Grading the 10 Most Expensive Championship Signings From Last Summer
Championship spending used to feel cautious. Last summer changed that tone completely as clubs paid Premier League–level prices with the understanding that promotion pressure doesn’t wait for development curves. Looking back now, the fees tell very different stories depending on timing, role, and how much patience a club can realistically afford.
Nathan Broadhead — €8.7 Million
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This move made plenty of noise due to contract timing and a league jump. Once the season started, Nathan Broadhead slid into a defined role, pressing from the front, rotating positions, and taking chances when they appeared. His involvement stabilized the lineup faster than expected.
Leo Scienza — €9 Million
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Southampton didn’t plan for Leo Scienza to become a pressure valve, but that’s how he’s been used. When opponents press high and central passing lanes disappear, he’s pushed wider and asked to advance the ball himself. The dribbles matter because they buy time. Defenders step out, shape stretches, and the attack can reset without forcing risky passes.
Kyogo Furuhashi — €9 Million
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Early on, Birmingham tried to use Kyogo Furuhashi the same way he’d been used elsewhere, asking him to dart into space behind defenses. That space rarely exists in the Championship. Opponents sit deeper, play more directly, and turn matches into physical contests. Kyogo often ends up isolated and making runs that never get rewarded with service.
Tom Fellows — €9.25 Million
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Southampton expected a wide outlet who could stretch matches the way Fellows did at West Brom. Early appearances showed flashes of direct running, but the final ball hasn’t followed consistently. He has spent stretches recycling possession instead of attacking space, which explains why his numbers trail the confidence he once played with.
Mark McGuinness — €11.5 Million
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Sheffield United brought Mark McGuinness in to steady a back line that was already leaking chances. Instead, he’s been rotated through systems that haven’t settled, often facing waves of pressure rather than managing a defensive shape. Mark McGuinness hasn’t collapsed individually, but the environment hasn’t helped him establish authority.
Azor Matusiwa — €11.5 Million
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Ipswich relies on Azor Matusiwa in matches where control matters early. He’s often tasked with breaking up first balls into midfield and quickly moving play wide before pressure builds. Those interventions don’t always stand out in highlights, but they shape how long Ipswich can stay on the front foot during difficult stretches.
Caspar Jander — €12 Million
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Southampton brought Caspar Jander in to stabilize matches that had started to drift, especially against sides pressing high. He’s been used as a connector who recycles possession and keeps transitions from getting frantic. The role explains why his influence shows up more in game flow than moments.
Kasey McAteer — €13.9 Million
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When Ipswich committed nearly €14m, the expectation was an attacker ready to shape games right away. Instead, Kasey McAteer has rotated in and out of the lineup without landing a league goal involvement. The long contract softens panic, but the fee framed this as a present-tense move.
Finn Azaz — €13.9 Million
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Southampton felt the return almost immediately after the move, especially during a November stretch when Finn Azaz was central to chance creation and chipped in with goals. That run bought goodwill around the fee. As the season settled, his influence spread thinner across matches and left the signing judged more on week-to-week consistency.
Sindre Egeli — €20 Million
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Ipswich made this deal knowing the number would lead every headline, because no teenager had ever cost a Championship club this much. Sindre Egeli’s limited minutes and two-goal contributions underline how early the process still is. The talent shows in flashes, but the record fee ensures every appearance is judged as proof.