Just a few months ago, Hull City looked like one of the least likely candidates for promotion to the Premier League. Placed under a transfer embargo and considered a relegation contender in the Championship at the start of the 2025-26 season, the club ultimately produced a spectacular turnaround to secure its fourth promotion to the top flight since 2008.
Returning to the Premier League was nevertheless expected to be a huge challenge. The Guardian’s projections even had the Tigers finishing last, largely because of their defensive struggles the previous season and a squad that needed to be significantly reshaped. Hull had conceded 66 goals in the Championship and had few guarantees heading into a division where every mistake is punished immediately.
But Hull did not approach this season with the idea of simply enjoying its return to the top flight. The club chose to rebuild. Eleven new players had already joined the team before the start of the league season, including Jack Butland, Hidemasa Morita, and Nobel Mendy, who became the club’s record signing. Hull’s total investment reflects a broader desire to finally move beyond the financial difficulties that had long followed the club.
Avoiding relegation is obviously the primary objective. But the first few weeks of the season quickly changed perceptions around the Tigers.
Jakirovic the cornerstone of the project
At the center of this transformation is Sergej Jakirovic. Arriving at Hull after several spells on European benches, the Bosnian coach inherited a club in serious difficulty before leading it all the way to the Premier League. His personal journey, shaped by the Balkan Wars during his childhood, has also fueled a philosophy built around resilience and the ability to overcome difficult periods.
Most importantly, Jakirovic appears to have created genuine cohesion within his team. The coach signed a contract extension before the trip to Aston Villa, a sign that Hull intends to build its future around the man who brought them back to the top flight.
On the field, that identity is currently based on a particularly solid team structure. Hull does not necessarily look to dominate opponents through possession: the Tigers are willing to suffer, remain compact, and then look to exploit the space.
The trip to Coventry was a perfect illustration. After stunning Manchester United on the opening day, Hull followed it up with a 1-0 victory thanks to Liam Millar, who scored his first Premier League goal. The win gave them a perfect start with six points from their first two games.
Then came the test against Aston Villa. Facing a team accustomed to European competition, Hull once again demonstrated its defensive solidity. The 0-0 draw at home gave the Tigers their third consecutive clean sheet and seventh point in three games. Mohamed Belloumi even hit the crossbar, and Hull could have snatched a third victory.
The contrast with the summer predictions is striking. A team expected to fight to avoid finishing last is already sitting near the top of the standings.
Don’t get carried away but believe in survival
This start to the season should not, however, make anyone forget the reality of the Premier League. Three games are not enough to turn a promoted team into an established top-flight side. Hull will have to manage the depth of its squad, the intensity of the schedule, and the pressure that will inevitably increase once opponents have more data on how the team operates.
But the early signs are particularly encouraging. The defense, which was one of the major concerns of the summer, has become the team’s biggest strength. Against Manchester United, Coventry, and then Aston Villa, Hull has yet to concede a single goal. Young Lucas Herrington particularly impressed against Villa, making a decisive block on his 19th birthday.
The other positive is the ability of several new signings and attacking players to make the difference. Millar has already scored a decisive goal, while Belloumi showed against Villa that he can be a constant threat. The arrival of players such as Morita should also give Jakirovic a midfield capable of handling the pace of the league.
Hull must therefore move forward with one simple idea: do not change what is working. The club has no reason to abandon its organization simply because it has just beaten Manchester United or collected seven points from three games.
Survival will likely be built on that discipline, that togetherness, and that ability to turn tight games into positive results.
It would still be premature to talk about another Sunderland-like surprise, with the club promoted last season before becoming a European contender. But Hull has already shown that it did not come to the Premier League to simply make up the numbers.
The Tigers were tipped as the overwhelming favorites for relegation. After three games, they are unbeaten, have conceded no goals, and sit in second place. The 2026-27 season may not be the survival campaign that was expected: it could be the season in which Hull City truly begins to establish itself in the Premier League landscape.