As the season draws to a close, many pundits and clubs will begin to consider end-of-season honors.
Who will go down in history as the 2025/26 Player of the Season? Who will make up the Seasonal Team? All will be discussed and answered over the next month or so, and, while not a credited accolade, fans will undoubtedly be wondering about who the best signing of the season was.
The player who has come in and had an immediate impact for their team, whether through goals and assists, defensive contributions, or clean sheets, is a hot issue of debate, and narrowing it down to a 15-person list was almost as difficult as ordering!
Nonetheless, here are the top 15 acquisitions in the Championship this season.
15 Rumarn Burrell – QPR
Rumarn Burrell leads the way on this list, having risen quickly from the Scottish third division to League One in England with Burton Albion last season and now QPR.
The Hoops paid just over £1 million to get him from the Brewers in the summer, and he was initially regarded as a quick impact substitute, but the 25-year-old has worked his way into starting contention, and he is perhaps the greatest forward on the books at Loftus Road.
QPR’s inconsistent run of form from mid-January to now, which has all but consigned Julian Stephan’s team to a mid-table finish, coincided with Burrell’s spell on the sidelines, and Rs fans can’t wait to see him return, which should occur in the coming weeks.
Hopefully, he can add to his ten goals in the next few games of the season and aim to improve next season.
14 Patrick Bamford – Sheffield United
Patrick Bamford’s mini-career resurgence under Chris Wilder’s watchful eye at Sheffield United was not on anyone’s radar in August, but the 32-year-old is currently having his best league-scoring season since that 17-goal Premier League campaign in 2020/21 in the most unlikely of circumstances.
When Bamford was released from his Leeds contract after seven years at Elland Road, everyone wondered where the two-time Championship champion would go and if he’d be able to regain form after a scoreless 2024/25 season.
His entrance at Bramall Lane in November was unusual. Just six months ago, he was caught on camera leading a chant aimed at Chris Wilder during Leeds’ title victory, and now he was playing for the Blades manager.
But goals are always a good way to strengthen a connection, and Bamford has double-digit goals in all competitions heading into this stretch, making him one of the best free agents this season.
13 Matt Targett – Middlesbrough
Speaking of career resurgences, Matt Targett had only made five Premier League appearances in the two seasons before to his loan move to Middlesbrough this summer.
He’s been a constant presence in the Boro squad since his season-long swap, and if he maintains his performance standards in the final few games, he’ll help Kim Hellberg’s side celebrate promotion to the first flight.
The 30-year-old has been consistent across the backline, even filling in at centre-back during the club’s defensive injury crisis near the end of 2025, but he didn’t look out of place, and he’s been a key player in the Championship’s strongest defence this season.
Middlesbrough would almost definitely hope he stays at the club permanently at the end of the season, since he is strong at the back and capable of creating opportunities forward.
12Jordan James – Leicester City
Jordan James’ return to England has had its ups and downs. His Leicester City club is on the verge of relegation for the second time in a row, but it’s difficult to claim that the Rennes loanee has had anything to do with it, considering he’s had a fantastic year himself.
The 21-year-old Welshman scored 14 goals in just 26 Championship starts this season, having signed a year-long contract with the Ligue 1 club late in the summer window.
Of his ten goals, four have come from outside the box, and he’s only amassed 3.6 anticipated goals this season, demonstrating the difficulty of the opportunities he is ultimately taking.
The Foxes allegedly have the option to buy the former Birmingham City player at the end of the season. The focus right now is on avoiding relegation to League One, and at the conclusion of the season, they hope to be in with a chance of making the transfer permanent.
11 Kieffer Moore – Wrexham
Kieffer Moore, a towering Welshman, was one of Wrexham’s star acquisitions this summer, joining from Sheffield United for £2 million.
With the Red Dragons signing several Welsh internationals before the season began, many expected the 33-year-old to join the newly promoted League One club, despite the fact that he had been the starting striker for the team that was defeated in the play-off final the previous May.
Moore has been exactly what many anticipated him to be at Wrexham: a player who gets dug in, wins duels in the air and on the ground, and is a nightmare for defenders looking to keep clean sheets.
