The Championship play-off final is often dubbed the richest game in football, offering not just promotion to the Premier League but also the promise of financial transformation.
For many clubs, it’s a shot at redemption, while for others, it marks the culmination of long-term ambition and growth.
Over the past five years, the play-offs have delivered drama, fairy tales, and unforgettable moments for fan bases who perhaps never dreamed of watching their team play Premier League football.
With the stage set for the 2025 play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 24, and the Blades the favourite if you’re seeking a Sheffield United vs Sunderland bet, here’s a look at the last five winners of the Championship play-offs.
2024: Southampton – Saints shock Leeds to bounce back at first attempt
Southampton caused a surprise in the 2024 Championship play-off final by defeating Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley.
Having been relegated from the Premier League after finishing bottom in 2023, the Saints made an immediate return thanks to a resolute and tactically disciplined performance.
Under the stewardship of manager Russell Martin, Southampton reinvented their style, placing faith in a possession-based philosophy.
The decisive goal in the final came from Adam Armstrong, whose superb finish proved enough to down a Leeds side that had looked dangerous all season.
Many saw Southampton’s promotion as a minor upset, with Leeds heading into the game as favourites in the Championship odds.
The Saints will have to do it all again next year, as the south coast side were relegated straight back to the second tier.
2023: Luton Town – From non-league to Premier League in a decade
Luton Town’s 2023 play-off triumph was the stuff of footballing folklore. Just ten years earlier, the Hatters were battling in the National League.
Their rise through the football pyramid reached its zenith when they beat Coventry City on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The final was tense and emotional. Jordan Clark opened the scoring for Luton before Gustavo Hamer equalised for Coventry.
Neither side could find a winner in extra time, and the game went to penalties, where Luton held their nerve to win 6-5.
Rob Edwards, who had only taken charge midway through the season, masterminded one of the most remarkable promotions in modern English football.
Kenilworth Road, their famously compact and old-school home ground, became a symbol of their journey — a small club punching far above its weight.
Luton have since suffered back-to-back relegations and find themselves in League One next season. It will be a tough task for them to turn their luck around again.
2022: Nottingham Forest – A giant awakens after a 23-year absence
One of English football’s sleeping giants, Nottingham Forest, finally returned to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year exile.
Their 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the play-off final was historic—not just for the result but also for the story behind their revival.
Forest had started the 2021/22 season poorly and were bottom of the Championship in September. But the arrival of Steve Cooper transformed their fortunes, and a remarkable run saw them storm into the play-off positions.
The final at Wembley was settled by an own goal from Huddersfield’s Levi Colwill, but Forest’s overall performance across the second half of the season had earned them their place in the top flight.
Their promotion reawakened memories of past glories, including back-to-back European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980, and brought one of English football’s great names back to the elite level.
Forest narrowly avoided relegation in their first two seasons, but have been a tough nut to crack under Nuno Espirito Santo this year—going on a charge for a European spot.
2021: Brentford – Bees reach the Premier League for the first time
Brentford finally shook off their play-off hoodoo in 2021 to earn promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history.
Having suffered heartbreak in the 2020 final, they returned stronger and more determined, beating Swansea City 2-0 to make their long-awaited top-flight debut.
Ivan Toney opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and Emiliano Marcondes added a second to cap a dream first half.
Brentford controlled the game from start to finish, showing maturity and composure beyond their years.
Under Thomas Frank, the West London club had developed a reputation for smart recruitment and an innovative, data-driven approach.
Their promotion was seen as a victory for modern football management, and it brought Premier League football to the club for the first time since 1947.
Brentford remain a mainstay in the Premier League to this day, and could finish in the top half of the table for the second time since their promotion four years ago.
2020: Fulham – Extra-time glory behind closed doors
The 2020 Championship play-off final was unlike any other, played in the eerie silence of an empty Wembley Stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the absence of fans didn’t diminish the drama, as Fulham edged their West London rivals Brentford 2-1 after extra time.
Joe Bryan was the unlikely hero, scoring twice in extra time — the first a clever free-kick from distance that caught the goalkeeper off guard, and the second a composed finish after a surging run.
Henrik Dalsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the dying moments, but it was too late to deny Fulham.
The Cottagers would return to the Championship at the first time of asking, but won the Championship in 2022 and have stopped the narrative of them being a yo-yo club.
