Sick of pre-season’s muted celebrations and 22 half time substitutions already? Well, fear not! The Football League 2016/17 season kicks off this weekend.
The Championship, part of the newly-branded ‘EFL’, is one of the most competitive leagues in the world; countless times have promotion favourites been relegated and vice versa. So ahead of the big kick off let’s look at 12 of the biggest Championship summer transfers of the window so far…
2016/17 Championship summer transfers: 12 of the best
Ross McCormack (Fulham to Aston Villa)
After seeing the online uproar his £10m+ move between Championship clubs proved in 2014, Ross McCormack decided to do it all over again, joining Aston Villa from Fulham the week of the new season.
You can’t literally buy goals but McCormack is probably the closest thing you can get to buying Championship goals. Since moving to English football in 2008 McCormack has scored 116 goals in 306 Championship appearances.
This will excite Villa fans – as will the variety of his goals and his knack for scoring free kicks, and if you fancy him for Championship top scorer you can take advantage of Coral new customer offers here.
Fulham signed McCormack in the hope his goals would ensure an immediate return to the Premier League. In truth, his goals ensured their Championship survival.
Breaking news: We are delighted to confirm the signing of Ross McCormack in a £12m deal. #AVFC #WelcomeRoss pic.twitter.com/xE8YHxBMFq
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) August 4, 2016
SEE ALSO: Out of the darkness… 9 Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa players who could benefit from relegation
Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth to Newcastle United)
Few will be surprised to see Matt Ritchie leave Bournemouth this summer, but even fewer would have expected him to drop down a division.
Four Premier League goals last season was perhaps a slightly underwhelming return, but Newcastle will be hoping the 26-year-old can replicate his 2014/15 Championship form, where he scored 15 goals and and registered 17 assists.
The Scottish international has the tools and the experience to be the standout performer in the entire division. Rafa Benitez and the entire Toon Army should be excited about this signing – even at £12 million.
Is Matt Ritchie the key for Rafa Benitez’s promotion push?
Kemar Roofe (Oxford United to Leeds United)
It’s not often a player moves from England’s fourth tier for £3 million, but after playing a huge part in Oxford’s promotion that’s exactly what Kemar Roofe has done.
The versatile striker, who can also play out wide, netted 25 goals in all competitions last season including a brace in a 3-2 win against new manager Garry Monk’s former club Swansea City in the FA Cup. While he looked too good for League Two, the Championship is a big step up, though a player as talented as Roofe could potentially thrive.
Leeds are desperate for stability and, if Roofe hits the ground running, he and Monk have a better chance of achieving it.
SEE ALSO: Trigger Happy Cellino – Leeds United managers under Massimo Cellino and what happened next
Glenn Murray (Bournemouth to Brighton and Hove Albion)
Since leaving Brighton in 2011 it’s been a period of peaks and troughs for Glenn Murray. Despite a good goalscoring run in 2014/15 (eight Championship goals for Reading and seven Premier League goals for Crystal Palace) Murray wasn’t able to establish himself in Bournemouth’s team in 2015/16 and returns to Brighton on loan.
A player capable of scoring all manner of goals, Murray turns 33 in September. This may well represent his last chance to become a Premier League regular next season, be it with Brighton or Bournemouth.
Almen Abdi (Watford to Sheffield Wednesday)
After falling at the final hurdle, losing last season’s play-off final, Sheffield Wednesday have made a number of extremely sensible signings and one who stands out is Almen Abdi.
The Swiss was a big part of Watford’s near miss in 2012/13 and played a huge part in the 2014/15 promotion. He is an experienced and versatile player who can play across the midfield or out wide; in 84 Championship appearances he’s scored 23 goals and made 14 assists.
Abdi’s range of passing will whet the appetite of Wednesday’s array of strikers including Fernando Forestieri, Adthe Nuhiu, Gary Hooper, Lucas Joao and Steven Fletcher. Ex-Watford teammates Daniel Pudil and Forestieri should make the transition easier.
BREAKING: Owls confirm double deal for @Pupik33 and @AlmenAbdi…details coming up at https://t.co/Ofdb166N9k #swfc pic.twitter.com/IlqawYm7bV
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) July 28, 2016
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall to Brentford)
The Saint Kitts and Nevis international was voted in the PFA League One Team of the Year and came second in the individual prize, so the talent is there for all to see.
