Top 10 Championship Signings Of The Season So Far - Ranked

Top 10 Championship Signings Of The Season So Far (Ranked)

1) Carlton Morris – Derby County

Derby quietly pulled one of the smartest moves of the summer when they brought in Carlton Morris from Luton Town on June 26. At 29 he’s got experience but still has the hunger that turns decent sides into serious contenders.

After bagging 20 goals for Luton last year he arrived at Derby with pressure on his back and has handled it perfectly. He’s already into double figures for the season and looks like the main man under John Eustace. The kind of striker who finds the bottom corner when you least expect it.

Morris fits in well. His link-up play gives Derby more variety and his presence changes how teams defend against them. For a club that needed a guaranteed source of goals this signing ticks every single box.

BBC Sport – Derby sign striker Morris from Luton

2) Kieffer Moore – Wrexham

Wrexham made a proper statement bringing in Kieffer Moore in August. It’s one of those transfers that instantly changes how teams view you. Moore has Championship experience, leadership, and that ruthless streak in front of goal every club needs if they want to be taken seriously.

He didn’t waste time either. His perfect hat-trick against Coventry City at the STōK Cae Ras went viral and ended Coventry’s unbeaten run. Right foot, left foot, header. A real reminder that he’s built for this level.

What makes Moore’s move work is how naturally it’s clicked. He gives Wrexham a proper presence up top and makes the players around him better. They’ve got a spine now. If promotion ends up in reach come May this is the signing everyone will point back to. Sky Sports – Moore hat-trick fires Wrexham past Coventry

3) Marcelino Núñez – Ipswich Town

It takes guts to cross from Norwich to Ipswich. Marcelino Núñez did exactly that on August 29 and has already justified every bit of noise that came with it.

Núñez brings flair and control to Ipswich’s midfield. He’s tidy on the ball, sharp from set-pieces, and brave enough to take risks that actually pay off. The East Anglian derby was the perfect example. He came off the bench, created the winning goal, and helped Ipswich beat Norwich for the first time in 16 years. Straight away he made himself part of club folklore.

The Chilean international gives Kieran McKenna’s side something different. He keeps them ticking when things get scrappy and looks like he’s played there for years. Signing a player of his quality, especially from a rival, is exactly what ambitious clubs do.

BBC Sport – Ipswich sign Marcelino Núñez from Norwich

4) Finn Azaz – Southampton

Funny how the best deals don’t always feel flashy. When Finn Azaz signed for Southampton on 29 August 2025 they knew they were getting more than a name. He arrived from Middlesbrough for around £12m including add-ons.

Azaz is the kind of player who makes your team look smarter without rewriting the blueprint. He’s creative, decisive and loves unlocking chaos in midfield. He’s already delivered when it mattered. He knows the Championship and he knows how to hurt defences. For Southampton this was smart business , someone who says “we’re back seriously” rather than “we hope”.

In a market full of noise Azaz is that quiet punch in the face. And that’s why he fits into this top 10.

🚨 DEAL DONE: Southampton have completed the signing of Finn Azaz from Middlesbrough for £12 million, with up to £3 million in add-ons.

— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) August 29, 2025

5) Nestory Irankunda – Watford

Watford pulled off a gem when they landed Nestory Irankunda this summer. Teenager? Check. Massive potential and already delivering. He’s got that “turn up and change the game” vibe.

Irankunda’s free-kick goal at Swansea was a direct statement and a way to show off. His direct runs and confidence in tight spaces make him a nightmare for full-backs. And for Watford it means a shift from maybe getting results to expecting them.

This signing ticks the “future star + current starter” box. For a club aiming to bounce you need both. Irankunda gives you that double hit.

BBC Sport – Nestory Irankunda free kick stunner

6) Richard Koné – QPR

Simple one. QPR needed someone who could score goals impact games and give fans something to write home about. Richard Koné came in from Wycombe this summer and by early November he had four league goals. He didn’t take time to adapt he just started contributing.

What stands out is the pace with which he’s settled the natural knack for being in the right place and how his presence already changes how opponents set up. He gives QPR another dimension. They’re no longer just asking “can we get a result?” but rather “can we win?”

In a league where marginal gains matter signings like Koné are big because they are reliable early not just promising for later.

QPR – Koné signs from Wycombe

7) Nathan Broadhead – Wrexham

Wrexham didn’t stop at Kieffer Moore. They went and doubled down with Nathan Broadhead, a club-record signing from Ipswich in August. For a team that’s made its name on ambition this was the next logical flex.

Broadhead’s value goes beyond goals. His movement off the ball opens space for Moore and his timing in the box is sharp. He’s already found the net twice and looks more confident every week. You can tell he’s building chemistry with the rest of the front line and it’s lifting Wrexham’s entire attacking shape.

It’s a deal that shows the club’s serious intent. They’re not here just to survive, they’re here to build something. Broadhead fits that energy perfectly.

Sky Sports – Broadhead joins Wrexham in record move

8) Sontje Hansen – Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough’s signing of Sontje Hansen from NEC Nijmegen went slightly under the radar but that’s starting to change. The Dutch winger, signed in mid-August for around €3.5m, has quickly shown why the club took the gamble.

Hansen has solid pace, He’s already popped up with a late equaliser at Preston and his direct dribbling has given Boro fans something to get off their seats for. There’s rawness in his game but it’s exciting rawness, you can see what he’s trying to do. Hansen is one to watch.

BBC Sport – Middlesbrough sign Sontje Hansen from NEC Nijmegen

9) Darnell Furlong – Ipswich Town

Ipswich made a lot of noise with Marcelino Núñez but Darnell Furlong’s arrival from West Brom might be just as important. Signed for around £4m he’s brought proper balance down the right-hand side and gives the team a different outlet.

Furlong’s engine is unmatched. He gets up and down all game, whips dangerous crosses in and links well with the midfield. You can tell he’s become a reliable option in both phases. It’s simple but effective recruitment — find a proven Championship full-back who fits your system and plug him straight in.

It’s early but this signing already feels like one that pays off week after week.

Sky Sports – Darnell Furlong joins Ipswich Town

10) Iván Azón – Ipswich Town

Iván Azón joined Ipswich on loan from Como in late August and has quickly made his mark. He’s not starting every week but when he comes on he changes games. His header at Swansea sealed a huge 3-1 win and gave fans a taste of what he can bring.

Azón’s game is built on movement and timing. He’s strong in the air, tidy with his feet and has a knack for sniffing out chances in crowded boxes. Having that kind of impact option off the bench is priceless across a long Championship season.

He might only be here temporarily but if his influence continues to grow Ipswich could be tempted to make it permanent. BBC Sport – Iván Azón loan move confirmed