Chelsea and Newcastle United have officially secured qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League following dramatic results on the final day of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Levi Colwill’s decisive 50th-minute goal earned Chelsea a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, capping off a tense campaign with a fifth-place finish and a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Manchester City, who also sealed qualification, comfortably dispatched Fulham 2–0 at Craven Cottage, courtesy of goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland. The win confirmed their third-place finish behind already-qualified Liverpool and Arsenal.
Newcastle United, despite suffering a narrow 1–0 loss to Everton—Carlos Alcaraz heading in the only goal—were handed a Champions League lifeline after Aston Villa fell 2–0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Goals from Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen in the final ten minutes dashed Villa’s hopes of breaking into the top four.
At the City Ground, Chelsea approached their must-win match against Nottingham Forest with caution. The first half was largely uneventful, with both teams struggling to create meaningful chances. Forest edged possession but lacked sharpness in front of goal.
The deadlock was broken shortly after the break when Levi Colwill converted a loose ball from a corner’s second phase, following good work by Pedro Neto. That goal turned out to be the match-winner as Chelsea shifted focus to defence for the remainder of the game.
Manager Enzo Maresca made key substitutions to preserve the lead, reinforcing the midfield and backline. Despite mounting pressure from Forest in the closing stages, the Blues held firm to secure the crucial three points and ensure a return to Champions League football.
The final day results cemented the top five Premier League positions, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea all set to represent England in Europe’s premier club competition next season.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will have to regroup and focus on potential Europa League or domestic cup runs in the coming season.