The Best Business in the EFL (So Far)

The summer transfer window can make or break a club’s season in the EFL.

Those who are most desperate for the prized promotion spots will show true ambition and faith through their transfers, investing all the money they can to pick up the young gems and proven stars.

With just less than two weeks until the EFL officially kickstarts its new season - and just six weeks left of the transfer window - there are many clubs that have already shown their intent for the new campaign, through masses of headline signings.

This article is going to label a few of these clubs - one from each league as a matter of fact. Whilst deciding which team has performed the best in the window is certainly up for discussion, there are some clubs that have simply outshone the rest.

Championship – Birmingham City

Birmingham City finished last season like they mean to go on. Winning the League One title with a record-breaking number of points was just not enough for the Blues; they now look like one of the favourites to contest the top six in the Championship next term.

A NEW @EFL POINTS RECORD.

CHRIS DAVIES' BIRMINGHAM CITY. 🔵💫 pic.twitter.com/wZTTCKdaKW

— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) April 30, 2025

This is all due to Chris Davies bringing in some stellar additions to his newly promoted side.

The first one we have to talk about is Demarai Gray. Bringing the homegrown Bluenose back to the club after a plethora of years playing in the Premier League and Saudi Pro League showed that Birmingham mean business.

The former Premier League champion did not come with a hefty price tag attached to him either; Birmingham acquired him as a free transfer from Al-Ettifaq – the only catch being a 20% sell on clause for the Saudi Pro League outfit.

There is no doubt that this statement from the club carries some expectation as well. Despite not necessarily having hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia, Gray has made over 200 appearances in the English top flight for Leicester and Everton, with a stint in the German Bundesliga in between.

When you already have a 20-goals-per-season striker in Jay Stansfield at your disposal, why not make it two? That is exactly what Birmingham City have done with their brand-new forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

In recent seasons we have seen a new wave of Japanese talent flourish through the EFL, but this may just be the pick of the bunch. Furuhashi has signed from Ligue 1 side Rennes, after what was a nightmare six months in France. However, it is clear to see how much skill the 30-year-old obtains.

He scored 86 goals in four years for Celtic prior to his French excursion. These terrific years in Glasgow consisted of a Golden Boot and two spots in the PFA’s Team of the Year, all whilst winning four league titles in the green and white stripes. If Furuhashi wasn’t to perform in the West Midlands this coming season, there would be some serious questions asked.

(Kyogo Furhashi Celtic and Rennes Stats: FotMob)

Whilst these two superstars have stolen all the Birmingham City headlines, the business has not stopped there. The Blues have also penned in two brilliant English youngsters – both with Euros Under-21 winners’ medals around their necks.

The first being James Beadle – a 21-year-old goalkeeper who has already made over 80 appearances at senior level, across three different clubs. The most recent being Sheffield Wednesday, where Beadle ignited two consecutive loan spells from his previous parent club Brighton.

The shot-stopper racked up 38 Championship appearances for the Owls last season, with nine clean sheets in the process.

The second Englishman of the two is Tommy Doyle. A Manchester City academy graduate who has already enjoyed the experience of being promoted from the second tier, during his impressive loan spell with Sheffield United two years ago.

The 23-year-old now joins Birmingham on yet another loan, but this time from fellow West Midlands outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers. Doyle is an imposing holding midfielder, already with plenty of experience under his belt at Championship and Premier League level.

Motivated for the season ahead. Big goals to achieve. Can’t wait to get started. 💙 pic.twitter.com/qPUhBQvZ4E

— Tommy Doyle (@Tommy_Doyle8) July 2, 2025

The Blues have also secured some healthy additions in Bright Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbache, Taylor Gardner-Hickman from Bristol City and Phil Neumann from Hannover 96 – all displaying positive reinforcement.

League One – Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield Town have had plenty to cheer about so far in this summer transfer window and, now they have managed to get a certain marquee player over the dotted line, it is the icing on the cake.

That player is none other than Alfie May. A League One all-star, who has netted a staggering 82 goals in the league across the last four seasons.

Huddersfield have only this week confirmed the forward's arrival, with the Terriers paying £1.2 million to steal him from St. Andrew’s. Whilst that figure may seem like a lot, it is one certainly worth Huddersfield triggering heading into their second season back down in the third tier.

The 32-year-old simply scores goals for fun; he is one of the very few players who has that golden touch and knack for finding the back of the net. Last season for Birmingham, May was a rotational player and yet still managed to bag 16 league goals – and that is before you even begin to mention the EFL League One Golden Boot he has on his mantelpiece from the season prior.

