The 8 best players in the EFL Championship right now | OneFootball

FLW has looked at which players are currently the 'leading lights' in the Championship

With the Championship season nearing a dramatic conclusion at both ends of the table, many players across the division will also believe they are in with a chance of scooping some highly-coveted individual accolades at club and league-wide level.

The second tier of English football has always proven to be a hotbed for homegrown talents and foreign imports to express themselves, which has subsequently seen many high-profile transfer dealings between Championship sides and clubs either in the Premier League, or across Europe, take place in recent years.

On top of this, many of those who are currently regulars within Thomas Tuchel's England squads have credited their development in the Championship in the early stages of their career as a key factor as to why they have gone on to enjoy success in the years which have followed.

As such, it would be no surprise to see plenty of the Championship's current stars follow in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane and do exactly that in the years to come.

Whilst there is still plenty to play for in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League, the ever-changing battle for a play-off spot or staving off an unwanted relegation to League One, Football League World have looked at which eight players are currently the standout performers in the Championship at this moment in time.

Jack Rudoni

Coventry City have enjoyed a fine first full season under the management of Frank Lampard, and it's one which could see the Sky Blues end a 25-year exile from the Premier League.

The ex-Chelsea and England icon has overseen a remarkable run of results ever since he took charge in November 2024, and one man at the heartbeat of such a strong run of momentum is attacking midfielder, Jack Rudoni.

Rudoni had previously caught the eye for his influence at Huddersfield Town, which saw him rack up eight goal contributions in West Yorkshire during the club's relegation campaign two years ago, which led to a £5m switch to the CBS Arena under Mark Robins.

Despite signing under the modern-day City cult hero, it is Lampard who has been the beneficiary of the 24-year-old's ability to dictate the flow of games and bring a plethora of impressive goals and assists to the table.

After accumulating 10 goals and 13 assists last term, the Carshalton-born man has been just as pivotal for the Sky Blues this season despite being hit with an injury in the Autumn.

As such, the maestro is on course for the first Premier League season of his career, having previously attracted major transfer interest from clubs in the top-flight.

Hayden Hackney

Hayden Hackney falls into exactly the same bracket, with the Middlesbrough academy graduate receiving strong Premier League transfer interest for some time as a result of his consistent performances at the heartbeat of the midfield at the Riverside Stadium.

After being handed his breakthrough by Michael Carrick, both Rob Edwards and now Kim Hellberg have continued to get the best out of the 23-year-old as Boro look to end a nine-year hiatus from the top-flight.

The England youth international has also gone up another level by adding goals to his game as an all-round midfielder, whilst also being capable of breaking up play, dictating games and driving the Reds up the pitch in Hellberg's high-pressing system.

Whilst it remains to be seen if Middlesbrough are to be successful in their promotion pursuit, many believe that Hackney will be a top-flight player next season in some form.

Zan Vipotnik

Although Swansea City's overall season has been one of inconsistency, Zan Vipotnik has certainly done all he can to improve the South Wales side's fortunes under Alan Sheehan and now Vitor Matos.

After a solid first season in the Championship after signing on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, the Slovenian international has now given his club the potential to make a remarkable profit on his services, with some supporters already accepting that Vipotnik is likely to move on to bigger and better things.

The 23-year-old is on course to better his most productive career season in terms of goals, having led the way in the division's individual scoring charts for some time as a result of hitting 16 strikes before the end of February.

Furthermore, the hotshot was linked with a move to West Ham United ahead of the recently-closed winter window, with subsequent reports claiming that the Swans have placed a valuation of £15m on his shoulders ahead of what is expected to be an intense period of interest, yet again, for his signature in the summer.

Imran Louza

Watford have gone through an abundance of players and head coaches in recent years, but one player has remained a constant thorn in the side of many opponents at Championship level. No surprise that that man is Imran Louza.

The Moroccan playmaker has been at Vicarage Road since June 2021 after signing from FC Nantes for £10m. Whilst he hasn't always enjoyed the smoothest of rides in a Hornets shirt, the 26-year-old has been influential in their play-off bid under three different bosses this term.

After just three-and-a-half months of the current season, Louza had managed to accumulate his best-ever tally of goal contributions for the Yellows - six goals and four assists - and whilst those contributions have somewhat dried up in recent weeks, he has still been the subject of immense praise for his composed and influential performances in the middle of the park.

He is still under contract at the club for another two years, but that didn't stop Ipswich Town from plotting an ambitious transfer raid in January, as was exclusively revealed by FLW.

Leo Scienza

Leo Scienza swapped the Bundesliga for the Championship in the summer, joining Southampton from FC Heidenheim in a high-profile Deadline Day switch, and it's one that has certainly paid off for all involved.

Although Saints' season has been extremely mixed under Tonda Eckert and the man who brought Scienza to St Mary's - Will Still - the Brazilian has continuously provided energy and a creative spark on the left-hand side for the South Coast outfit.

Having already reached double-figures in terms of goal contributions, Saints supporters will be pinning a fair portion of their play-off hopes on Scienza's influence, or else he could be swiftly heading elsewhere despite signing a four-year contract with the club and immediately becoming a favourite.

Charlie Hughes

Another player who's immediate future depends on the immediate fortunes of their current employers is Hull City centre-back, Charlie Hughes.

Since signing for £3.5m from Wigan Athletic in August 2024, the 22-year-old has been a revelation for the Tigers - despite the fact that his first season with the club saw them narrowly avoid relegation - with several impressive performances at the heart of defence, whilst also proving to be an aerial threat from set-pieces.

After scooping individual awards at the club's end-of-season ceremony, Hughes became the subject of interest from Coventry and Sheffield United, before it was revealed that City would only entertain offers north of £20m, whilst current head coach, Sergej Jakirovic, stated that his next move would be to the Premier League.

Ironically, Hughes was linked with Crystal Palace in January after the Eagles saw Marc Guehi leave for Manchester City, but he has remained at the MKM Stadium for now in a bid to help City attempt to get over the finish line in terms of returning to the top-flight.

Gustavo Hamer

It has been an indifferent campaign for Sheffield United, but last year's Championship Player of the Season, Gustavo Hamer, has remained his usually influential self at Bramall Lane amid continuous transfer speculation.

After previously flourishing in the division with Coventry, the Blades' £15m ace has racked up over 30 goal contributions since the beginning of last season, and has provided 10 assists so far this term in less than 30 league appearances, further showcasing his ability to constantly pick the right pass and dictate games, on top of his versatility in the centre of the park or on the left flank.

As such, it is no real surprise that Chris Wilder is hoping to extend the Dutch-Brazilian's contract in S2, which runs out next summer, after Hamer received his latest round of transfer interest in January from Turkish Süper Lig side, Trabzonspor.

Carl Rushworth

Rounding off the list is another Sky Blue in the form of on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper, Carl Rushworth.

Lampard's transfer activity in CV6 was certainly defence-focused in the summer, with the ex-Swansea and Hull loanee making a third temporary switch to the Championship as a result.

Although question marks have been raised over the consistency of the rearguard in front of the 24-year-old, he has been a key reason behind Coventry's promotion push, as proven by statistics.

Rushworth has one of the highest save percentages out of the division's goalkeepers, as well as preventing over 5 goals from finding the back of the net, which could be the difference between automatic promotion or a third play-off campaign in four seasons for the West Midlands outfit.

The shot-stopper was also reportedly considered as an option for Thomas Tuchel's England squad in November, further exemplifying his upward trajectory.