Hull City will be in the Premier League next season after beating Middlesbrough in a tense Championship play-off final at Wembley
Hull City have been promoted to the Premier League after a last-gasp Oli McBurnie goal against Middlesbrough. The Scottish striker struck deep into added time following an error from Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn, with his strike meaning they have been promoted from the Championship.
Upon scoring, the 29-year-old removed his shirt, and further jubilant scenes followed just moments later at the full-time whistle, with the Tigers back in England’s top-flight after nearly a decade in the Championship.
McBurnie was unsurprisingly mobbed by his team-mates while Boro players consoled Brynn following his error. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic also shared a warm embrace with the match-winner.
Speaking after his goal and the win, McBurnie said to Sky Sports: “For the first time ever, I think I’m speechless. It has been a long hard season and I think that game sums up. I don’t think we’ve won a game when having more possession.
“It was tough out there with the heat and Middlesbrough are a top team and we knew we’d be up against it but we felt we’d have one chance.
“I just felt like today it was written for me to get it. What a feeling man.”
It is quite the inspiring story for Hull having avoided relegation to League One in the 2024/25 season on goal difference.
They also sneaked into the final play-off position on the last day of the season with a semi-final victory over third-placed Millwall seeing them reach the showpiece clash.
The other semi-final between Southampton and Middlesbrough took all the headlines, however, due to the Spygate saga.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
The latter won their Championship play-off semi-final but were expelled from the £200million match by the EFL after it was revealed they had spied on Boro, Ipswich and Oxford United training sessions before playing them.
Saints appealed the decision but that was unsuccessful with a docking of four points for the 2026/27 season was confirmed as another punishment.
The two clubs at the centre of the scandal will meet again in the Championship next season with Boro suffering a second gut-wrenching defeat in the last few weeks with Hull earning promotion courtesy of McBurnie’s close-range finish.
The transfer impact of their defeat is also likely to be significant with key midfielder Hayden Hackney strongly linked to Manchester United.