England’s Championship division is one of the most intense seasons in Europe. The 46 games played, just in the league itself, give players more opportunities to perform well but also for a team’s season to come crashing down. While there are more games, every game means just as much in the Championship, if not more, as the teams compete for the right to move up to the Premier League.
Promotion is an incredible aid as clubs look to separate themselves from the pack thanks to immense financial backing from the league. But before the Premier League season begins, let's meet the three newest members of the Premier League and learn how they got here.
Newly Promoted Premier League Teams
Fulham FC
A side that is very familiar with the Premier League, Fulham will be contesting its 28th season in England’s top flight this season after winning the Championship with 90 points. The Cottagers have yo-yoed between the Premier League and Championship since 2018, never spending two consecutive years in the same division. However, this year could prove to be different. Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrović exploded last season, breaking the record for most goals scored in a Championship season. His simply astonishing 43 league goals in just 44 appearances should scare defenses in the Premier League as he is showing no signs of stopping this fall.
Our first title since 2001.
This is what it means. #FFC pic.twitter.com/AWbYheLvEE— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) May 2, 2022
This offseason, the club sold 26-year-old André Zambo Anguissa to Napoli for $16.5 million and 19-year-old Fábio Carvalho to Liverpool for just under $6.5 million. This new influx of cash was beneficial to the signing of João Palhinha from Sporting CP for $22 million, as Fulham attempts to buck the trend of recent years and retain its place among England’s elite. Fulham begins its campaign with a visit from Liverpool on Aug. 6.
AFC Bournemouth
After a two-year hiatus, Bournemouth is back in the Premier League on the back of a thoroughly impressive season in the Championship. Scott Parker’s men finished two points off champion Fulham and enjoyed a successful campaign that saw them finish with the league’s second-top goal scorer in Dominic Solanke as well as the fewest goals conceded. A solid defense and dangerous attack is usually a good combination for a team seeking promotion, and Bournemouth this season was no exception.
20 clean sheets
Golden Glove winner
Premier League promotion2021/22 was an incredible season for Mark Travers. Here's a look at five of his best performances ⛔️— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) June 28, 2022
In the transfer market, the Cherries have been active without reaching for the checkbook. The club brought in midfielder Joe Rothwell from Blackburn and right back Ryan Fredericks from West Ham, both on free transfers. These moves will add greater depth but still may not be enough over the course of the season. Bournemouth’s season gets underway at home on Aug. 6 when the Vitality Stadium welcomes Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest
It isn’t often a club that has won multiple European Cups and an English first-division championship is promoted to the Premier League. Few clubs in England have had the success that Nottingham Forest has, and yet Forest has not competed in England’s top flight since 1999. Almost every year was spent in the second division, with a short drop into the third division in the mid-2000s. But finally, 23 years later, Forest has found its way back to the promised land.
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Exactly one month ago...Championship play-off final
A first trip to Wembley in 30 years
36,000 fans singing 'Mull of Kintyre'
A 1-0 win secures promotionNottingham Forest, back in England's top flight.#NFFC pic.twitter.com/U50f8W8Fmr
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) June 29, 2022
Under manager Chris Hughton, Forest endured a dreadful start to the season in which the club lost six of its first seven games and found itself dead last in the league from Week 4 to Week 8. Forest sacked Hughton immediately and replaced him with Steve Cooper. This decision changed the entire course of the club’s season as it went on to lose just six games in the rest of the campaign. After finishing fourth, Forest qualified for the promotion playoff where it faced Sheffield United and emerged victorious after a tense penalty shootout. Next up was a trip to Wembley where an own goal by Huddersfield Town was the difference, sending Forest back up to the Premier League.
Forest has been extremely active this transfer window, signing players to help in lots of different positions. Jesse Lingard and Taiwo Awoniyi will help bolster the attack while a multitude of defensive signings shows Forest is putting it all on the table to stay up this season. Its first test will be a trip north to Newcastle on Aug. 6.
