Ex-Chelsea stars lead Leeds & Burnley to Premier League, Coventry still in the hunt | OneFootball

Former Chelsea player Ethan Ampadu and his current club Leeds United have secured a place in the Premier League for the 2025–26 season. Their emphatic 6–0 victory over Stoke City was the result that confirmed their promotion to the top division. The 24-year-old is the club captain.

Leeds United now sit on 94 points, tied with Burnley but ahead on goal difference. Burnley have also secured automatic promotion. Notably, Burnley is managed by Scott Parker, another former Chelsea player. With two games still left to play, Ampadu has the opportunity to win the Championship title and cap off a brilliant season for the club. They also have in their ranks another form Chelsea player Patrick Bamford.

Ampadu moved to Chelsea ahead of the 2017–18 season from Exeter City. Even though he impressed in the limited opportunities he received in the first team, the intense competition for places meant the Welsh international was unable to fully showcase his talents in Chelsea colours. After two years at the club, he spent the following four seasons out on loan, including a stint at Sheffield United, one of the teams now hoping to earn promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs this season.

At the international level, Ampadu has made 54 appearances for Wales. He was part of the national team that reached the Round of 16 at UEFA Euro 2020 and also featured in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Wales failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Incidentally, among the teams vying for promotion through the play-offs is Coventry City, currently managed by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. Coventry are in sixth place, holding the final spot that qualifies them for the four-team play-off race.