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

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, Southampton and Birmingham 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

• Ipswich Town – 11/10 with bet365
• Southampton – 7/4 with Ladbrokes
• Birmingham City – 2/1 with Betfred
• Sheffield United – 9/4 with Sky Bet
• Coventry City – 7/2 with SBK
• Leicester City – 4/1 with bet365
• Middlesbrough – 11/2 with bet365
• Norwich City – 11/2 with Tote
• West Bromwich Albion – 6/1 with Betfred
• Wrexham – 7/1 with talkSPORT BET
• Watford – 8/1 with SBK
• Millwall – 10/1 with Ladbrokes
• Bristol City – 10/1 with Ladbrokes
• Derby County – 10/1 with Tote
• Stoke City – 11/1 with Spreadex
• Swansea City – 123/10 with Betfair
• Hull City – 20/1 with Paddy Power
• Blackburn Rovers – 20/1 with Ladbrokes
• Queens Park Rangers – 20/1 with Tote
• Portsmouth – 25/1 with talkSPORT BET
• Preston North End – 25/1 with bet365
• Charlton Athletic – 25/1 with Tote
• Oxford United – 40/1 with William Hill
• Sheffield Wednesday – 66/1 with Paddy Power

*Odds are subject to change (Updated on 7th August).

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 have assessed all 24 teams in the Championship and, for various reasons that are explored below, the following sides are deemed to have the best chance of promotion. 

Ipswich Town (11/10)

The promotion odds Championship consider Ipswich Town to be the favourites for promotion this season. Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, the Tractor Boys will pocket around £50m in parachute payments this year. That automatically gives them one of the biggest budgets in the division.

Just as important is their retention of Kieran McKenna, a manager who has been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the past. McKenna led Ipswich from League One to the Premier League in the space of two seasons, so he has promotions on his CV.

Liam Delap has departed for Chelsea, while former captain Sam Morsy has also moved on. But Ipswich have otherwise kept their squad intact, with the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Leif Davis still around. That is a huge boost to their chances of securing an immediate return to the top tier.

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

Southampton (7/4)

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.

Sporting director Johannes Spors is overseeing his first transfer window at the club, so there is a feeling of renewal around Southampton.

Aaron Ramsdale, Jan Bednarek and Kyle Walker-Peters are among the players who have left this summer, and Tyler Dibling could soon follow. Joshua Quarshie and Damion Downs have arrived on the south coast, while star man Mateus Fernandes has not yet been prised away.

Back Southampton to be promoted to the Premier League at 7/4 with Ladbrokes

Birmingham City (2/1)

According to the odds, Birmingham City are the third-strongest promotion contenders in the Championship. That is despite the fact they were in League One last season. The Blues stormed the third tier under Chris Davies, picking up a record-breaking 111 points on the way to the title. They are now aiming to make it back-to-back promotions, following in the footsteps of Ipswich in 2023/24.

That will not be easy, but Birmingham certainly deserve to be in the conversation. The squad they had last season would have been competitive in the Championship, and they have since added to it with the acquisitions of Phil Neumann, Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Kanya Fujimoto among others.

Birmingham’s backline looks solid and Jay Stansfield is one to watch up front. The Blues have some serious momentum behind them and that could carry them a long way this campaign.

Tip Birmingham City for back-to-back promotions at 2/1 with Betfred

Sheffield United (9/4)

A bet on Sheffield United to go up could prove worthwhile. They were top of the table for parts of last season, before falling away and finishing 10 points adrift of Leeds and Burnley. Playoff heartache followed, as Chris Wilder’s team fell to a 2-1 defeat by Sunderland at Wembley Stadium.

Wilder has now vacated the premises, replaced by Rubén Sellés after his Hull City exit. Vinícius Souza and Anel Ahmedhodžić are big losses on the field, but the Blades have signed Mihail Polendakov and Ehije Ukaki on permanent deals, with Tyler Bindon, Louie Barry and Djibril Soumaré arriving on loan.

Sellés is an astute head coach, but it could take a while for him to get his ideas across. Once he does, Sheffield United should be part of the promotion competition.

Back Sheffield United to bounce back from Wembley heartache at 9/4 with Sky Bet

Coventry City (7/2)

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, Luis Binks aside.

The Sky Blues tended to hit the ground trudging under Robins, but their fixtures early on look reasonably kind, so Lampard will aim to make a fast start. In all probability, Coventry will be there or thereabouts come the conclusion of the campaign.

Tip Coventry City for a long-awaited Premier League return at 7/2 with SBK

Leicester City (4/1)

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. The Foxes are dogged by financial problems which have hamstrung them in the transfer market, while talismanic captain Jamie Vardy has sought pastures new.

It is hard to make predictions about Leicester until we see how they line up under Cifuentes, but they are bound to win plenty of matches in the Championship. However, they surely need to make some signings – there have been no outfield arrivals yet – before the transfer window closes.

Pick Leicester City to be promoted from the Championship for a sixth time at 4/1 with bet365

Dark horses to secure Championship promotion

Seasoned Championship followers will know to expect the unexpected, so it would be a huge surprise if all six sides mentioned above were to finish in the top six. There will no doubt be a surprise or two this season, as there is in virtually every single Championship campaign. 

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

Middlesbrough (11/2)

Having fallen short on more than one occasion under Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough have appointed Rob Edwards this summer. If Edwards can make Boro tougher to play against, they could be in the mix.

Back Middlesbrough for a return to Premier League football at 11/2 with bet365

Norwich City (11/2)

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.

Tip Norwich City for another Championship promotion at 11/2 with Tote

West Bromwich Albion (6/1)

West Brom will go again under Ryan Mason after Tony Mowbray’s return to The Hawthorns did not work. Mason has not managed a club on a permanent basis before, but he will be expected to have West Brom knocking on the door of the playoffs at least.

Bet on West Brom to win promotion from the Championship at 6/1 with Betfred

Wrexham (7/1)

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 7/1 with talkSPORT BET

My Championship betting tips

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

Ipswich to win the title (3/1)

It is easy to get seduced by new signings at this time of year, but keeping hold of your key players is just as vital. In that respect, Ipswich are in a fantastic position. Liam Delap is a loss, but no one expected him to stay at Portman Road. Omari Hutchinson, Dara O’Shea and Leif Davis could easily have followed Delap through the exit door, but each remains.

Yet Ipswich’s X factor is found on the other side of the white line. McKenna worked wonders in dragging the Tractor Boys from League One to the Premier League, and he can lead them back to the top division this campaign.

Back Ipswich Town to be crowned Championship champions at 3/1 with talkSPORT BET

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

Various statistics show how dominant Birmingham were in League One last season, none more so than their ratio of 2.41 points per game. Of course, that does not mean anything this term, but it makes you wonder where exactly the Blues would have finished in the Championship in 2024/25.

They have only got stronger since then and there is a real sense around St Andrew’s that this club is going places. That is a powerful force and one which Chris Davies will use to his team’s advantage. A top-two finish is eminently achievable for Birmingham.

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

Millwall to finish in the top six (4/1)

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 4/1 with Betfred

Jay Stansfield to finish as top scorer (9/1)

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.

Back Jay Stansfield to finish as the league’s top goal scorer at 9/1 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.

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