The 2024-25 season is coming to an end, yet we’re eagerly anticipating what lies ahead with a particularly intriguing set of promoted teams across Europe’s premier five leagues.
Leicester City, Bochum, Monza, Las Palmas, and Montpellier are some of the teams set for demotion to play in the second division next season. However, which clubs will step up to compete in European soccer’s top divisions?
Here are all the clubs that have secured promotion to one of Europe’s top divisions – Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Ligue 1 – for the 2025-26 season.
Leeds United
Leeds have returned to the top tier with their second try after accumulating an impressive total of 190 points during Daniel Farke’s tenure of two years at Elland Road.
Following his two promotions with Norwich City, Farke has proven himself yet again as an adept coach for the Championship level. However, amid speculations about a potential harsh exit during the summer, will he now prove that he possesses the skills necessary to succeed as a Premier League manager?
Unjustly or not, the German manager still carries somewhat of a reputation akin to that of Robbie Earnshaw or Adam Armstrong—someone who performs exceptionally well in the Championship but doesn’t quite measure up at the Premier League level.
Given their grandiose plans for stadium development and substantial financial commitments pledged for the transfer window, Leeds appears poised to avoid the common pitfall faced by newly promoted teams who quickly drop back down. The possibilities seem promising; keep an eye out for developments.
Burnley
Similar to Farke, Scott Parker doesn’t boast an impressive Premier League coaching record. His average points per game stands at just 0.77, which is the lowest among coaches who have managed 50 or more games.
However, you can’t dispute the fact that he achieved three promotions with three distinct clubs over merely three seasons in the Championship. Notably, Burnley secured promotion convincingly, matching Leeds’ tally of 100 points and setting multiple records for defensive play.
Parker allowed nine goals during the match.
his final game as a Premier League coach
, yet his Burnley side conceded just 16 (!) goals over 46 games in the 2024-25 season. Has he developed as a coach?
Trouble could be looming, however. Centre-back CJ Egan-Riley’s contract is expiring and he is anticipated to depart, his teammate Maxime Esteve has expressed his wish to compete at a more advanced level, and goalkeeper James Trafford has been closely connected with a move to Newcastle.
Parker and the club’s recruitment team would have their hands full with plenty of work ahead as they lose the whole defensive lineup that helped elevate the team.
Sunderland
Sunderland finished with 24 points less than both Leeds and Burnley, and trailed third-place Sheffield United by 14 points, following their defeat in the final five games of the regular season.
Regis Le Bris’ strategy to rest, rotate, and regroup for the playoffs turned out to be brilliant. This approach ensured his team remained energetic enough to secure crucial late goals in both the semi-finals and the final. The highlight was undoubtedly young local player Tom Watson scoring an exhilarating last-minute winner at Wembley, a moment sure to resonate deeply with fans for years to come.
After an absence of eight years, they have returned, having spent four of those years in the heart of League One.
This team consists of very young players, and they are already considered strong contenders to come last place next year. However, acknowledging their shortcomings and adopting a pragmatic approach could prove beneficial for them.
FC Koln
The Billy Goats returned immediately to Germany’s top football division upon clinching the top spot in the Bundesliga II.
Barnsley cult hero Gerhard Struber took charge for most of the campaign but was sensationally sacked on the eve of the run-in. Veteran coach Friedhelm Funkel, who has served twice in the post before, was brought in to get them over the line.
You wouldn’t be making a mistake by planning a short trip to Cologne for next year. Be sure to drop by Lukas Podolski’s kebab shop after the match.
Hamburg
Koln will be joined in the Bundesliga next season by runners-up Hamburg, who ignited jubilant festivities in the harbor city after breaking their seven-year absence from the top tier.
Bundesliga II has seen many prominent teams falter, including Schalke, Hertha Berlin, and FC Kaiserslautern, yet it was Hamburg that managed things best and secured their position.
Smaller clubs like SV Elversberg narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing just one point below the desired position, but they failed to move forward after losing their playoff match against Heidenheim.
Keep an eye out for the first high-level Hamburg derby against St. Pauli in 15 years. Yum.
Levante
Three years after experiencing a disappointing relegation due to a underperforming late-career Shkodran Mustafi struggling in defense, Levante have returned to La Liga.
The team based in Valencia secured their position in the top flight over the weekend with a wild 3-2 win against Burgos, clinched in the 97th minute. That’s how you get it done.
As the Segunda División season draws to a close with just one match remaining, Elche find themselves well-positioned for the second direct promotion slot.
However, Mirandes and Santi Cazorla’s Real Oviedo are ready to take advantage if they falter.
READ:
6 players from Spain’s Segunda División who have vanished from the football scene
Lorient
The Hakes have immediately returned to France’s top division after winning the Ligue 2 championship.
In Lorient’s corner, we find the charmingly named Olivier Pantaloni coaching from the sidelines, whereas Bournemouth boasts the promising young forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who made a significant impact with an impressive tally of 22 goals in just 30 outings during his loan spell.
One to keep an eye on when he returns to his parent club next season.
Paris FC
If you’ve glanced at social media, you’re likely aware that Paris FC has been promoted.
Posts about their stadium being practically adjacent to PSG’s Parc des Princes have been plentiful. In 2025, they will be similar to Luton Town and ‘صند
Can you imagine this becoming a Premier League stadium!?
‘
Nevertheless, an eagerly awaited Parisian derby in the top tier of French football should still be entertaining. It has been 46 years since Paris FC last competed in Ligue 1.
Under the leadership of billionaire Bernard Arnault and with investments from Red Bull, Paris FC might be poised to create significant ripples during their first season back.
Currently, Metz is fighting to secure their position. They carry a 1-1 tie with Ligue 1 team Reims into the second leg of their relegation playoff match.
Sassuolo
Having been a consistent presence in Serie A for ten years, Sassuolo’s stint in Italy’s top division unexpectedly concluded last season. However, they have managed to reclaim their spot at the initial opportunity.
Club symbol Domenico Berardi remained steadfast and was pivotal in their Serie B championship run, contributing with six goals and 14 assists across only 29 matches.
Pisa
The Italian version of Scott Parker (though absolutely nobody refers to him this way) known as Pippo Inzaghi has recently achieved his third promotion with three distinct clubs. He led Venezia and Benevento to Serie A in the past few seasons.
Pisa hasn’t played in Italy’s top division since the 1990-91 season. This was long before the era of Channel 4’s famous show Football Italia and James Richardson enjoying his cappuccino while perusing Gazzetta.
Cremonese and Spezia will face off in the impending two-leg promotion playoff finale to secure their spots alongside Sassuolo and Pisa in the 2025-26 Serie A standings.
READ NEXT:
A merged team comprising players from both newly promoted and relegated clubs that might secure Premier League safety.
TRY A QUIZ:
Could you list all the teams that have been promoted to the Premier League through the playoffs?