Sawyers’ former boss Dean Smith wasted little time in bringing him to Brentford, signing him as soon as the Bosman ruling would allow it. If the 24-year-old can replicate the form that saw him star in Walsall’s unlikely promotion fight then the Bees may finally have someone to ease the burden on star man Alan Judge.
Tom Bradshaw (Walsall to Barnsley)
Like Sawyers, Tom Bradshaw’s starring role in Walsall’s 2015/16 season made him irresistible to Championship clubs. Bradshaw netted 40 goals in two seasons for the Saddlers and showed his ability to net all manner of goals.
Barnsley will be hoping Bradshaw’s eye for goal will see them survive comfortably and move upwards. The player himself will be hoping to make himself a permanent fixture in the Welsh National Team by scoring regularly at a higher level, having been involved in Chris Coleman’s preliminary squad for Euro 2016.
Lee Tomlin (Bournemouth to Bristol City)
Before his disastrous move to Bournemouth Lee Tomlin had enjoyed an impressive 18 months at Middlesbrough scoring 14 times in 64 appearances.
He may have been seen as a player out of the Robins’ reach, but his search for first team football saw him arrive at Ashton Gate on loan in January. It seemed like the perfect match; Tomlin scored six times in 18 appearances helping Bristol City finish comfortably clear of relegation.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson will hope that, after a full pre-season and permanent move, Tomlin can continue his form and not only take The Robins away from the relegation zone but push them towards the playoffs. He’s certainly capable.
Tommy Elphick (Bournemouth to Aston Villa)
On paper two England internationals Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott, backed up by Irish international Ciaran Clark looked solid, but it was the polar opposite in 2015/16. Now Tommy Elphick has been identified as the man to stabilise the Villans’ defence under Roberto Di Matteo.
Elphick captained Bournemouth to promotion in 2014/15 starting all 46 league games, but injury restricted him to only 12 league appearances last season. 2016/17 represents a new start and the chance to be part of a new Aston Villa – one which needs to reconnect with its fans.
On the pitch he brings a calm head and a wealth of Championship experience, he’ll hope to be part of another promotion campaign after joining for £3.6m.
Sergi Canos (Liverpool to Norwich City)
Former Barcelona trainee Sergi Canos only made his Liverpool debut in May, but a contract dispute saw Championship sides battle for his signature, won by Norwich City.
The reason so many sides were chasing him is most likely due to his 7 goals in 38 appearances on loan at Brentford least season (these were also the 19-year-old’s first 38 senior appearances as a professional).
Liverpool would not allow the £2.5 million deal to be completed until they had inserted a buy-back and sell-on clause, hinting at how highly they rate the young Spaniard. Alex Neil will be hoping Canos retains his goal of the season crown en route to promotion.
Jordan Cousins (Charlton Athletic to QPR)
There’s not an awful to cheer about at Charlton right now, but they’re still producing good young players. Jordan Cousins is the latest to fly the nest and the midfielder has landed at Loftus Road for £1.3 million.
Despite only making his competitive debut three years ago Cousins has made over 125 senior appearances, and could well be the man Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink shapes his midfield around. QPR fans were certainly impressed by the former Addick after an energetic performance in a pre-season win against newly-promoted Middlesbrough.
Alex Pritchard (Tottenham Hotspur to Norwich City)
Not to be outdone by the Premier League, The Championship had its own mini saga this week. Within a day of Brighton agreeing an £8m fee with Tottenham, Alex Pritchard was unveiled at Carrow Road, with Brighton claiming they were undone by traffic on the M25.
PB: There were delays on the M25, and it was during that delay another club jumped on the deal. #FansForum #BHAFC
— BHAFC (@OfficialBHAFC) August 4, 2016
For Norwich’s latest signing 2015/16 was a forgettable season, but in 2013/14 his midfield performances almost guided Swindon Town to the League One play offs, and, in 2014/15 on loan at Brentford, Pritchard was unplayable.
Now 23, the former England under-21 international’s goal-threat, set piece delivery and controlling presence will see Norwich’s already short promotion odds get even shorter.
SEE ALSO: Generation Next – Spotlight on Alex Pritchard, Tottenham’s one-time wonder boy
There’s still a month left to go in the transfer market, but which of these 12 Championship summer transfers will have the biggest impact on their club? Are there any big deals we’ve missed out? Let us know on Twitter @JustFootball, Facebook or in the comment section below.
(lead image credit: Norwich City official via Twitter.)
The post Ross McCormack, Alex Pritchard and 12 of the most notable Championship summer transfers so far appeared first on Just Football.