Championship

Leeds United promoted back to the Premier League after 16-year absence

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 17 July 2020

Leeds United promoted to the Premier League

Leeds United's promotion back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence is confirmed courtesy of West Bromwich Albion's 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town.

Leeds United have been promoted back to the Premier League courtesy of Huddersfield Town's 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion this evening.

The result leaves Marcelo Bielsa's side five points clear of second-placed West Brom, who now only have one game left of their season, and six points above third-placed Brentford with two games left of their campaign.

The Baggies can therefore no longer catch Championship leaders Leeds, who now need only one more point from the final two games - or for Brentford to drop points - to be crowned champions.

Promotion ends Leeds' 16-year wait for a return to the Premier League - the joint-longest gap between relegation and promotion in the competition's history - having been relegated in 2004, just three years after reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Financial issues led to Leeds' initial relegation and continued to plague the club for some years afterwards, dropping down to League One for three seasons between 2007-08 and 2009-10.

The Whites, who have been crowned champions of England three times and most recently in 1991-92, are next in action away to Derby County on Sunday afternoon.