From Burnley’s free-kick master to Norwich City’s £9 million Brazilian, there are plenty of exciting new faces making the Championship their home this season.
Here’s our Top Ten second-tier newcomers to feast your beady eyes upon.
10) Matthew Sorinola – Swansea City, loan
After reuniting joining Swansea City on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise, the wing-back admitted that the chance to re-unite with former MK Dons boss Russel Martin in South Wales was a major factor in his decision.
Clearly, the admiration between player and coach is mutual. Former Fulham youngster Sorinola burst onto the scene under Martin in 2020/21 with a flurry of assists, and should slot in neatly on the left-hand side of Swansea’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
9) Vakoun Issouf Bayo – Watford, £5 million
Alongside fellow newcomer Rey Manaj, Bayo arrives hoping to fire Watford back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. And while the Ivorian’s forgettable spell at Celtic remains fresh in the memory, a tally of 11 goals in 19 league games over in Belgium last term suggest that better things may be on the way.
Bayo will need hit the ground running if both Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr leave Vicarage Road.
8) Jack Rudoni – Huddersfield Town, £800,000
As you might expect from a boyhood Chelsea supporter who grew up idolising Frank Lampard, Rudoni has a knack for making perfectly-timed runs into the penalty area. A true goalscoring midfielder, the former Sunderland target could add a new dimension to a Terriers side looking to bounce back from May’s play-off final defeat to Nottingham Forest.
7) Aji Alese – Sunderland, £500,000
Sheffield United’s £3 million man Anel Ahmedhodzic might have taken this spot had he not made one single Championship appearance during his early days at Nottingham Forest. So in steps Aji Alese instead.
Despite catching the eye in pre-season for West Ham United, the England U20 international joins Sunderland for just £500,000. A snip in the making. Reliable, technically-gifted and a natural leader, the left-footed Alese more than warrants his chance in senior football.
6) Okay Yokuslu – West Bromwich Albion, free transfer
Last year, Yokuslu out-shone and out-manoeuvred Frenkie de Jong as Turkey ripped the Dutch apart in a World Cup qualifier. If he can find that form again at West Brom, the Turkey international could be untouchable as far as defensive midfielders go in England’s second tier.
Much to Steve Bruce’s surprise, Yokuslu returns after an impressive loan spell during the ill-fated Sam Allardyce era.
5) Samuel Bastien – Burnley, £700,000
Like one-time Man United and Chelsea target Ahmedhodzic, Bastien could have joined a Premier League club for an eight-figure sum in a previous transfer window. West Ham failed with an £11 million bid for the one-time Everton target as recently as 2020.
That he joins Burnley for around £700,000 is a by-product not just of Bastien’s expiring contract but also his rather underwhelming form over the last two years.
The tireless, box-to-box midfielder certainly has a point to prove at Turf Moor. But there’s a serious talent in there somewhere.
4) Zack Steffen – Middlesbrough, loan
Dubbed an ‘exceptional’ goalkeeper by none other than Pep Guardiola, Steffen deserves better than to be remembered at Manchester City for that mistake in the FA Cup semi-final. Such blunders have been few and far between during the USA international’s career, after all.
Steffen’s combination of rapid-fire reflexes and technical ability will suit Chris Wilder’s forward-thinking tactics down to the ground at Middlesbrough.
3) Zian Flemming – Millwall, £1.6 million
Perhaps life without Jed Wallace won’t be quite so bad after all. Flemming has big boots to fill at the Den. But a tally of 24 goals and 11 assists during two Eredivisie seasons at a far-from-excellent Fortuna Sittard side bodes well for the one-time Ajax starlet in his new South East London home.
Flemming is a supreme technician and a reliable source of goals from attacking midfield.
2) Gabriel Sara – Norwich City, £9 million
The most expensive signing made by any Championship team so far this summer, £9 million Gabriel Sara will be under serious pressure to live up to his sizeable price-tag at Carrow Road.
Stylish and left-footed, the former Sao Paulo playmaker reached double figures for goals in the 2021 season. A niggling ankle injury remains a concern, however, and keeps him off top spot in our chosen 10.
1) Scott Twine – Burnley, £5 million
Can he rise to the challenge again? After taking League Two by storm in 2019/20, Twine was named League One’s Player of the Year following 20 largely spectacular goals during his one and only season at MK Dons.
A free-kick specialist, Twine’s £5 million price-tag feels like a risk. Especially when you consider he’s never kicked a ball at Championship level before. But, just three years after plying his trade at non-league Chippenham Town, Twine is ready to silence the doubters once more and prove that he belongs at an even higher level.
“We are delighted to have brought Scott to the club,” Clarets boss Vincent Kompany says. “He’s an exciting young player that will help us in the short-term and long-term.
“He’s a player we have looked at for a little while now. We know he can score goals and affect games. We’re glad to welcome him to the squad.”
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