Leicester City’s relegation to the Championship, confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on April 20, 2025, sets the stage for a fiercely competitive 2025-26 EFL Championship season. Joining Ipswich Town and Southampton as the three teams relegated from the Premier League, Leicester’s arrival adds intrigue to a second tier already brimming with ambitious clubs, fallen giants, and playoff hopefuls vying for a Premier League return. As the 2024-25 Championship season nears its climax with four matches remaining, the current promotion race offers a glimpse of the challenges Leicester will face next season, while their presence promises to intensify the battle for the 2025-26 campaign.
The 2024-25 Championship season is reaching a thrilling conclusion, with Leeds United and Burnley leading the charge for the two automatic promotion spots. Leeds, with 88 points, are favorites to secure a Premier League return, bolstered by a 1-0 win over Oxford and a 94.5% chance of promotion per Opta’s supercomputer. Burnley, also on 88 points but trailing on goal difference, have been defensively resolute, conceding just 11 goals in 38 matches and maintaining a 12-match clean sheet streak. Despite 14 draws, Scott Parker’s side remain in the title race with a 53.6% chance of a top-two finish. Sheffield United, on 83 points, have stumbled with three consecutive losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle, diminishing their automatic promotion hopes to 61.7%. They are almost certain to secure a playoff spot, joined by Sunderland, who have locked in a playoff position despite recent struggles. Bristol City, Coventry City, West Brom, Middlesbrough, and Millwall are scrapping for the final two playoff berths, with the semi-finals set for May 8-13 and the final at Wembley on May 24, 2025, a match dubbed the “richest game in football” for its £170m-£305m prize.
Leicester’s relegation, alongside Ipswich and Southampton, reshapes the 2025-26 Championship landscape. The Foxes, Premier League champions in 2015-16 and FA Cup winners in 2021, bring pedigree, a passionate fanbase, and financial resources bolstered by parachute payments estimated at £103.6m in their first year. However, their dismal 2024-25 season, with just four wins and 18 points from 33 matches, highlights the challenges ahead. Their squad, featuring veterans like Jamie Vardy and young talents like Abdul Fatawu, faces uncertainty, with Vardy’s contract nearing its end and players like Fatawu and Harry Winks likely to attract Premier League interest. Financial constraints, including potential Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) penalties, could limit transfer activity, while manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s future is in doubt after winning just three of 22 matches. Leicester’s Championship-winning squad from 2023-24, including Mads Hermansen and Wilfried Ndidi, provides a foundation, but retaining key players and addressing off-field unrest will be critical if they are to emerge as promotion favorites.
Ipswich and Southampton, the other relegated sides, will also be formidable contenders in 2025-26. Ipswich, who earned 96 points as Championship runners-up in 2023-24, have a proven second-tier setup under Kieran McKenna, though squad retention will be key. Southampton, promoted via the 2024 playoffs, boast recent Championship experience and talents like Adam Armstrong, with parachute payments providing financial flexibility. Established Championship sides missing out on promotion in 2024-25, such as Sheffield United, Sunderland, West Brom, or Middlesbrough, will remain threats, while newly promoted League One clubs like Birmingham City, who have already clinched the League One title, and potentially Oxford United, add depth. Birmingham, backed by ambitious ownership, could emerge as a dark horse, further complicating the promotion race.
The 2025-26 promotion battle will hinge on several factors. Parachute payments give Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton a financial edge, but PSR constraints and the need to offload high-earners could pose challenges. Managerial stability will be crucial, with Leicester’s potential need for a new manager contrasting with the proven track records of McKenna and Southampton’s Russell Martin. Squad retention and strategic recruitment, particularly in attack, will be vital, as the Championship’s physical and tactical demands require depth, as evidenced by Burnley’s defensive success this season. The playoffs, known for their unpredictability, will offer a high-stakes path to promotion, where Leicester’s experience in tight matches could prove valuable, though they’ll face fierce competition from battle-hardened Championship sides. For now, the 2024-25 season’s conclusion will set the stage, with Leeds and Burnley poised for automatic promotion and the playoffs promising drama. Leicester, watching from the sidelines, must regroup and prepare for a grueling campaign to reclaim their Premier League status in a Championship that promises to be more competitive than ever.