EFL Championship 2025-26 Season Preview: Birmingham’s Rise, Swansea’s Potential, and US Talent Spotlight

The English Football League Championship kicks off this Friday night with a highly anticipated match between Birmingham City and Ipswich Town. This promises to be the start of a ten-month journey filled with exhilarating drama, a hallmark of a league that consistently delivers unexpected storylines.

The Championship is unique, blending the glamour often associated with major leagues with the grit of traditional football towns. It`s a stage where rising stars like Viktor Gyokeres can make their mark alongside seasoned veterans. The league is known for iconic moments, such as that memorable Troy Deeney goal.

This season is set to offer an abundance of such compelling narratives. Here are some of the key stories to follow:

1. Birmingham, a surprising challenger to relegated Premier League clubs

Despite the excitement surrounding the Championship, a recurring concern persists: the possibility of a select group of teams perpetually cycling between the Premier League and the second tier. These “yo-yo” clubs, often bolstered by substantial parachute payments, tend to dominate the Championship due to their superior resources. Three of the top four teams from the previous 2023-24 Championship season are back, and it`s highly probable that at least two will quickly return to the top flight, swapping places with Burnley and Sunderland.

Southampton, though struggling in the Premier League, boasts a squad with players seemingly too talented for the Championship. While some, like Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibbling, might depart soon, talents such as Ben Brereton-Diaz, Adam Armstrong, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are expected to excel. The Saints have also made a significant move by attracting Will Still, a highly successful manager from Ligue 1, whose attacking, unified style appears perfectly suited for the Championship.

Southampton isn`t the only club investing heavily. Ipswich Town, under the guidance of Kieran McKenna, has strengthened its squad with Azor Matusiwa and Jens Cajuste. These two new additions accumulated over a thousand minutes in Europe`s top five leagues last season, with Cajuste even playing for Italian champions Napoli.

Leicester, however, might be the best-equipped team for the Championship`s unique demands. Players like Oliver Skipp, Stephy Mavididi, and James Justin are well-suited to the physicality of the league. Only the looming threat of a points deduction for financial rule breaches prevents them from being clear promotion favorites. Even with a potential penalty, it`s worth remembering that the core of this team finished a dominant 27 points clear of seventh place in the 2023-24 season, suggesting they could absorb all but the most severe sanctions.

Can any other teams compete with these Premier League returnees? Frank Lampard`s Coventry City finished last season as one of the division`s strongest teams. Their most notable summer transfer saw Kaine Kesler-Hayden arrive, mitigating the potential departure of Milan Van Ewijk to a top-tier league. They appear well-prepared. However, another Midlands club might capture more attention.

Birmingham City`s ambition is evident. After missing out on Chuba Akpom (who joined Ipswich), they signed German international Marvin Ducksch, a player with 55 Bundesliga goal involvements in the past three seasons. Tommy Doyle was a standout performer in the 2022-23 Championship, and Premier League title winner Demarai Gray returns to his roots a decade later. These additions, combined with a squad that broke League One records, make Birmingham a serious contender.

2. Snoop Dogg`s Swansea City eyes playoff contention

While Tom Brady brings his celebrity to St. Andrews, other clubs are also drawing Hollywood attention. This isn`t about Wrexham; they`re already too prominent for this discussion. Instead, 130 miles south of the Championship`s newest club lies Swansea City, a team historically linked with legends like Leon Britton and Michu, and now, the iconic Snoop Dogg. His fellow investor, Luka Modric, seems a more natural fit for a team known for its possession-based identity, but apparently, Joe`s ice cream was particularly appealing to Snoop.

“Having Snoop and Luka on board is a massive benefit,” stated Swansea boss Alan Sheehan. “There`s a definite buzz. As a football club, you need to become more commercially attractive, more competitive, and appeal to a broader audience.”

“Rome wasn`t built in a day, but there are big plans for this football club. It`s about establishing strong foundations and building character and resilience within the organization.”

Nothing would be more appealing than a push for the Premier League in South Wales, and it shouldn`t be dismissed. Sheehan`s appointment as caretaker in February ignited an impressive end to the season, with five wins from their last seven matches, placing them on the cusp of the playoff picture. Since then, they have wisely utilized investments from Modric and Snoop to bolster their defense with Cameron Burgess and Ricardo Santos. Ethan Galbraith, dubbed `Northern Ireland`s Xavi,` is a talent poised to shine in the second tier. Sheehan seeks further reinforcements and has cooled persistent speculation about Wycombe Wanderers` gifted Richard Kone.

