- Southampton promoted to the Premier League after beating Leeds
- Saints have made a huge £180m windfall in football’s most lucrative game
- Kane first, Saka second… which player in Gareth Southgate’s squad has the third most goals for England? Listen to the It’s all starting! Podcast
Southampton were promoted to the Premier League after beating Leeds United 1-0 in the championship play-off final, the most lucrative match in football.
Adam Armstrong’s first-half goal secured a tense 1-0 win for the Saints at Wembley and, crucially, earned them an incomparable £180million payday.
The striker timed his run perfectly to meet Will Smallbone’s pass and slotted his 24th, and most important, goal of the season into the far corner.
Leeds pushed for an equalizer after the break but Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto squandered golden opportunities to save their top-flight dream.
Substitute Daniel James hit a powerful shot off the crossbar seven minutes from time as the Whites increased the pressure.
The final whistle blew shortly afterwards, securing Russell Martin’s Saints a place at the top of the English football pyramid after just one season in the second division.
Just 12 months ago the club, owned by Serbian media magnate Dragan Solak, had finished bottom of the Premier League, 11 points from safety.
Leeds had also fallen out of the Championship after finishing in 19th place.
However, this season both clubs were forced to settle for the play-offs, despite fighting for automatic places. Leeds finished third ahead of fourth-placed Saints.
The Saints beat West Bromwich Albion in the two-legged semi-final, while Leeds claimed a 4-0 aggregate victory over Norwich City after a convincing home victory.
Whites manager Daniel Farke rolled the dice at Wembley as his team chased a late equalizer but Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, apart from James’ goal, was rarely tested.
Leeds’ play-off heartbreak condemned them to a sixth failed long-term promotion attempt and a second consecutive season in the Championship.
The money at stake would have only increased his agony.
According to Deloitte, the £180m figure takes into account projected increases in commercial, broadcast and matchday revenue across the Premier League.
The sports business group has also predicted this windfall could rise to more than £300m if the Saints survive their first season back in the top flight.