Championship 2026 Preview: Contenders and Chaos

The Vikings are gone, the Wonderwall has come down, the Mexican ducks have flown south and the hydration breaks are back in storage. The circus of summer 2026 is over. The Championship is open for business again.

Forty-six games. Nine months. Twenty-four clubs and, whisper it, a division that might be even more chaotic than usual. Only four sides arrive with parachute payments – West Ham, Wolves, Burnley and Southampton – and one of those, Saints, are already four points in the red after the spygate scandal that stained the end of last season.

Lincoln return to this level for the first time since 1961. Cardiff are back after a year away. Bolton resurface after seven seasons out. And as Wolves and Blackburn get ready to launch the campaign on Friday night, the landscape looks wide open.

Birmingham City – Play-offs or bust for Davies

Chris Davies goes into his third season with something he never truly had before at St Andrew’s: continuity. Last year’s mid-season overhaul left Birmingham with a younger, hungrier core and they grew into it. Now the expectation from upstairs is blunt – top eight at a minimum, with the play-offs a realistic target after last season’s 10th-place finish.

Carlos Vicente out wide, destroyer Jhon Solis in midfield and towering striker August Priske have all banked valuable minutes. Behind them, captain Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann look like one of the division’s more rugged centre-back pairings.

The problem? Birmingham were dreadful away from home. Just five wins on their travels and among the lowest away goal tallies in the league. St Andrew’s was a fortress – 44 points, the fourth-best home record – but Davies has to crack the away-day code.

If he does, Priske might be the man to cash in. The 6ft 5in Dane has filled out over the summer, scored freely in pre-season and, at 22, has the profile of a 15-goal striker over a full campaign. Jobi McAnuff has them down for 11th. The hierarchy are thinking higher.

Blackburn Rovers – Survival first, again

Blackburn staggered to safety last season, finishing 20th, and the mood at Ewood Park is simple: do not repeat that ordeal. Tony Mowbray knows the club, knows the league and knows the squad still needs more quality before the window shuts.

Experience of two relegation fights in three years should toughen them up. Keep the key men fit and they should avoid another brush with the drop. But the Championship is unforgiving and this squad is still light on know-how in important areas. Even the goalkeeping situation is fragile, with Balazs Toth and Aynsley Pears both in the final year of their deals and Toth a possible departure.

One bright spot is Tom Atcheson. Handed the number six shirt and a starting role at centre-back, the defender turns 20 in September and is already being talked up as Premier League material. He may have to grow up fast. McAnuff fears the worst and predicts 22nd.

Bolton Wanderers – Back, but on a budget

Bolton arrive from League One via the play-offs with a clear brief: stay up, stabilise, then dream. Fifth place and promotion last term was a triumph, but this is a step up and they will be operating on one of the smallest budgets in the division.

Steven Schumacher, though, has been here before and knows what a Championship squad needs. Recruitment has gone into overdrive, with eight signings already and more expected. The key issue is obvious – turning chances into goals. Bolton created plenty last season but did not always make them count.

Ryan Hardie could be the answer. His most prolific spell came under Schumacher at Plymouth and the pair are reunited. If that relationship clicks again, Bolton might bloody a few noses. McAnuff still has them down in 21st, right on the edge.

Bristol City – Quiet revolution at Ashton Gate

Bristol City finished 12th last season and drifted. This summer has felt different. New sporting director James Ellis, new head coach Michael Skubala, eight signings and more money spent than many expected. The word around Ashton Gate is optimism, laced with realism.

The spine looks strong. Centre-backs and central midfielders, if they stay fit, give Skubala something solid to build around. Lisav Eissat and Gibson Yah add depth to a department that was stretched to breaking point last year. The big caveat is outgoings: Max Bird has gone, and if Jason Knight follows before the deadline, City will need reinforcements.

Up front, Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard have excited supporters after outstanding seasons in League One. Neither has played in the Championship. That’s the gamble. So is a shift to a more expansive style under Skubala, which will take time to bed in.

Tolaj has the look of a cult hero in waiting, but Yu Hirakawa might be the real wildcard. Frozen out under previous managers who shunned wingers, the Japanese wide man helped Hull to promotion on loan and now finally fits the system. If he unlocks packed defences, City’s long wait to be genuine promotion contenders could shorten. McAnuff says 14th; the club quietly hope for more.

Burnley – Waiting on the window

Burnley know this division. The last two times they were here, they left with 100 points or more. Relegated again, they return with a new head coach in Nicky Hayen and a fanbase still unsure what this version of Burnley will look like.

