10 EFL Championship stars you should sign on Football Manager 26 | OneFootball

FLW has looked at some prime EFL Championship players you should sign on the new game

After months of anticipation, football lovers across the globe could finally access the fresh version of Football Manager 2026 this week, with Sports Interactive releasing the game on Tuesday evening.

This comes after Football Manager 2025 wasn't released whatsoever, leading to outrage on social media from those who pre-purchased the game, with CEO, Miles Jacobson, stating the finished product would have been "embarrassing."

Football supporters who are into the social media phenomenon of 'winter gaming' due to dark nights will, undoubtedly, be transfixed by the release of SI's latest instalment though. It includes a brand-new interface, a fresh 3D match engine and licensing for the Premier League, having also extended a partnership with the EFL in September too - an agreement which has now stood between the relevant parties for 21 years.

As such, those who hold affinities to clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two can continue to fully utilise their clubs in an effectively 'real-life' manner on the game, which is known for creating favourites in terms of individual player usage in every version.

It will always remain the case that the EFL remains a hotbed for homegrown and exported talent, meaning that, in the transfer market, managers and head coaches are starting to utilise this market more seriously than ever.

With that being said, Football League World have pinpointed 10 Championship stars who you should look to sign at some point in FM26.

Viktor Johansson

Kickstarting this list is Stoke City goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.

The 27-year-old has been one of, if not, the most reliable figure between the sticks in the second tier for some time now, having previously shone for Rotherham United prior to his Staffordshire switch for just £750,000 last summer.

It is proving to be a bargain transfer for the Potters, with Johansson scooping the club's Player of the Season award last term, earning interest from top-flight clubs such as West Ham United, before being a key cog in his side's fast start to the current campaign.

Whilst he may not come cheap, he should be a prime target for players looking to improve their goalkeepers' union.

Charlie Hughes

Charlie Hughes was intensely linked with a move away from Hull City this summer, with Coventry City seeing up to three bids rejected for the 22-year-old.

The Liverpudlian has continued to grow into a key figure within the Tigers' defence, whilst there is still the occasional mishap which occurs in it as a collective.

With strong leadership abilities, composure and ball-playing ability, many would see the City defender as an ideal EFL-themed signing in the early stages of their saves, should they have the finances to satisfy Hull's demands.

Leif Davis

Leif Davis has been a revelation for the majority of his Ipswich Town career, being a key figure in Kieran McKenna's side which is full of talent.

The 25-year-old posted a remarkable two goals and 19 assists during the club's promotion-winning season of 2023/24 season, and was linked with an immediate Premier League return following the Tractor Boys' relegation back to the EFL in May.

Davis hasn't quite hit the same form in the early weeks of a mixed return to the Championship for the Suffolk side. But, his creative ability, as well as defensive nous cannot be understated, thus making him an ideal target for players looking to implement an attacking philosophy, evident with statistics such as 75 pace and natural fitness and 85 stamina out of a maximum 99 rating.

Hayden Hackney

Hayden Hackney has been the subject of a departure from Middlesbrough for some time, with the England Under-21 international capable of fulfilling several midfield roles.

After continuing a rich vein of personal form at the start of the campaign in real-life, it would come as very little surprise if the 23-year-old's signature remained courted by Premier League sides in January.

With an ability to dictate the tempo of games, as well as posting an array of goal contributions, the Redcar native could become a midfield lynchpin for several 'FM'ers', although his initial in-game value is approximately in the region of £20.15m.

Jack Rudoni

Jack Rudoni has been, arguably, Coventry City's most influential performer over the course of Frank Lampard's reign, which has almost spanned a calendar year at the CBS Arena.

That is despite the fact he has been sidelined for the league leaders since late September, having begun the Sky Blues' record-breaking start to the campaign in strong form with two goals and one assist in six games, building on a season in which he made it into double-figures for both goals and assists after signing from Huddersfield Town.

The 24-year-old was reportedly set to sign a fresh contract agreement in the West Midlands despite previous Premier League interest, although those starting top-flight FM saves will hope for a different outcome.

Abdul Fatawu

Abdul Fatawu was one of the Championship's hottest properties during Leicester City's title-winning season under Enzo Maresca in 2023/24, and he continues to be in the same bracket under Marti Cifuentes despite the Foxes' inconsistent form.

The Ghanaian has also been a victim of a recent underperformance by his side as a collective, but there is no denying the electrifying pace and end product he boasts in order to swing a tight contest in Leicester's favour.

After summer interest from newly-promoted Sunderland, FM players will hope to succeed where Regis Le Bris failed and see the 21-year-old become a long-term favourite of their own, given his potential and current ability.

Jaden Philogene

Some have debated whether Jaden Philogene currently embodies an attacker who is too good for the Championship, but not quite up to Premier League standard.

The 23-year-old has shone for Cardiff City and Hull City at this level previously, yet failed to kick on in the top-flight after returning to Aston Villa last summer, before his second stint at Villa Park was swiftly ended as he joined Ipswich for £20m in January.

As inconsistent as his and Town's opening weeks of the season have been, stellar Portman Road performances against Sheffield United - in which he took home the matchball - and the East Anglian derby vs Norwich City were clear reminders of his talent and the variety of finishes he can bring to the table.

Unsurprisingly, his best role on the game has been described as 'inside forward' as a result of such exploits.

Jeremy Monga

Next up is Leicester's teenage sensation, Jeremy Monga.

At just 16 years old, it is frightening to think how good the winger can become in the years to come, particularly after continuous reports linking him with moves to Real Madrid and Manchester United, despite the best efforts of the Foxes to pin Monga down to a new deal.

With FM players known to target future potential on top of current ability in several cases, the wide player could be a prime target as a result, although an approximate in-game valuation of just £8.46m and a wage of just £300 per week as of the start date - July 2025 - could make the England youth international also represent one of the biggest potential transfer coups.

Jay Stansfield

One of two centre-forwards to make the cut is Birmingham City's club-record buy, Jay Stansfield.

The 22-year-old netted 12 goals during Blues' relegation season on loan from Fulham, and continues to be the club's leading marksman under Chris Davies after his exploits in their record-breaking League One campaign.

A seven-year contract - of which six years are still left to run at the start of any new save - may make it seem extremely challenging for a top-flight manager to lure him away from St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park though, particularly with Blues' well-documented plans, which are likely to be reflected within the database

Josh Sargent

It has been a disastrous start to the campaign for Norwich City under Liam Manning, with USMNT forward, Josh Sargent, also struggling for goals.

Despite this, it is hard to look past the 25-year-old as one of the division's most-lethal finishers, having hit double figures in each of his past three full seasons amid well-documented injury issues.

The Canaries were able to deter interest from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer in real-life, but with finishing stats of 75 out of 99, the Missouri-born striker still has room for growth and could silence his previous top-flight doubters, to the benefit of players starting saves with the aim of survival or an unexpected European push.