Leeds promoted: Daniel Farke's side return to Premier League after Burnley beat Sheffield United

Leeds have been promoted back to the Premier League after two seasons away.

To be assured of a top-two place in the Sky Bet Championship, Daniel Farke's Whites needed to beat Stoke and hope Sheffield United failed to beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Easter Monday.

Joel Piroe then scored four as they thumped the Potters 6-0 at Elland Road, before the Blades were beaten 2-1 in the day's late game.

• Leeds promoted - can Daniel Farke now defy odds and keep them in Premier League?
• Football ups and downs 2025
• Championship highlights | Table | Fixtures
• Get more EFL to your phone with WhatsApp

Those two results ensured a return to the top flight for the first time since the 2022/23 season, when Leeds finished 19th.

Speaking after the game, Farke said: "How the lads have handled the last few weeks during this crunch time period when there's lots of pressure on them, the way we have performed in the last few weeks, the spirit and quality of the performances and the consistency of the results, especially with the clean sheets, has been second to none.

"It's really amazing and all the credit goes to the boys for the way they have handled this situation, not just the quality of the performance, but the mentality and spirit has been unbelievable. It's a priceless three points today."

Leeds and Burnley are sat first and second respectively, both on 94 points, and now face a straight shootout for the Championship title with two games remaining this season.

REPORT & FREE HIGHLIGHTS: Leeds thump Stoke to underline PL credentials

Leeds took care of business with a remarkable 6-0 thumping of Stoke before their promotion to the Premier League was assured.

Everything Daniel Farke could have wished for happened in the first half. Joel Piroe scored a sublime 20-minute hat-trick, Junior Firpo added a goal off his shin, before man-of-the-moment Piroe notched a scrappy fifth from Jayden Bogle's rebound.

The two smallest players on the pitch, Manor Solomon and Wilfried Gnonto, then combined for a headed goal on the hour mark - the irony of which was not lost on Stoke boss Mark Robins, who was visibly furious on the touchline.

Farke: All the compliments go to my lads

Leeds boss Daniel Farke speaking to Sky Sports:

"I work for a pretty emotional club, probably one of the most emotional clubs in this country. It's never easy because you don't just have to lead the players, you have to lead the whole group of people who work for this club. Sometimes even the press and the journalists, all our supporters.

"It costs lots of energy but we've done it in the end. I'm proud of the lads. It's a very heavy shirt to wear and we have delivered a great style. It's also fully deserved to be back in the Premier League where we belong.

"Step by step after relegation was a tough job because you have to steady the ship, you have to deal with all the hangover and all the ongoings and outgoings, the discussions.

"We played a really good season with 90 points and then obviously a heart-breaking final at Wembley. Then you have to rebuild again, because we lost most of our key players again. We're working under pretty tight restrictions.

"For example, in January I would have liked to add a few players and a bit more quality, but we were not allowed to do this. I was a bit jealous, if I'm honest, of some other clubs!

"I love to work with this group, but it was such a difficult task and such a tight race with so many good competitors. Burnley were fantastic, Sheffield United were fantastic, Sunderland were in it for pretty long. To definitely finish in the top two is a great achievement and all the praise, all the compliments go to my lads.

"We'll make sure that Easter Monday we'll have a few more hours here in Leeds. It's just a great feeling and we all enjoyed it.

"First of all, I'm just happy. Don't scare me with the Premier League right now, because all the teams who were promoted last season are already relegated right now or nearly confirmed!

"It was so difficult for this club in the last 35 years. There was just one promotion to the Premier League under Marcelo (Bielsa) during Covid when no supporters were allowed.

"It's so difficult to work for such an emotional club but we've done it."

Ampadu: I can't sum it up in words!

Leeds defender Ethan Ampadu speaking to Sky Sports:

"Very proud. A lot of positivity. We still have another target [winning the title] but we will enjoy this tonight. Then we will try and do the full thing.

"We didn't know what was going to happen. This is a little boost but we have two more games.

"I can't sum it up. A lot of waiting around but it has gone our way. Really enjoyable moment.

"Hopefully today gives us a big boost. Two more to go, let's try and do it. We will enjoy today."

Solomon: I took a risk but it paid off

Leeds forward Manor Solomon speaking on Leeds' official YouTube channel:

"This is what I came for! I'm super happy, so happy to see everyone celebrating. We have worked so hard throughout the whole season and we deserve it.

"I took a risk dropping down to the Championship but it has paid off. I'm really proud to have played for Leeds.

"This season has been a rollercoaster and so exciting. We had some ups and downs but we didn't stop for a minute, we kept pushing all the time.

"I'm so happy right now, I can't find the words!"

Can Farke defy the odds and keep Leeds in the Premier League?

Sky Sports News' Tim Thornton:

When Farke took over at Elland Road in July 2023, he admitted Leeds were the only club who could have enticed him to take a job back in the Championship.

He saw an opportunity to do something special. Having suffered heartache at Wembley in the play-off final last season, he will now get the chance to realise his vision by leading Leeds in the top division.

What makes this season even more impressive is that Leeds lost star players in the summer. Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter all moved on, and an evolution that started when Leeds were relegated from the Premier League has continued.

Throughout the season, Leeds have shown an admirable consistency, accumulating points in critical matches. They've worn teams down with their possession-based football. At times, they've almost suffocated their opponents.

They've made Elland Road a fortress, only tasting defeat once on home soil so far.

'Leeds are falling apart again' has been used by opposing fans to taunt the Elland Road faithful in recent seasons. But in this campaign more than any other, the Leeds fans have sung it themselves - knowing there is a huge sense of irony as they've relentlessly marched towards promotion.

Inevitably, there have been a couple of small wobbles since then, but unlike last season, Leeds have regained their composure and got the job done.

Read Tim Thornton's Leeds reporter notebook in full

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Leeds promoted: Daniel Farke's side return to Premier League after Burnley beat Sheffield United