Adam Armstrong was the Southampton matchwinner as his first-half goal was enough to see off a Leeds side that struggled to muster a meaningful response, with substitute Daniel James coming closest after his shot thundered against the bar late in the second half.
Southampton will join Leicester and Ipswich in the Premier League next season, the latter being promoted after a 22-year absence from the top flight, while the Foxes also returned at the first attempt after relegation last year.
Meanwhile, Leeds, whose ownership group contains major-winning golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, suffered more play-off heartache as they failed to go up via the route for a sixth time. After winning only one of their last six regular-season games to miss out on automatic promotion, questions will also be raised about the future of manager Daniel Farke.
1716741759Southampton secure most valuable win in football as Leeds fail to escape their past
After the expensive relegation, the lucrative promotion. Southampton contrived to finish bottom of the Premier League in a year when they spent some £160m, had three managers and only mustered six wins. They return to the world’s richest league courtesy of the world’s richest game, their prize for play-off victory probably beginning at £140m and, if they stay up, worth rather more. If Bobby Stokes, the hero of the 1976 FA Cup final, still has the most famous Wembley winner in Southampton’s history, Adam Armstrong has the most valuable. For Leeds, consigned to another season in the Championship, it ranks as the most costly.
A sixth unsuccessful play-off campaign means they are still without a win at Wembley since 1992. On the 35th anniversary of Don Revie’s death, the Damned United remain incapable of escaping their past. There was another kind of unwanted sequel: a third defeat to Southampton this season, with Armstrong scoring in all. There were times when Leeds looked like the finest team in the Championship but that trio of losses to Southampton means that, unlike Saints and Leicester, they have not rebounded to the top flight.
In the dugouts, the subplot started in Norfolk in 2017. For Russell Martin, the Norwich captain bombed out to train with the Under 23s seven years ago, it was revenge on Daniel Farke, the manager who exiled him. Martin has reinvented himself as a coach and this was his first promotion in charge. Indeed, there was a danger his reign would descend into disaster when Saints lost four consecutive games in September. A win over Farke’s Leeds was the catalyst for a 25-game unbeaten run. Now another has made him a Premier League manager.
Read Richard Jolly’s full report from Wembley:
Southampton secure most valuable win in football as Leeds fail to escape their past
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: Adam Armstrong’s first-half goal sent the Saints back into the Premier League at the first time of asking and condemned Leeds to more play-off woe
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:42
1716740577Southampton promoted to the Premier League
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:22
1716740260REACTION: Southampton players reflect on play-off final victory
Captain Jack Stephens and goalscorer Adam Armstrong discuss the dramatic victory over Leeds
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:17
1716739759FULL-TIME! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
Here’s the moment Southampton’s Premier League return was sealed!
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:09
1716739663FULL-TIME! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
Leeds’s play-off heartache continues. Six attempts to go up via the play-offs, six failures. But Southampton are back up and Russell Martin’s men will be playing Premier League football.
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:07
1716739519FULL-TIME! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
AND THEY’VE DONE IT! SOUTHAMPTON ARE BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
At the first time of asking, they’ve bounced back from relegation and gone up through the Championship play-offs.
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:05
1716739429Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+10 mins: Saints fans in full, full voice now. Their team are just seconds away...
James’s cross is thumped all the way up to the halfway line and Southampton then win a throw-in on the right. They’re all but there!
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:03
1716739357Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+9 mins: Leeds pumping the ball long. Crossed into the box and Anthony handballs it trying to control. Free-kick for Southampton.
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:02
1716739318Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+8 mins: Remember, nine minutes of injury-time were signalled but it will be more than that after the James and Walker-Peters head injuries.
McCarthy off his line again to punch away and Armstrong then completes the clearance up to Aribo. Leeds with a throw-in deep in their own half.
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:01
1716739222Leeds 0-1 Southampton
90+7 mins: A throw-in and then a free-kick for Southampton in Leeds territory as Rodon commits the foul. This is vital seconds ticking off the clock.
