Each summer Premier League clubs search far and wide for new talent, but sometimes the best signings appear right on their very doorstep.
The Championship continues to go from strength to strength and Premier League clubs have regularly pillaged the second tier for its finest talent. With the new campaign now well underway, we’ve looked at five of the best players signed from Championship clubs this summer.
Those recently relegated have not been included, with the likes of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and James Ward-Prowse excluded from this list.
Five of the best Premier League signings from Championship clubs this summer:
Alex Scott (Bristol City to Bournemouth)
Bournemouth won a competitive race to sign Alex Scott from Bristol City earlier this summer, with the midfielder becoming the third player – after Lloyd Kelly and Antoine Semenyo – to swap Ashton Gate for the south coast in recent transfer windows.
Scott emerged as one of the most coveted talents outside the Premier League at Bristol City, where the teenager was named as the Championship young player of the year last season. Technically gifted and versatile, the 19-year-old returns to Bournemouth having spent time with the club as a youngster and adds to a collection of emerging talent assembled under new manager Andoni Iraola.
A knee injury is set to sideline the starlet until next month, but Bournemouth will be relishing his return to fitness with Scott tipped as a future England international.
We’ll miss you, @AlexScott_7 ????
The #SkyBetChampionship 2022/23 Young Player of the Season ????#EFL | #RaisedInTheEFL https://t.co/gATKziL2qV pic.twitter.com/yOc4drxA6A
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) August 10, 2023
“We are delighted to welcome Alex to the club, who is one of the most exciting young players in Europe,” Cherries’ chief executive Neill Blake told the club’s official website.
“He’s a player that has vast experience at such a young age with strong technical ability and a really good footballing brain. Alex will be an excellent fit in our system.”
Max Aarons (Norwich to Bournemouth)
Scott is not the only talent Bournemouth have plucked from the second tier this summer, with the Cherries completing a £7m deal for Norwich full-back Max Aarons.
Aarons was backed for a big future after his early emergence at Norwich and was named as the EFL Young Player of the Year in 2018/19, while the defender was included in the Championship Team of the Year twice, as the Canaries won promotion that season and again in 2020/21.
Aarons’ form had seen him linked with the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ and Bayern Munich, but his stock fell following Norwich’s relegation from the top tier and disappointing Championship campaign last term.
He turned down a move to Leeds to sign for Bournemouth and the arrival of the 23-year-old should be considered a coup, with Aarons having already featured 70 times in the Premier League. Comfortable in either full-back role, he arrives having played his part in England u-21’s successful summer as the Young Lions won the 2023 Under-21 European Championship.
Joao Pedro (Watford to Brighton)
Brighton’s eye for talent has been unmatched across the Premier League in recent transfer windows, with the Seagulls consistently identifying prospects with room to develop at the Amex Stadium.
That the Seagulls were prepared to break their transfer record to sign Joao Pedro from Watford is an indication of the esteem in which he is held, with the forward joining Roberto De Zerbi’s exciting side for the new season.
We’re going to have some fun this season, @DeJesusOfiicial! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/8JWIzGTLpM
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 13, 2023
Pedro marked his Premier League debut for the club with a goal – and glaring missed chance – as Brighton beat Luton in comfortable fashion and will hope to establish himself in the top division after a difficult spell at this level with Watford.
The 21-year-old will compete with the experienced Danny Welbeck and emerging Irishman Evan Ferguson for a regular role, though minutes for all three should arrive with Brighton competing in Europe for the first time this season.
Gustavo Hamer (Coventry to Sheffield United)
Sheffield United have returned to the Premier League this season, but all has not gone to plan in the transfer window with the notable departures of key figures Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge.
The Blades have dipped back into the second tier to replace the latter, agreeing a deal to sign Gustavo Hamer from Coventry City for a fee in the region of £18m.
Hamer has evolved from rash talent to one of the most effective midfielders in the Championship, earning Coventry’s Player of the Season award in consecutive campaigns. Last season the Brazil-born Dutchman scored 11 goals and laid on 10 assists as Coventry reached the play-off final and made an immediate impact on his debut for Sheffield United, scoring a stunning goal in the club’s defeat at Nottingham Forest.
“What a way to announce yourself to your new travelling support!”
Gus Hamer’s sensational debut goal. ???? pic.twitter.com/ChRhn0YxVg
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) August 19, 2023
Paul Heckingbottom will hope Hamer can have a massive contribution this season as the Blades look to survive the drop.
Ashley Phillips (Blackburn to Tottenham)
Tottenham Hotspur have backed new manager Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market with six new arrivals in north London, in addition to permanent deals for loanees Dejan Kulusevki and Pedro Porro.
Arguably the least heralded of the new-boys is Ashley Phillips, signed from Blackburn Rovers for a fee of just £2m. The 18-year-old made eight appearances for Rovers in the Championship last season and has represented England up to u-19 level.
Spurs activated a release clause in the teenager’s contract to sign the centre-back and it could be a fee that proves to be a bargain if Phillips fulfils his potential in the capital.
He was named as the EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season for 2022–23 and was viewed as one of the most promising defensive talents outside the Premier League.
Read – Why Premier League clubs are spending insane transfer fees on midfielders
Read Also – Six of the best Premier League free transfers this summer