All 24 Championship club’s highest-rated player so far this season ranked by data | OneFootball

FLW has taken a look at every current Championship club's highest-rated player so far this season, according to data from WhoScored

The first international break of the season has arrived, with teams across the Championship getting three weeks off after a gruelling fixture schedule, as FLW takes a look at each team's highest-rated player this season so far, according to data from WhoScored.

After eight league matches in just over a month, the first international break has allowed clubs across the Championship three weeks off to reflect and prepare for the next block of fixtures.

Some will be more pleased with the arrival of the break than others, as the table begins to take shape.

Swansea City lead the way on 17 points, being the only team to win five games at this stage and maintaining the best defensive record to boot, whilst Burnley are the only club yet to pick up a victory, and sit on four points with Preston North End at the foot of the table, with goal difference keeping the Clarets rock bottom.

There have already been some standout performers across the board this season, though the eye test can only do so much; using data from WhoScored, Football League World has taken a look at each club's highest-rated player thus far.

Birmingham City - Phil Neumann - 7.30

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German defender Phil Neumann gets the ball rolling in this list, with the Birmingham City star having an excellent campaign thus far.

According to WhoScored, the former Hannover 96 centre-back is averaging a rating of 7.30 this season, having started all eight games for Chris Davies' side, and his efforts from the back will likely be pivotal to whether Blues can sustain a real push for promotion this year.

Blackburn Rovers - Oladapo Afolayan - 7.03

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English winger Oladapo Afolayan has had an excellent start to the season, with three goals and two assists in eight Championship games thus far for Blackburn Rovers.

Having initially struggled at Ewood Park following his move from German side St. Pauli last January, the former West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers wide man is beginning to excel in the English second tier and boasts an average rating of 7.02 after eight appearances this season.

Bolton Wanderers - Sam Dalby - 6.98

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Bolton head into the international break in style after claiming a 4-3 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road, in which English striker Sam Dalby netted.

Despite head coach Steven Schumacher's best efforts to find a successor to the former Wrexham striker, Dalby remains a key figure for the Trotters up top, with an average rating of 6.98 after eight games so far.

Bristol City - Rio Cardines - 7.45

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One of the breakout stars of this season already, Bristol City full-back Rio Cardines is having a truly excellent start to life at Ashton Gate following his summer loan from Crystal Palace.

The Trinidad and Tobago international is tasting his first regular experience of first-team football in his career with the Robins, and with six assists in eight games from full-back already, boasts an average and deserved rating of 7.45 so far.

Burnley - Zian Flemming 7.15

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A bit of an awkward one for Burnley fans, as their highest-rated player this season remains Zian Flemming, despite the Dutchman having joined Ipswich Town some three weeks ago.

The striker maintains an average rating of 7.15 courtesy of his brace against West Ham United on the opening day, as it is slim pickings for the Clarets so far.

Cardiff City - Joel Bagan - 6.97

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English left-back Joel Bagan has emerged as one of the first names on Brian Barry-Murphy's teamsheet at Cardiff City ever since the Irish head coach took charge in the summer of 2025.

Bagan, with an average rating of 6.97, has played every minute in the Championship so far this season, and as far as left-backs go, is as tidy and reliable as they come.

Charlton Athletic - Lloyd Jones - 7.16

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30-year-old centre-back Lloyd Jones was arguably Charlton Athletic's standout performer in the Championship last season, and the English defender has carried that form into this season with the Addicks.

Playing every league minute in the heart of Nathan Jones' back line at The Valley so far, Jones netted in back-to-back games to begin the season against Derby County and West Ham United, and with an average rating of 7.16, has emerged as a threat in both boxes.

Derby County - Bobby Clark - 6.83

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Derby re-signed former Liverpool attacking-midfielder Bobby Clark on a permanent transfer this summer from RB Salzburg for around £6 million, and he has not disappointed.

Despite the Rams' struggles, Clark's average rating of 6.83 is the best in John Eustace's current ranks, as the 46-year-old will likely continue to look to his new star signing to lead the way this campaign.

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Lincoln City have taken the Championship by storm, and any notions that the Imps were only here to merely make up the numbers have been blown away in the early stages of the season, which couldn't have been possible without the presence of English centre-back Deji Elewere.

Elewere, 23, only joined Lincoln in January 2026 from Bromley, but has taken to the Championship like a duck to water, with an average rating of 6.98 so far, playing every league minute.

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Middlesbrough have had a few standout performers so far this season, as Kim Hellberg's side look to right their wrongs from last time around, though their star performer so far has been Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Boro beat stiff Championship competition to the winger's signature in the summer, and with two goals and one assist in his first three games for the club, he is averaging a rating of 7.74, and if he can maintain that level of form, automatic promotion will be well within Hellberg's reach.