Luke Baker26 May 2024 17:00
FAQs
At the Premier League's Annual General Meeting (AGM) the change from 2023/24 to the 2024/25 campaign has been formalised. Following their respective promotions from the EFL Championship, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton can now officially state that they are part of the Premier League.
When was the last time the Leeds played at Wembley? ›
The 2008 Football League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 25 May 2008 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from Football League One to the Football League Championship.
How many times has Leeds UTD been in the playoffs? ›
Leeds have now failed to win promotion from all six of their EFL Play-Off appearances and have lost all of their three most recent Wembley finals without scoring a goal.
What channel is Leeds vs. Southampton on? ›
How to watch Leeds vs Southampton. TV channel: In the UK, today's game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. Coverage starts at 2pm BST.
Who is the best football player in the world 2024? ›
Best players at Euro 2024
- Rodri (Spain)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
- Jude Bellingham (England)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
The promoted teams are Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton. Leicester and Southampton will return after one year absences, while Ipswich will return after a twenty-two year absence.
Are Leeds a big club? ›
Leeds could be huge. The city is the biggest in England to be served by a single football club. Elland Road is ferocious and the locals proud. No worries about seeing the red of Manchester or Liverpool on the streets of West Yorkshire.
Who owns Leeds United FC? ›
Leeds United Football Club Limited is 100% owned by 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group LLC, a company registered in Delaware. Paraag Marathe and Jed York own over 10% in the 49ers Enterprises Partners LLC (the only entity that holds voting rights in the owner, 49ers Enterprises Global Football Group LLC).
How many times have Leeds been in the FA Cup final? ›
Leeds have finished runners-up three times in the competition (1-2 v Liverpool 1965, 1-2 replay v Chelsea in 1970, 0-1 v Sunderland in 1973). There have been 10 hat-tricks scored by 9 different Leeds players in the FA Cup.
Has Leeds United ever won a trophy? ›
Leeds United have won the League Championship three times, four Second Division titles, the FA Cup once, the League Cup once, the Charity Shield twice and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice.
Home to Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919, the ground has a capacity of 37,890. Elland Road is dominated by the East Stand on one side of the stadium.
When did Leeds last win the top division? ›
WELCOME TO LEEDS UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
- Football League First Division. Champions (3): 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92. Runners-up (5): 1964–65, 1965–66, 1969– 70, 1970–71, 1971–72. ...
- FA Cup. Winners (1): 1971–72. Runners-up (3): 1964–65, 1969–70, 1972–73. ...
- European Cup/Champions League. Runners-up (1): 1974–75. UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
Leeds vs Southampton: Follow Championship play-off final live - BBC Sport.
Is the play-off final on radio? ›
Sly Sports has the rights to the Football League and will be showing the final on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. The highlights will be shown on ITV4 at 10pm and again on ITV1 at 11.20pm. TalkSport has the exclusive national radio rights for the match and starts its coverage at 1.30pm.
Is the Leeds United match on radio? ›
Local Radio
Yorkshire Radio (DAB) is Leeds Uniteds own Radio station and broadcasts from studios at Elland Road and provides matchday commentary for all Leeds United matches.
What teams are being promoted to the Premier League next season? ›
Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds are the three Championship sides that have been promoted for the 2024-25 Premier League next season. Southampton won the Championship playoffs final against Leeds United on Sunday to become the third and final team to win promotion to the Premier League next season.
Who got promoted from League 1 in 2024? ›
The top two teams of the 2023–24 EFL League One, Portsmouth and Derby County, gained automatic promotion to the Championship.
Who is going up to the Premier League next year? ›
Teams promoted to Premier League 2024: Southampton join Leicester City, Ipswich Town in promotion from Championship. We now know which teams have won promotion to the Premier League from the EFL Championship. Leicester City secured their place back in England's top flight for 2024/25 as champions of the second tier.
What teams are coming up to the Premier League? ›
With all three teams promoted to the Premier League for 2024-25 now confirmed, get the lowdown on Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton.
