The EFL Championship remains one of the most fiercely contested leagues in European soccer. A demanding 46-game season sees former Premier League giants mix with underdogs on a shoestring budget. Each year, 24 teams battle it out for a shot at promotion to one of the most-watched leagues on the planet. With millions up for grabs, who has the best shot in the Championship for 2025/26?
As always, the battle for automatic promotion, the drama of the playoffs, and the desperation to avoid the drop will dominate headlines. With big transfers, new coaches, and a few surprises, here are some of our best EFL Championship predictions and betting tips for the upcoming season.
EFL Championship Winners Predictions
Prediction: Ipswich Town FC
The EFL Championship is one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world. However, there are usually some frontrunners who stay at the top no matter what. Often, recently relegated clubs have the motivation needed to achieve automatic promotion, and this season is no different. One of our best soccer predictions is for Ipswich to bounce back and secure another season in the Premier League by winning the EFL Championship this season.
Ipswich have kept hold of manager Kieran McKenna, who masterminded back-to-back promotions in 22/23 and 23/24 on the way to the English top flight. The Tractor Boys have kept hold of most of their first team. Liam Delap and Axel Tuanzebe are the only notable exits. They still boast top Championship and PL experienced players like Jaden Philogene, Ashley Young, Sammie Szmodics, and Leif Davis.
Ipswich have added quality and experience in the transfer window. Ashley Young has signed on a free transfer, and Cedric Kipre arrived on loan from Stade Reims. Much of their hopes this season will hinge on keeping McKenna. However, another full season under the young manager should see them back in the Premier League as champions.
They will not be without competition, though. Southampton finished bottom of the Premier League last year in one of the worst campaigns for any top-tier English side in history, finishing with 12 points and two wins all season. However, they have kept a lot of their experienced players, some young flair, and recruited one of the best young managers in Europe, Will Still. The South Coast side flexed its financial muscle in the transfer window. They have signed highly rated youngsters Damion Downs and Joshua Quarshiene from Germany. We expect to see them and Ipswich battling it out for top spot.
Speaking of financial muscle, Birmingham City return to the Championship after storming League One last year. The Blues’ American owners have revamped the Midlands side. They have pulled in huge money signings like Jay Stansfield. He is the most expensive player in League One history after arriving for £15m from Fulham last summer. The Blues have made some huge signings this summer, too. Tommy Doyle joined on loan from Wolves after making 50 Premier League appearances in the last two seasons. Former Celtic forward Kyōgo Furuhashi signed for a reported €9M, and Demarai Gray arrived on a free transfer. There is no doubt that Blues fans will expect at least a play-off push, and they may put pressure on the automatic promotion places.
EFL Championship Winners Betting Tips
Best Bet: Ipswich Town to win the EFL Championship (4/1)
There are some strong squads at the top end of the Championship, but we can’t look past Ipswich as champions. McKenna is one of the best young coaches in the country. He may have impressed in Ligue 1, but he has yet to prove himself in England. The Tractor Boys have kept hold of top Championship-level players, with many of their young players fancied as future Premier League-level talent.
McKenna’s stay as head coach will be vital to their success, and it would not be a surprise to see a Premier League club sniffing around come Christmas time. However, the level of talent in their squad means we think a wager on Ipswich to win the league is strong for anyone betting on soccer.
EFL Championship Promotion Predictions
A big part of what makes the Championship so exciting, and the English Football League system as a whole, is the playoffs. Four teams compete for the final spot in the promised land after battling in the richest mini-tournament in European football. The top six always sees a lot of movement, especially in the final weeks, but who will be in the race this year?
Birmingham is the first team to keep an eye on. We have already spoken about the Blues’ spending this summer. Rightly or wrongly, their squad two seasons ago pales in comparison to this one. The club’s fans, players, and staff would feel disappointed if they don’t reach the playoffs.
Sheffield United and Coventry will be looking to bounce back after suffering heartbreak in the playoffs last season. The Blades finished on 90 points but only managed third spot before losing the playoff final to Sunderland. Coventry surged into the playoffs during the second half of the season under Frank Lampard, but they exited in the semi-finals.
Coventry have kept hold of all their key players and brought in quality. Sheffield, meanwhile, lost key player Vinícius Souza. They should also brace themselves for the exit of EFL Championship Player of the Season Gus Hamer. We often see the dreaded ‘playoff hangover. New manager Ruben Selles may face a tough task to stop that from happening.
