Championship season set for competitive start
The Championship season for 2026-27 is anticipated to be highly competitive, with 24 clubs preparing for 46 fixtures. Only four clubs will benefit from parachute payments this season: West Ham, Wolves, and Burnley, all newly relegated, and Southampton, which begins the campaign with a four-point penalty. Lincoln City returns to the division for the first time since 1961, while Cardiff and Bolton also join the league.
The transfer window remains open until 1 September, and clubs are still looking to strengthen their squads. The league is known for its unpredictability, and this season is expected to be no different.
Club preparations and key players
Birmingham City, under head coach Chris Davies, aims for a top-eight finish. The club saw continuity from the latter half of last season, with younger players gaining experience. August Priske, a young Danish striker, is highlighted as a potential difference-maker. His first goal for the Blues came on the final day of last season, and he has been scoring regularly in warm-up matches. The team’s home form was strong last season, but improvements are needed in away performances.
Blackburn Rovers, led by Tony Mowbray, seeks to avoid a repeat of last season’s struggles, where they finished 20th. Improving their home record at Ewood Park is crucial, as they won only four home games last term. Mowbray is looking to add more quality to the squad before the transfer window closes. Centre-back Tom Atcheson, who turns 20 in September, has started the season as a first-choice option in defence.
Bolton Wanderers, with head coach Steven Schumacher, are focused on consolidating their return to this level after being promoted from League One. The club is operating on one of the division’s lower budgets, making close-season recruitment vital. Ryan Hardie, who previously had a strong goalscoring spell under Schumacher at Plymouth, could be a significant player for Bolton.
Bristol City has seen changes off the pitch, with James Ellis joining as sporting director and Michael Skubala as head coach. The club has brought in players like Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard. Tolaj, who moved for a reported £4m, has shown progression through the National League, League Two, and League One, scoring 18 goals in League One last season. Ballard and Tolaj were among the top goal contributors in the third tier last season.
Players to watch in the Championship
Several players are anticipated to make a significant impact in the upcoming Championship season. Jarrod Bowen of West Ham is considered a key player, aiming to help his team return to the top flight. He has a notable record of goal involvements in the Premier League for West Ham, with 65 goals and 49 assists in 231 top-flight games. In his final three seasons at Hull City, Bowen was involved in more goals than any other player in the Championship.
Zan Vipotnik of Swansea City finished as the top scorer in the Championship last season with 23 goals. His contributions accounted for 40.4% of Swansea’s goals. If he remains at Swansea, he could achieve a rare feat of scoring 20+ league goals in successive Championship seasons. The arrival of Ross Stewart from Southampton may further support Vipotnik.
Ethan Galbraith, a midfielder, joined Stoke City from Swansea this summer. He was noted for his composure in possession and completed more passes per 90 minutes than any other Swansea midfielder or forward in the Championship last season. He also regained possession from opponents more times than any of his teammates.
Léo Scienza made a considerable impact at Southampton after joining from Heidenheim, providing 10 assists in 39 league matches and scoring seven goals. He led the club in expected assists per 90 minutes and was involved in 11 Championship goals after a ball carry last season. Othmane Maamma of Watford, who won the player of the tournament award at the Under-20 World Cup, scored four goals and provided one assist in the Championship after making his debut in November. He led the league in take-ons per 90 minutes among players with significant playing time.
Mason Melia, an 18-year-old, has joined Lincoln City. He previously scored 21 goals at St Patrick’s Athletic in the League of Ireland, with his first goal coming at 15 years and 281 days old. He also scored three goals in six appearances in his Premier League 2 debut for Spurs.
Source: bbc.co.uk