Semi Ajayi put Hull City ahead of Manchester United just 17 minutes into the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season. The center-back’s strike at MKM Stadium sent the home crowd into delirium, and for good reason: this was Hull’s first top-flight match in nearly a decade.
The Saturday lunchtime kickoff, set for 12:30 BST, was supposed to be a gentle reintroduction for the newly promoted side against one of English football’s biggest clubs.
A return nine years in the making
Hull City were relegated from the Premier League back in 2017. The last time these two sides met was a 0-0 draw in February of that year.
The road back to the top division culminated on May 23, 2026, when Hull beat Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final. Ajayi, who arrived at Hull on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion in June 2025 on a two-year deal, has quickly become one of the club’s most important players.
