
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With their strong performances, Ipswich knew that a victory against QPR on the last day would guarantee their return to the Premier League.
Hirst kicked off the scoring early in the third minute, quickly settled nerves, before Philogene added a second just moments later.
Philogene struck again in the ninth minute to extend the lead, and McAteer sealed the game with a crucial third goal in the 85th minute, igniting jubilation throughout the stadium and confirming their promotion alongside champions Coventry.
Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Hull will now compete in the playoffs for the last promotion spot.