Championship promotion odds 2025/26: Ipswich and Southampton fancied for quick Premier League return ...Middle East

The Championship has long been one of the most engaging and entertaining leagues in European football, and this season promises more of the same.

The push for promotion to the promised land of the Premier League is more competitive than ever before, and there will be no shortage of twists and turns throughout the marathon 46-game campaign. Given what we have seen in recent years, would anyone be surprised if the race went right down to the wire?

The Championship promotion odds show Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and Coventry City are the favourites with the bookies at the time of writing, but anyone who has watched this division before knows to expect the unexpected. Here is our analysis of what looks set to be a ferocious battle for a place in the Premier League.

Latest Championship promotion odds

*Odds are subject to change (Updated on 12th September).

How promotion works in the Championship

The top two teams in the Championship are automatically promoted to the Premier League after all 46 rounds of fixtures have been completed. The sides that rank between third and sixth enter the playoffs, an end-of-season tournament which determines the third and final promoted club.

Favourites to secure Championship promotion

The bookies are continually assessing all 24 teams in the Championship as the season goes on and, for various reasons that are explored below, the following sides are currently deemed to have the best chance of promotion. 

Ipswich Town (11/10)

The Championship promotion odds still consider Ipswich Town to be the favourites to go up this season, despite not yet having picked up a win as the league pauses for the international break.

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, the Tractor Boys are one of the beneficiaries of parachute payments as well as some sizeable fees for Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson, who have stayed in the Premier League with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Azor Matusiwa, Chuba Akpom, Ashley Young and, most controversially, Marcelino Núñez have all arrived amongst others – the latter making an unprecedented move across the East Anglian divide from Norwich.

The Tractor Boys will be hoping to click into gear after the international break, as they already five points off the top six. Two of their three points have been earned through late penalties and they’ve also crashed out the EFL Cup on spot kicks.

Kieran McKenna, who has been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the past, remains one of the hottest managerial properties in the EFL and the bookies believe he’ll start producing results in the Championship again very soon.

Bet on Ipswich Town to win promotion at 11/10 with bet365

Birmingham City (15/8)

According to the odds, Birmingham City are now the second-strongest promotion contenders in the Championship. The Blues have settled back into the second tier quickly and have already backed up a lot of the hype following their record-breaking 111-point campaign in League One and lavish summer spending, backed by Knighthead Capital.

The new ownership group had already been splashing the cash last season to start building a squad ready for the second tier, including a truly unprecedented £15 million deal for Jay Stansfield. This summer, they added the likes of Phil Neumann, Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel among others.

They had Ipswich on the ropes on opening night and would’ve beaten them but for a debatable late penalty given against them. They then went on to beat Blackburn and Oxford before losing to Leicester in a tight Friday night fixture before the break.

Tip Birmingham City for back-to-back promotions at 15/8 with William Hill

Coventry City (2/1)

Coventry City made a huge and risky call when they sacked fan favourite Mark Robins in November 2024, but their decision was vindicated by the team’s performance under Frank Lampard. During the former England international’s time in charge, only Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United had better results than Coventry.

Coventry ended the season fifth but were edged out by Sunderland in the playoffs, losing 3-2 on aggregate. They have had a relatively quiet summer, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden the headline arrival, but Coventry have at least managed to keep their squad intact, aside from Ben Sheaf who left for Wrexham.

The Sky Blues were guilty of a couple of slow starts under Robins in recent seasons, but they have flown out of the traps this time and already well clear as the division’s top scorers – having netted 14 in just four games.

Tip Coventry City for a long-awaited Premier League return at 2/1 with Sky Bet

Southampton (2/1)

The Southampton side of 2024/25 were one of the worst teams in Premier League history, winning only two games and amassing just 12 points. Yet the bookmakers expect them to be in the mix for promotion this term. 

After Russell Martin and Ivan Jurić’s struggles last time out, the Saints have appointed Will Still as their new manager. The 32-year-old impressed at Reims and Lennes in France, and he is now back in England hoping to work his magic at St Mary’s Stadium. It has been a mixed start so far, with just one win earned deep in stoppage time against Wrexham.

As with Ipswich, the club weren’t able to do much of their transfer business until late in the window when star assets Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes finally found new homes. The club reacted quickly in reinvesting some of the funds on Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows.

