Sheffield United and Sunderland are set to compete in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, and the winner will receive huge sums after gaining Premier League promotion
The Championship play-off final take places at Wembley today at 3pm. Sheffield United and Sunderland will battle it out to win Premier League promotion in a match often dubbed ‘the richest game in football’.
Leeds United have already secured their return to the top-flight as champions, though fellow promoted side Burnley pushed them until the final day. The title was decided on goal difference after both teams incredibly reached 100 points. Sheffield United finished third, 10 points shy of the top two but 14 points clear of Sunderland in fourth.
In their play-off semi-final, the Blades easily defeated Bristol City, winning 6-0 on aggregate. However, it wasn’t as simple for Sunderland against Coventry City, who were seconds away from a penalty shootout. A last-gasp headed winner from Dan Ballard in extra time sent the Stadium of Light into raptures and booked the Black Cats’ place at Wembley.
For Sheffield United, triumphing in the play-off final would mean an immediate return to the Premier League, whereas Sunderland have been out of the top division since 2017. Here’s a look at how much the winner stands to make from the play-off final.
According to BBC Sport, one of Sheffield United or Sunderland stand to make a record £220million, should they win at Wembley this weekend. A significant portion of this fee stems from the Premier League’s new £6.7billion broadcast deal, which works out at an average of £83.75m per season for each top-flight club.
In addition to the TV money, the winner between Sheffield United and Sunderland will receive commercial fees, facility fees, and merit payments. In the event of relegation, the victor would also be entitled to parachute payments.
The overall figure of £220m is up significantly from the £140m on offer to last season’s play-off winner, a £30m drop from recent years. The previous record amount for a play-off final winner was £178m in 2021, which was claimed by Brentford.
There will be little consolation for the runner-up, who will receive £2m in their share of gate receipts, with the same fee also going to the winner. For further context, the League One and League Two play-off final winners are expected to earn around £12m and £2m, respectively.
Winning the Championship play-off final would be a seismic boost to Sunderland’s finances, with the club having spent time in the third tier since they were last in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s earnings would improve slightly less, as the Blades received parachute payments due to their relegation last season.
Clubs relegated from the Premier League receive parachute payments over three seasons, starting with 55 per cent of the broadcast revenue they would have received in the top-flight, gradually reduced to 45 per cent and then 20 per cent. If Chris Wilder’s side win the play-off final, the Blades would no longer be entitled to parachute payments.
Once in the Premier League, the play-off winner can increase their earnings by finishing higher up the table. All three promoted sides failed to stay up this season, but bottom-placed Southampton will earn £2.8m for their efforts, based on last season’s merit payments shared by the Premier League.
The relegated teams in 18th and 19th stand to make roughly £8.5m and £5.7m respectively this season. Meanwhile, finishing just above the drop zone in 17th carries an award of around £11.3m, plus another year of Premier League broadcast revenue. A dream top 10 finish would net a huge £31m payment.
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