West Ham Odds-On Favourites For Instant Premier League Return

West Ham are the early frontrunners for the 2026/27 Championship title, following their relegation from the Premier League yesterday.

The Hammers needed to better Spurs’ final-day result if they were to survive, but despite beating Leeds 3-0 at the London Stadium, a win for Tottenham means West Ham will be back in the second tier for the first time since 2012.

Reports in the media suggest Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will have to raise up to £150 million in player sales to cover the financial shortfall of relegation. The likes of Mateus Fernandes, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bisakka and Taty Castellanos are all likely to move on to fund a Championship rebuild.

But that hasn’t stopped bookmakers from listing them as 4/6 favourites to go straight back up to the top flight at the first attempt. The two sides relegated alongside West Ham - Wolves and Burnley - are slightly further back in the betting at 13/8 and 5/2 respectively.

Unsurprisingly, the east Londoners also lead the way in the outright betting, floating at around 9/4 to win the Championship title, with Wolves way back at 11/2 and the Clarets sitting at around the 8/1 mark.

Elsewhere, beaten play-off finalists Middlesbrough are 12/1 to dust themselves down and go up as champions next year.

Slightly further back are Southampton, who will start the season on -4 points as part of their Spygate punishment, and they’re a best-price 16/1 to overcome that and win the league, and 5/1 to get promoted.

Bolton Wanderers completed the 2026/27 line-up yesterday by beating Stockport in the League One play-off final, and Steven Schumacher’s side are 20/1 to make it back-to-back promotions.