Aston Villa, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Reading, Wolves and Bristol City players feature.
While Premier League clubs showed considerable restraint in the January transfer window, Championship sides were a lot busier.
Whether this be in a drive for promotion or battle against relegation, a number of impressive deals were concluded which makes picking a best 11 a tough task.
Read more: £15m clause to bargain deal? Leeds United signing Modou Barrow valued highly by Swansea
Here is a 3-4-3 formation of the best XI signed by clubs, with five Aston Villa additions included…
GK: Sam Johnstone (Aston Villa)
Aston Villa’s Sam Johnstone
Aston Villa’s summer signing of Pierluigi Gollini turned out to be an error, and Sam Johnstone has looked a far more calming presence since taking his role.
Johnstone is on loan from Manchester United, with Villa beating competition from Preston and Wolves to bring him on board.
Steve Bruce will hope that United can be persuaded to let the former England youth stopper to join on a permanent basis in the summer.
DF: Mitchell Dijks (Norwich)
Mitchell Dijks
Norwich pulled off a coup by signing Ajax defender Mitchell Dijks in late January on loan until the end of the season.
Dijks can play at left-back or centre-back and is just 23. He is a former Dutch under-21 international and was called up to the senior squad last year, although did not make an appearance.
DF: Reece Oxford (Reading)
England’s Reece Oxford celebrates scoring
Another loan signing, Reading won the race to sign Reece Oxford on transfer deadline day from West Ham.
They beat competition from Nottingham Forest, who had been in pole position, and Rangers.
Oxford has been compared to Rio Ferdinand in style and has experience playing in the Premier League and Europa League, and should benefit from playing under Jaap Stam.
DF: James Bree (Aston Villa)
Barnsley’s James Bree (L) in action with Fleetwood Town’s David Henen
James Bree was making a real name for himself with his performances at Barnsley, and Aston Villa beat off Premier League interest to sign him.
Right-back was a position Villa needed to strengthen and will hope that Bree, 19, can fill the position for years to come.
MF: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa)
Conor Hourihane celebrates scoring for Barnsley
Hourihane was outstanding for Barnsley in the first half of the season and he will be a big loss for the Tykes.
He scored six goals and provided 11 assists, contributing to more than a third of their total goals, and Aston Villa have signed a gem.
MF: Alfonso Pedraza (Leeds United)
Leeds did not sign the striker they wanted, but they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat by bringing in Villarreal winger Alfonso Pedraza.
The speedy winger had scored six goals and provided eight assists on loan in the Spanish second division earlier this season and could flourish alongside Pablo Hernandez.
Pedraza is on loan but Leeds have a set option to buy if they win promotion, a genuine possibility with the Whites sitting in fourth place.
MF: Henri Lansbury (Aston Villa)
Nottingham Forest’s Henri Lansbury celebrates
Another Aston Villa signing, but you can’t argue with Lansbury’s performances over the past year.
He won the Championship player of the month award for November, and gave more than four years to Nottingham Forest, sparking a scramble for his signature back in early January when it became known he was available.
Villa beat competition from Celtic and Norwich City for the midfielder, who could strike a nice balance alongside Hourihane.
MF: Helder Costa (Wolves)
Wolves’ Helder Costa (C) celebrates after scoring with teammates
Wolves paid a staggering fee to Benfica to sign winger Helder Costa on a permanent basis, and there is every indication he is worth it.
Costa inspired Wolves to a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup last week, and has scored nine goals and provided five assists in all competitions.
Hanging onto him is key if Wolves are to climb up the table and put together a promotion challenge next season.
CF: Scott Hogan (Aston Villa)
Brentford’s Scott Hogan celebrates
There’s no denying Villa bought well this transfer window, and they needed it, sitting in 14th in the league at present.
Scott Hogan had looked set for a move to Premier League side West Ham before they pulled out of a deal on transfer deadline day, allowing Villa to steal in and make their move.
Hogan may have a wretched injury history but his return of 14 goals in 25 games this season shows he is worth the gamble.
CF: Jordan Rhodes (Sheffield Wednesday)
Middlesbrough’s Jordan Rhodes scores
It was only confirmed after the transfer window had closed, but Sheffield Wednesday may have concluded the best deal of all by snapping up Jordan Rhodes on loan.
Rhodes was expected to be sold for around £10 million by Middlesbrough and the Owls did superbly to take a ‘try before you by’ with the striker.
He is a proven goalscorer with tremendous records at Huddersfield and Blackburn, and his experience of promotion with Middlesbrough last season could see him become a difference maker for Sheffield Wednesday.
CF: Matty Taylor (Bristol City)
Matty Taylor of Bristol Rovers celebrates
If Rhodes is the best deal, then Matty Taylor was the most controversial as he became the first player in 30 years to switch Bristol clubs.
But put aside the ill-feeling among Rovers fans, and he could be a remarkable piece of business.
Taylor scored 19 goals already in League One this season, and his goals could be just what City need to avoid relegation after a terrible run of form which has seen them plummet down the table.
Subs: Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Winnall (Sheffield Wednesday) Thanos (Fulham), Bogle (Wigan), McManaman (Sheffield Wednesday), Morrison (QPR), Clough (Forest)
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