The Clubs With The Most Promotions To The English Top-Flight After Leeds And Burnley Sealed Their Returns To The Premier League 56682w

Leeds United and Burnley sealed their returns to the Premier League on Monday, so here, SportsCasting takes a look at the clubs with the most promotions to the top-flight of English football in history.

Clubs With The Most Promotions To The English Top-Flight 2i6c4a

=10 – Sheffield Wednesday – 8 4xh

Years promoted – 1900, 1926, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1959, 1984 and 1991

Starting this list is Sheffield Wednesday who are t with two other teams with eight promotions to the English top-flight.

Their first promotion came in the final year of the 19th century and they later became the ‘yo-yo club of the 1950s – with four promotions in that decade.

Sheffield Wednesday were promoted for the final time in 1991 – the same year they won the League Cup while being a second-tier side.

The Owls have been out of the Premier League since 2000 and the closest they came to a return since then was a playoff final defeat to Hull City in 2016.

=10 – Sunderland – 8 60188

Years promoted – 1964, 1976, 1980, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2005 and 2007

Sunderland are t tenth in the list for the most promotions to the English top-flight.

They have had some memorable ascents to the top-flight of English football. Their most impressive promotion came in 1999 where under Peter Reid they amassed 105 points – the second-highest score in history behind Reading’s 106 points in 2006.

Sunderland could make the total nine this season as they are guaranteed a spot in the Championship playoffs.

=10 – Leeds United – 8 472k7

Years promoted – 1924, 1928, 1932, 1956, 1964, 1990, 2020 and 2025

Leeds have jumped to t 10th in this list after sealing promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday.

Their eight promotions include winning the 1964 Second Division title under Don Revie, which sparked a golden era in the club’s history.

Marcelo Bielsa guided Leeds to promotion in 2020 after 16 years outside of the English top-flight.

✅ PROMOTED! pic.twitter.com/kVZFHG8rNb

— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 21, 2025

= 5 – Bolton Wanderers – 9 6t2k6b

Years promoted – 1892, 1900, 1905, 1909, 1935, 1978, 1995, 1997 and 2001

Bolton’s nine promotions include their early days in the Football Alliance – which merged with the Football League in 1892.

They were one of the first ‘yo-yo clubs’ in English top-flight football, with three promotions between 1900 and 1909.

Bolton then had three promotions between 1995 and 2001 but have been out of the Premier League since 2012.

= 5 – Middlesbrough – 9 3s215r

Years promoted – 1902, 1927, 1929, 1974, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1998 and 2016

Middlesbrough have also had nine promotions to the English top-flight in their history.

Their 1974 promotion under Jack Charlton with seven games to spare was notable, as was the pair of promotions to the Premier League under Bryan Robson during the 1990s.

They were last promoted to the Premier League in 2016, but lasted just one year in the top-flight.

Middlesbrough are currently one point off the playoff spots with two games to spare in the Championship this season.

= 5 – Norwich – 9 2j6e6z

Years promoted – 1972, 1975, 1982, 1986, 2004, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021

Norwich City are the quintessential ‘yo-yo’ club with nine promotions – five in the Premier League era.

Their rapid returns between 2011 and 2021 highlight their Championship prowess and their struggles when it comes to life in the Premier League.

The Canaries will play Championship football again next season – the longest run they have had in the same league since four years in the Championship from 2005 to 2009.

=5 – Sheffield United – 9 1215h

Years promoted – 1893, 1939, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1990, 2006, 2019 and 2023

Sheffield United’s defeat to Burnley on Monday means they will have to go through the playoffs to be promoted to the top-flight of English football for a tenth time.

The Blades’ first promotion came in 1893 – five years before they won their one and only English top-flight title.

Should they get promoted via the playoffs, it will be the second time that Chris Wilder has guided them to the Premier League.

=5 – Burnley – 9 2q6tv

Years promoted – 1898, 1913, 1947, 1973, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2023 and 2025

Burnley’s nine promotions showcase their tenacity, with five coming since 2009.

Their 2023 and 2025 promotions under Vincent Kompany and Scott Parker, respectively, underline their ability to rebuild after relegation.

However, maintaining Premier League status remains a challenge and is something they will hope to achieve next season.

📈 @BurnleyOfficial are back!

They've earned promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking 📈 pic.twitter.com/QKzq9HT9iD

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 21, 2025

4 – West Bromwich Albion – 10 n5x69

Years promoted – 1902, 1911, 1931, 1949, 1976, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2020

West Bromwich Albion are the first side in double digits on our list of teams with the most promotions to the English top flight.

The Baggies were promoted to the Premier League four times between 2002 and 2010, briefly appearing to shed their “yo-yo” reputation.

However, after seven years, they were relegated to the Championship and have had only one promotion since.

3 –  Manchester City – 11 5u5x3n

Years promoted – 1899, 1903, 1910, 1928, 1947, 1951, 1966, 1985, 1989, 2000 and 2002

Manchester City are now known as one of the most successful clubs in world football, but they struggled to maintain their Premier League status before their final promotion to the top-flight in 2002.

Their ‘yo-yo’ years included rapid turnarounds in 2000 and 2002.

However, their transformation into a global powerhouse from 2008 means the days of relegation and promotion are a distant memory.

2 –  Birmingham City – 12 3c3z6

Years promoted – 1894, 1901, 1903, 1921, 1948, 1955, 1972, 1980, 1985, 2002, 2007 and 2009

Top-flight longevity has been elusive for Birmingham City who last played Premier League football in 2011.

The 2000s saw some success with promotions in 2002, 2007 and 2009.

Of their 12 promotions, they only won the title in four of those, though their 2002 playoff win over Norwich remains a highlight for their ers.

1 – Leicester City – 13 19195o

Years promoted – 1908, 1925, 1937, 1954, 1957, 1971, 1980, 1983, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2014 and 2024

Leicester City will be looking for a record-extending 14th promotion to the English top flight next season.

Their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday sealed their relegation to the Championship, after being promoted in 2024.

They have won eight second-tier titles which is a record. Their 2014 promotion leading to the iconic 2016 Premier League title— is one of football’s greatest underdog stories.

Leicester, who have also since won the FA Cup, are at risk of becoming the next “yo-yo club” after two relegations since 2023.

Clubs With The Most Promotions In The Premier League Era 1q3vn

5 – Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Burnley
4 – Crystal Palace, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Watford
3 – Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town