Hull City had been away from the Premier League for nine years before the 2026–27 season.
Hull returned to England’s top division in August 2026 after a nine-year absence. Their comeback began with a 2–0 home victory over Manchester United, giving the promoted club an immediate landmark result on the opening weekend.
Semi Ajayi scored Hull’s first goal in the 17th minute, and Nobel Mendy added the second before half-time. The victory was Hull’s first top-flight win over Manchester United and their first league win against the club since 1974, when both teams were in the old Second Division.
The nine-year figure refers to Hull’s time outside the Premier League, not the age of the club or the gap between meetings with Manchester United. Hull had previously played in the Premier League before dropping out of the division, making the 2026–27 campaign a top-flight return rather than a debut.