Sheffield United must spend at least another season in the Championship having been beaten by Sunderland in the Championship play-off final.
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Sunderland will return to the Premier League next season after winning the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United but the club’s success will come at a cost for Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Premier League rivals.
The Black Cats haven’t played in the top flight since 2017, having plummeted down to League One in the years between now and then. Regis Le Bris’ side came back from 1-0 down against Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon thanks to brilliant finishes from Eliezer Mayenda and Tom Watson.
It’s a huge day for Sunderland with promotion to the Premier League worth £220 million to the North East outfit. Sheffield United will spend at least another season in the Championship having been relegated from the top flight last year.
Arsenal, Tottenham and Premier League rivals continue to pay Sheffield United parachute payments
Should the Blades have won at Wembley Stadium, it would have been a financial boost to every team in the Premier League due to how parachute payments work. However, since Sheffield United stay in the division below, they are still due payments that would otherwise have seen around £2 million given back to each club.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire took to social media platform X ahead of kick-off to explain how it works. He wrote: “It won’t just be the fans of Sunderland and Sheffield United with an interest in the Championship Playoff final today, Premier League clubs have a vested interest too. Under Premier League rules, clubs are entitled to three years of Parachute Payments when they are relegated to the Championship, although this is restricted to two years if they had previously been promoted and were immediately relegated.
“The parachute payments are calculated as being 55%, 45% and 20% respectively of the equal share elements of the Premier League distribution to its member clubs. This works out as £48m, £39m and £17m for the relegated clubs over a three year period. If a relegated club is then immediately promoted, then the parachute payments it was due to receive are retained by the Premier League and given to its own clubs.
Sheffield United continue to receive parachute payments
“Burnley and Leeds United have already been promoted to the Premier League which saves the Premier League £39m and £17m in 2025/26. If Sheffield United are promoted in the playoffs at the weekend this will be a further £39m. This could result in a total of £95 million coming back to the Premier League. Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton were relegated in 2024/25 having been promoted the previous season.
“This means that the Premier League will definitely not have to pay parachute payments in the third year, resulting in a further benefit to Premier League clubs of £51 million (3 x £17m). This could take the parachute payments benefit to existing PL clubs to £146 million. It’s the most valuable match in world football not just for the two clubs competing at Wembley, who can be £190m better off for winning.”
Arsenal last faced Sunderland in League Cup action in December 2021, recording a 5-1 win at the Emirates Stadium to book a place in the semi-final. Eddie Nketiah bagged a hat-trick in that match with Nicolas Pepe and Charlie Patino also on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, Spurs have not faced Sunderland since the 2016/17 Premier League season. There was only one goal in the two meetings that term, Spurs winning 1-0 at home thanks to a Harry Kane goal and then playing out a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.
In other news, Arsenal 'concerned' about future of key man as Mikel Arteta blocks exit.