He’s presently having his greatest scoring season since 2020/21, when he was at fellow Welsh club Cardiff City, and he’ll be hoping that it’s enough to get Wrexham into the play-offs.
10 Japhet Tanganga – Sheffield United
Everyone who watches the Championship, like Moore, knows what Japhet Tanganga is about after two years at Millwall, and with it widely reported that he had a £1.2 million release clause in his contract that Premier League clubs could activate, it seemed inevitable that the former Tottenham Hotspur youngster would return to the top flight.
He did depart from the Den, but not for the Premier League. Instead, Sheffield United acquired him, and he has once again shown to be one of the division’s best center-backs.
It has not been the best of years for the Blades, who are almost guaranteed to stay in the Championship this season, but the 27-year-old has had a remarkable debut season at Bramall Lane.
9Finn Azaz – Southampton
Again, it is unsurprising that the guy who finished last season with 12 goals and 11 assists in the Championship at Middlesbrough has been one of the better new recruits this season after moving to Southampton in the summer.
Finn Azaz appeared to be a £12 million flop in the early stages of his Saints career, going nine games without scoring or assisting.
But since Tonda Eckert took over as temporary manager, the Irishman has excelled. He has another 10-goal season under his belt and has been a constant in Southampton’s starting lineup as the club prepares for the 2026 play-offs.
The 25-year-old has been one of the greatest creative midfielders in the second tier for several years, and it’s only a matter of time before he plays in the Premier League, possibly with his present team.
8 Joe Gelhardt – Hull City
Joe Gelhardt was useful at Hull City last season on a short-term loan from January to the end of the campaign, scoring five goals in 20 appearances to assist the Tigers stay in the Championship by the skin of their teeth.
With constraints on player purchases this summer, Hull leaped at the chance to bring the 23-year-old back to the club on loan for the entire season this time around, and he’s more than pleased.
He scored eight goals in ten games prior to a frustrating calf injury that kept him out of action for a little over a month, and while his scoring streak hasn’t restarted to the same extent, he’s still chipped in with a handful to help Sergej Jakirovic’s side maintain their play-off drive.
Linking up nicely with someone else who has yet to appear on this list, the Tigers have been one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the Championship this season, and supporters at the MKM Stadium will be hoping that the loans end this summer and they can sign Gelhardt permanently.
7 Azor Matusiwa – Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town made transfer headlines this summer, not only with the Championship record-breaking signing of Sindre Walle Egeli, but also with Azor Matusiwa, who was a regular starter for Rennes in Ligue 1 the previous year.
The Tractor Boys paid a reputed £7.8 million to get him to Portman Road, and he has proven to be well worth the investment.
He helps Kieran McKenna’s team maintain game control by breaking down attacks and being so comfortable on the ball. He doesn’t generate many opportunities or score many goals (though his one against Hull was quite remarkable), but that’s not his style.
According to Fotmob, he ranks in the top 5% of defensive midfielders in the Championship in practically every defensive stat, including duels won on the ground and in the air.
He’s started every game for an Ipswich side that thrives on its depth, and he’ll be expected to make the Premier League move appear easy whenever he arrives.
6 Patrick Agyemang – Derby County
Patrick Agyemang has been a fantastic find for Derby County this season, who took a gamble on him after only three years as a pro in America by signing him in a deal worth up to £7.3 million.
The fact that the Rams are apparently looking to almost triple that figure in a prospective Premier League sale this summer demonstrates how impressive the 25-year-old has been in his maiden season in England.
Agyemang is not only a useful goalscorer, having scored ten already this season, but he’s also good at getting involved and involving teammates, winning aerial duels, and moving forward with the ball at his feet.
He’s adapted to the Championship like a duck to water, and he’s widely regarded as one of the division’s most versatile frontmen. It would not be surprising if he moved again this summer.
5 Oli McBurnie – Hull City
Hull must be thankful to Las Palmas for losing each of their last six La Liga games last season, as their relegation allowed Oli McBurnie to become a free agent and, as a result, sign for them in the summer despite their transfer limits.