With a squad seemingly poised for significant improvement, the next chapter for Swansea City appears genuinely exciting. With Snoop now on their side, they`re stepping out with an undeniable swagger from Los Angeles.

3. Millwall`s savvy market strategy

The phrase “mastering the market” isn`t typically associated with Millwall. While they may not attract Hollywood royalty, the Bermondsey club has found effective ways to build a playoff contender without relying on a multi-part streaming series. Under Director of Football Steve Gallen, the Lions have demonstrated shrewd financial management, successfully selling players and reinvesting wisely. Romain Esse`s £14.5 million move to Crystal Palace in January was followed six months later by Zian Flemming`s £7 million transfer to Burnley after a successful loan spell, having originally brought him from the Eredivisie.

Flemming is far from the last successful acquisition from abroad to The Den, a ground long associated with gritty, nuisance-making center forwards rather than prolific goal scorers. Mihailo Ivanovic certainly fits the latter description, but by season`s end, he had also begun to evolve into a prodigious goal threat, with six of his 12 Championship goals scored from April onwards. The 20-year-old striker embodies Millwall`s tradition as a strong target man who dominates the penalty area, yet he possesses the potential to be sold for three or four times the £2.8 million they paid for him.

In Alfie Doughty, a boyhood fan who caused Premier League defenses significant problems with his crossing just a year ago, Millwall is adding a player who perfectly aligns with their footballing identity. Manager Alex Neil appears to understand this, incorporating a touch of possession play into a side that will always prioritize winning duels and delivering crosses into the box.

4. USMNT`s Agyemang poised for second-tier breakthrough

The Championship features significant U.S. interest this season, even if Josh Sargent is unlikely to replicate his player of the season campaign at Norwich City. Haji Wright is expected to play a crucial role at Coventry, but if there`s one American striker to watch next season, it`s undoubtedly Patrick Agyemang. Formerly of Charlotte FC, he joins a Derby County team that only needs more goals to establish itself as a top-half contender.

Competition for places will be fierce, especially with the arrival of Rhian Brewster. However, John Eustace, one of the Championship`s most respected managers, speaks highly of his new signing. Given that Derby invested £7.3 million in him, their most significant spending since exiting administration in 2022, Agyemang is clearly expected to make a substantial impact.

“He`s at an age where if he trains in this environment, works with the coaches and good players like Carlton Morris (another new signing), he will improve and get better,” Eustace remarked this summer. “There`s no rush for him to immediately start scoring goals. The club has invested a good sum in him, and it`s crucial that over the next two or three seasons, we see him develop into a top striker at this level.”

“He`s quick, strong, and powerful. With some dedicated work, I believe he can become a genuine threat in this league. He`s a valuable asset to the club, and I`m confident we can develop him into a Premier League striker.”

5. Sheffield Wednesday`s precarious position and relegation fears

While the 2025-26 Championship promises much for the neutral observer, its most significant story might unfortunately be its most disheartening. As the new season approaches, much attention is focused on Sheffield Wednesday, a club grappling with numerous financial embargoes and unable to open the North Stand at Hillsborough due to structural integrity concerns.

Manager Danny Rohl resigned last week, and players have experienced delayed wage payments on several occasions throughout the season. A number of key first-team players from the squad that finished 12th last season have departed. As of writing, the club website listed only 16 players available for new boss Henrik Pedersen for Sunday`s trip to Leicester. Wage payments have been late in each of the last three months. Reports from The Sheffield Star indicate that players making the trip will have to pay for their own hotel rooms for this and future away games.

This disastrous state of affairs has unfolded under the stewardship of Dejphon Chansiri, whom supporters accuse of “killing the club.” The EFL stated earlier this week that there are no restrictions on Wednesday starting the season and confirmed they are in “advanced discussions” with Chansiri`s legal advisors regarding the Thai owner divesting himself of Wednesday, one of English football`s grand old clubs.

Under such circumstances, a points deduction seems inevitable. And, it must be assumed, so too will be relegation.

Championship Predictions

• Top two: Southampton, Ipswich Town
• Playoffs: Coventry City (promoted), Leicester City, Birmingham City, Millwall
• Relegated: Hull City, Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday