All 2026/27 EFL Championship club's best winger ranked from worst to best | OneFootball

FLW attempts to rank every Championship club's current best winger from worst to best

The EFL Championship has been blessed by some outstanding wide attacking talent over the years, as Football League World takes a closer look at the current crop of wingers plying their trade in the English second tier.

As football has developed over the years, positions and roles have evolved, with wingers being no different.

Some wonderful talent has passed through the Championship in recent times, including the likes of Michael Olise, Antoine Semenyo, Christos Tzolis, and Morgan Rogers, each of whom utilised the division as a platform before shining on the global stage.

From current internationals in their prime to young talent looking to follow in the footsteps of previous second-tier greats, Football League World has attempted to rank every club’s best winger from worst to best based on current ability.

24 ? ? Filip Bilbija

Action images

Ranking the worst of the bunch is never an easy or pleasurable task, as Derby County's Filip Bilbija kicks us off.

The Rams' lack of wide options means only Bilbija and Corey Blackett-Taylor qualify for this list, as the German, who joined Derby in the summer on a free transfer from Paderborn, has spent the bulk of his career in the 2. Bundesliga, and given his lack of impact in English football, makes his current ability difficult to gauge.

23 ? ? Thierry Gale

Action images

Bolton Wanderers brought in 13 recruits over the summer, including wide options such as Samuel Iling-Junior, Jayden Nelson, and Kyliane Dong, though our pick is a player who helped them to promotion last year in the form of Thierry Gale.

The Bajan winger spent time in Hungary, Georgia, Austria, and Poland before arriving in Greater Manchester in the summer of 2025, scoring five and assisting four in League One last year, and just about beat his teammates to the post.

22 ? ? Romelle Donovan

Action Images

Romelle Donovan came through the ranks at Birmingham City before joining Brentford in 2025, and after a year on the fringes of the Bees squad, joined Sheffield United on loan in the summer.

The Blades' lack of wide options leaves Donovan as the only real candidate, and his lack of experience and clout at the senior level makes him difficult to rank much higher, though it would be no surprise if the 19-year-old enjoyed a real breakthrough year at Bramall Lane.

21 ? ? Chiedozie Ogbene

Action images

Chiedozie Ogbene has had a difficult few years with injury. Having joined Luton Town on a free transfer in 2023 from Rotherham United, the Irishman would make 30 Premier League appearances for the Hatters before joining Ipswich Town for £8 million the following summer.

Injuries have severely limited his minutes since, and a loan spell with Sheffield United last season didn't help him much. Now with Lincoln City, he and Adam Reach were the only real candidates, with Ogbene just edging the 33-year-old.

20 ? ? Oladapo Afolayan

Action images

Oladapo Afolayan would be spotted by Solihull Moors whilst playing for Loughborough University in 2017, and after starring in non-league, would be snapped up by West Ham United in 2018.

He'd make just one appearance for the Hammers, scoring in his only game, as spells with Bolton Wanderers and St. Pauli followed before a move to Blackburn Rovers in January 2026, where he has yet to set the world alight in Lancashire.

19 ? ? Yu Hirakawa

Action images

Japanese winger Yu Hirakawa is making a habit of being a part of clutch moments, having assisted Oli McBurnie's winner for Hull City in the 2026 play-off final, and grabbing the late winner for Bristol City away to Burnley earlier this campaign.

The 25-year-old joined the Robins in the summer of 2024, but has struggled to nail down a place at Ashton Gate. As with Scott Twine having played the bulk of his career through the middle, Hirakawa is the best out-and-out winger currently at the club.

18 ? ? Callum Lang

Action images

Callum Lang has spent the majority of his career between League One and the Championship across spells with Wigan Athletic, Shrewsbury Town, Portsmouth, and now Preston North End.

Playing the majority of his career off the right flank, Lang has proven to be a steady operator at second-tier level, and the Lilywhites will be looking to him to turn up more often than not this year.

17 ? ? Chris Willock

Action images

Chris Willock is nearing 200 Championship appearances to his name at the age of 28 across spells with the likes of Huddersfield Town, Queens Park Rangers, and Cardiff City.

As steady as they come, Willock has largely been in the shadow of his brother, Joe, throughout his career, but has still formed a respectable CV for himself, though his lack of experience at the very top level limits his ranking.

16 ? ? Nathan Broadhead

Action images

Nathan Broadhead joined Wrexham for a potential £10 million from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2025 after the Welsh attacking-midfielder helped the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

However, he hasn't quite hit the heights hoped for of him upon his return to North Wales, and at 28, it's difficult to see him improving too much now.

15 ? ? Million Manhoef

Action images

Dutch winger Million Manhoef has been one of the casualties of Stoke City's recent switch to a 3-4-2-1 shape, with the winger struggling to slot into any position in the side.

With Sorba Thomas having left, Manhoef is the next best out-and-out winger at the club, though with less than 12 months remaining on his current deal, he likely won't be there for much longer.