Why Is Borja Sainz The Best Player In The EFL Championship Right Now?

Norwich City currently sit ninth in the EFL Championship table but there’s one player that has been tearing it up week after week. That man is winger Borja Sainz who is topping the top scoring rankings in the league this season with an incredible 14 goals. But he is so much more than that to this Norwich side searching for promotion.

But why is Borja Sainz the best player in the EFL Championship right now? In this article we take a look.

HE'S DONE IT AGAIN! 🤩

Borja Sainz has a second hat-trick of the season with a SENSATIONAL finish against Plymouth Argyle 🚀 pic.twitter.com/R0VlS0pJxn

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 26, 2024

Who Is Borja Sainz?

Sainz started his career at Alaves in Spain where he managed just two goals and two assists in 44 appearances. Even while on loan at Real Zaragoza he didn’t have the most amazing time managing just three goals in 33 games.

Eventually he would leave Spain earning himself a move to Turkish side Giresunspor. While there he played 32 times managing nine goals and four assists before being snapped up by the Canaries on a three year deal in 2023.

Sainz made an instant impact with Norwich scoring in his debut against Fulham in the EFL Cup. As well as scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup. But he certainly wasn’t flying. That is until this season where he has been impossible to stop under new manager Johannes Hoff Thorup.

19 matches
15 goals
2 assists

Borja Sainz, what a player #ncfc pic.twitter.com/fKP6DXiOX4

— Canary Cast (@CastCanary) November 26, 2024

What Are Borja Sainz’s Stats Like?

Already this season, as mentioned, Sainz has scored 14 league goals. This includes two sensational hat tricks including in the previous match against Plymouth Argyle. In fact he has scored four more goals than the second leading scorer Josh Maja who has only managed ten goals.

Sainz’s attacking output doesn’t just come from the goals he has scored. But his attacking output as a whole.

He has taken more shots than any other player in the division as well as taking 2nd place in both the take on attempted stats as well as the touches in the opposition box stat. His attacking output this season has been nothing short of outstanding.

An xG of 7.6 as well (the third highest in the league) makes his attacking output all the better. He has a goals per game of 0.84.

Borja Sainz has now matched Emi Buendia’s 2020/21 goal tally of 15.

It’s November.#NCFC

— Norwich Pure (@NorwichPure) November 26, 2024

Can Sainz Lead Norwich City To Promotion?

Currently sat in ninth place in the league after 17 games Norwich are certainly in the promotion conversation this campaign. In fact they sit just five points off of the play off spots so there is still plenty to play for.

Unsurprisingly, because of Sainz’s goals, Norwich have scored more goals than any other team in the league. And by a long way as well. If Sainz can continue to score at the rate Norwich certainly have a huge chance at promotion.

They just need to turn the tide defensively and not concede as many goals. They have let in 25 which is more than any other team in the top eleven.

But goals win games. And if Sainz continues to score - as he is now especially - Norwich could gain promotion come the end of the season.