Southampton have secured an immediate return to the Premier League with a victory over Leeds in the Championship play-off final, earning them a £140m windfall.
Following a disappointing campaign that ended their 11-year stay in the top flight, the Saints, who finished fourth in the Championship, joined Leicester and Ipswich in promotion.
The decisive goal came from Adam Armstrong, who finished clinically after being set up by Will Smallbone. Despite Leeds’ efforts, including a late attempt by substitute Dan James that hit the crossbar, Russell Martin’s team held firm during nearly 12 minutes of added time.
Leeds, who have now lost three consecutive finals at Wembley without scoring, will remain in the Championship. The play-off finals this year were notable for being won by the teams finishing lower in the league, with the higher-placed teams failing to score.
Both sides entered the final following strong semi-final second-leg performances; Leeds defeated Norwich 4-0, while Southampton triumphed 3-1 over West Bromwich Albion. Armstrong’s goal, his 24th of the season, broke the deadlock after a tightly contested first quarter.
Chances were limited thereafter, with Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville missing the target and Southampton’s Samuel Edozie failing to capitalize on a counterattack. James had two opportunities to equalize, but Alex McCarthy’s impressive save and the crossbar kept Southampton ahead.
This promotion marks Russell Martin’s first managerial success, having taken over at Southampton last summer after stints with MK Dons and Swansea. Despite a rocky start, including the sale of captain James Ward-Prowse and a run of four straight defeats in September, Martin’s side turned their season around with a 25-game unbeaten run that began with a win over Leeds in late September.
Although automatic promotion slipped away in April, Southampton’s play-off performance ensured their return to the Premier League, capping off a remarkable turnaround under Martin’s leadership.