Brighton and Hove Albion will play in the Premier League next season.
Chris Hughton's side will become the 48th team to play in the Premier League, and will play in the top-tier of English football for the first time since a four-year spell in Division 1 that ended in 1983.
Brighton defeated Wigan Athletic on Monday afternoon 2-1 to all but secure their promotion. A 1-1 draw later that evening between Derby County and Huddersfield Town confirmed the move to the Premier League for Brighton.
The team, who finished in third place last season, missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference and lost in their play-off semi-finals to Sheffield Wendesday.
Congratulations @OfficialBHAFC!
Promoted Brighton & Hove Albion will become the 48th team to play in the #PL in the 2017/18 season pic.twitter.com/J9zZaDAht7
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 17, 2017
This season, Brighton are top of The Championship, and look set to win the Football League title. The Seagulls are seven points clear of Newcastle United with three games left. Newcastle also look likely to earn automatic promotion, having a six-point gap over third-placed Reading.
It is the second time, Hughton has led a team to the top flight, having managed Newcastle to promotion in 2010. He becomes the first Irish manager in the Premier League, since Owen Coyle left Bolton Wanderers in 2012.
SAY WE ARE GOING UP, SAY WE ARE GOING UP! #BHAFC, #PREMIERLEAGUE #WE'REONOURWAY pic.twitter.com/kwCrTq6wwi
— BHAFC âš½ï¸ (@OfficialBHAFC) April 17, 2017
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