Black Cats Sunderland return to the English Premier League after 8 years of waiting: The most expensive match in the world and a dramatic, extremely emotional ending.

Sunderland Wins ‘Most Valuable Match in the World’

On May 24, 2025, Sunderland secured a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, earning the final promotion spot to the Premier League for the 2025-2026 season.

Sheffield United took the lead in the 25th minute with a deft chip from Tyrese Campbell. Around 10 minutes later, Harrison Burrows thought he had doubled the advantage with a deflected shot from outside the box. However, the goal was disallowed as teammate Souza was in an offside position and obstructed the goalkeeper’s view.

Sunderland began their comeback in the 76th minute when Eliezer Mayenda broke through and fired into the top corner, leveling the score at 1-1. The decisive moment came in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Following a misplaced pass from Sheffield in midfield, substitute Tom Watson seized the opportunity, dribbled into the box, and curled a shot into the far corner, defeating goalkeeper Cooper and sealing the 2-1 win.

Watson, who will join Brighton next season, celebrated exuberantly, removing his shirt and running to the corner flag to share the moment with teammates and fans. “I truly can’t put it into words. It’s unbelievable,” said the English winger. “I’ve been thinking about shining in this final for weeks, and everything couldn’t have gone more perfectly.”

This victory marks Sunderland’s return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence. The other promoted clubs are Leeds United and Burnley, who finished as champions and runners-up of the Championship in the 2024-2025 season. Meanwhile, Sheffield United has failed to secure promotion through the play-off for the tenth time.

Sunderland received a prize of over $2 million along with a commemorative trophy presented by the organizers at Wembley. However, the financial benefits for the upcoming season are what make this Championship play-off final the “most valuable match in football.”

According to the BBC, Sunderland is set to receive at least $270 million from broadcasting rights and ticket sales. This amount marks a significant increase from $178 million the previous year. The value of the Championship play-off final has risen substantially over time, thanks to television rights agreements. Sunderland will benefit from a share of the new domestic broadcasting deal worth over $9 billion for four seasons.

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