EFL Transfer Weekly Round-Up

Now almost two weeks into the main summer transfer window and with pre-season on the horizon for many, teams up and down the EFL are rushing to get their business done early.

Football Park has rounded up the main transfer rumours and official signings here for you, ranging from the Championship down to League Two.

Big loss for the Blades

Having missed out on promotion to the Premier League following a last-gasp Sunderland goal in the playoff final, Sheffield United will be aiming to go one step further than their third-place finish to gain automatic promotion.

Whilst they are in a better position to do so on paper due to having no points deductions, they will have to accept losing a key midfielder in Vini Souza.

Wolfsburg have had a £13m bid accepted by the club and the Brazilian will travel to Germany to complete his medical and finalise the deal early next week.

✍️ Vini Souza is leaving Sheffield United to join Wolfsburg for £13m.

Their stand out player last season, big loss! pic.twitter.com/WY7GIVBn2N

— The #EFL Zone (@TheFLZone) June 28, 2025

Blades fans will certainly feel that they are getting a poor deal, seeing as Souza is going for just £3m more than they bought Tom Cannon for in January despite being 2nd in their Player of the Season rankings.

⚔️ BLADESMAN AWARDS - 24/25 ⚔️

Finally, as voted by fans all season...

⭐️ PLAYER OF THE SEASON ⭐️

And the winner is...

🏆 SYDIE PECK 🏆

🥈 Gus Hamer + Vini Souza#twitterblades #sufc pic.twitter.com/tSvz62aiWh

— The Bladesman (@The_Bladesman) May 25, 2025

Souza pushed to leave the club as he targets a place in Brazil's 23-man squad for the upcoming World Cup under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Brady-Backed Birmingham Aim Big

Earning promotion back to the Championship after a season all the way down in League One, The Blues are making big moves in the market as they aim to flex their financial muscles and avoid any further humiliating relegations to the Third tier.

Bright Osayi-Samuel looks set to join Birmingham on a free contract following his contract expiry at Fenerbache.

The 27-year-old has a wealth of Championship experience having played for Queens Park Rangers for four seasons, plus featured under Jose Mourinho in the season just gone on 39 occassions.

Birmingham City are in talks to sign Bright Osayi-Samuel on a free transfer from Fenerbahce #BCFC pic.twitter.com/z1j0wM9RZV

— InsideInfo (@InsideInfoX) June 29, 2025

Elsewhere, Tommy Doyle is expected to join the club on loan with an obligation to buy for £10m from nearby rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite featuring 24 times in the Premier League for them this season.

Birmingham look set to win the race for Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle.

They’re willing to commit to a loan with an on obligation to buy for £10 million.

(Via: @reluctantnicko)#BCFC pic.twitter.com/KoBk1sSBpO

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) June 29, 2025

The Potters Building for Future

Stoke City are believed to be one of the front runners for young Sligo Rovers forward Owen Elding, with Lincoln City and QPR also in the hunt.

A fee in excess of £1m is being speculated for the 19-year-old who bagged eight times in 21 matches last season in Ireland.

Stoke City amongst host of Championship clubs looking at Owen Elding.

The Sligo Rovers starlet would command a considerable fee and #SCFC are expected to formalise their interest imminently. #LOI #SligoRovers #StokeCity #Potters pic.twitter.com/EwliMcai3h

— enf (@enfstandard) June 28, 2025

An outside shout has come in the form of Barry Bannan, as the Sheffield Wednesday captain could be on his way out of the club due to the financial crisis at the club which has seen plenty of missed payments for players and staff.

The 35-year-old's experience would be invaluable for the 10 players under the age of 24 that the Potters possess.

The Owls in Turmoil

Speaking of Sheffield Wednesday's misfortunes, they look set to lose one of their most valuable assets to one of England's biggest clubs.

Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri is set to finalise a move to Manchester City in a deal worth £1.5m, which would bring some cash relief to the club.

The 15-year-old who bagged 24 goals in the under-18 development league - ending as top scorer - is set for a medical next week.

Understand that Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri’s move from #SWFC to Manchester City is now subject only to a medical… All agreed, deal worth around £1.5m, seven figures up front.https://t.co/2Nsk7U8TwN 🦉⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5Xr0R4WHQ3

— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) June 27, 2025

The Rams Look to Survive

Derby County will be aiming to improve on their 19th-placed finish last season which saw them just a single point from the drop.

