Check out our 2026/27 season preview for Hull City as Sergej Jakirovic looks to once again defy expectations by managing to avoid the drop.
Despite being curtailed by a transfer ban last season the Tigers consistently punched above their weight and managed to secure a place in the play-offs.
A dramatic victory over Middlesbrough at Wembley followed to seal the club's return to the Premier League after a decade, but they now face an even greater task to try and secure survival in the face of overwhelming odds.
Key Question
Can they continue to outperform expectations?
In May of 2025 a beleaguered Hull City side managed a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on the final day of the season to avoid relegation to League One by virtue of having a better goal difference than Luton Town.
In the months that followed manager Ruben Selles was sacked and replaced by relative unknown Sergej Jakirovic, with the club also placed under a transfer embargo that prevented them from signing any players for a fee.
Given those circumstances it's not at all surprising that the Tigers were among the favourites to be relegated, and all the more surprising that the unfancied Jakirovic was able to lead them to the promised land via the play-offs.
Hull fans will have faith in the Bosnian Croat to once again work his magic in the face of a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, but the challenge they face is even greater this season.
Throughout last season Hull consistently outperformed the expected goals statistic by being ruthlessly efficient when presented with opportunities, with Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt both netting double figures.
That is a trait that they will need to carry over into arguably the best league in world football if they to have any hope of survival in 2026/27.
An expected points table for the Championship at the end of last season claimed Hull should have finished 23rd in the Championship table, rather than the sixth-place finish that ultimately secured their spot in the play-offs.
With an even stronger strength of schedule awaiting them Jakirovic and his side will need to be defensively watertight and collect points wherever they find them.
The odds are against them but the Tigers have proven to be at their most dangerous with their backs against the wall.
Key Transfer
Konstantinos Tzolakis
While their efficiency in front of goal was key to Hull's success last season, they also demonstrated their defensive resiliency by outperforming their expected goals against more than any other team in the Championship.
A key component of that was goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, which made it all the more surprising that he was allowed to join Rangers in June.
Ultimately Hull had deemed that an upgrade would be needed to stand up to the rigors of the Premier League and it appears that they have found what they were looking for in the form of club-record signing Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Tzolakis arrived at the MKM Stadium with a reputation as one of the brightest young goalkeeping talents in world football, having played extensively in Europe during his time with Olympiacos and winning nine senior caps for his native Greece.
The 23-year-old had been attracting attention from multiple Premier League clubs but ultimately opted for East Yorkshire, joining Hull on a five-year deal at the start of August.
With an imposing statue and elite reflexes Tzolakis is one to watch at the MKM Stadium, and he will likely have ample opportunities to showcase his skills between the sticks over the course of the coming campaign.
Breakout Star
Mohamed Belloumi
If you ask a Hull City fan they will tell you that Mohamed Belloumi is one of the best kept secrets in all of English football.
The son of Algerian football legend Lakhdar Belloumi, the winger arrived on Humberside from Portuguese side Farense in the summer of 2024 - one of the few shining lights of Tim Walter's ill-fated spell in charge at the MKM Stadium.
Injuries ultimately ruled Belloumi out of much of his maiden campaign in English football and also limited his involvement as Sergej Jakirovic led the Tigers to the play-offs last season.
Though it was confined to glimpses, when Belloumi's full potential was on display Hull looked like a significantly stronger team.
When the dust had settled from his appearance off the bench in Hull's semi-final second leg against Millwall at The Den, the 24-year-old almost single-handedly carried the Tigers to Wembley with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win.
It remains to be seen whether Belloumi will be able to replicate those performances against Premier League defenders but with his dynamic dribbling and eye for goal, the winger is one to watch in 2026/27.
Bold Prediction
Jaquob Crooke
Break Derby’s lowest points record
I would firstly like to confess my delight at seeing Hull City win promotion. Out of the four in the play-offs, it was either them or Millwall I was rooting for.
However, as great as it was seeing the Tigers infuriate data analysts by defying every possible underlying metric in the book, you can’t help but sense Hull are underprepared and ill-equipped for the Premier League – even with the raft of signings Acun Ilicali has promised.
While xG is not the be all and end all, a club heading into the top-flight with a -21.1 xG differential is an alarming red flag. Ivor Pandur faced the second most shots in the Championship last term, and, while the signing of Konstantinos Tzolakis is a step in the right direction, Sergej Jakirovic must find a solution to prevent a barrage of shots from higher quality individuals hailing down on his goal.
Yes, Sunderland managed to transform themselves into a side deemed relegation fodder to European qualifiers with a boisterous spending spree that completely overhauled the side that won the play-off final.
But where the Black Cats’ recruitment looked smart and calculated, Hull’s proposed business seems scattergun.
To say Hull won’t achieve 11 points is extremely harsh, but the Tigers desperately need greater reinforcements.
