Hull City secures Premier League return with last‑minute win

Hull City defeated Middlesbrough 1‑0 in the Championship play‑off final at Wembley on 23 May 2026, sealing a return to the Premier League after a nine‑year absence. Oli McBurnie scored the decisive goal in the 95th minute after a cross from loanee Yu Hirakawa, ending a tightly contested match played in scorching heat.

The victory follows a dramatic pre‑match saga: Southampton were expelled from the play‑offs for spying on Middlesbrough’s training sessions – the “Spygate” scandal – and Middlesbrough were reinstated as Hull’s opponents with only days to adjust their preparation. Hull owner Acun Ilicali had warned of possible legal action if the club were denied promotion, but the appeal was not pursued after the win.

Hull’s achievement is notable for overcoming a summer transfer embargo, relying on free‑transfer signings and loan players, and becoming the first side to finish sixth in the Championship and win the play‑offs since Blackpool in 2010. Promotion is estimated to bring roughly £200 million in broadcast, sponsorship and parachute payments over the next three seasons.

Manager Sergej Jakirović praised the squad’s resilience, while the club also dealt with a minor security incident involving damage to a team bus shortly before the final. The win secures Hull City’s place in the top flight alongside Coventry City and Ipswich Town.