Norwich City lost star man Borja Sainz earlier in the window, but have responded with intent, signing nine first-team players. The Canaries paid a fee for six, indicating a conscious push to break into the playoffs after missing out last season. They also brought in new head coach Liam Manning this summer. The young coach guided Bristol City to the playoffs last season.
Leicester is the final team on our radar. The Foxes had a whirlwind couple of years. They were promoted to the Premier League, relegated and now face a points deduction due to breaches of financial rules. That has limited their transfer activity to just one signing, with Asmir Begovic arriving on a free. However, despite their troubles, the former Premier League champions have held onto most of their key players so far. If they carry on doing so, it would be no surprise to see them defy a points deduction and finish inside the top six.
EFL Championship Promotion Betting Tips
Best Bet: Norwich City to be promoted (11/2)
There is clear intent from Norwich City this season, and one of our best 2025/26 Championship predictions is for the Canaries to be promoted. They have completed nine signings at the time of writing, an excellent response to losing their key player. The fact that they have completed a bulk of their business in the early half of the window further encourages their promotion hopes. The Norfolk side will be eager to hit the ground running from Gameweek one.
Liam Manning helped Bristol City into a surprise playoff appearance last season. While he fell short, many will expect the new head coach at Carrow Road not only to make it back-to-back top six finishes, but also to go one further and take the Canaries up. A bet on Norwich City to be promoted is worth 11/2 for anyone betting on the EFL Championship.
EFL Championship Relegation Predictions
The Championship is one of the hardest divisions to be promoted from. It is also one of the most challenging to stay in. The competitiveness at both ends of the table has only increased in recent years, and we have seen sides relegated with 50 points as recently as 2024. Who will be involved in a battle to beat the drop this season?
Sheffield Wednesday are the favourites for relegation at our bookmaker this season. Long-suffering Owls fans have seen their club torn apart by controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri. The Thai businessman’s seeming refusal to sell has led Wednesday down a path of missed HMRC payments, failure to pay players and staff, and rising debts. We are now hearing news that players may refuse to play until they are fairly compensated. That has seen a whole host of exits from first-team players and no new signings. Last year’s campaign wasn’t gleaming either, with the Owls struggling with the length of soccer matches, conceding countless late goals. The historic club look doomed for relegation in 2025/26.
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Oxford United had a great first season back in the Championship after 25 years, finishing 17th at the end of last year’s campaign. Experienced coach Gary Rowett steered them to safety after the club sacked promotion-winning manager Des Buckingham early in the season. However, there is not a great deal of enthusiasm so far, as the club has only signed four players, with two arriving on loan. That is not the kind of business that screams progress, and Oxford could be in for another battle this year.
Charlton Athletic were promoted through the playoffs last season and are the only club to come up that doesn’t boast mega-money. However, that hasn’t stopped them from having a strong window so far, signing nine players and paying fees for six. The Addicks’ owners have made their goal of staying in the Championship clear, but whether their squad currently has the quality to achieve that remains uncertain. There is no doubt that Charlton will be expecting a relegation battle, but we’ll know far more about this team when we see them play.
Hull City are another on the growing list of Championship clubs in financial trouble. While not quite as dire as the state of Wednesday, the Tigers have eight-figure payments owed. That has seen a three-window transfer embargo imposed on them, with all but two of their summer signings on free transfers. They were lucky to escape relegation last season, finishing 21st only on goal difference. Hull may not be so fortunate this year.
EFL Championship Relegation Betting Tips
Best Bet: Hull City to be relegated
Before a ball has been kicked, financial turmoil looks to be the story of the relegation battle. Sheffield Wednesday look doomed for the drop, but Hull City may not be too far behind them. The Tigers escaped by the skin of their teeth last season. We don’t think they will be so lucky this time around. Bet on Hull to be relegated, worth 3/1 with our online sportsbook.
Oxford United also look in for a tough time this season. The U’s have not had a successful transfer window so far. They’ve failed to add clear quality to a team that already lacked depth compared to the rest of the league. Rowett perhaps overachieved with them last season. He may not be able to avoid sitting right at the bottom of the table this time round. A bet on Oxford to be relegated is worth 5/2.