While at Sheffield United, the Scotsman got a little off track in terms of goalscoring. He would even spend the full 2021-22 season without scoring. But this year at the MKM Stadium, we’re seeing more of McBurnie, who scored 22 times for Swansea City in 2018/19.
He has not only been a tremendous goalscorer, sitting fourth in the rankings heading into Easter Weekend, despite missing two months earlier this year due to a calf injury. However, he has also been an excellent opportunity provider, recording seven assists and allowed fellow newcomer Gelhardt to score.
The 29-year-old will undoubtedly want to return to the Premier League, and his goals can help the Tigers do so.
4 Leo Scienza – Southampton
A lot is written about Southampton’s owners, Sport Republic, and their failings in terms of transfer management, but with Daniel Peretz (who received an honorable mention), Azaz, and Leo Scienza, they’ve had a pretty successful couple of windows this year.
Scienza signed for £7.8 million from Bundesliga club Heidenheim on Deadline Day in September. He helped the German club stay in the top division last season, scoring and assisting in a 2-1 relegation play-off victory over SV Elversberg.
It took the Brazilian some time to adjust to his new surroundings, but he, like Azaz, has been fantastic under Tonda Eckert and is one of the Championship’s most exciting, direct attackers right now.
He has produced the most huge opportunities in the second tier heading into the run-in, and he has also won the most fouls of any other offensive midfielder in the division, making it impossible to stop him once he has momentum.
He is currently out due to a groin ailment, but the Saints are confident that he will be able to return to the field soon and contribute to their postseason push.
3 Marcelino Nunez – Ipswich Town
When it comes to Ipswich transfer news, Marcelino Nunez’s move from East Anglian rivals Norwich City to Portman Road was possibly the most significant, making him the first man to do so since Andy Marshall in 2001.
Nunez cost Ipswich £10 million in the summer, and the Chilean has repaid that investment with countless memorable moments, including some rather excessive celebrations in their first derby victory over the Canaries in 16 years in October.
Along with that, he has eight assists as the season nears its end, as well as countless successful passes as he aids Kieran McKenna’s team advance up the pitch.
There were plenty of expectations when he arrived at Portman Road, given the controversy surrounding the move, but he has more than lived up to them, and is worthy of a podium position on our list.
2 Sorba Thomas – Stoke City
Sorba Thomas’ quality has never been questioned, and if he was back in the appropriate atmosphere, we should expect echoes of his remarkable 2021/22 season, when his playmaking ability helped Huddersfield Town reach the Championship play-offs.
Stoke City believed they could create that environment early in the transfer window, and he signed in early June. Many critics saw it as a risk, yet it proved to be a successful one.
Almost everything good about the Potters’ offensive this season has come from Thomas, who has ten goals and nine assists as the season nears its end. Only McBurnie has more goal contributions this year, and he is second in both chances and big chance creation.
He’s another player on our list who could be looking for a move to the Premier League this summer, with Everton allegedly keen, and you can’t blame the Toffees because the 27-year-old has been not only one of the best signings, but also one of the finest players in the Championship this season.
1 Carl Rushworth – Coventry City
When discussing the reasons why Coventry City will most likely win the Championship on May 2, people will point to their electric goal-scoring figures and the amount of persons who have taken on the attacking load at times. Others may credit Matt Grimes and Frank Onyeka with controlling the midfield.
Others, including many Coventry fans, would claim that Carl Rushworth’s goalkeeping prowess has been one of the key reasons for Frank Lampard’s side’s success.
According to expected goals against stats, the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee has avoided nearly seven goals this season, making him the best in the Championship, and he has also kept the most clean sheets.
That is not all; when it comes to distribution, there aren’t many better options. The 24-year-old has produced the most opportunities among his colleagues and has also assisted.
Few expected this from the 24-year-old, who had a solid but unremarkable tenure at Swansea before playing second fiddle to Ivor Pandur on loan at Hull the previous season.
So, when you consider the exceeding of expectations, as well as the fact that he’s undoubtedly the greatest goalkeeper in the division, there’s no doubt that Rushworth has been the Championship’s best signing this season.
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