This season, two of the Championship’s richest clubs in terms of squad worth achieved promotion to the Premier League: Coventry City and Ipswich Town, but Hull City defied the trend.
The Tigers finished sixth this season and made history by winning the Championship play-offs for the third time, becoming the first sixth-placed club to win at Wembley Stadium since Blackpool in 2010.
Sergej Jakirovic’s side rank as the ninth most expensive squad in the division, surpassing expectations while under an EFL transfer embargo.
Lincoln City accomplished a similar feat by winning League One, but how do they compare to the other 2026/27 second-tier sides in terms of squad value?
24 Lincoln City – £8.64m
23 Bolton Wanderers – £12.5m
Clearly ahead of the League One champions are play-off victors Bolton Wanderers, whose squad is worth an estimated £12.5million following their promotion to the second tier.
The Trotters’ squad worth may fall before it rises, as loan talents Mason Burstow, Ibrahim Cissoko, and Johnny Kenny are their three most valuable assets.
22 Cardiff City – £25.84m
Making up the three lowest squad values in the Championship next term is the final promoted side, Cardiff City, whose estimated value is £25.84million.
The Bluebirds have several quality players with great worth, including top scorer Yousef Salech, David Turnball, and soon-to-be free agent Ryan Wintle.
21 Charlton Athletic – £26.8m
Narrowly ahead of Cardiff is Charlton Athletic, who avoided relegation to League One with an estimated squad value of £26.8million.
The Addicks will look to strengthen their squad this summer if they want to avoid relegation, with Sonny Carey being their most prized asset.
20 Portsmouth – £31.24m
Pompey are another team that flirted with relegation this season, and they did it with one of the Championship’s lowest squad values, valued at £31.24 million.
Adrian Segecic and Terry Devlin are their two most valuable players, but their most precious asset may be manager John Mousinho, who has been linked with numerous teams this summer.
19 Blackburn Rovers – £34.45m
Once a Premier League stalwart, managerless Blackburn Rovers have been out of the top level for 14 years and show no indications of returning anytime soon.
Rovers’ projected squad value is £34.45 million, with Mathias Jorgensen and Andri Gudjohnsen being the most valued players.
18 Preston North End – £47.1m
There is then a substantial leap to Preston North End, who experienced an underwhelming campaign, finishing in 14th place.
North End’s estimated squad value of £47.1 million is significantly skewed because loan players are their most valuable assets, with Alfie Divine and Daniel Jebbison comprising two of their top three.
17 Derby County – £47.22m
Derby County outperformed expectations in a variety of ways this season, progressing from relegation threats to play-off contenders despite having one of the lowest squad valuations in the Championship.
Manager John Eustace was responsible for such an upturn in form, with the Rams’ estimated squad value at £47.22million, courtesy of Patrick Agyemang and loan star Bobby Clark.
16 West Brom – £52.16m
Another team involved in a relegation battle was West Brom, which nearly avoided relegation despite a points deduction near the end of the season.
The Baggies’ squad is valued at an estimated £52.16million, with Isaac Price by far their most valuable player, worth just over £10million.
15 QPR – £59.73m
QPR had a dreadful end to the 2025/26 season and will be looking to make gains ahead of their 11th consecutive season in the Championship.
Richard Kone and Rumarn Burrell, who joined the Hoops last summer, account for a substantial portion of the club’s estimated squad value of £59.73 million, and the latter has recently attracted interest.
14Bristol City – £61.76m
Bristol City, which finished the 25/26 season under veteran manager Roy Hodgson, will also be looking to make substantial progress next season.
The Robins’ current roster is worth an estimated £61.76 million, with talisman Scott Twine the most valuable player.
13Wrexham – £65.79m
Wrexham is one club whose squad value has improved dramatically over the years, having progressed from the National League to the Championship in just three years.
The Red Dragons’ current team is valued at £65.79 million, with centre-backs Callum Doyle and Max Cleworth the most valuable members.
12Stoke City – £68m
Another club who have been stranded in the second tier for longer than anticipated is Stoke City, who are preparing for a ninth consecutive campaign in the Championship.
The Potters’ current crop is worth an estimated £68 million, with Sorba Thomas and Viktor Johansson being their most valued assets.
11Birmingham City – £69.47m
Birmingham City’s estimated squad value of £69.47 million is expected to climb this year, given the club is one of the richest in the division and plans to invest this summer.
The Blues smashed the League One transfer record by signing Jay Stansfield, and he is the club’s most valuable player ahead of Kristoph Clarer.
10Swansea City – £76.61m
Swansea City have an estimated squad value of £76.61 million, which is partly owing to the league’s leading scorer, Zan Vipotnik.
The Slovenian scored 23 goals for the Swans as they ended 11th, and the club will battle to keep him this summer.
9Watford – £77.74m
Watford are another side looking to return to the Premier League next season, but they will face a difficult battle against a formidable Championship lineup.
The Hornets’ squad is worth an estimated £77.74 million, with Imran Louza, unsurprisingly, the most valuable player after a stellar season.
8Millwall – £85.52m
Millwall’s team is assessed to be worth £85.52 million despite missing out on the play-offs, which is a significant step up from Watford.
The Lions have several key players who hold significant value, including Tristan Crama and Femi Azeez, who has been attracting interest.
7Norwich City – £88.9m
Norwich City have made an incredible turnaround under Philippe Clement and will undoubtedly aim for a play-off spot next season.
The Canaries’ squad is worth an estimated £88.9million and contains a spread of players who hold decent value, including Mohamed Toure and Jovon Makama.
6 Sheffield United – £100.2m
Sheffield United, one of the Championship’s underperformers, will also be looking to make considerable progress next season under Chris Wilder.
The Blades’ projected squad value is £100.2 million, thanks to players like Gus Hamer, Sydie Peck, Michael Cooper, and Harrison Burrows.
5Middlesbrough – £127.3m
Middlesbrough has a talented roster, with an estimated £127.3 million in total valuation.
However, given that star player Hayden Hackney is worth just under £30million of that, their value is likely to decrease as he is heavily linked with a move away from the Riverside.
4Southampton – £160.19m
Southampton were the Championship’s form team, and many people predicted they’d make the play-offs, but Spygate cost them a potential Premier League spot and possibly several of their players.
The Saints’ squad is valued an estimated £160.1 million and brimming with quality, including their most prized players, Finn Azaz and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
3Burnley – £224.24m
Burnley’s roster now has the lowest valuation of the three relegated sides, worth an estimated £224.24 million.
The Clarets possess a multitude of talent with substantial market value, with Lesley Ugochukwu, Maxime Esteve and loan man Florentino their three most valuable players.
2Wolves – £254.54m
Wolves may have finished bottom of the Premier League, but they are well poised to return with Rob Edwards at the helm and a host of talented players.
The Old Gold’s current team is worth an estimated £254.54 million, but the club’s most prized player, Joao Gomes, is slated to leave this summer.
1West Ham – £314.19m
Unsurprisingly, West Ham lead the way by some distance when it comes to squad value, with an estimated worth of £314.19m.
However, as with the other relegated teams, their value is tempered by the possibility that key players such as Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes would depart the club for large sums of money in the near future.
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