Premier League promotion: Southampton beat Leeds in playoff, join Leicester and Ipswich Town in top flight

Southampton booked a place in next season’s Premier League competition on Sunday, defeating Leeds United in the Championship promotion playoffs final at London’s Wembley Stadium 1-0.

Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game in the 24th minute, netting his 21st goal of the season to seal the deal for his side. The final was played quite modestly by both sides, neither of whom managed more than 10 shots or three shots on target. Leeds were arguably wasteful throughout the match, having just one of their 10 shots on target.

The Saints now join Leicester City and Ipswich Town as promoted teams for the 2024-25 Premier League season, returning to England’s top flight after being relegated for the 2022-23 season.

Here’s what you need to know about next season’s Premier League newcomers.

City of Leicester

A season after their shock relegation to the Championship, Leicester managed to bounce back to the Premier League after finishing in first place. The team with one of the highest wage bills in the second division has enjoyed success with a combination of personnel with top-flight experience and those hoping to make a name for themselves when they arrive next season, including the new manager – and Pep Guardiola’s former assistant at Manchester City – Enzo Marseca.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been one of Leicester’s standout performers this season with 12 goals and 14 assists, while Abdul Fatawu has provided 13 assists and former England international Jamie Vardy has led the team with 16 goals this season. Marseca’s team ranked in the top two in goals per game at 1.9 and average ball possession at 62.1%, and their defensive effort was equally noteworthy. They have conceded the fewest goals in the league, conceding 0.9 goals per game on their return to the Premier League.

City of Ipswich

Ipswich returned to the Premier League for the first time since 2002 and did so in style, just a year after securing promotion from League One. They finished just one point behind Leicester in the table thanks to the leadership of Kieran McKenna, the former -Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United youth coach who impressed enough in his first managerial role to become England’s most sought-after person with a high profile. vacancies at United, Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion this summer.

McKenna’s side followed an attacking philosophy in the league, leading the league with two goals per game in the process. Leif Davis led the league with 18 assists this season, while Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead scored 13 goals each to help the team secure promotion. They have managed to considerably exceed expected goals this season, scoring 92 goals out of 75.1 expected goals, which could lead to a degree of uncertainty leading up to the top flight – and that’s without considering their managerial situation.

Southampton

Like Leicester, Southampton returned to the Premier League after winning the championship playoffs final. They secured a place in the playoffs after finishing fourth, but despite some tough post-season battles, they impressed in several categories and hope to play impressively in the top flight next season.

Russell Martin’s Saints team prefers to hold the ball, leading the league in average possession at 66% this season. It was the basis of a heavy attacking performance in the Championship, ranking third in goals per game with 1.9, second in expected goals with 81 and first in shots on target per game with 5.8. The top scorer in the playoff final, Armstrong, was the team’s offensive highlight, scoring 24 goals and 13 assists this season.