Premier League Scouting: Is the Championship a Transfer Goldmine For Clubs?

When it comes to English football, and the growth and development of young or rising stars, there is no surprise that many people think of the English Football League system, or the EFL, that provides these players with platforms to shine, improve and get noticed by the elite clubs.

Nowadays, many English talents are always on the rise up the divisions, eventually getting signed on big fees by not only Premier League clubs, but some of Europe’s elite start sniffing around. Especially in the last decade there are breakthrough stars every season who get linked to some of the “Big 6” in the Premier League.

Here, we will be focusing solely on EFL talents who attract Premier League giants, but if you are interested about talents who get the gig overseas, check out our article about players who succeed abroad to find out how homegrown talents who fail in England, can find success and win trophies abroad, and why this might be.

Stars Who Dealt with the Transition

In this section we will go through just a few of the players who managed the big step up into the English top flight, and how they found success and are making a name for themselves through their rise.

Eberechi Eze

The 26-year-old has been starring for The Eagles in recent times and is perhaps unlucky to not have received a big money move elsewhere. The Palace number 10 has always been overshadowed since making the move to Selhurst Park in 2020, by Wilfried Zaha, and more recently Michael Olise.

(Stats via transfermarkt)

Despite this, he had an incredible rise up the ranks, joining the Queens Park Rangers first team in 2016, where he spent four seasons in West London. He scored 20 goals in 104 appearances during his time at the club, where he also spent a year out in League Two with Wycombe Wanderers, scoring a further five times in 20 appearances.

He made his big move up to the Premier League for £17.8 million, where he since spent three years in attacking midfield alongside Zaha, before enjoying three years also with Michael Olise. This past campaign was the first where Eze was given the full opportunity to shine; and boy did he.

Eberechi Eze fired @CPFC to their first major trophy, sealing a win over @ManCity in the #EmiratesFACup Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9ERlRtr4fb

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 18, 2025

He played 34 times in the Premier League, returning a career-best 16 goal involvements, adding a further four goals and an assist in their magical FA Cup run, where the England International bagged in both the semi final and the final, which saw them triumph in a 3-0 win over Aston Villa 1-0 underdog victory against Manchester City at Wembley, with Eze starring during the games which saw Palace lift their first-ever major trophy.

Ollie Watkins

Another player who has starred since making the move to the Premier League is Ollie Watkins. The 29-year-old joined the top flight the same year as Eze, and it is safe to say, he has also had a successful experience since being scouted from the EFL.

(Stats via transfermarkt)

His EFL journey begun with Exeter City, where he spent four seasons in League Two with the Grecians. It took him a while to settle at the level, however, in his final campaign, he registered 23 goal contributions in 45 games, scoring a further two goals in their play-off run before making the switch to The Bees, jumping up two tiers to the Championship.

In his three seasons at Brentford, Watkins played 40+ league games in each season, amassing 60 goal involvements before being poached by Premier League giants Aston Villa for an initial fee of £28 million. He set the league alight immediately, and in his five seasons at Villa Park, Watkins has scored double-digits every campaign, cementing himself in England squads too, even scoring the winning goal to put his nation through to their second Euros final in successive tournaments.

I can’t get over the joy on Ollie Watkins’ face in this.

I know it’s a cliche etc etc but that moment is what every boy and girl dream about when they first fall in love with football. Scoring a winner for your country with 89:59 on the clock. Magic.

pic.twitter.com/AiohY7PJVk

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 11, 2024

He has struggled to secure his spot in Unai Emery’s team in the past year or so, and there have been many rumours linking him with other big Premier League clubs, such as Arsenal, but he has still managed to put up impressive numbers.

Morgan Gibbs-White

The last player we will touch on is Morgan Gibbs-White. Gibbs-White took a while to find somewhere to call home really, but at Nottingham Forest, he has really flourished. In the 2018-19, his third season with Wolves, in their first season back in the top flight, he featured in 26 games, unfortunately however, most of these came off the bench.

(Stats via transfermarkt)

After a further season with similar treatment, he was loaned out for two successive seasons at both Swansea and Sheffield United, however his career seemed like it was taking a downward turn, especially after featuring just six times for the Welsh side before being given one last chance with The Blades. He definitely took this chance too. He made 33 starts for The Blades, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists.

They were then scheduled to play Forest in the play-off semi final, and this was where Gibbs-White certainly may have been noticed by scouts at the City Ground. He scored and assisted during the tie, which they eventually lost, with Forest going on to win promotion to the Premier League. Steve Cooper secured the Englishman’s services in mid-August for an initial £25 million fee.

Outrageous.

A ridiculous finish from Morgan Gibbs-White tonight. 🤯pic.twitter.com/7FZKKfNxeI

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 8, 2022

Since this transfer, Gibbs-White has gone on to make himself a star player for the Tricky Trees, known for being a workhorse and has been key to Forest’s superb attacking exploits this term. He has assisted 28 times in his first three seasons, as he helped his side secure a return to European football after 29 years .

How Does Talent Develop in Other European Leagues?

Similar things have happened with lower division clubs throughout Europe. However, this usually seems to happen to players who will head to another country. For example, Ibrahima Konate’s move from Ligue 2 side FC Sochaux before moving to RB Leipzig, now at Liverpool. Another good example is N’Golo Kanté, who rapidly rose up the ranks of Caen, to Leicester and then Chelsea.

For certain players who grow up in lesser developed countries, moving abroad to Europe is often the only way to be noticed. For example, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Ballon D’or winner George Weah who had move to Europe to earn a living from playing football.

For some countries, it does not always work out as simple as rising through the divisions. For example, in the Netherlands, Ajax and other big Dutch sides grow talent from their own academies. Also, in Germany, the big teams mainly get their players from poaching other Bundesliga sides. Dortmund in recent years have also looked toward England- signing the likes of Jamie Gittens, Jude and Jobe Bellingham, Jadon Sancho, and many others.

🚨🤑 Top 5 players with the highest market value in the world:

1⃣ Erling Haaland: €200m
2⃣ Vinicius Junior: €200m
3⃣ Jude Bellingham: €180m
4⃣ Lamine Yamal: €180m
5⃣ Kylian Mbappé: €170m

🗞️ @Transfermarkt pic.twitter.com/KHLhpuppub

— StrikerSense (@StrikerSense) May 28, 2025

It almost seems slightly easier in England to grow your name and to get noticed and given a chance by larger names, in comparison to other countries, where opportunities seem limited. Without a doubt though, the EFL definitely produces some impressive talent and there is sure to be even more names who will only grow in the near future and earn massive, big-money moves.