The 5 Best Signings of the 2023/24 EFL Championship Season So Far

The EFL Championship is considered the toughest second division in any football pyramid. The battle for promotion to the riches of the Premier League is fiercer than ever, with clubs desperate to get their recruitment right to turbocharge their promotion aspirations.

Below, we review five of the most successful summer signings across the division so far this term.

Harry Winks, Leicester City

Harry Winks is already the beating heart of the Leicester City midfield. With top-flight and international experience under his belt, he brings a sense of calm and composure to the spine of this Leicester team. Most fans of other Championship supporters would say that's the least he should bring given his £11.6m price tag.

The Foxes have made the best ever start to a Championship season with 39 points from their opening 16 games, positioning them as 1.70 favourites for the Championship title with Betano, one of the leading licensed sites available to place a sporting bet in Nigeria on desktop or mobile. The double midfield pivot of Winks and homegrown starlet Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall brings real stability - and Premier League quality - to the Foxes side.

Morgan Whittaker

Morgan Whittaker, Plymouth Argyle

Forward Morgan Whittaker enjoyed a hugely impressive loan spell with Plymouth Argyle in the first half of the 2022/23 League One season. Whittaker's influence, with goals and assists, helped Argyle towards the League One summit - a position they wouldn't relinquish despite losing him back to his parent club in January.

With Whittaker unwilling to leave parent club Swansea City on a permanent basis, he stuck it out until the summer to sign for Plymouth after their automatic promotion to the Championship. Whittaker has taken to life in the second tier like a duck to water, with seven goals and three assists in 16 games.

Jaden Philogene, Hull City

Aston Villa playmaker Jaden Philogene has been a great pick-up for Hull City. The Tigers sealed a deal for Philogene at a knock-down £5m fee, with many believing his market value to be more than double this already. Philogene has scored three goals in ten Hull appearances so far and, in October, he debuted for the England U21s, scoring twice in a victory over Serbia. Philogene came through the Pro:Direct Academy in London, one of many to nurture promising football talent in the capital and beyond.

Philogene is the "X Factor" quality that Hull require if they're going to be serious contenders for a top six finish this season. He had a solid full season with Championship side Cardiff City last term and is ready to make his mark.

Jobe Bellingham

Jobe Bellingham, Sunderland

18-year-old midfielder, Jobe Bellingham, is a Sunderland player. Eyebrows were raised when the Black Cats announced his signing for a cut-price £1.75m. This is small fry when you consider how much he's likely to be worth in a few years' time. The Premier League vultures are already circling if reports are to be believed. Bellingham has established himself as a regular in the centre of Sunderland's midfield, playing with a stature and composure that belies his years - rather like his older brother, Jude.

In fact, Bellingham has been an ever-present for Sunderland so far this term, scoring three goals in the process. Sunderland are one of several teams with genuine aspirations for a playoff place this term and keeping Bellingham fit will be a big priority for Black Cats boss, Tony Mowbray.

George Hirst, Ipswich Town

The newly promoted Tractor Boys have enjoyed a stupendous start to their first season back in the EFL Championship since 2018/19. After 16 games, Ipswich are joint-top with only Leicester City sitting above them on goal difference. Ipswich have been a free-scoring side and the versatile system they play means the goals are shared throughout the squad.

Centre forward George Hirst enjoyed a fine loan spell at Portman Road in Ipswich's promotion-winning season last term. Town snapped him up in the summer for £1.5m which could prove a snip. Hirst has notched four in 15 games so far this term. His unstinting stamina means he leads the Ipswich press remarkably well and can link play well with the likes of Conor Chaplin and Nathan Broadhead.

Keep a close eye on this quintet of Championship stars between now and May. At least one of them could be plying their trade in the Premier League by the time of the 2024/25 season.