Premier League Promotion 2025

The EFL Championship is drawing to a close, with one promotion spot already confirmed and a playoff position still very much in contention.

FURTHER READING — Premier League table | Premier League fixtures

Frank Lampard‘s Coventry City is set to return to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2001, ending a 39-year major trophy drought since their 1987 FA Cup win. After facing years of financial challenges, the Sky Blues have been on a scoring spree this season, largely thanks to USMNT striker Haji Wright, who has been instrumental in their success this season.

Conversely, Wrexham is aiming for an impressive fourth consecutive promotion, currently controlling their own fate in pursuit of a playoff position. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s club was competing in non-league football as recent as 2023, but they are on the rise once more, bolstered by the talents of former Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore and former Rangers midfielder Josh Windass, both of whom have contributed significantly with double-digit goal tallies.

Kieran McKenna has propelled Ipswich Town to second place, holding a match in hand over their closest rivals: Millwall, Middlesbrough, and Southampton. After their relegation last season, the Saints have clawed their way back into playoff contention, while Hull City, Derby County, and Wrexham remain in the hunt for the sixth and final playoff position.

Current Promotion Standings (Automatic + Playoff Spots)

Coventry City — 92 points, +48 GD — PROMOTED AS CHAMPIONS
Ipswich Town — 80 points, +30 GD — Automatic spot
Millwall — 80 points, +13 GD — Playoffs
Middlesbrough — 79 points, +25 GD — Playoffs
Southampton — 76 points, +24 GD — Playoffs
Wrexham — 70 points, +4 GD — Playoffs
Hull City — 70 points, +3 GD
Derby County — 69 points, +9 GD

Scenarios for the Final Days

Ipswich Town faces Southampton on Tuesday in a pivotal match that could set the stage for a chaotic final day of the season. A victory for Ipswich would bring their points total to 83, putting them in a position where a draw in their last match would secure their promotion to the Premier League.

Should Southampton come out on top, the last Saturday of the season will be a nail-biter. Ipswich would finish with 80 points alongside Millwall, with Middlesbrough and Southampton trailing closely behind at 79 points each.

Wrexham currently has a narrow lead over Hull City for the last playoff spot, yet they face a tougher opponent in their final match. Hull City lies just a single goal behind Southampton in goal differential. If either team stumbles, Derby County has the opportunity to overtake both by defeating Sheffield United.

The final matchday will see all games kick off at 7:30 AM ET on Saturday. Here’s a list of the matches that will have playoff and promotion implications:

Derby County vs Sheffield United
Hull City vs Norwich City
Ipswich Town vs Queens Park Rangers
Millwall vs Oxford United
Preston North End vs Southampton

Typical Points Required for Promotion

In the past four seasons, the following are the minimum points required for automatic promotion:

2024-25: 100 points
2023-24: 96 points
2022-23: 91 points
2021-22: 88 points

As seen, the threshold for automatic promotion continues to rise, though this season may deviate from that trend.

Points Needed for Championship Playoffs

During the same four-year period, here are the points that have secured a sixth-place finish, the final playoff position:

2024-25: 68 points
2023-24: 73 points
2022-23: 69 points
2021-22: 75 points

Understanding the EFL Championship Promotion Playoffs

The teams that finish third through sixth will battle it out in the playoffs. The third-placed team faces the sixth-placed team in one semifinal, while the fourth-placed team goes against the fifth-placed team in the other semifinal.

The winners of these two semifinals will face off in the one-off Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium. This match is decisive and will be resolved on the day, utilizing extra time and penalties if necessary. The Championship playoff final is often referred to as the richest game in sports.

Promotion Predictions: Who Will Ascend to the Premier League? — By Nick Mendola

The Championship landscape can shift rapidly. Coventry City seemed to be faltering but bounced back decisively against Middlesbrough, led by Frank Lampard, putting them firmly back on top.

While Millwall has recently overtaken Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town is capitalizing on the opportunity, holding a point advantage with a match in hand. Kieran McKenna appears poised for another successful campaign.

Southampton has been making a strong comeback and remains in contention for automatic promotion.

Currently, we predict Ipswich Town will secure the second automatic promotion spot, while Middlesbrough, Millwall, Southampton, and Wrexham will compete in the playoffs — with Hull City still in close pursuit of the final spot amid Derby County, suggesting that Middlesbrough may well reclaim their place in the Premier League.