Ipswich, UNITED KINGDOM — Portman Road swung into scenes of jubilation on Saturday, as Ipswich Town secured their return to the Premier League following a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. The win gives the second automatic promotion spot for Kieran McKenna’s side, completing a total turnaround following their relegation from the top flight just one season ago.
Early goals from George Hirst and Jaden Philogene set the stage for the historic afternoon, before Kasey McAteer sealed the result in the second half.
Okay News reports that fans stormed the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate the club’s third promotion in four years. For Ashley Young, who recently announced his retirement, the victory marks a fairytale conclusion to a 23-year professional career.
While Ipswich celebrated, there was only misery for Wrexham. Despite a late-season surge under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Red Dragons’ hopes of a fourth consecutive promotion ended in a 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough. The stalemate, combined with Hull City’s dramatic 2-1 win over Norwich City, saw Wrexham finish 7th—just outside the play-off bracket. Hull City now joins Millwall, Southampton, and Middlesbrough in the high-stakes battle for the final Premier League spot.
Kieran McKenna, reflecting on the journey, described this promotion as the “hardest” of his career, citing the immense pressure of rebuilding the squad after last year’s steep fall. Meanwhile, at the top of the table, West Ham United (who secured the title weeks ago) watched as Millwall missed out on automatic promotion by a single point. As the regular season concludes, the focus shifts to the play-off semi-finals, while Ipswich Town begins preparations for a $200 million (approx. ₦272 billion) windfall associated with top-flight football.