Back Southampton to be promoted to the Premier League at 2/1 with Paddy Power

Leicester City (11/4)

There will be fewer bets on Leicester winning promotion in 2025/26 than there were in 2023/24, but it would be a mistake to write them off. Their squad contains plenty of quality at this level, and manager Martí Cifuentes did a fine job at QPR – he looks like a clear upgrade on Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Still, there are reasons why Leicester are behind Ipswich and Southampton, their fellow relegated sides, in the betting markets – even though they’ve made the best start of the three. The Foxes are dogged by financial problems which have hamstrung them in the transfer market, while talismanic captain Jamie Vardy has sought pastures new.

The Foxes’ squad therefore may not have quite as many options and it has a very similar feel to it from two years ago. A trio of loan signings arrived on deadline day, which may breathe new life into Cifuentes’ lineup when the Championship returns.

Pick Leicester City to be promoted from the Championship for a sixth time at 11/4 with talkSPORT BET

Middlesbrough (3/1)

Middlesbrough are one of the biggest surprises of the Championship season so far, and are the only team to have won all four of their August games – conceding just one goal in the process.

It’s not as if Boro have had the easiest of starts either, with trips to Millwall and Norwich safely negotiated as well as a home game against Sheffield United – all while speculation surrounded star midfielder Hayden Hackney and his future at the club,

The Teesiders were able to hang on to him, despite a deal appearing to been close with Ipswich at one stage. He’ll continue to be crucial for new manager Rob Edwards, who appears to have bounced back from a difficult final season at Luton.

Back Middlesbrough for a return to Premier League football at 3/1 with Midnite

West Bromwich Albion (7/2)

Currently second in the table with 10 points from the first 12 available, rookie manager Ryan Mason has made a very bright start at West Brom and will be hoping he can end their five-year stay in the Championship.

They’re going to be truly tested in September and October, however, with away trips to Middlesbrough, Norwich and Millwall as well as a home game with Leicester.

Tip West Brom to continue their strong start and win promotion at 7/2 with Betfred

Dark horses to secure Championship promotion

Seasoned Championship followers will know to expect the unexpected, and there will no doubt be names outside of these first seven who emerge as contenders.

Here are three more teams who could be in the mix for the playoffs, alongside their promotion odds.

Sheffield United (7/1)

Sheffield United have plummeted to 7/1 after losing all four games prior to the international break. As a result, The Blades prop up the table and new head coach Rubén Sellés will already be under pressure once the season resumes.

Several new names – such as Danny Ings, Japhet Tanganga and Tatith Chong – have been brought in which should add plenty of quality and see results improve. While Sheffield United already have a lot of work to do to catch the pack, there is a lot of Championship (and some Premier League) know-how in their squad and it’d still be surprising if they weren’t in the conversation of top six.

Back Sheffield United to bounce back from a dismal start at 7/1 with Tote

Norwich City (8/1)

Norwich are no strangers to winning promotion to the Premier League, but they must improve on last season’s 13th-place finish. Liam Manning is a bright manager and Norwich have a gifted young squad to call upon – led by Josh Sargent, who recently scored his 50th goal in yellow and green.

Tip Norwich City for another Championship promotion at 8/1 with Midnite

Wrexham (12/1)

Having risen from the National League to the Championship in the space of three years, a fourth promotion in a row for Wrexham is not impossible. Phil Parkinson is a pragmatic boss, but consolidation rather than the playoffs is the main aim this season.

Bet on Wrexham to make it four promotions in a row at 12/1 with Spreadex

My Championship betting tips

Here are my selections for the Championship promotion race in 2025/26.

Ipswich to win the title (9/2)

They may have some ground to make up, but Ipswich are still the title favourites with the bookies for a reason.

Not only have they added some serious quality this summer, they were already stockpiling top Championship talent in the Premier League – with the likes of Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene all starring at this level before for their former clubs.

With Kieran McKenna still in charge, I’m expecting things to click sooner than later and when they do. He worked wonders with a much lesser-fancied side than this two years ago and still overwhelmingly has the backing of the fans and the club’s hierarchy.

Back Ipswich Town to be crowned Championship champions at 9/2 with talkSPORT BET

Birmingham City to finish in the top two (7/2)

There is a real sense around St Andrew’s that Birmingham are going places and certainly their summer transfer activity suggests they don’t plan on staying in the Championship for long.

Few teams have ever come up from League One with such momentum – they hit a ratio of 2.41 points per game last season and their only dropped points so far have been to sides that were two divisions higher than them last season.

Chris Davies’ side, so far, look every bit the automatic promotion contender they were billed to be.

Tip Birmingham City to be automatically promoted at 7/2 with bet365

Millwall to finish in the top six (7/2)

Perennial underdogs, Millwall are in danger of being overlooked by betting customers again this season. They do not have the biggest budget in the division, but the Lions have regularly knocked on the door of the top six in recent years: their last six finishes are eighth, 11th, ninth, eighth, 13th and eighth. 

