AI predicts the year when each 24 EFL Championship clubs could be playing in the Premier League | OneFootball

AI has predicted when each of the second tier clubs are likely to feature in the top flight

The 2025/26 Championship season has given us a strong blend of clubs with recent Premier League pedigree and others who are looking to make a breakthrough into the top-flight for the first time ever.

It has been a hot topic of discussion in recent times as to whether the gap between the second tier and the top-flight is becoming way too big, with all three promoted clubs in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons suffering immediate relegations back into the EFL.

Of course, the Championship has become known as one of the most unpredictable divisions in world football.

With that being said, Football League World has asked ChatGPT to predict when it sees all 24 clubs in the league potentially next featuring in the Premier League, and here are the results.

Birmingham City - 2028

The first club is the extremely ambitious Birmingham City.

With plans to move into a new 62,000-seater stadium by 2030, ownership group Knighthead are hoping to end the club's hiatus from the Premier League as swiftly as possible with Chris Davies at the helm.

However, AI believes that last season's League One record-breakers may have to be slightly patient, as they are predicted to potentially gain promotion by 2028.

Blackburn Rovers - 2035

Blackburn Rovers are one of two clubs on this list to have won the Premier League, having done so back in the 1994/95 season under Sir Kenny Dalglish.

However, the Lancashire outfit have rarely threatened to return since being relegated in 2011/12, which included a one-season stint in the third tier back in 2017/18.

AI believes they may have to wait 40 years after their greatest-ever triumph - in 2035 - to win promotion from the Championship, though.

Bristol City - 2030

Bristol City has been outside the top-flight since the 1979/80 season, and have also rarely come close to ending their hiatus.

Last season saw the Robins finish inside the second tier play-offs for the first time in 17 years, and have also started Gerhard Struber's reign at Ashton Gate in rather impressive fashion.

With the West Country club having a strong infrastructure and a solid core throughout the squad, AI believes they could be promoted by the 2030/31 campaign.

Charlton Athletic - 2032

Charlton Athletic's current focus will be to consolidate back in the Championship after five years in League One, but it wasn't all that long ago that the Addicks were Premier League regulars.

However, the club haven't challenged for promotion ever since their relegation in 2007, often being hindered by mismanagement in the boardroom - although that has changed under SE7 Partners.

AI believes that the South London side could potentially end their top-flight exile by 2032.

Coventry City - 2026

Coventry City's recent upward trajectory from League Two to a dominant Championship force has been well-documented, and that has only continued with Frank Lampard at the helm.

After replacing Mark Robins in November 2024, the ex-Chelsea boss guided the Sky Blues to the play-off semi-finals before agonisingly losing to Sunderland on aggregate. However, after a fast start to the current campaign, AI has some good news for City supporters.

That's because it believes the West Midlands side will earn promotion this term, exactly 25 years after they were relegated from the Premier League.

Derby County - 2033

Derby County's top-flight exploits in recent times have also been well-publicised for the wrong reasons, with their last spell in the Premier League culminating in an all-time low points haul of 11.

The Rams came close on a handful of occasions to a return but were defeated in the play-offs in 2014, 2016 and 2019, before a brief spell when the club's very existence was under threat.

AI believes the East Midlands side may have to wait some time before becoming a second tier powerhouse once again though, predicting that promotion could occur in the year 2033.

Hull City - 2031

Hull City have only spent five seasons of their entire history in the Premier League, and it is owner, Acun Ilicali's dream to see such days return.

The closest the Tigers have come to achieving such feats since relegation in 2017 was a seventh-place finish in 2023/24, which was followed up by a final-day relegation escape in May 2025.

As Sergej Jakirovic's side look to steadily rebuild, AI believes they could be promoted in the 2031/32 campaign.

Ipswich Town - 2029

Ipswich Town ended a 22-year exile from the Premier League but were instantly relegated back to the Championship.

Despite a slow start to the campaign in real life, many are tipping the Tractor Boys to eventually gather strong momentum and achieve a first-time return to the top-flight under the highly-rated Kieran McKenna.

However, AI isn't necessarily in full agreement, as it believes it could take four years for the Suffolk rebuild to be completed.

Leicester City - 2026

Leicester City were also relegated after a solitary season of Premier League football, swiftly appointing Marti Cifuentes ahead of the current campaign.

The Foxes have made a respectable start to the season despite concerns of a potential points deduction for PSR breaches, although AI believes it will end in celebration.

It has tipped the East Midlands side, who have a vastly-experienced squad, to join their M69 rivals in the top-flight next season.

Middlesbrough - 2026

Middlesbrough have enjoyed the best start to a Championship season in their lengthy history, with the newly-appointed Rob Edwards taking many by surprise.

The Teesside outfit frustratingly fell short of the top six under Michael Carrick last time out, and after making a fast start and several shrewd transfer incomings, many are starting to outline them as a real promotion contender.

That includes AI, who believes Boro will end their exile from the top-flight at the end of this season.