The Championship is once again proving to be one of the best leagues in Europe, with teams looking to win big financially by securing promotion to the Premier League.
The second tier has a number of star players on show each week and plenty of clubs boast a plethora of internationals on their books.
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Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season
Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.
But who is currently standing out as the best player in the Championship right now? We’ve taken a detailed look at 10 second-tier stars.
10
Manor Solomon
Manor Solomon
Leeds United
Starting the top 10 countdown is Leeds United winger Manor Solomon, who is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The Israel international, who suffered with numerous injury issues in 2023/24, has found his groove at Elland Road under Daniel Farke and has been first-choice on the left-hand side, chipping in with plenty of goals and assists.
9
Jimmy Dunne
Jimmy Dunne
QPR
There is a reason why Queens Park Rangers defender Jimmy Dunne was a wanted man during the January transfer window.
The centre-back has been a regular in Marti Cifuentes’ first full season at Loftus Road, and as per WhoScored, Dunne is one of the top performers in the Championship, and has even chipped in with four goals from the back.
8
Enzo Le Fee
Enzo Le Fee
Sunderland
Arguably the signing of the January transfer window in the Championship was Sunderland’s deal to bring Enzo Le Fee to the Stadium of Light from Roma.
The attacking midfielder, who worked under Regis Le Bris at Lorient, is on loan from the Serie A side and has already showed his quality in red and white.
The Black Cats will be hoping he can be the difference when it comes to winning promotion.
7
Gustavo Hamer
Gustavo Hamer
Sheffield United
Attacking midfielder Gustavo Hamer appears to be key to Sheffield United’s hopes of securing an immediate return to the Premier League and has been impressive throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
The former Coventry City star is into double figures for combined goals and assists at Bramall Lane, while he has won a whopping nine Player of the Match awards from FotMob, showing his quality in the second tier.
6
Ao Tanaka
Ao Tanaka
Leeds United
At just £3m, Leeds’ move to sign Japan international Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer is looking like a bargain.
The midfielder received his chance following early-season injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, and hasn’t looked back since, establishing himself as a key player in the Whites squad.
Tanaka has chipped in with goals and assists, while also having a pass completion rate of over 90% and averaging more than 2 tackles per game. As a result, he is one of FotMob’s highest-rated players in the league.
5
Tom Fellows
Tom Fellows
West Brom
An academy graduate at The Hawthorns, Tom Fellows has been catching the eye of Premier League clubs with his performances out wide for West Brom this season.
The 21-year-old has so far registered more assists than any other Championship player (11) and looks destined to be playing top-flight football in the coming years. Whether or not that is with West Brom remains to be seen.
4
Joe Rodon
Joe Rodon
Leeds United
Called Leeds United’s Rodri in the media, Joe Rodon has been a colossus at the back after making his loan move to Elland Road permanent last summer.
The Wales international has one of the highest pass-accuracy percentages in the division, averaging more than 80 successful passes per game – more than any other player except for Coventry City’s Matt Grimes.
Rodon has played his part in plenty of clean sheets for Leeds, keeping opposing teams’ attackers quiet and xG low.
3
Borja Sainz
Borja Sainz
Norwich City
Borja Sainz has been enjoying the best season of his career in front of goal statistically, netting 15 Championship goals for Norwich City in the first 18 league games.
The Spaniard, who has been playing as a left-winger, has also picked up six WhoScored Player of the Match awards, more than any other player.
2
James Trafford
James Trafford
Burnley
Burnley are on course to break all kinds of defensive records this season, and goalkeeper James Trafford has been a key part of that success under Scott Parker.
Trafford, who is regularly linked with a move back to the Premier League in the transfer window, recently saved two late penalties against promotion rivals Sunderland.
The Englishman has also kept more clean sheets than any other shot-stopper in the division and is FotMob’s highest-rated player in the league.
1
Dan James
Dan James
Leeds United
Arguably the Championship’s best player in the Championship right now is Leeds winger Dan James. The Welshman’s speed has been causing defenders headaches for years, and he is once again producing in the final third at Elland Road.
James is into double figures for second-tier goals this season and also has six assists to his name, playing off the right and combining excellently with full-back Jayden Bogle.
Even iconic Championship manager Neil Warnock has waxed lyrical over James recently, saying: “I remember pulling Daniel James – he’s my favourite player in the Championship; he has been for years, and he wasn’t playing that day.
“I remember saying to him, ‘if I had one player I wish I could’ve managed, it would have been you’ – because I love his attitude, and I think it breeds it when you’ve got people like Daniel James.”