(Alfie May Last 4 League One Seasons: FotMob)

Although his age may beg the question as to whether that money has been invested carefully, the forward is aging like a fine wine and showing no signs of slowing down. You know what you are getting with Alfie May – goals.

Now whilst the former Charlton and Cheltenham man is the club's latest arrival, let’s delve into some of the other signings new manager Lee Grant has fastened in.

The first being Ryan Ledson from Preston North End. Despite only being 27 years of age, it seems as if Ledson has been around forever. Only just stereotypically entering his ‘prime’ the midfielder has already scribbled in heaps of experience onto his resume, including seven consecutive seasons in the Championship with Preston.

It is definitely not Ledson’s first rodeo in League One either. On top of his 180-plus appearances at Championship level, he had already made 66 in the third tier with Oxford United, granting him the step up in the first place.

It is clear to see where Huddersfield did their shopping this window, as Ryan Ledson arrived as a double act with another former Preston North End player in Jack Whatmough.

Similarly to his companion, the defender is someone who has a wealth of expertise throughout the Championship and League One, having played in abundance for Portsmouth, Wigan and then Preston.

📝 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘: Huddersfield Town have signed Preston North End defender Jack Whatmough.

Undisclosed fee, 2-year contract.

(Source: @htafc) pic.twitter.com/56UE7l1z2j

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 9, 2025

There is becoming a slight theme with Huddersfield’s transfers, in that they are evidently shopping for sophistication and experience. On top of the Preston duo, the Terriers have also acquired both Marcus Harness from Ipswich and Lynden Gooch from Stoke City. Two players both 29-years-old, with Premier League experience and a fair few promotions to brag about.

However, there are also a few young guns added to the squad, in Sean Roughan from Lincoln City and Joe Low from Wycombe Wanderers. Both young central defenders, who displayed sheer excellence in League One last season and are now looking to replicate the same delight but on a new adventure.

All of these signings are extremely intelligent acquisitions for Huddersfield. Not just because Lee Grant has brought in players wealthy in gametime, but because all of these stealthy signings were free transfers barring Jack Whatmough who arrived via an undisclosed fee.

The funds saved up through this process can they be used to splash out on players such as Alfie May who will hopefully soon be knocking on the West Yorkshire club’s door.

League Two – MK Dons

MK Dons are building a League Two super team. It is fair to say that they must be sick and tired of the fourth tier and are now trying to make any push they can towards promotion. This has included them equipping riches of proven EFL talent.

The most prominent addition for the Dons has been Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. Whilst age is not necessarily on his side, experience is, as the West Midlands born Guatemalan has made over 450 professional appearances in the game – even reaching Premier League heights.

It was only last year that the 33-year-old was included in the League One Team of the Season through his promotion success with Derby County, as he tallied up the most goal contributions in the third tier, with 9 goals and 16 assists. Now returning back to League Two for the first time since 2015, Mendez-Laing looks to make a difference for a reimagined MK Dons.

(Nathaniel Mendez-Laing League One 2023/24 Stats: FotMob)

If you thought that was as big as the signings got, think again. Paul Warne has only gone and captured the signature of Aaron Collins – League One’s Player of the Season in 2023.

Despite the 28-year-old not exactly shining as well as he would have hoped on his breakthrough move to Bolton Wanderers in the last 18 months, League Two football could be a huge opportunity of rejuvenation for the forward. We all know that there is prolific goalscorer in Collins and with the right management, Paul Warne may just unlock it with the Dons.

Another League One addition the Buckinghamshire club have made is former Stockport County midfielder Will Collar. This is an absolutely superb signing for the fourth-tier side, as their newbie made 40 appearances in League One for Stockport last season and scored eight goals with two assists amongst it.

A transfer like this shows real intent from MK Dons of their promotion target, as they continue to bring in players who are more than capable of playing League One football. It is clear that the Dons operate on one of the largest budgets in League Two, so why shouldn’t they utilise that to their advantage and give themselves a boost.

Will Collar is a Don 🤝

Milton Keynes Dons are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Will Collar!

📝 https://t.co/xbluHSzSd5 #COYD #DonDeal pic.twitter.com/AEQ8SxplsQ

— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) June 30, 2025

The 21-year-old club have also purchased Russian Hepburn-Murphy from Crawley Town and Gethin Jones from Bolton, both adding to the brilliant window they are having.