FOLLOWING Sunday’s play-off final at Wembley, the Premier League line-up for 2024-25 is now complete.
Cherries have long known they were set for a third straight year at England’s top table, mathematically sure of avoiding relegation with seven games to spare, going on to finish 12th.
There will be a familiar look to the division next season.
The three clubs promoted last season in Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town have all gone straight back down into the Championship.
Meanwhile, two of the three clubs relegated in 2022-23, in Leicester City and Southampton, have come straight back up.
Leeds United, who also went down that year, missed out on promotion by losing out 1-0 to Saints at Wembley.
So there will be one team back after a long exile from the Premier League for its 33rd edition in Ipswich Town, who remarkably achieved back-to-back promotions. They were last in the top flight in 2002.
Elsewhere, of the other 17 Premier League clubs remaining in 24-25, seven are based in London, four in the north west, one in the north east, three from the Midlands while Cherries and Brighton & Hove Albion will be the south coast’s other representatives.
Premier League 2024-25: Cherries, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Ipswich, Leicester, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Tottenham, West Ham, Wolves.
Early odds
At the start of the past two seasons, Cherries have been listed among the three favourites for relegation.
But after an impressive campaign under Andoni Iraola, there are no such predictions from the bookmakers this time around at this early stage.
According to SkyBet, Leicester, who could be facing a potential points deduction, are listed as odds on (1/2) to go straight back down, along with Ipswich (8/11).
Perennial strugglers Everton (5/4) are next on the list, alongside Southampton (6/4) and Nottingham Forest (9/4).
Bookies deem eight clubs more likely to go down next season than Cherries, who are priced at 7/1 for relegation.
Working up the table, early odds are also available for clubs to finish in the top four.
Cherries are a long shot at 40/1, with bookies currently fancying Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea for those spots.
For the most optimistic among you, Cherries are 500/1 to be crowned league winners next term. They were priced at 1000/1 this time last year.
Key dates
Excitement is already building around what could be possible for Cherries next season.
The Premier League season gets underway over the weekend of August 17, running through until May 25, 2025.
There is not too much longer to wait to start planning some away days, with fixtures set to be released at 9am on Tuesday, June 18.
Some Cherries players are set for international action this summer at the Euros or Copa America. For those who are not, they are understood to be due back for pre-season testing on July 6.
They will then head to the USA for a two-week training camp in California on July 15, which will include two friendly matches, one of which has been confirmed as being against League One Wrexham on July 20.
Cherries are also expected to host two friendly matches at Vitality Stadium, likely on August 3 and August 10, although exact dates are to be confirmed.
There will be no mid-season winter break next year.
Meanwhile, the transfer window will open on Friday, June 14, closing at 11pm on Friday, August 30.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here