Top 10 best EFL Championship signings of 2026/27 so far | OneFootball

FLW have looked at the players who have performed to a high standard after sealing summer moves

The Championship season has certainly got off to a flyer in terms of high-profile talking points and the performances of teams and individuals alike.

However, English football's second tier now takes a backseat for three weeks due to the extension of the campaign's first international break, which, in effect, has stopped the need for a pause in mid-October.

This will now see a plethora of the division's star names switch their focus to international duty, whilst for some, it is a chance to reset ahead of the next block of fixtures as the crucial winter months near.

Whilst it remains to be seen which teams and players return from said hiatus in fine form, Football League World have reflected on the opening two months of the campaign and selected the 10 players who have shone the most after securing moves in the summer transfer window, which closed on September 1st.

10 ? ? Liam Millar - Hull City to Birmingham City (Loan)

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The first name on this particular list is Canadian winger, Liam Millar, who was loaned in by Birmingham City from Premier League new boys, Hull City.

The 44-time international was a regular fixture in Sergej Jakirovic's Tigers outfit which won last season's play-offs, but after netting the winner for them against Coventry City last month, has already shown why Chris Davies courted his signature for some time at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Millar has added a freshness to Birmingham's left-wing position, and through his direct nature, has already posted one goal - which came last time out against Middlesbrough - and three assists in just four appearances.

With his contract at Hull expiring next June, could we see the ex-Liverpool man finding his next permanent home?

9 ? ? Rio Cardines - Crystal Palace to Bristol City (Loan)

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Bristol City made 11 signings in Michael Skubala's first transfer window at Ashton Gate.

However, the standout name amongst those additions thus far is Trinidad and Tobago international full-back, Rio Cardines, who joined on loan from Crystal Palace.

The 20-year-old made his senior breakthrough last season at Selhurst Park under Oliver Glasner, but will certainly be catching the eye of new Eagles boss, Pierre Sage, in the opening weeks of the current campaign, as from left-back, he already has six assists in the Robins' first eight games.

This sees him sit two clear of any other Championship player for that particular statistic.

8 ? ? Amario Cozier-Duberry - Brighton and Hove Albion to Middlesbrough (Loan)

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Middlesbrough have made an abundance of eye-catching moves this summer in their quest for promotion, and one of those came when Amario Cozier-Duberry was loaned in from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The highly-rated winger shone for Bolton Wanderers in League One last term, racking up 10 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for the League One play-off winners, and his recent upward trajectory has already continued at the Riverside Stadium.

Cozier-Duberry, 21, has two goals and an assist in his first three matches for the Teessiders, firmly putting to bed any doubt about whether he could cope at Championship level after previous struggles with Blackburn Rovers.

7 ? ? Will Lankshear - Tottenham Hotspur to Middlesbrough

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Another high-profile signing for Kim Hellberg was that of Will Lankshear, who signed from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal which could be worth up to £20m.

Having netted 12 goals in 47 games for Oxford United last season, it became a hot topic of discussion as to whether the forward would remain in North London or source regular minutes elsewhere.

However, Spurs' decision to sell the England youth international has become Middlesbrough's gain early doors, with the clinical frontman already posting eight goals in his first 11 games for the club in all competitions, proving to be the ideal solution to their prior goalscoring issues.

6 ? ? Cyle Larin - RCD Mallorca to Southampton

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Cyle Larin's arrival at Southampton on loan from RCD Mallorca in January coincided with Saints' surge into the play-offs under Tonda Eckert, even if the end of their campaign was halted by Spygate.

Having scored eight times in 16 games, the Canadian's confidence was further boosted by two goals for his country at the FIFA World Cup, making his permanent £3m switch to St Mary's feel like a steal for the Championship side.

Such verdicts have only grown stronger regarding the minimal fee, as so far this season, the 31-year-old has already bagged seven goals in his first eight league games, helping wipe out Saints' four-point deduction in little time while reasserting their position as potential promotion contenders.

5 ? ? Ethan Galbraith - Swansea City to Stoke City

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There were question marks when Northern Ireland international, Ethan Galbraith was signed by Stoke City from Swansea City for £10m in July.

However, whilst the Potters got off to a slow start under Mark Robins in August, the 25-year-old, once of Manchester United, has certainly burst into life with three goals and one assist to his name already.

Galbraith's underlying numbers also showcase just how much of a metronomic figure he has already become in this Stoke side, and supporters will hope such feats continue if the Staffordshire side are, for once, able to mount a play-off bid.

4 ? ? Stephen Welsh - Celtic to Swansea City

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Swansea City have certainly been the surprise package of the Championship season so far, with Vitor Matos' side's start certainly being built on solid defensive foundations whilst also having the cutting edge to punish opponents.

As a result, the free transfer of Stephen Welsh from Scottish Premiership giants, Celtic, has proven to be the division's biggest bargain in the campaign's early weeks.

The 26-year-old has capitalised on an unfortunate achilles injury sustained by Cameron Burgess to partner Ben Cabango, and has already helped the South Wales side accumulate three clean sheets in his first eight appearances for the club.

Welsh, who only made 70 appearances for Celtic, has also been rewarded with his first call-up to the Scotland senior side under newly-appointed head coach, Sebastian Pocognoli.

3 ? ? Jimmy-Jay Morgan - Chelsea to West Bromwich Albion

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West Bromwich Albion have also made an encouraging start to James Morrison's first full season in charge at The Hawthorns, and so has summer signing, Jimmy-Jay Morgan on an individual scale.

Morrison has recruited several players under the age of 25, and the £4m deal agreed to sign the 20-year-old forward could prove to be a smart one in both the short and long-term.

Morgan netted 14 times in 39 games for Peterborough United last season, and has already made his game more well-rounded with a tally of three goals and as many assists for the Baggies, leading the line well alongside Norwegian, Aune Heggebo.

2 ? ? Manor Solomon - Tottenham Hotspur to West Ham United

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Next up is experienced Israel international winger, Manor Solomon, who moved from Tottenham Hotspur to West Ham United for just £5m in the summer window.

The 27-year-old struggled on loan at Fulham in the Premier League last season, but was previously a key cog in Leeds United's Championship-winning side under Daniel Farke just two terms ago.

Starting in seven of the Hammers' first eight games, in which results have been fairly mixed, Solomon has still put in some strong performances to suggest his quality, on an individual basis, is far greater than many counterparts at the level.

This was particularly evident in the 6-0 rout against Wrexham at the London Stadium on September 11th, where his starring role was rewarded with both a goal and an assist.

1 ? ? Raul Jimenez - Unattached to Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Rounding off this list is 35-year-old Mexican international striker, Raul Jimenez, who sealed an emotional return to Wolves this summer after leaving Fulham.

Whilst the forward's emotional attachment with the fans in this part of the world is well-documented, Jimenez has brought plenty of experience and in-game nous to Cesar Peixoto's otherwise young attack - Adam Armstrong aside - and it has paid off so far despite the fact he has only started four Championship games.

The 130-time international has already delivered two critical moments against Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United late on, with Wanderers accumulating four more points as a result.

It remains to be seen how many games he will actually start, but even as a rotation option, there arguably isn't one better in the entire league.