Momentum in the Making: Why QPR Suddenly Look Dangerous

Momentum in the Making: Why QPR Suddenly Look Dangerous

Queens Park Rangers are on red-hot form in the EFL Championship. Their underwhelming start has quickly swiveled into three consecutive wins, which has now fired them towards the top six.

It was definitely about time they improved on their results. With the business QPR orchestrated over the summer, many expected them to have competed at the top from the off.

They were the Championship transfer window’s surprise package this summer, bringing in players who had been eyed up by much more prominent figures. However, the Rangers managed to get them over the line, which put weighty expectations on their shoulders.

Now, as their anticipated acquisitions start to gel, the R’s are flying and it may spell a tale of greater fortune for the London club, if it can be sustained.

A Fantastic Summer

In total, QPR brought in 11 players during the summer transfer window. Some of those arrivals included League One starlets, former beloved players, and experienced veterans. On the whole, the West London side targeted a very young age range, with most of their incomings being between 22 and 24.

With these 11 signings, the R’s spent approximately £9.5 million - maybe even more, considering some of their new signing’s transfer fees were undisclosed.

The most expensive signatures were those of Koki Saito from Belgian side Lommel SK, and Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers, who each cost them roughly £2.8 million.

🚨 Koki Saito has completed a permanent transfer to QPR from Belgian side Lommel ✍️✅#BBCFootball #QPR pic.twitter.com/YmfddMgvtQ

— BBC Sport London (@BBCLondonSport) August 25, 2025

Kone especially was a stellar addition for the Hoops, as the Ivorian racked up 18 League One goals last term and labelled himself as one of the best strikers in the third division.

QPR also brought in the likes of Kwame Poku from Peterborough, Rumarn Burrell from Burton Albion, and Amado Salif Mbengue from Reading. All of these players performed superbly in League One last season.

Poku in particular was an excellent signing. The winger was sought after by both Scottish giants Rangers and Chris Davies’ Birmingham City, who earned promotion to the Championship. Prior to his injury back in December last year, the Ghanaian was the top scorer and top assist maker in the third tier, and that really caught the eyes of those above.

QPR acquired Poku on a free transfer, but even then they had to fork out more money as Peterborough claimed a reported £900k in compensation fees.

The R’s also bought last year’s loanee Karamoko Dembele on a permanent basis for almost £2 million, as well as Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden on a free transfer.

The Season So Far

QPR’s first three league games of the season were certainly ones to forget. Despite picking up a point on opening day in a 1-1 draw against Preston North End, the Hoops then went on to lose both of the next two - one of them in extreme fashion.

Julien Stephan’s men fell to a 2-1 defeat to Watford the week after, in spite of comeback attempts, and then they were absolutely humiliated by Coventry City after being thumped 7-1 at the CBS Arena.

Defeat. pic.twitter.com/wupTUxyH9W

— QPR FC (@QPR) August 23, 2025

As you can imagine, this result really struck panic into many QPR fans - it was certainly not how the script was meant to go.

However, as the pressure piled, the R’s realised what was at stake and managed to pick up all three points in their next match. They beat Charlton Athletic 3-1 at home, with new signings Saito and Richard Kone both finding the net.

Since that win, QPR have now won two more, taking their winning streak to three games. They managed to beat newcomers Wrexham 3-1 on their travels to North Wales and then most recently Stoke, after a diligent 1-0 performance at home.

On top of their recent exuberance, Kone is justifying his hefty price tag more and more every game, after already bagging three goals in his debut Championship campaign.

Meanwhile, the R’s still have a handful of key players ready to return from injury. These include the likes of Ilias Chair, Kwame Poku, Jake Clarke-Salter and Ziyad Larkeche. Once those four are back, you’d expect the West London side to be an even stronger force than what they’re proving to be now.

What Heights Can QPR Reach

If QPR were to keep up their fantastic form, they can certainly push on to achieve great things this season.

The R’s haven’t even featured in a Championship playoff campaign since the one they won back in 2014. They have since competed in 10 separate second tier seasons and only finished in the top half for three of them.

Happy Bobby Zamora Day 😍 pic.twitter.com/mIxaWoLsG2

— QPR FC (@QPR) May 24, 2025

Since their relegation from the top flight in 2015, they simply haven’t been the same juggernaut.

As we stand six games into the current season, QPR take up ninth position but are level on points with Coventry in sixth, and only two points adrift of Stoke in second. With the Hoops’ heavy investment, it’s clear they are trying to catapult themselves back to promotion contenders, and their form only supports that theory.

As previously mentioned, they have a couple of stars raring to get back fit, and once they do, QPR’s team will shape up nicely. The R’s have already found a gem in Richard Kone, but they’re still waiting for a few more of their signings to come out of their shells.

A playoff position would be a huge achievement for them. But who’s to say they can’t push even further, perhaps for the automatics considering the pre-season favorites such as Ipswich, Southampton, and Sheffield United are all underperforming?