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Heaven has arrived for Hull City. A side once predicted to battle relegation this season, who only survived on goal difference last year and were restricted by a transfer embargo, have pulled off a remarkable transformation. Instead of tumbling into League One, they have climbed back into the Premier League. In a play-off campaign forever associated with Spygate, one last twist emerged — Oli McBurnie sneaked into the Middlesbrough penalty box to slot home the most valuable goal in Hull’s history.

A free transfer delivered a £200 million strike — the richest prize in world football — courtesy of the very financial constraints that had tied Hull’s hands. Never has enforced austerity been so rewarding. Middlesbrough, however, were left broken once again, having previously crashed out to a club that admitted to cheating. “Two heart-breaking losses in one week,” lamented manager Kim Hellberg.

That gave Boro an unwanted double, losing both the semi-final and final. This time, there will be no reprieve. “It has been a rollercoaster for everyone in the football club,” Hellberg added. “It was the toughest two weeks I have been through.”

Oli McBurnie’s 95th-minute goal sealed Hull’s promotion, a cruel ending for Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn — born in Middlesbrough, a lifelong supporter, and on the club’s books since childhood. He spilled Yu Hirakawa’s cross straight to McBurnie, who swept home the decisive goal. The finish may have been scrappy, but for Hull, it was glorious. They had twice earned Premier League promotions in similar fashion — Dean Windass’s volley in 2008 and Mohamed Diame’s strike in 2016. McBurnie’s poacher’s effort, however, was even more lucrative, given the modern Premier League’s financial rewards.

At least, from the EFL’s perspective, Hull owner Acun Ilicali is unlikely to follow through on his earlier threat of legal action if promotion had not been achieved. Instead, the Turkish entrepreneur can claim his bold decisions have been vindicated. He changed managers three times within a year before entrusting the reins to Sergej Jakirovic, a Bosnian-Croatian coach with league titles in both countries but little recognition in East Yorkshire. Now, Jakirovic joins Phil Brown and Steve Bruce as the only managers to lead Hull into the top division in their 122-year history. “It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “I cannot believe we did it.”

Though Hull’s revival was overshadowed by the stories of Southampton and Middlesbrough, it remains a stunning turnaround. They were outside the play-off spots after 45 matches and even during parts of the 46th. Entering as underdogs, they defied the odds. McBurnie, who had fired them into the play-offs, now fired them into the Premier League. A team that had one of the four worst defensive records in the Championship suddenly became a model of discipline. They conceded none across both legs of the semi-final against Millwall, and Middlesbrough failed to register a single shot on target. “Today we lacked a bit of that offensive quality,” admitted Hellberg.

Perhaps that reflected the absence of injured striker Tommy Conway, who, though erratic, might have made a difference. Maybe Boro would have performed better with full preparation instead of being reinstated late on Tuesday evening. But the truth is, Hellberg’s men have struggled for goals and wins over the past ten weeks. They have never won at Wembley, and have scored only once there in their history — records that remain intact.

Though Wembley’s heat was intense, the match itself was slow to ignite. The weeks of chaos involving disciplinary hearings, arbitration panels, and legal wrangling seemed to have drained both clubs’ energy for drama.

On the pitch, there were few highlights. Boro captain Dael Fry sent a looping header narrowly over, while McBurnie saw his first-half effort deflected onto the bar by Adilson Malanda. Hull substitute Joe Gelhardt volleyed wide on the turn.

Extra time appeared inevitable — until it wasn’t. Hull’s superior bench depth proved decisive. Substitute Hirakawa made a driving run down the left to deliver the cross that Brynn mishandled, sealing the Tigers’ triumph.

Hayden Hackney, the Championship’s player of the season, made his first appearance in two months to loud cheers from the Boro faithful, accompanied by the chant, “He’s one of our own.” Yet Brynn, also one of their own, was left in anguish, fully aware of the gravity of his mistake. “There is a time to be devastated and there are emotions,” said Hellberg.

No one could spare Brynn from the heartbreak. Middlesbrough had kept a close eye on their opponents’ tactics throughout the season, but not on the man who would appear unmarked in their box. “I felt like it was written for me to get it,” said McBurnie. “What a feeling.”

That goal marked his 18th of the season — a fitting reward for one of Hull’s shrewdest signings. McBurnie had left Las Palmas last summer to join Hull, swapping the sun of Gran Canaria for the banks of the Humber. The weather may be colder and the tourism scene smaller in East Yorkshire, but next season will bring a very different kind of visitor: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City.