Hull City, Owned by Acun Ilıcalı, Become the Last Team Promoted to the Premier League

In English football, the final promotion ticket of the 2025/26 season found its owner in a dramatic Wembley final. Hull City and Middlesbrough faced each other in the Championship playoff final; the winning team would earn the right to compete in the Premier League in the 2026/27 season. Hull City, owned by Turkish media mogul Acun Ilıcalı, experienced the joy of promotion by winning this critical match 1-0. Thus, the Tigers became the third and last team promoted to the Premier League, after Coventry City (champions) and Ipswich Town (second).

The match's only goal came in the final moments of the encounter. In a match that passed quite barren in terms of goal-scoring chances in the first half, Middlesbrough looked like the side with more possession and more control of the game. However, they failed to break through the opposing defense, and the half ended goalless. After a tense wait that extended into stoppage time, Oliver McBurnie determined the fate of the match. The experienced forward, with the goal he scored in the final minutes, became the name that carried Hull City to the Premier League and gave the Hull fans at Wembley an unforgettable moment.

For Hull City, this promotion means the end of a long wait. The club had last been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2016/17 season. With this victory, the Tigers returned to England's top flight after a nine-year gap. The promotion came in manager Sergej Jakirovic's first season in charge of the club. Hull under Jakirovic delivered a strong performance on the road to the final and showed their character at critical moments. This achievement is being evaluated as one of the club's most important sporting gains in recent years.

Hull City's road to the final was also notable. The Tigers had been the first team to reach the final by defeating Millwall 2-0 on aggregate in the two-legged semifinal. Advancing with goals from Mohamed Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt in the return leg played at The Den, Hull had secured their place in the final early. This consistent performance was an indicator of the club's determination in the playoff process. Hull had drawn a picture of being both physically and mentally ready as they reached the final.

The process of determining the final's opponent, meanwhile, was overshadowed by a scandal in English football. Middlesbrough had lost 2-1 on aggregate to Southampton in the semifinal; however, they were included in the final upon Southampton's expulsion from the playoffs by an Independent Disciplinary Commission. According to the EFL's statement, Southampton had admitted to "multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training." This "Spygate" scandal led to Southampton's disqualification and Middlesbrough's inclusion in the final with only a few days' notice. This situation made the conditions of the final unusual.

For Middlesbrough, meanwhile, the disappointment continued. The northern side had participated in the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and aimed to end a nine-year top-flight wait. Boro had finished the regular season in fifth place, seven points ahead of Hull City. After manager Rob Edwards left for Wolves in November, they had fought for automatic promotion under new manager Kim Hellberg but had fallen four points short of the target. Middlesbrough, one of the 22 clubs in the original Premier League squad in 1992, had to wait once more for a return to the top flight.

The financial dimension of the promotion is also quite large. It is estimated that promotion to the Premier League could provide the club with around £200-220 million in additional revenue over several seasons, including broadcast revenue, commercial deals, and sponsorship growth. Clubs promoted to the Premier League receive a share of the league's massive broadcasting deal; each team can earn around £80-85 million per season from central TV and commercial revenue alone. For this reason, promotion stands out as a strategic gain that goes far beyond a success won on the pitch, directly affecting the club's economic future as well.

In conclusion, Hull City's promotion to the Premier League was the climax of a dramatic season and an eventful playoff process. McBurnie's late goal ended a nine-year wait, carrying the club back to England's top flight. The club, owned by Acun Ilıcalı, will now prepare for the tough competition of the Premier League in the 2026/27 season. It is noted that the real challenge for the Tigers will begin next season in order to be a permanent fixture in the league. The Premier League roster has officially been completed with Hull City's participation as well.