The 2023/24 Championship season begins this weekend with the additions of Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton from the Premier League and Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday from League One.
We’ve put together our best XI for the Championship season.
Named in the official Championship Team of the Season from 2022/23, Ben Wilson was desperately unlucky not to make it to the Premier League.
He missed only three Championship games and played every second of the playoffs, but sadly failed to save any of the penalties in the final against Luton Town. Nevertheless, he was arguably Coventry’s most important player.
Although James Justin has never played in the Championship and had rotten luck with injuries in the past few seasons with Leicester City, when fully fit, he’s one of England’s best right-backs.
A modern full-back with an eye for goal too, Justin is as good going forward as he is in defence, and should he steer clear of injuries, he will no doubt be one to watch.
A player perhaps too good for the Championship in many regards, as Conor Coady was regularly called up to the England squad.
Nevertheless, he joined Leicester this summer from Wolves and his leadership qualities and overall defensive ability makes him a standout player in the second tier.
It’s surprising to still see Liam Cooper at Leeds United, as he was one of Leeds’ most important players during their Premier League years.
The defender is the club captain, and he has already won the Championship with them and been named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year on two occasions.
Although primarily a right-back, we couldn’t not include Max Aarons in this squad, especially as he spent time last season at left-back for Norwich City.
Premier League clubs continue to seek his signature, and rightfully so.
Jack Harrison was arguably Leeds' best player during their three-year Premier League stay by scoring 21 goals and missing only seven games.
With the departures of James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes, Leicester’s squad has been significantly weakened. However, one player they’ll be pleased to keep is defensive midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi.
Like Ndidi, Adams looked likely to leave for a first division club, given his exceptional talents in attack and defence from central midfield. Nevertheless, he remains at Leeds and could be shoe-in for a Team of the Season spot if his positive form continues.
Oddly enough, Nathan Tella was named in the Championship Team of the Season with the promoted champions Burnley on loan from Southampton, but he remains in the Championship because his parent club was relegated.
After seven loan spells in his 10-year professional career, Chuba Akpom has finally found his feet. The striker netted a sensational 28 goals in 40 Championship games last season and was named the Player of the Season after winning the Golden Boot.
Viktor Gyökeres was the second-highest scorer last season with 21 goals, and he was Coventry's star man en route to a shock run to the playoff final.