The return of Leeds United and Burnley to the Premier League is set to be of financial benefit for top flight sides.
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Leeds United and Burnley have booked a place in the Premier League next season with the top two of the Championship table confirmed for this season following the latest round of results on Easter Monday.
Daniel Farke’s side thrashed Stoke City 6-0 at Elland Road while Burnley got the better of promotion rivals Sheffield United with a 2-1 win at Turf Moor. The Whites and the Clarets will take the place of Southampton and Leicester City, with both sides already condemned to relegation following dismal top flight seasons.
Ipswich Town are set to join the Saints and Foxes with all three of last year’s promoted Championship sides headed straight back down to the second tier. The Tractor Boys must win all of their remaining games and overturn a 20-goal difference with 17th placed West Ham to stay up, with the Hammers needing just one point.
Why West Ham and Spurs benefit from Leeds United and Burnley promotion
The promoted and relegated sides once again points to an ever-growing chasm in quality between the Premier League and Championship with the same teams yo-yoing between divisions. However, the return of Leeds United and Burnley to the Premier League is good financial news for West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and rivals.
Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League in 2023 with Burnley going down last summer. Both clubs have received parachute payments from the Premier League and would have been due them for the 2025/26 season if promotion had not been achieved, as pointed out by LiverpoolWorld.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire claims that Leeds United and Burnley would have been in line for £51 million but that fee will now be divided equally between the current top flight teams. That means that West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and rivals will have £2.55 million added to their finances.
Maguire, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, posted on X: “When Leicester & Southampton were relegated in 2022/23 and promoted the following season £102m in parachute payments were saved...these savings have been split between Premier League clubs. Should Burnley and Leeds be promoted today then a further £51m will be saved...this will also be divided between PL clubs.”
Maguire added: “Instead of receiving parachute payments of £35m and £16m next season Burnley and Leeds will both be picking up £110m plus in the Premier League. The parachute payments not being paid out will be divided by the 20 PL clubs.”
Sheffield United still in contention for Premier League promotion
Sheffield United still have a chance of promotion to the Premier League via the play-off spots and, should Chris Wilder’s side manage that, more savings will be on the way to current top flight sides. The Blades are guaranteed to finish third but have never tasted success in the play-offs, despite vying for promotion through that format nine times in the club’s history.
Reacting to his side’s possible promotion ahead of the Burnley result, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke said: "I normally celebrate with cake and coffee on the sofa because I'm at an age where I'm pretty tired after a game if I'm honest. If there is something major to celebrate, I'm not sure. If I have to back one side to go to Burnley and get a win it's Chris Wilder's boys. This league is crazy and I'm just willing to celebrate when it's just really done.
"This was a major step. If there's something to celebrate maybe today and one of the next days believe me I will be a fire beast, there will be some other drinks. Normally I like to speak about the next training session but I will be the first on the table."
In other news, West Ham stance on Portsmouth and Bristol City loans as Graham Potter plots rebuild.