They will hope that Carlton Morris is the man for the job, as they have officially signed the striker from relegated Luton Town.

Derby County have completed the signing of @CarltonJM! ✅

The striker has signed a three-year deal at Pride Park Stadium. 🤝

— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) June 26, 2025

A Premier League player two seasons ago, Morris netted 11 times as he featured in all of Luton's games in the top division.

However, the 29-year-old dissappointed last season as he found the net only eight times in the league as the Hatters suffered back-to-back demotions.

Derby also have one eye on taking Liverpool left-back Owen Beck on loan, but face competition from Wrexham and Rangers.

Bolton Push for Championship Return

Bolton Wanderers have seen a bid rejected for Celtic's young striker Johnny Kenny.

Kenny scored five goals in six games in the UEFA Conference League for Shamrock Rovers this season before he returned from loan.

Celtic have rejected an offer worth £500k from Bolton for Johnny Kenny!🇮🇪

The offer is said to be nowhere near their valuation for the striker who scored 5 goals in the Conference League last season.

If Celtic decide to let Kenny go, there will be a queue of clubs after him. pic.twitter.com/NBFAcl1TIO

— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) June 27, 2025

However, Kenny only featured four times in the Scottish Premiership since his return in January.

It is understood that Celtic aren't in any rush to sell the player and will demand a £1m sum, double what Bolton offered to pay.

Mass Exodus at the Saints

Following their relegation from the top flight, Southampton have had to part ways with a number of players on big wages.

Their record signing, Kamaldeen Sulemana, is set to link up with former boss Ivan Juric at Atalanta for a fee of £18m - £4m less than what the Saints paid for the player.

Kamaldeen Sulemana will be in Bergamo on Monday to undergo a medical and to complete his move from Southampton reports Gazzetta Dello Sport.

The official announcement will likely be Monday afternoon or Tuesday. Welcome to Bergamo Kamaldeen!😎🙏 pic.twitter.com/vZo2NFsRHj

— Atalanta BC News (@AtalantaBC_News) June 29, 2025

Kyle Walker-Peters has walked from the club on a free transfer after five years at St Mary's, the player confirmed earlier this week, and Trabzonspor have agreed a £6m deal for striker Paul Onuachu.

Similar Feeling at Cardiff

Despite some optimism at the Bluebirds with the news of a potential consortium bid led by Gareth Bale for the club, they are yet to make any signings to replace the club legends of Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey who have left.

Cardiff have allowed Michael Reindorf to leave on loan to Newport County, with the player making only four appearances for the Welsh team last season as he joined Bristol Rovers on loan halfway through the campaign.

Roko Simic has also left on loan to join Karlsruher SC in the Bundesliga 2.

Oldham Athletic Make Moves

Oldham have confirmed the signing of three players as they look to maintain a place in the EFL following their shock National League playoff final win against York City, a club who finished 23 points above them.

Luke Hannant, Gateshead's Player of the Year, has joined the Latics and will bring League Two experience to the club as he has had spells in the league before with both Port Vale and Colchester United.

👋 Welcome to Latics, @ha11nno! #oafc

— (P) Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) June 27, 2025

Kieron Morris has teamed up with former boss Micky Mellon at Oldham as the pair enjoyed League Two playoff promotion with Tranmere back in 2019, and made 162 appearances for Walsall.

Former West Bromwich Albion academy graduate Donervon Daniels has signed, bringing with him his 260 matches of experience across both the EFL and the Scottish Premiership, after his contract expired at Walsall.

Cambridge Look to Bounce Back

Cambridge United have added Zak Bradshaw, Ben Purrington and Dominic Ball to the roster to raise their summer signings tally to five.

Bradshaw spent last season on loan at League Two Tranmere Rovers from Lincoln City, playing 27 times and is just 21.

Zak Bradshaw arrives on a free transfer from Lincoln City and signs a two-year contract with the Club.

— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) June 26, 2025

Purrington joins on a one-year deal after being released by Exeter City and has experience having already played at Rotherham, Charlton and Ross County.

As for Ball, he rejoins the U's having had a brief loan spell in 2015, and arrives on a free contract after failing to agree terms with Leyton Orient.