ASTON VILLA will play in the English Premier League (EPL) next season, after defeating Derby County 2-1 in the Championship playoff at Wembley Stadium on Monday afternoon.

Prince William, a devoted Villa fan, looked on from a private box in the stadium and joyously celebrated after the final whistle as his team won what is billed as the world’s most lucrative match.

Dutch international Anwar El Ghazi scored for the Birmingham club just before halftime, while Derby goalkeeper Kelle Roos bungled a saved in the 59th minute that allowed John McGinn to head the ball out of his hands for the second goal.

A late goal by Martyn Waghorn gave Derby some life in the 81st minute, but it was too little too late.

“The fans are amazing,” El Ghazi said on Sky Sports about the Wembley crowd shortly after the final whistle. “If you can score there it’s unbelievable, it’s a dream that comes true for me. It’s not me that scored, the whole team scored, the fans scored, Aston Villa scored, we did it all together throughout the whole season.”

“We knew we had a great side, we just had to believe in each other and push each other,” added teammate Tammy Abraham, a striker on loan from Chelsea who scored 25 goals for Villa this season.

Villa is set to reap US$215 million as a result of broadcasting and commercial revenue associated with entry into football’s richest league, according to Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

Since 1990, the third to sixth-placed teams in England’s second-tier have battled in a three-match playoff to determine promotion into the top flight.

Villa, which finished fifth in the Championship, defeated West Bromwich Albion on penalties to earn its spot in the playoff final in front of a capacity crowd in north London.

The win marks a return to the EPL for Villa after it was relegated in 2016. It also helps ease the heartache suffered last year after the team lost the 2018 Championship playoff final to Fulham.

Villa enjoyed nearly 30 years in England’s top division and in 1982 won the European Cup, but it will have its work cut out next season, given that four of the last five playoff champions have been relegated from the Premier League after just one year.

Last year’s winner Fulham finished 19th in the top flight this season — scoring less than one goal per match — and will return to Championship play.

Should it manage to finish in the top 17 in the EPL, Villa will reap an additional US$166 in revenue, according to Deloitte.

“Promotion to the Premier League provides clubs with the financial resources to make strategic investments both on and off the pitch,” said Sam Boor, senior manager at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

“And given the relatively equal distribution of revenue amongst Premier League clubs, it provides promoted clubs with a chance to avoid relegation when they get there.”

Even if the club is relegated after one season in the EPL, it will still receive parachute payments worth US$95 million over the following two years, according to Deloitte.

(SD-Agencies)