With Alex Neil in the dugout, this could be the season in which Millwall finally get over the line and qualify for the playoffs.

Bet on Millwall to reach the Championship playoffs at 7/2 with William Hill

Jay Stansfield to finish as top scorer (14/1)

Birmingham made their ambitions clear when they signed Jay Stansfield on a permanent deal last summer, despite interest in the forward from top Championship clubs. Stansfield proceeded to score 19 goals in League One, placing him second only to Charlie Kelman of Leyton Orient.

Birmingham have strengthened in forward areas this summer, so Stansfield should be supplied with even more chances. At these odds, it is well worth a wager on the former Fulham man topping the goalscoring rankings. He’s found the net twice in three appearances so far, which has his three behind Josh Sargent at the top of the scoring charts.

Back Jay Stansfield to finish as the league’s top goal scorer at 14/1 with bet365

Teams promoted to EPL in the 2023/24 season

For the first time ever, two teams broke the 100-point barrier in the Championship last term. 

Leeds United and Burnley both reached triple digits and went up automatically, with Leeds taking the title on the final day courtesy of a winning goal against Plymouth Argyle in second-half stoppage time. 

Sunderland were the playoff winners after finishing the regular campaign in fourth, which was a surprise in itself. There was plenty of drama in their semi-final against Coventry City, as Sunderland secured a 3-2 aggregate victory thanks to a goal deep into extra time. 

Sunderland once again left it late in the final against Sheffield United, as Tom Watson’s strike in injury time saw Régis Le Bris’s side promoted back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Which of this year’s Championship teams have been promoted before?

Of the 24 teams in this season’s Championship, 23 have won promotion to the top flight before (the exception are Wrexham). 

If we only count the Premier League era, which began in 1992, 18 sides have won promotion previously: Ipswich, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Leicester, Derby, Charlton, Portsmouth, Watford, West Brom, Birmingham, Norwich, Sheffield United, Stoke, Hull, Burnley, QPR, Swansea and Southampton.

The most successful sides in terms of winning promotion to the Premier League are Norwich, West Brom and Leicester, each of whom has gone up five times. Middlesbrough and Watford both have four promotions to their name since 1992.

Championship promotion – recent trends

There is a widening financial gulf between the top two divisions of English football. Last season, Southampton earned £109.2m for getting 12 points in the Premier League. Leeds, who won the Championship title with 100 points, pocketed about £11m for that achievement. 

Just spending one season in the Premier League is worth an eye-watering amount of money, especially when you throw in the parachute payments sent to every relegated club. It is those funds that have helped several sides return to the top flight at the first time of asking in recent years.

Indeed, in the past three seasons, four teams have been promoted immediately after demotion – Burnley in 2022/23 and 2024/25, and Leicester and Southampton in 2023/24. Rewind a decade and you will find that, between 2012/13 and 2014/15, only two teams returned within a year.

All of which suggests Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester stand a good chance of going back up to the Premier League after relegation last term.

FAQ about the 2025/26 Championship season

1. Which managers in this year’s Championship have been promoted before?

Four managers in this season’s Championship have won promotion before. Kieran McKenna (Ipswich) did so with his current employers in 2023/24. A year earlier, Rob Edwards (Middlesbrough) took Luton Town into the Premier League.

Alex Neil (Millwall) won promotion with Norwich back in 2014/15, while Paul Heckingbottom (Preston North End) achieved the feat with Sheffield United in 2022/23.

2. How quickly can the picture change at the top of the Championship?

Very quickly indeed. The Championship is one of the most volatile leagues in Europe, partly because its 46-game seasons are comparatively long. Things change quickly in this division, so expect constant shifting of Championship promotion odds 2025/26.

3. How many points do teams typically need for automatic promotion, and to win the title?

If we look at the last 10 Championship seasons, 96 points would have been enough to win the title and 91 points would have been sufficient for promotion (on average). 

4. How often does the battle for promotion, and the title, go to the final few weeks (or the final day)?

The battle for promotion almost always goes to the last few weeks of the season. Even in the unlikely event that the top two secure their place in the Premier League with several games to spare, the race for the playoffs provides another source of drama and excitement.

At times the fight for a top-two finish goes right down to the final day. In 2019/20, West Brom grabbed the last promotion place on matchday 46 ahead of Brentford and Fulham. Meanwhile in 2024/25, Leeds only claimed the title ahead of Burnley on the final day.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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