So far, business has been limited. Ugo Raghouber has arrived from Lille, while Maxime Esteve, Jaidon Anthony, Luca Koleosho and Florentino Luis have moved on. Much depends on who else leaves. Zian Flemming is being watched by Premier League clubs and would be a huge loss if he goes.

There are players with something to prove. Aaron Ramsey, signed for big money three years ago, has been derailed by injuries. If he stays fit, he could feel like a new signing. Mike Tresor never caught fire under the last two managers; Hayen believes he can change that.

Marcus Edwards might be the one to watch. He impressed in the second half of the 2024-25 promotion campaign and never really got his shot in the Premier League. The Championship could be his stage. McAnuff has Burnley for 5th. That assumes the window is kind.

Cardiff City – Kids, chaos and a survival scrap

Cardiff are back after a year away and Brian Barry-Murphy has brought life, noise and speed back to the club. Promotion from League One as runners-up was built on fearless, attacking football. The first aim now is simple: stay up. A top-half finish would be a bonus.

The squad is stacked with academy graduates who have been allowed to express themselves. The pace and freedom Cardiff play with will trouble anyone. But youth cuts both ways. Only three players in the squad are over 30 and last season’s naivety will be punished more ruthlessly in the Championship.

On paper, a couple of seasoned Championship signings would help, yet Barry-Murphy has stuck to his principles. The bet is on talent over experience.

Yousef Salech could make that pay. The powerful Dane scored eight in 20 Championship games two seasons ago despite relegation, then hit 15 last year before a serious neck injury. If he’s fully fit, he is a nightmare for defenders. McAnuff still has Cardiff down in 23rd. The kids will have to grow up quickly.

Derby County – Ambition meets reality

Derby’s summer turned on a single event: the collapse of a proposed takeover. Hopes of a major cash injection vanished, and with them the prospect of a big transfer spree. John Eustace now faces a familiar Championship problem – a decent starting XI and not enough depth.

The spine is strong. Jacob Widell Zetterstrom offers security in goal, Lewis Travis has enjoyed a full, injury-free pre-season as captain, and Carlton Morris can be a real focal point if he recaptures his early-season form from last year.

Beyond that, the gaps are obvious. Both wings, full-back, central midfield and the forward line all need bolstering. Finding proven Championship quality at short notice is never easy.

Bobby Clark, 21, looks like a player who could change games and grow in value. Patrick Agyemang’s return from injury in January could feel like a winter signing. But Derby’s season will be defined by what happens before the window shuts. McAnuff sees them in 10th. The club’s hierarchy would take that in a heartbeat.

Lincoln City – Back after 63 years

Lincoln have waited since 1961 for this. Champions of League One, now the smallest budget in the Championship and a simple mission: survive.

Continuity is their weapon. The core of the side that stormed to the League One title remains largely intact. Players such as Tendayi Darikwa and Adam Reach have been here before at this level. The unusual decision to appoint Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw as joint head coaches raised eyebrows, but both are highly regarded and the club believe their bold move can be a masterstroke rather than a misstep.

So far the window has been quiet. Andrei Coubis, Tanto Olaofe on loan and Tottenham prospect Mason Melia have arrived; Jack Moylan and former boss Michael Skubala have gone. More signings are expected before the end of August.

In goal, George Wickens could be the story. After a tough first season he was outstanding last year, earned a new deal and has flourished under goalkeeping coach David Preece. Lincoln know all about loan keepers suddenly exploding onto the scene – Carl Rushworth did exactly that. Wickens might be next. McAnuff, though, has the Imps bottom in 24th.

Middlesbrough – No more near misses

Middlesbrough were 90 minutes from the Premier League in May. They lost the play-off final and now Kim Hellberg has to lift them to go again. The target is clear: with expanded play-offs, Boro must be in the mix. Last season raised expectations and Coventry’s title win proved you do not need parachute money to go up.

Defensively, they were one of the most secure sides in the division and ruthless at closing out games once they scored first. Hellberg’s high-tempo style earned admirers across the league and, at its best, simply blew teams away.

The flaw was equally clear. When opponents sat deep and handed them the ball, Boro often ran out of ideas. Two wins in their final 10 games cost them automatic promotion.

The response has been to add punch up front. Will Lankshear has arrived from Tottenham for big money as a true number nine, while Kyle Joseph gives another option. USA midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, so impressive at the World Cup, will be expected to carry that form into club football. At the back, Adilson Malanda’s partnership with Alfie Jones will be the platform.

If Lankshear delivers, Boro will be dangerous. McAnuff is bullish: he has them finishing 2nd.

