Top 15 best EFL Championship players so far this season | OneFootball

FLW outline the top 15 best EFL Championship players so far in the 2026/27 season, including Middlesbrough's Will Lankshear and two West Ham stars...

With most Championship sides now having played eight games, the first international break of the season offers a natural opportunity to take stock of an intriguing opening to the campaign and to look at the standout players so far in 2026/27.

There have already been plenty of outstanding individual displays in the Championship, with some players seemingly carrying their teams through the opening weeks, while others have been part of impressive collective efforts.

That is particularly relevant at the top of the table, with Swansea City having emerged as one of the division's early pace-setters under Vitor Matos, but there is no Swansea player included in the list below. That is not an oversight, but rather a reflection of how well the Swans have operated as a team, with their early success difficult to pin on one individual.

Elsewhere, there have been players whose performances have made them impossible to overlook, whether through goals, assists, defensive consistency, creativity, incredible shot-stopping or their overall influence on results.

The Championship has a strong recent history of Player of the Season winners, too, with Hayden Hackney winning the award in 2026, Gustavo Hamer in 2025, and Crysencio Summerville in 2024.

With the potential to eventually win that award at the end of the season in mind, here are the 15 players who have stood out most across the Championship's opening eight games of the 2026/27 season.

15 ? ? Divine Mukasa — West Ham United

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Two stunning goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers may have put Divine Mukasa firmly on the radar, but the Man City loanee has been showing his personality long before that. Used in a deeper midfield role to the attacking role he played breaking through as a youngster, Mukasa has looked increasingly comfortable dictating play and taking responsibility in possession. That was particularly evident in the recent clash with Millwall, when his composure and willingness to get involved stood out. His goals against Wolves were spectacular, but he is already looking like a player capable of making a significant impact at Championship level for West Ham United.

14 ? ? Oladapo Afolayan — Blackburn Rovers

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Tony Mowbray has needed his attacking players to deliver early in the season and Oladapo Afolayan has certainly done his part. The Blackburn Rovers forward has three goals and two assists from his opening eight Championship appearances, with contributions which have already been worth valuable points to his side. Afolayan has provided a reliable outlet in the final third and has combined his goalscoring with an ability to create for teammates and utilise his pace behind. There is still plenty of football to come, but his productive start has given Blackburn important platform.

13 ? ? George Wickens — Lincoln City

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Lincoln City's early success has been built on a strong defensive platform, and goalkeeper George Wickens has played a major role in that. The Imps have already picked up three away victories accompanied by clean sheets, with Wickens' performances underpinning their impressive start. Goalkeepers can sometimes be overlooked when assessing Championship form, but his ability to make important saves and provide security behind the back four has been crucial to their excellent start. If Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen's side are going to remain competitive throughout the season, their rearguard will need to remain one of their biggest strengths, and Wickens has given them every reason to believe that can happen.

12 ? ? Camiel Neghli — Millwall

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After contributing five goals and four assists during last season with Millwall, Camiel Neghli has already started this campaign in similarly impressive fashion. The Algerian has two goals and two assists from his opening eight league games and has quickly established himself as the creative hub of Alex Neil's side. Neghli's ability to find space, create opportunities, and provide an attacking spark has made him one of Millwall's most important players. With the Lions competing towards the top end of the Championship, his continued production could be hugely significant over the course of the season.

11 ? ? Finn Azaz — Southampton

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Southampton's away performances have left something to be desired so far, but Finn Azaz has been one of the major positives of the campaign overall. The attacking midfielder has already contributed to eight goals and has been particularly influential at St. Mary's, where Southampton have looked a completely different proposition. Azaz has been bullying teams with his combination of goals, assists, and his ability to threaten off either foot, which makes him particularly difficult to contain. If his side can improve their performances away from home, Azaz's early-season form gives them a hugely important creative weapon.

10 ? ? Jimmy-Jay Morgan — West Bromwich Albion

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Jimmy-Jay Morgan is already looking like an inspired signing from Chelsea for West Bromwich Albion. The forward has three goals and three assists in his opening eight league games, but his influence stretches beyond those numbers. Morgan has shown he can operate from a central position before peeling into wider areas, creating space for himself and those around him. His developing understanding with Isaac Price, Harry Whitwell, and Aune Heggebo has been particularly encouraging for Albion. There is a growing sense that Morgan is proving he is worth the investment, and his start has been one of the highlights of their campaign thus far.

9 ? ? Ethan Galbraith — Stoke City

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Ethan Galbraith was already an underrated player during his time with Swansea City, but his move to Stoke City has taken his game up another level already. The midfielder has three goals and one assist already, although his statistics only tell part of the story about his skill-set. Galbraith's ability to connect Stoke's different areas of the pitch and keep the team functioning makes him particularly valuable. He has the technical quality to influence games in possession while also contributing in the final third. At this rate, it will not be long before Galbraith is widely regarded as one of the Championship's standout midfielders.

8 ? ? Callum Styles — West Bromwich Albion

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Versatility has always been one of Callum Styles' biggest strengths, and West Brom have been able to take full advantage of it this season. Whether deployed in midfield, at left-back, or even in the unfamiliar right-back position recently, Styles has consistently shown his quality. His set-piece delivery provides another important weapon, while his reliability has made him one of the first names Albion can turn to when they need a solution. Styles may not always dominate the headlines like he did when they faced QPR, but his consistency and ability to perform in several positions make him an incredibly valuable player for West Brom.

7 ? ? Callum Doyle — Wrexham

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Callum Doyle arrived at Wrexham with plenty of experience behind him for a young playwr, but he has quickly demonstrated why Phil Parkinson was so keen to bring him into his side. The defender has become a key component both with and without the ball, combining aggressive passing with excellent defensive work. Doyle is comfortable stepping forward with possession and breaking lines, while his defending gives Wrexham greater security at the other end. For a club in their second season of Championship football, having a player of Doyle's now Premier League quality in the backline has been a significant advantage, and his early performances have built on his class last season.

6 ? ? Rio Cardines — Bristol City

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Rio Cardines could hardly have asked for a better introduction to Championship football. The Crystal Palace full-back has provided six assists from his opening eight league appearances, which is an extraordinary return for a player operating at left-back despite being naturally right-footed. His attacking influence has been particularly striking, with Cardines repeatedly finding opportunities to create from wide areas and deliver quality into the box. Bristol City have benefited enormously from that production from open play and set-pieces and his performances have already made him one of the division's most productive players. Maintaining that level will be difficult, but his start has been outstanding.