The Championship is widely regarded as the most competitive league in football betting. With each team playing 46 matches, it is a gruelling division that puts even the most gifted players to the test.
Most Expensive Championship Signings
- Sindre Walli Egeli - £17.5 million
- Mike Tresor - £16 million
- Ruben Neves – £15.8 million
- Britt Assombalonga - £15 million
- Joao Carvalho - £13.1 million
- Helder Costa - £13.1 million
- Ross McCormack - £12.5 million
- Joel Piroe - £12.3 million
- Harry Wilson - £12.24 million
- Finn Azaz - £12.2 million
It’s common knowledge that the average Championship wage is significantly lower than the Premier League but transfer fees in England’s second tier have certainly increased in recent years.
Finn Azaz
After scoring 12 goals for Middlesbrough in 2024-25, Finn Azaz became one of the most expensive players in Championship history. Financially bolstered by their parachute players, Southampton splashed the cash in an effort to get straight back to the Premier League.
It seemed like a big fee for a player with Azaz’s track record. Saints (a popular football nickname) have been erratic in the transfer market over the last few years.
Harry Wilson
Initially on loan from Liverpool, Harry Wilson completed a permanent move to Fulham in 2021-22. The fee was believed to be in the £14 million range.
Wilson was named to the Championship Team of the Year in 2021-22 as the west London club racked up 90 points and earned automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Wilson finished the season with 11 goals, which was the joint-second most of any Fulham player that term. His 19 assists in 2021-22 were six more than any other Championship player.
Joël Piroe
After suffering relegation, Leeds splashed a reported figure of £14 million on Joël Piroe from Swansea City.
Piroe had scored 44 goals over two seasons with the Welsh club and was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2021-22.
As Leeds pursued a return to the Premier League, Piroe was a regular in the first team. Only Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville scored more goals for the Yorkshire club in 2023-24. He made his first ever Premier League appearance for Leeds in 2025-26.
Ross McCormack
Ross McCormack was a fantastic striker during his stints at Leeds United and Fulham – and his goal scoring exploits in west London were enough to convince Aston Villa to fork out over £12 million to sign the Scotland forward in 2016.
His time at Villa Park was a major disappointment, with McCormack scoring just three goals in 24 appearances. He was released by the club in 2019 having spent most of his Villa career out on loan.
Helder Costa
Leeds United made Wolves an offer they couldn’t refuse in the summer of 2019. The Portuguese moved to Elland Road on loan for a year with a four-year contract to be signed in July 2020.
While Rui Patricio, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho flourished at Wolves, Costa found himself out of favour but he has thrived since joining Leeds and featured regularly in the Premier League.
Joao Carvalho
Nottingham Forest moved to sign Joao Carvalho from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2018 – a move that signalled Forest’s intent to challenge for Championship glory.
The Portugal under-21 midfielder cost Forest a hefty fee and it is fair to say that he didn’t live up to his transfer fee. Forest sold Carvalho to Olympiacos in January 2022.
Britt Assombalonga
Middlesbrough set their sights on Britt Assombalonga back in 2017, forking out an estimated £15 million to sign the striker from Nottingham Forest. Having scored 30 goals in 65 matches for Forest, Boro fans were expecting big things from their new striker.
Assombalonga notched 15 goals in his first season at the club and helped Boro reach the playoff semi-finals. After finding the net just five times in 2020-21, Assombalonga left the club, and has had two separate stints in Turkey.
Ruben Neves
Technically gifted and a class above his peers, Ruben Neves is arguably the greatest player to grace the Championship -- £15 million was a bargain. And that is not an exaggeration in any way, shape or form.
Neves was central to Wolves’ promotion campaign and held his own in the Premier League. Despite regularly being linked with a move to a Champions League club, Neves opted to chase the money and signed with Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal in 2023.
Mike Tresor
A full Belgium international, Mike Tresor became the most expensive Championship player ever in May 2024.
Burnley signed Tresor from Genk on an initial loan for the 2023-24 season, with the deal becoming permanent at the end of the season for around £16 million.
Tresor led the Belgium Pro League in assists in 2022-23. Injuries have meant Tresor has been a non-factor for the Lancashire club.
Sindre Walle Egeli
Sindre Walle Egeli broke Tresor’s transfer record when he signed for Ipswich in 2025. The Norwegian had only scored 11 Superliga goals when he made the move to East Anglia, but he still recouped the largest transfer fee in Nordsjaelland’s history.
It’s an investment in his future. Ipswich will hope Walle Egeli can help get them back into the Premier League and hopefully join the list of Championship top scorers by season.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*