Millwall – Snapping at the big boys again

Millwall smashed through reputations last season, finishing 3rd and reaching the play-offs for the first time in over 20 years. The expectation now is to go again, even if the fanbase knows there are richer clubs chasing the same dream.

Alex Neil is central to everything. He gets the club, understands the stands and has promotion experience on his CV. His game management in tight moments has already proved decisive.

There has been steady backing from the Berylson family again, with Kyrell Lisbie and Lyndon Dykes among the new faces, but Millwall will still be outgunned financially by several rivals. They will have to squeeze every drop out of what they have.

Finding a proper goalscorer has been a long-running obsession at The Den. Josh Coburn threatened to be that man in spells last season. If he can stay fit and string that form together, Millwall will not be far away. McAnuff tips them for 6th – another crack at the play-offs.

Norwich City – Calm after the storm

Norwich looked doomed to League One last November. Then Philippe Clement walked in, steadied the ship and took 2024-25 form that would have put them in the top four over the second half of the season. They finished 9th and now approach this campaign with cautious optimism.

For once, there is continuity. No change of head coach. No scattergun raid on unfamiliar markets. Instead, a quieter summer, seen as a positive after two turbulent years. Andre Brooks, Sam Field, Darlin Yongwa and Bruno Alves (on loan) have joined. Shane Duffy and Emi Marcondes have gone.

The big worry is injuries. Clement was repeatedly frustrated by the number of players in the treatment room and Norwich have responded by revamping their sport science and fitness departments. Even so, winger Ali Ahmed has already suffered an ACL injury and will miss the season. Kellen Fisher, Jovon Makama and Lucien Mahovo are also sidelined for the opening weeks.

Makama had looked a revelation last term, scoring 13 before injury cut him down in February. Australian striker Mo Toure arrived in winter and promptly hit 10 goals in 12 games, including two hat-tricks, then scored again 40 seconds into the Carabao Cup tie with MK Dons. Add an impressive-looking Brooks and Norwich have firepower.

If Clement can keep enough of them on the pitch, Norwich will be a threat. McAnuff has them 7th, just outside the play-offs.

Portsmouth – Fighting the tide again

Portsmouth’s first season back in the Championship ended in 18th. The aim now is clear: move away from the relegation scrap. The budget is still modest, even after spending roughly double last summer’s outlay, so any improvement on 18th would be a strong return.

John Mousinho has added Rocco Shein, Marko Milovanovic and Abu Kamara to a squad that already includes the exciting Josh Murphy. On the flanks, Murphy and Kamara could be electric – if they stay fit. Terry Devlin’s rapid progress last season has surprised many that no bigger club has come calling. Adrian Segecic’s 11 goals in his debut campaign were another bright spot.

The problem is depth. Injuries bit hard last year and Pompey do not have the resources to absorb long absences. There is also very little Championship experience among the new arrivals. Fratton Park is no longer a place where visitors expect an easy afternoon; teams sit deep and respect Portsmouth. Breaking them down has become a major challenge.

Murphy is the potential game-breaker. When fully fit, he is one of the best players in the division. Last season was wrecked by injury and he will miss the opener, but if he rediscovers the form of two years ago, Pompey’s survival prospects improve dramatically. McAnuff pegs them 20th.

Preston North End – Big spend, big questions

Preston have rolled the dice. A club-record £6m fee has brought Alfie Devine in permanently from Tottenham after his impressive loan spell, and the Deepdale pitch has been completely relaid at a cost north of £1.5m to suit Paul Heckingbottom’s preferred style.

The hope is clear: repeat last season’s blistering first half without the collapse that followed. To do that, they need more bodies. Several key loans have ended, experienced figures like Robbie Brady have gone and the departures of Lewis Dobbin, Harrison Armstrong and Daniel Jebbison leave a hole in attack and creativity.

Squad depth is the glaring weakness. Preston need reinforcements before the window closes or they risk running on fumes again after Christmas.

Devine is both symbol and solution. He is their record signing and arguably their standout player, with the talent to dominate games. But he cannot do it alone. McAnuff forecasts 19th, a sobering prediction for a club that has dared to spend.

QPR – Fix the leaks, aim higher

QPR shipped 73 goals last season. Only Sheffield Wednesday were worse. That statistic hangs over Julien Stephan’s second campaign in charge.

The Frenchman now has a year of Championship experience and a squad more closely moulded to his ideas. The summer has been busy: Calum Ward, Pierce Charles on loan, Boy Kemper, Tariq Lamptey, Glen Kamara and Dennis Cirkin have all arrived. Steve Cook, Sam Field, Paul Nardi and Isaac Hayden have gone, while assistant Alou Diarra has also moved on.

