Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool land huge cash windfall thanks to Premier League rule

Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are set to receive a financial windfall after Burnley and Leeds confirmed their promotion to the Premier League. The Clarets beat Sheffield United on Monday night to ensure the Blades cannot catch either of the top two.

Two goals from Josh Brownhill secured victory at Turf Moor, moving them an insurmountable eight points clear of Chris Wilder's side. The Yorkshiremen will now finish third and will compete in this season’s promotion play-offs.

The win for Burnley also secured promotion for Leeds United, who smashed Stoke City earlier on Monday. The Whites currently sit top of the Championship ahead of Burnley on goal difference.

They will play in the Premier League for the first time since being relegated in 2023, while Burnley have earned an immediate return to the top-flight after going down last year. Leeds' relegation came in a season in which they had three managers and lost 21 times.

They faired better than Burnley did last year though, with the Clarets winning just five times before going down under Vincent Kompany. The Belgian left in the summer to take over Bayern Munich, with Scott Parker replacing him.

Parker's success this season also serves as a boost to the 17 teams who will not be relegated from the Premier League this season. That is because those clubs will split the parachute payments Leeds and Burnley will now not receive.

When Leicester and Southampton were relegated in 2023 and then promoted the following season, £102million in parachute payments were saved. Those savings were then split between Premier League clubs.

Following Burnley and Leeds' promotions, a further £51m has been saved, which will also now be split between top-flight sides. The Clarets had been set to receive a parachute payment of £35m next season, while Leeds were scheduled to be handed £16m.

But their promotions means they will instead now pick up more than £110m thanks to the television and prize money deals. As a result the £51m in unpaid parachute payments will be divided by the top-flight clubs.

That means United, Liverpool and Arsenal can all expect to receive a sum from that split. Parker is keen for his side to put up a better challenge in the bid to beat the drop next year, but wants to allow them time to celebrate their promotion first.

“We knew the challenges, that this was a relentless league,” he said. “It is very challenging, so I’m delighted for everyone at the football club at what we’ve achieved. There were some tough moments but they bring out the best in people and we reacted in the right way.

"There were of course some hard times but it brought us all closer together and has got us to this point so immensely proud of everyone. It is emotional for me because of the pride I have in the group.

"It feels very different to what I’ve done before, not just the group but the whole football club. There were bumps in the road but that brought us together even more and I’m absolutely buzzing.”

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