Sunderland’s return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence was sealed on May 24, 2025, with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium. The match, a tense affair that stretched over 100 minutes, showcased the resilience of a young Sunderland squad under manager Régis Le Bris.
But the epilogue was all that mattered – Sunderland promoted back to the Premier League! After such a long time, the Black Cats are back in the Prem with fans completely ecstatic about their comeback. We are not only getting back one of the most legendary and oldest clubs in England, but we will be watching the Tyne–Wear derby as both the Black Cats and the Magpies are in the same league.
A Dramatic Play-Off Final
The Championship play-off final was a closely fought contest. Sheffield United took the lead in the 25th minute through Tyrese Campbell, who capitalised on a swift counter-attack initiated by Gustavo Hamer after a cleared Sunderland corner. Despite early pressure from the Blades, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson kept his side in the game with a stunning save to deny Kieffer Moore’s header in the opening seconds.
The Black Cats struggled to create chances, managing just one shot on target by half-time. However, the tide turned in the final stages. Eliezer Mayenda equalised in the 76th minute, firing a powerful shot into the roof of the net after a precise pass from substitute Patrick Roberts. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, 19-year-old Tom Watson, set to join Brighton in the summer, intercepted a loose pass from Moore and curled a low shot into the bottom corner, securing a dramatic win.
The stands were sent into raptures as the players celebrated a return to the Premier League in a way that they could have only dreamed of.
Sunderland’s Fall and Rise
Sunderland’s last Premier League season was 2016/17, when they finished bottom with 24 points, ending a decade-long stint in the top flight. Relegation to the Championship was followed by a second consecutive drop to League One in 2017/18, a low point chronicled in the Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
The club spent four seasons in League One, battling financial constraints and inconsistent performances. Promotion back to the Championship came in 2021/22 under Alex Neil, with a 2-0 play-off win over Wycombe Wanderers. The 2022/23 season saw them reach the Championship play-offs, only to lose to Luton Town in the semi-finals. Last season’s 16th-place finish suggested a long road ahead, but Le Bris’s arrival in June 2024 galvanised the squad, leading to a fourth-place finish in 2024/25 with 76 points.
The Black Cats initially defeated Coventry City in the semifinals, 3-2 on aggregate. But the win was nothing but easy, as they went to overtime in the second game, where Daniel Ballard scored the equaliser in the 122nd minute of the game, which set the stage for their clash with the Blades.
The Challenge of Playing in the Premier League
Sunderland’s youthful squad, with an average age of 24.3, brings energy and potential to the Premier League. Key players like Jobe Bellingham (19) and Chris Rigg (17) have shown maturity beyond their years, with Bellingham logging over 3,700 Championship minutes and Rigg appearing in 44 matches.
Mayenda’s recent form, with nine goal involvements in 13 starts in 2025, suggests attacking promise. However, challenges loom. The potential departure of players like Watson and Bellingham could strain resources.
With only Luke O’Nien and Patrick Roberts over 25 in the play-off semi-final lineup, inexperience may be a hurdle against seasoned Premier League sides. The last six teams promoted via the play-offs have been relegated the following season, a trend Sunderland must defy.
Sunderland’s ceiling likely depends on recruitment and tactical discipline. A mid-table finish is plausible if Le Bris maintains the team’s cohesion, but staying in the Premier League will be the immediate priority.