Expectations are cautiously high. A top-half finish would be progress; a fast start and better luck with injuries could put them on the fringes of the top eight. But nothing happens unless that defence tightens up.

Up front, Rumarn Burrell is one to watch. He has the tools – pace, movement, finishing – to thrive at this level. If QPR can supply him and keep him fit, he could be a revelation. McAnuff places them 13th.

Southampton – Promotion or bust, minus four

Southampton’s season starts with a handicap and a grudge. Expelled from last season’s play-off final and hit with a four-point penalty for spygate, they have made their stance clear: automatic promotion is the only acceptable response.

Head coach Tonda Eckert has retained the core of a side that went 21 league games unbeaten at the end of last season. Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz, both crucial on loan, have been signed permanently. Divin Mubama has arrived on loan from Manchester City to replace Ross Stewart.

Mubama has obvious talent but must prove he can shoulder a full Championship campaign after five goals in 20 starts at Stoke before injury. That is the main question mark in a squad otherwise packed with quality.

Leo Scienza is the star attraction. The Brazilian winger terrorised full-backs last season and, unless a giant bid lands before the deadline, he will do so again. With him on the pitch, Southampton look like a Premier League side in waiting. McAnuff predicts 4th, but Saints are aiming higher.

Stoke City – Defence first, then dream

Stoke finished 17th last season, but the message from the boardroom is ambitious: they expect a play-off push. Mark Robins has been backed with Ethan Galbraith, Djibril Soumare, Svante Ingelsson and goalkeeper Josh Griffiths.

Their early-season success last year was built on a rock-solid defence and the outstanding Viktor Johansson in goal. Replicating that base while adding more cutting edge is the challenge.

The issue is blunt: they lack goals. Sorba Thomas remains their primary creator, but there is no prolific striker and the supporting cast have yet to prove they can chip in enough. Without a reliable source of goals, any promotion tilt will be fragile.

At the back, young centre-half Luke Graham has the tools to become a standout. Left-footed, strong and comfortable stepping out with the ball, he will need time to adapt from Dundee, but the potential is obvious. McAnuff calls them 15th.

Swansea City – Pressing on the edge

Swansea have finished 11th two years running. The hope, again, is that this is the season they turn mid-table into a genuine play-off push. The ownership has backed that ambition with another proactive summer.

Elijah Just, Joseph Opoku, Tiago Parente on loan, Ross Stewart, Stephen Welsh and Moussa Yeo have come in. Cameron Congreve, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Ethan Galbraith, Sam Parker and Ricardo Santos have gone. The biggest question is Zan Vipotnik’s future.

Vipotnik was the Championship’s top scorer last season and Swansea’s talisman. If he leaves, the burden falls on Adam Idah, who struggled in his first year, and new signing Stewart. Out wide was a weakness last term; heavy investment in Opoku and Yeo is designed to fix that.

Under Vitor Matos, appointed last November, Swansea pressed aggressively, especially at home. That is unlikely to change given his background alongside Jurgen Klopp. The away form must improve if they are to climb.

Opoku, 21, looks tailor-made for the league – powerful, direct and athletic. Academy graduate Filip Lissah returns from a superb loan at Falkirk and should finally become a first-team regular. McAnuff has them 12th, another step on the spot unless the attack catches fire.

Watford – Pozzo’s puzzle, again

Watford’s owners want another promotion push after last season’s late collapse and 16th-place finish. Many supporters are braced for something more modest.

Alessio Dionisi has come in as head coach, with Federico Ravaglia, Iker Bravo, Omar Traore and Jordan Zemura arriving from Bologna and Udinese connections. Giorgi Chakvetadze and Nestory Irankunda have gone the other way.

The talent is there. Othmane Maamma is the jewel – a wonderfully balanced attacker who can play on either flank, score and create. Kwadwo Baah and Rocco Vata both have more to give if they stay fit, and Edoardo Bove should kick on after a full pre-season.

The spine is the worry. Watford currently have only two recognised centre-backs where most clubs carry five. Central midfield looks light, with Imran Louza’s future uncertain, and up front the two young centre-forwards are still short of Championship level. Loans will come, but they will need to settle instantly under a new coach.

If Maamma stays, he could light up the division. Behind him, little-known Amin Nabizada is tipped for a breakout year. McAnuff sees Watford finishing 16th.

West Bromwich Albion – Morrison’s makeover

West Brom flirted with disaster last season, somehow finding themselves in a relegation fight before James Morrison took over and rattled off a 10-game unbeaten run to keep them up in 21st. Now he has the job full-time and a younger, more developmental squad.

