Have a look at how much Sunderland will take home in prize money as the 2025 Championship play-off final winner
In the Championship play-off final, which is referred to as the “most valuable match” in football, Sunderland defeated Sheffield United 2-1 with an incredible injury-time winner to secure promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.
Sheffield United took the lead early on with a sweeping counterattacking move completed by Tyrese Campbell, and Sunderland trailed 1-0 for most of the match. However, the Blades missed multiple opportunities to put Sunderland out of the game, and Eliezer Mayenda’s goal in the 76th minute gave the Black Cats the equalizer before Tom Watson went onto score the winner for the side before departing to Brighton.
Sunderland AFC Championship play-off final winner 2025 prize money and TV rights details
Last kick of a ball for your boyhood club before moving to Brighton to send them back to the Premier League for the first time in eight years… stuff of dream for Tom Watson
— Ben Thomas (@BThomasJourno) May 24, 2025
The Premier League promotion match between Sheffield United and Sunderland is frequently referred to as “the richest game in football.”
Sunderland will pocket a record £220 million and substantial chunk of this sum comes from the Premier League’s new £6.7billion broadcast deal, which equates to an average of £83.75m per season for each top-flight club.
Despite being pushed to the last day by Burnley, another promoted team, Leeds United had already guaranteed their return to the top division as champions. After both clubs somehow reached 100 points, the championship was determined on goal differential. Sheffield United placed third, 14 points ahead of Sunderland in fourth place but 10 points behind the top two.
In addition to competing for the opportunity to play at Old Trafford, Anfield, and the Emirates next season, Sheffield United and Sunderland played for the enormous financial gain that comes with being promoted to the Premier League.
SUNDERLAND AFC ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!! 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/XNetaXn8Og
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025
£200 million was awarded to the Championship play-off final winners, Sunderland which is £60 million more than Southampton received the previous season.
Merit payments, venue fees, and centralized commercial costs will also be given to the Wembley winner and in addition to the television revenue, a victorious Sunderland will also receive commercial fees, facility fees, and merit payments. Should relegation occur, the playoff final winner will also be entitled to parachute payments.
Sunderland and Sheffield United will also split the anticipated £2 million in gate receipts from the Wembley play-off final.
It’s easy to conclude that over time, winning the Championship play-off game has become much more valuable. West Ham won £31 million after defeating Preston in the 2005 final, which is a staggering £189 million less than this year’s award.