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Antoine Semenyo’s substantial £62.5 million transfer to Manchester City has once again highlighted the English Championship’s role as a premier breeding ground for football talent.
Semenyo honed his skills at Bristol City before making a move to Bournemouth, illustrating a trend where clubs often discover rising stars within England’s second tier, rather than exclusively looking abroad. Over recent years, the Championship has been a springboard for numerous players who have become mainstays in the top flight.
Names like Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins, Bryan Mbeumo, Viktor Gyokeres, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, and Harvey Elliott have all emerged from the Championship ranks during the 2020s, progressing to earn recognition both in the Premier League and on international stages.
With this in mind, we set out to identify the emerging talents currently in the Championship who could potentially follow in these illustrious footsteps.
Our criteria were clear: players must be 23 or younger, they shouldn’t already be household names in the Premier League, and they can’t be on loan. While these rules exclude some promising talents, we’ve acknowledged a few as honorable mentions toward the end of our analysis.
Antoine Semenyo is the latest star to have gone on the journey from the EFL to the elite, after the former Bristol City man’s big-money move to Manchester City
Semenyo began his career with the Robins, and spent time on loan at Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland before joining Bournemouth
Ollie Watkins, who scored the winning goal for England in the Euro 2024 semi-final, came through at Exeter and Brentford
Hayden Hackney
Age: 23 Club: Middlesbrough Position: Midfield
Hackney is an exquisite midfielder and if Middlesbrough continue on their current trajectory then he will be a Premier League player come August.
He is one of the Championship’s worst-kept secrets. Middlesbrough have known they’ve had something special on their hands for a few years now and the youngster from nearby Redcar isn’t shy about his flair.
When he gets into the final third, Hackney has a sixth sense for picking out a killer pass, avoiding the snapping feet of defenders, and scoring the occasional piledriver.
Liverpool, Tottenham and both Manchester clubs have all sent scouts to watch him in the past. Former Boro boss Rob Edwards would like him at Wolves but Hackney may be wise to steer clear of that option.
Don’t bet against him getting an England call-up in the next few years. He was part of the Under 21s side that won the Euros in the summer, providing the assist for Elliott’s winner against Netherlands in the semi-final.
He can take inspiration from the likes of Alex Scott, the Bournemouth star who was at Bristol City as recently as 2023. Scott, who beat Hackney to the Championship Young Player of the Season award for 2022-23, received his first senior England call-up from Thomas Tuchel in November.
Hayden Hackney’s technical proficiency marks him out as one of the Championship’s best
Jeremy Monga
Age: 16 Club: Leicester Position: Winger
Monga will be torturing a full back near you in the not-too-distant future.
Leicester’s youngest-ever starter. The Championship’s youngest-ever goalscorer. Tracked by Barcelona and Manchester City. Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain have also watched him and been impressed.
He’s still on an academy scholarship – he can only sign his first professional deal when he turns 17 in July – but don’t be fooled by his age. Monga is already an established regular with the Foxes. He did make seven Premier League appearances last season but they were all off the bench.
He showed just how dangerous he can be cutting in from the left when he scored his first senior goal earlier this season. Darting inside on his preferred right foot, he left Preston defender Pol Valentin in the dust before firing low and hard into the near corner beyond Daniel Iversen.
It’s hard to see Monga staying with Leicester for too long. Liverpool poached Trey Nyoni from them for a minimal fee in 2023, a scenario they’ll be desperate to avoid a repeat of. The Midlands club have gone all out to appeal to him, giving him a clear route into the first team, but offers from elsewhere may prove irresistible.
Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga is a ferocious talent cutting in from the left – and he’s only 16!
Thierry Small
Age: 21 Club: Preston Position: Wing-back
England Under-21 international Small is arguably the biggest talent Deepdale has seen in the last few years. Yes, even ahead of Manchester United loanee Alvaro Carreras (now at Real Madrid) and Chelsea’s Liam Delap.
Maybe that’s no surprise, given that he holds the record for being Everton’s youngest-ever player. There was a time when United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich kept tabs on him. This is a player with top-level pedigree and potential.
The wing-back, who can play on either flank, has in-built GPS pointing one way only: forward. Couple that adventurous nature with his explosive speed and strength, and he’s the one who gets fans out of their seats.
He’s also got a tidy eye for shooting and crossing, with three goals and two assists this season, including a rocket against Swansea.
There are still questions about his defensive solidity, largely because he pushes so high. He still has things to learn in the Championship, having only joined from Charlton in the summer on a free.
But that is now looking a steal and, combining his talent with his cheerful and committed character, there is a feeling he can go very far.
Thierry Small, who can play on either flank, has in-built GPS pointing one way only: forward
Callum Doyle
Age: 22 Club: Wrexham Position: Centre back
Remarkably, Doyle is already turning out for his sixth team at just 22, despite doing a good job wherever he’s been.
He came through the ranks at Manchester City but was sent out on loan to Sunderland, Coventry, Leicester, and Norwich before joining Wrexham for £8million in the summer.
Wrexham had to fight hard to get him. Doyle is a left-footed centre back who brings aggression and technical skill in equal measure – he ranks highly for progressive passes, interceptions and blocks against his Championship peers.
