The 10 players too good for the EFL Championship | OneFootball

There are many players currently playing in the Championship that are more than capable of playing at a higher level, but who are they?

The Championship has unearthed some gems over the years, with many players going on to perform in some of the biggest games in club football.

The likes of Michael Olise started their senior career with Reading, and is now playing regularly for German giants, Bayern Munich, whilst Gareth Bale featured for Southampton in the second tier, and he went on to hit impressive heights with Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid later in his career.

Jude Bellingham is another great example, with the midfielder catching the eye whilst with Birmingham City, and he's now part of the England senior team, whilst turning out for Real Madrid on a weekly basis in Spain.

There are many other examples that we could list, but for now, we're focused on the present, and here at Football League World, we'll take you through ten players who are simply too good for the Championship right now.

Haji Wright

The Coventry City forward has been vital in the Sky Blues' push for promotion this season, and Wright will be hoping that he can continue his good run of form through until the end of this season.

The forward signed for the Sky Blues back in 2023, and has scored some crucial goals over the years, both in league and cup competitions.

He'll be keen to find his way back into the USA national side in the near future, with a World Cup on the horizon in the summer, and if he impresses on the world stage, he could potentially attract interest from elsewhere.

Gustavo Hamer

Gustavo Hamer hasn't been short of potential suitors over the years, with Leeds United being one of the clubs to previously have a significant interest in signing the former Coventry City midfielder.

Hamer is currently playing for Sheffield United, who have been dealt a frustrating league campaign to date, but he's more than good enough to be playing at a higher level than where he currently finds himself.

He's shown himself to be a real creative spark for the Blades, and if he can recapture his best form in attacking areas, then Hamer is one of the best players in the division.

Femi Azeez

Femi Azeez's impressive rise in recent years has caught the eye, and it'll be interesting to see what the future holds for the Millwall winger if recent rumours are anything to go by.

The midfielder is tricky to contain when at his best, with his pace, and eye for goal seemingly not going unnoticed. It's recently been reported that Azeez is attracting interest from the likes of Crystal Palace, Leeds United, and Sunderland to name a few.

Azeez has been key to Millwall's somewhat surprising promotion push in the Championship this season, and the Lions supporters will be hoping that he can stick around, regardless of which division they're playing in next term.

Hayden Hackney

The Middlesbrough playmaker has been a key cog in Kim Hellberg's side this season, and it's not at all surprising to see Hackney attracting interest from other clubs in previous transfer windows.

Ipswich Town reportedly previously agreed a £20million fee for Hackney, although a move failed to materialise for one reason or another late on in the summer transfer window.

He's scored some important goals for Boro, and is a player that fully deserves to play at a higher level than the Championship in the next year or so, and so it's vital that Middlesbrough hold their nerve in the promotion race, as otherwise, Hackney could be heading for the Riverside exit door.

Taylor-Harwood Bellis

The first and only centre-back to make this list is Southampton defender, Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The 24-year-old has been with Southampton since 2024, but has also caught the eye out on loan with the likes of Burnley, Stoke City, and Belgian giants, Anderlecht earlier in his career whilst contracted to Manchester City.

Harwood-Bellis has an average FotMob rating of 7.33 (as of 20/03/2025) this season, and with five goals to his name in this year's campaign to date, he's been effective in defensive and attacking situations for the Saints.

The centre-back also has an England cap to his name, where he also scored on his debut with the Three Lions. Southampton are firmly in the race for promotion back into the top-flight, and Harwood-Bellis will have an important role to play in their efforts.

Jaden Philogene

The first Ipswich Town player to make this list is Jaden Philogene, with the winger catching the eye with the Tractor Boys, who will be desperate to see him at his best in the promotion run-in.

Philogene has scored some eye-opening goals this season, and is a player that can change the course of a game on his own at times, which makes him a very exciting player to watch.

If Ipswich are to fall short in their efforts to gain promotion this season, then Philogene is surely going to be heading for the exit door, as he's more than good enough to play a step up from the Championship.

Carl Rushworth

Rushworth is more than good enough to be playing at a higher level than the Championship, and one way or another, it seems as though that'll be the case next season.

The goalkeeper is currently on loan with high-flying Coventry City, and has been a regular in the Sky Blues' starting XI under the management of Frank Lampard.

He's on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, and it'll be interesting to see whether Rushworth is given a chance in the Seagulls' team for the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.

Rushworth has previously hinted that he's keen to stay with Coventry City, who look destined to be playing their football in the top-flight next season.

Which other players do you think are too good for the Championship? Let us know in the comments!

Leif Davis

The left-back started his career with Leeds United, but has caught the eye with many a strong performance for Ipswich Town, which is where he was a regular for the Tractor Boys when they were in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

Davis is effective at both ends of the pitch, which has made him a firm fans favourite amongst the Portman Road faithful. He's been just as impressive this season, as Kieran McKenna's side continue to stay in the mix for promotion back into the top-flight.

He's one of the best left-backs in the Championship, and will be keen to pick up where he left off when he returns from his three-game suspension after the international break.

Leo Scienza

The 27-year-old signed for Southampton in September 2025, and he's wasted no time in playing a key role for the Saints, as they look to make a timely return to the Premier League. His creative spark in games is exactly what Southampton had been crying out for, and it's no coincidence that the Saints are playing their best football when Scienza is included in their team.

He's spent the majority of his professional career playing in Germany, but is starting to make a name for himself for all the right reasons whilst with Sunderland in the second tier of English football.

Scienza is contracted with Southampton until the summer of 2029, and so it would likely take a sizeable offer from any interested clubs to prize him away from St Mary's.

Abdul Fatawu

Fatawu has Premier League experience with Leicester City, and it would be a real surprise to see some top-flight clubs not attempting to land his signature in the summer transfer window.

The winger has been a rare bright spark for the Foxes, in what has been a hugely disappointing season on the whole, as they're struggling in their efforts to avoid an almost unthinkable relegation into League One.

Fatawu has previously been linked with a move to Sunderland, and should be playing his football at a higher level than the Championship if his performances this season are anything to go by.