The target at a club of Albion’s size should always be the play-offs, especially with two extra spots now available. Realistically, a top-half finish and clear progress would be a strong season.

Morrison’s rescue act was built on organisation. He went 4-4-2, put players in their best positions and tightened the back line. Seven clean sheets in the final nine games told the story, and the full-backs still bombed on to increase penalty-area entries. Expect more of that structured aggression.

Goals remain a major issue. Only four teams scored fewer last season, and two of those went down. Aune Heggebo managed nine in his first year in England and needs support. The goals must be shared.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s five pre-season strikes have turned heads, but he is untested at this level. Felix Horn Myhre, 27, arrives from SK Brann with a reputation as their most important player and experience in European competition. If he adapts quickly, he could become the heartbeat of Morrison’s midfield. McAnuff predicts 17th.

West Ham United – Bowen and the burden of expectation

For West Ham, anything short of promotion is failure. Automatic promotion is the aim; the play-offs would be acceptable only as a means to an end. A second season in the Championship is unthinkable for a club of this size.

The biggest win of the summer was keeping Nuno Espirito Santo. He has already conquered this league once, taking Wolves up with 99 points in 2017-18, and he still has a strong core to work with despite high-profile exits.

Manor Solomon and Joel Veltman have come in, along with Keiber Lamadrid. Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Freddie Potts, Callum Wilson and Adama Traore have gone, while Lukasz Fabianski has also departed. Off the pitch, an ownership tug of war rumbles on and could yet affect late-window business.

On it, Jarrod Bowen changes everything. With 131 goal contributions in 228 games for West Ham since 2021-22, he is not only their talisman but arguably the best player in the division. Keep him fit and firing and West Ham will always have an edge. McAnuff has them top. So do most bookmakers.

Wolves – Big names, big questions

Relegation hurt, but Wolves approach the new season with optimism crackling around Molineux. Over 21,000 turned up for a Carabao Cup tie last week, a clear sign that supporters have bought into the idea of an immediate return.

Executive chairman Nathan Shi set an 18‑month target back in February to ensure Wolves are a Premier League club again by 2027-28. The squad looks capable of hitting that ahead of schedule. Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier bring proven Premier League pedigree, while Adam Armstrong – signed in January – is a Championship marksman.

Crucially, several players who kept their heads in a grim Premier League campaign and were expected to leave have not pushed for moves. Jimenez’s decision to return and Andre’s choice to stay, when both could have gone elsewhere, hint at a renewed sense of unity.

But the doubts are real. Is the exodus merely delayed? If senior players deemed surplus in May but suddenly vital now depart late in the window, can Wolves avoid repeating last summer’s recruitment missteps? Is there enough defensive depth behind Ladislav Krejci, whose pre-season was curtailed by the World Cup? And will one of the two international goalkeepers actually stay?

Mateus Mane might render some of those questions moot. A year ago, he was known only to Rochdale diehards and Wolves academy watchers. Thrown in perhaps too often under Rob Edwards, his season faded, but the talent was unmistakable. This pre-season he has looked sharper, stronger and utterly focused. A dominant Championship campaign could launch him into the stratosphere. McAnuff puts Wolves 3rd.

Wrexham – Ruthless and ready

Wrexham fell just short of the play-offs last season, finishing 7th, and there is no secret about their aim now: promotion. With the play-offs extended, a top-eight finish would count as success, but Phil Parkinson and his players will be eyeing the top six.

They have firepower and efficiency. Kieffer Moore’s all-round game makes him a constant threat, while Josh Windass and Callum Doyle bring quality in key areas. Last season, Wrexham outperformed their expected goals by 12.21 – more than any other Championship side. They did not just create chances; they buried them.

The flip side is their generosity at the other end. It took Parkinson time to settle on a back three and injuries at wing-back disrupted the balance. The expectation is that, with a year’s experience at this level, the defensive structure will improve.

Danny Imray, signed from Crystal Palace, could be pivotal. Slotting in on the right flank, he offers reliability and energy – 76 appearances across two loan spells in the last two seasons tell their own story. If he shores up a problem position, Wrexham’s ruthless edge up front could finally be matched by solidity behind. McAnuff tips them for 9th.

The parachute clubs loom large. The upstarts are circling. Lincoln are back from a 63-year exile, Cardiff’s kids are daring to run at everyone, and West Ham have dropped a Premier League superstar into the second tier.

Forty-six games to sort it all out. In a league where nothing ever goes to script, who really dares to predict where this road ends?