Jobe Bellingham and Sunderland Earn Dramatic Promotion to the Premier League

Last-minute goal sends the Black Cats back to England’s top flight after seven years.

Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of Jude Bellingham, experienced one of the most emotional moments of his career on Saturday. The young midfielder was one of the standout performers in Sunderland’s dramatic 2–1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship playoff final at Wembley, securing their return to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016–2017 season.

The team from the north of England completed an epic comeback, scoring the winning goal in stoppage time to seal their long-awaited promotion.

Soccer Football - Championship - Play-Off Final - Sheffield United v Sunderland - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 24, 2025 Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham celebrates with the trophy in front of the fans after winning the championship play-off final Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

From Struggle to Euphoria at Wembley

The match didn’t start well for Sunderland. In the 25th minute, Tyrese Campbell opened the scoring for Sheffield United with a classy chip over the goalkeeper, after a brilliant 20-meter run from Gustavo Hamer, the Championship’s best player this season.

The equalizer came in the 76th minute, when Spanish forward Eliezer Mayenda struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box into the top corner, marking his tenth goal of the season and breathing new life into Sunderland’s hopes.

Then, in the 95th minute, just as extra time seemed inevitable, young Tom Watson calmly placed a shot into the corner of the net, triggering scenes of absolute joy among the Sunderland faithful. The late goal completed a stunning turnaround and sealed the club’s return to the top tier.

Jobe Bellingham Shines on the Big Stage

At just 18 years old, Jobe Bellingham played the full 90 minutes and stood out in midfield with confidence, precision, and maturity. The younger sibling of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham showed he’s ready to forge his own path at the highest level of English football.

After years of struggles that included stints in League One, Sunderland have finally made it back to the Premier League. This promotion marks the beginning of a new chapter for a historic club, now powered by a promising generation of young talent.

With this emotional victory, the north of England has a new reason to celebrate, and Jobe Bellingham is quickly becoming a name to watch on the big stage.