The thrilling season finale in the Championship has produced a second team to be promoted directly to the Premier League: Ipswich Town. Southampton FC, on the other hand, will have to go through the play-offs.
The champion of England’s second division had already been decided some time ago, with Coventry City returning to the Premier League after 25 years. But as of Saturday afternoon, it is also clear who will definitely follow manager Frank Lampard’s team to the top flight: relegated Ipswich Town (84 points), which went into the season finale with a one-point cushion, secured direct promotion.
The Tractor Boys, who had previously won only one of their last five matches, defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-0 in front of a euphoric home crowd at Portman Road. Their direct rivals, Millwall FC (2-0 against Oxford United) and Middlesbrough FC (2-2 at AFC Wrexham), came up empty-handed instead and must now take the detour through the playoffs.
The “German” club in the Championship must also face this extended season: FC Southampton, coached by 33-year-old German Tonda Eckert, who signed Caspar Jander (1. FC Nürnberg), Leonardo Scienza (1. FC Heidenheim), Damion Downs (1. FC Köln, transferred to HSV), Joshua Quarshie (TSG Hoffenheim), and Daniel Peretz (FC Bayern), finished fourth.
In the promotion playoffs—which Sunderland won last year and whose format will change for the new season—the Saints will first face Middlesbrough FC in a two-leg series. The other semifinal will be contested by Millwall FC and Hull City (2-1 against Norwich City).
Southampton had effectively ruined their own chances of a thrilling season finale: On Tuesday evening, Eckert’s team conceded a 2-2 equalizer three minutes before the end in their rescheduled match against Ipswich Town, thereby eliminating any chance of competing directly for promotion on the final matchday.
Leicester City is relegated—and Sheffield Wednesday in spectacular fashion
Incidentally, the three teams relegated to third-tier League One had already been determined before the season finale: Oxford United had held out hope of avoiding relegation the longest, but ultimately finished in 22nd place. Right behind them, ten years after their sensational Premier League title, Leicester City were relegated as the second-to-last team. However, the Foxes also had six points deducted in early February for violating profit and sustainability rules.
Sheffield Wednesday, coached until twelve days before the start of the season by German coach Danny Röhl—who now successfully leads Glasgow Rangers—finished dead last. The historic club had twelve points deducted due to a filing for insolvency. In early December 2025, six more points were deducted for violations of EFL payment obligations.
