Sunderland secured promotion to the Premier League after their 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Wembley.
Sunderland ran out 2-1 victors in the Championship play-off final on Saturday against Sheffield United.
Chris Wilder’s Blades broke the deadlock after brilliant work from Gus Hamer set up Tyrese Campbell to dink the ball delicately over Anthony Patterson.
Referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR team chalked off Sheffield United’s second for offside before the half-time whistle went.
In the second 45′, Sunderland took the game to the Blades, with Eliezer Mayenda and Tommy Watson scoring two emphatic goals to send the red and white faithful into dreamland.
Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland have returned to the Premier League after an eight-year absence, but fans will have to wait a little longer for the official confirmation, as the red pyrotechnic dust settles on Wearside.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
When will Sunderland officially join the Premier League after play-off final win
Burnley and Leeds United secured automatic promotion to the Premier League after both sides finished the campaign with a 100-point tally.
Sunderland did it the hard way, beating Coventry City over the two play-off semi-final legs, before coming back from behind to beat the Blades 2-1 under the London sun on Saturday.
As the red and white smoke settles, the Premier League has made an official announcement as to when Sunderland, Burnley, and Leeds United will become official top flight teams.
The Premier League’s statement read: “Sunderland, along with Leeds and Burnley, will be formally confirmed as Premier League teams at the Premier League’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) this summer, when they are both issued with a share certificate.
“Their supporters will find out who they will face first in the 2025/26 season, due to start on 16 August, when the fixtures are released at 09:00 BST on Wednesday 18 June.
“The Premier League AGM takes place after the close of each season, at which time the relegated clubs transfer their shares to the clubs promoted into the Premier League from the English Football League Championship.”
Sunderland, Burnley, and Leeds swap places with Ipswich, Southampton, and Leicester for next term, and the Black Cats faithful will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the club’s most recent season spent in the top flight of English football.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Kevin Hodgson | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Regis Le Bris must not repeat Sunderland’s last Premier League season
Le Bris will be well aware of Sunderland’s last furore in the English top flight, and will be hoping to continue making positive history next season.
The Black Cats’ 2016/17 Premier League season ended in disaster, with David Moyes’ side ending rock bottom on 24 points, confirming their return to the second tier for the first time in ten years.
Despite boasting the youngest average starting age in the English Football League, Sunderland’s quality in their current squad completely trumps the lacklustre outfit Moyes had at his disposal.
On the 2016/17 Premier League season final day, Chelsea beat the Black Cats 5-1, with the likes of John O’Shea and Joleon Lescott starting for Sunderland.
Sunderland starting XI vs Chelsea, 2017 Sunderland starting XI vs Sheffield United in play-off final
Jordan Pickford Anthony Patterson
Billy Jones Trai Hume
John O’Shea Dan Ballard
Joleon Lescott Luke O’Nien
Javier Manquillo Dennis Cirkin
Seb Larsson Dan Neil
Lee Cattermole Jobe Bellingham
Jack Rodwell Enzo Le Fee
Bryan Oviedo Chris Rigg
Adnan Januzaj Romaine Mundle
Fabio Borini Eliezer Mayenda
Sunderland last Premier League XI vs play-off final XI
Fast forward eight seasons, and Sunderland possess some of England’s most promising young talent, including Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg.
Attention now turns to the summer transfer window, which will be imperative to the club’s prospects of avoiding instant dismissal in 12 months’ time.