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Burnley manager Vincent Kompany. PA Images/Alamy Images

Meet the three new teams in the Premier League: Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 8/9/23

The English Premier League kicks off Friday after a multi-month absence, with last year's winner, Manchester City, playing a team that may be unfamiliar to new viewers: Burnley.

At the end of last season, we covered the tense Premier League relegation battle: the fight to avoid finishing in the final three slots in the league, which guarantee demotion to the second tier of English soccer. But we didn't discuss the other side of that coin — the three teams from the second tier who would earn the right to take their places.

With Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United getting relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season, three spots were available for three top teams from the second division: Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United. They'll each make their Premier League debuts this weekend in the hopes of securing a future in the top flight of English soccer.

Here's a look at each team:

Burnley. Based in Lancashire, just north of Manchester, Burnley is a bit of a fan favorite here in the States. The club spent four consecutive seasons in the Premier League before getting relegated at the end of the 2021-22 season. In an era of big money and glamor, Burnley's humble Turf Moor stadium reminds many of better days. It's one of the few stadiums in the country where local businesses can still afford to advertise.

Today’s venue

Turf Moor stadium

Amazing beauty, @BurnleyOfficial pic.twitter.com/Nk5equDadf
— Cádiz CF (@Cadiz_CFEN) August 7, 2021

Burnley earned promotion by winning the second division in grand style. Its secret? Coach Vincent Kompany, an acolyte of Manchester City's Pep Guardiola. He introduced an attacking, possession-based style at the club last season that carried it clear to the Premier League. Many are expecting big things from this new-look Burnley side. While it won't crack the top 10, it should be able to avoid relegation without trouble.

Luton Town. Luton has had a wild journey to the Premier League. After getting demoted all the way out of professional soccer in 2009, the club fought its way through five different tiers of English soccer to secure its spot in the Premier League this season. The team has a long history, with its first professional game kicking off in 1885, and has played at its small, lovable stadium since the early 1900s.

Things aren't expected to go well for Luton this year; getting back into the Premier League was a big achievement in and of itself. Despite the arrival of Aston Villa's Marvelous Nakamba and Manchester City's Issa Kabouré, many pundits expect the club to finish last.

Sheffield United. Old fans of the Premier League will remember Sheffield United. It was the victim of one of the most notorious relegations in history during the 2006-07 season, when West Ham beat it on the last day thanks to goals from an improperly registered player.

“We’re now above West Ham and we took their money - their Tevez masks are just a bit cringeworthy.”

Separated by nearly 200 miles, Sheffield United vs West Ham isn’t a traditional rivalry. Carlos Tevez’s role in the 2006/07 relegation battle changed that... pic.twitter.com/DvAk60oCzz
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 10, 2020

Nicknamed the Blades due to Sheffield's strong cutlery industry, the team is finally back in the Premier League and hoping to survive its first season. Its approach? Focus on the fundamentals — strong defense, comfort ceding possession — and let creativity fall by the wayside. With some key players from last season leaving for new opportunities, this Sheffield United team is weaker than the one that earned promotion last season. Just like Luton, it wouldn't be a surprise to see it sent straight back down to the second tier.

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