Top 7 most exciting attacking full-backs in the EFL Championship (Ranked) | OneFootball

Football League World counts down the players you should be looking out for at full-back in the Championship in 2026/27

The last few seasons have seen the importance of the full-back grow massively, as the majority of clubs now rely on them to help build attacks out wide.

The back-five now isn't just a sign of a club wanting to sit men behind the ball and soak up pressure. Those either side of the three centre-backs are expected to get up and down all throughout the game to provide attacking threats, alongside being solid defensively.

In the Championship, there are a plethora of strong, attacking full-backs, and that pool has been added to already this summer with new arrivals and players who have shone for clubs who have been promoted from League One and relegated from the Premier League.

Here are the seven most exciting ones that you need to look out for in the 2026/27 campaign, though.

7 ? ? Ryan Alebiosu - Blackburn Rovers

There wasn't much positivity surrounding Blackburn Rovers last season, as they once again followed up a seventh-placed finish with a campaign battling relegation.

Home form was poor, and they struggled for attacking outlets, other than full-back Ryan Alebiosu, who had a great first season at Ewood Park in spite of his team's struggles.

The former Arsenal academy man's first full season in the EFL saw him take the majority of the creative mantle. He recorded the most expected assists in the squad, and ended the season with five goals made, alongside one goal himself.

The 24-year-old has all the tools to kick on further, and Blackburn will be keen to keep him around as they look to improve on last season under returning head coach Tony Mowbray.

6 ? ? Hugo Bueno - Wolves

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It's been a few tough years for Hugo Bueno at Wolves. The Spaniard has been with the club since he was 17, progressing through the academy, but his first real season as a regular starter at Molineux coincided with their relegation last term.

That being said, the 23-year-old was among the better chance creators in the left-wing-back position in the Premier League last season, creating 38 chances and whipping in 58 successful crosses, landing him in the top 4% of players in his position, per Fotmob.

With Wolves expected to dominate possession in the second tier and have more chances going forward than they did last season, Bueno could be in for a real breakout season if he stays at the club this summer.

5 ? ? Harrison Burrows - Sheffield United

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Full-back is arguably Sheffield United's strongest position heading into their third consecutive Championship campaign. In the interest of fairness, though, we've limited selections to one per club, and Harrison Burrows gets in over the likes of Femi Seriki and Sam McCallum.

The 24-year-old arrived with plenty of expectation a couple of years ago after being one of the best creative full-backs League One had seen with Peterborough United, and he's been a real threat going forward in both of his seasons at Bramall Lane.

He registered nine goal involvements last season, down from the 12 in his debut campaign, due mainly to the presence of McCallum making it hard for him to nail down the left-back spot in the opening stages of the campaign.

But his quality at the level can't be understated. West Ham United have been interested in him this summer, so whether it's in red and white or claret and blue, you can guarantee that Burrows will continue to be among the top full-backs for goal involvements this season.

4 ? ? El Hadji Malick Diouf - West Ham United

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That aforementioned move for Burrows may depend on what happens with El Hadji Malick Diouf at West Ham this summer, after the Senegalese international performed admirably in parts last season, despite the Hammers' relegation.

The 21-year-old was promising in his first year at the level, registering five assists and creating 29 chances across the campaign. It wouldn't be a surprise if a top-flight side looked to bring him in this summer to help aid in his development now that West Ham are a Championship club.

But, like Bueno at Wolves, a year in the second tier could work wonders for the man who cost West Ham £19 million last summer from Slavia Prague.

With Nuno Espirito Santo's side being tipped to be right at the top come May, being part of a title-challenging, ball-dominant side could end up helping Diouf develop more than a move away would, as he'd easily be amongst the better full-backs in the second tier.

3 ? ? Ryan Manning - Southampton

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Three years ago, Ryan Manning was seen as a major coup for Southampton after he followed Russell Martin from Swansea City, but the attacking prowess he showed in South Wales didn't replicate itself on the South Coast, assisting just twice en route to promotion.

Last season, however, Saints fans got to see why the Irish left-back was so highly thought of before he moved to St Mary's.

Manning registered 14 goal contributions last season, including eight goals, as the Saints turned around a terrible start under Will Still and finished in the top six with ease off the back of a 19-game unbeaten run, which then bled into the play-offs, too.

Southampton would be expelled from the postseason after being found guilty of spying, so the 30-year-old remains a Championship player and will be looking to continue being one of the best attacking full-backs in the division.

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Callum Brittain was part of the Middlesbrough side who were reinstated into the play-off final after Southampton were kicked out, but a loss in that final against Hull City means he, too, will be once again looking to be the best attacking right-back in the division next season.

The 28-year-old has held down his position as one of the best in his role in the Championship for several years now, ever since his time in the Barnsley side who made the play-offs in 2020/21.

Under Kim Hellberg, though, Brittain has been able to attack more freely, unlike at both Oakwell and then Blackburn, where he played for sides who didn't have as much of the ball as Boro did last year.

He may have only registered four assists last season, but he completed the most dribbles out of any right-back in the second tier, had the most touches and was in the top 10% in chances created and successful crosses, per Fotmob.

Under a full year of 'Hell-ball,' someone like Brittain could explode into life next season, as he finally looks to make that step up into becoming a Premier League player.

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Beating Brittain to top spot, though, is Josh Tymon, who is coming off the back of an exceptional campaign at Swansea when it came to chance creation and assists.

No left back in the Championship assisted more goals than Tymon's nine, created more chances than his 83, nor created more big chances than his 15, per Fotmob. In fact, his assist numbers landed him fourth in the division, and only Sorba Thomas created more chances in the second tier, too.

Seven of the nine assists came after Vitor Matos took the reins in late November, so a full season under the young Portuguese boss could see Tymon crack double digits, perhaps.

The 27-year-old has always been a premium assister from the full-back position throughout his career, but he took that to a different level last season, and all eyes are on whether he can replicate, or even better it, next season.