The Manchester-born star has grown used to being at successful teams. At Sunderland he got promoted to the Championship. He helped Leicester back into the Premier League. With Coventry, he came within a whisker of promotion in 2023.
Phil Parkinson called it a ‘statement of intent’ when Wrexham signed him in the summer and believes he has ‘huge potential’.
Callum Doyle has done a good job wherever he has gone and is enjoying his time at Wrexham
Richard Kone
Age: 22 Club: QPR Position: Striker
Could Richard Kone be the next Jamie Vardy?
Kone has a fascinating, gritty, tragic and uplifting story. He played in the 2019 Homeless World Cup, having been turfed out by his parents. As recently as 2023-24, the Ivory Coast international was playing for Athletic Newham in the Essex Senior League – the ninth tier.
But scouts from Wycombe in League One saw his calmness in front of goal and how it could be applied at a higher level.
At Wycombe, he couldn’t stop scoring. Last season, in his first full campaign as a professional player, he banged in 21 goals and was crowned League One Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.
Stepping up to the Championship has been a big ask. Kone has bagged a modest six in 26 games this season and the rate of scoring has slowed to a trickle recently.
But on Sunday he showed us a glimpse of what he might do at the top level, scoring a header in the FA Cup third round against West Ham, where he has previously had trials. Given his extraordinary rate of progress, you write him off at your peril.
Richard Kone (centre) has defied the odds to reach the Championship – you can’t write him off
Charlie Hughes
Age: 22 Club: Hull Position: Centre back
Hull have Hughes to thank for the fact they’re banging on the door of the play-offs – and not just because of his excellent performances this season.
In April, he scored a 93rd-minute winner at Sheffield Wednesday, a powerful long-range header that had no right to go in. If he had missed, Hull would eventually have been relegated. The margins are tight.
He’s a combative presence and good with the ball at his feet, though his lack of pace is a drawback.
Hull have struck gold with Hughes, who they bought from Wigan for £3.5m at the start of last season. Over the summer, they had a chance to almost quadruple their money after Coventry submitted a reported £12m bid. Middlesbrough are now said to be sniffing around.
And the fear is that he could be off this summer. Hull’s owner, Acun Ilicali, has admitted that they will have to make sales if they do not get promoted to the Premier League.
Charlie Hughes is a combative, ball-playing centre back who could leave Hull in the summer
Pierce Charles
Age: 20 Club: Sheffield Wednesday Position: Goalkeeper
You might raise your eyebrows at a Sheffield Wednesday player being included. Haven’t they been the worst team in the Championship by miles?
Well, yes – but that’s not the fault of Charles. The former Manchester City youth prospect is highly regarded at Hillsborough and, unfortunately for them, elsewhere.
He’s only made 26 senior club appearances but has already made such an impression that Northern Ireland have capped him eight times.
Charles is praised for his shot-stopping ability and distribution. Those factors have attracted the attention of Strasbourg, who have reportedly submitted another offer this month after failing to sign him in August.
The name Strasbourg should make your ears prick up. They’re owned by BlueCo, who also run Chelsea. Do well in France and it’s perfectly possible that he gets a call up to Stamford Bridge, just like Liam Rosenior.
The main drawback for now is that he suffered another shoulder injury at the weekend against Brentford after making six saves. He was previously ruled out between August and December with a shoulder issue.
Pierce Charles has impressed with his shot-stopping and distribution, with Strasbourg keen
Honourable mentions
There are, evidently, more than seven Championship players with promising futures. Some narrowly missed out on this list, while others didn’t quite meet the criteria.
Abdul Fatawu (winger, 21, Leicester City) is an obvious choice thanks to his blistering pace and technical ability. He was a regular starter in the Premier League last season until an ACL injury put paid to his progress. Now he’s tearing up the Championship, with five goals and seven assists.
Jaden Philogene (winger, 23, Ipswich Town) is a guaranteed source of goals in the Championship – he’s already hit nine this season – but has previously struggled in the Premier League.
Another man with something to prove in the top flight is Taylor Harwood-Bellis (centre back, 23, Southampton), but the fact he already has an England cap (and a goal) speaks to his quality.
Some loanees from the Premier League also look set for the big time.
James Beadle (goalkeeper, 21, on loan at Birmingham from Brighton) is the No1 for England’s Under 21s. Sverre Nypan (central midfielder, 19, on loan at Middlesbrough from Manchester City) is already a senior Norwegian international and will be hoping to light up the World Cup. Jordan James (central midfielder, 21, on loan at Leicester from Rennes) has plenty of goalscoring and creative talent.
There are many players who miss out due to their age, but they could well be later bloomers. Watch out for Jack Rudoni (midfielder, 24, Coventry City), Bobby Thomas (centre back, 24, Coventry City) and former National League star Sorba Thomas (winger, 26, Stoke City) among others.
As for youngsters who didn’t quite make the main list, don’t be surprised if Isaac Price (central midfielder, 22, West Bromwich Albion), Karamoko Dembele (winger, 22, QPR) and Sindre Walle Egeli (winger, 19, Ipswich) crack the top flight.
