Top 10 best young EFL Championship players right now | OneFootball

The Championship is a hot-bed for young talent, and often the future stars of the Premier League and the English national team make some of their first steps into senior football in the division.

It will be interesting to see which players can come up with decisive contributions as we edge towards the business end of the season, and whether clubs’ up and coming talents can turn it on when it really matters.

Here, we have taken a look at the top ten best U23 Championship players right now, in order of the positions that they play…

10. Anel Ahmedhodzic

Ahmedhodzic has been nothing short of a revelation since joining Sheffield United from Malmo in the summer, and the towering Bosnian has played a key role in the Blades’ promotion push.

The 23-year-old thrives in Paul Heckingbottom’s back three system and has chipped in with some crucial goals and assists, four goals and two assists to be exact, to help the team.

Ahmedhodzic was tied down to a four-year deal in the summer and will likely be a key part of the Blades’ bid to stay up in the Premier League next season.

9. Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Team-mate Jordan Beyer makes a compelling case, but Manchester City loanee Harwood-Bellis makes the cut for his performances under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.

The ball playing centre back had shown a lot of promise in previous loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, but has become a dominant player for the Clarets this season.

The Stockport-born defender, who only turned 21 at the end of January, has a huge future in the game, and it would be no surprise to see Burnley bring him back to the club next season to tackle the top-flight.

8. Jayden Bogle

Another player currently in the top two of the division is Jayden Bogle, the 22-year-old has not played as many minutes as the rest of the players in the list, but has made them count since returning from injury at Sheffield United.

George Baldock is an excellent option at right wing back for the Blades, and would walk into the majority of second tier sides, but Bogle has displaced him with relative ease, such is his quality.

The right wing back has scored twice in seven Championship outings this term, and once again could be a crucial player if the Blades are to stabilise in the top-flight next term.

7. Ryan Giles

Currently in his fifth loan spell in the Championship, Giles is showing that he is ready for the step up.

The 23-year-old proved his worth in previous loans with Coventry City, Rotherham United, Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers, before kicking on again this season at Middlesbrough.

Giles has started all but two of Boro’s second tier matches this season, chipping in with seven assists, mainly from left back, and will be aiming to impress Julen Lopetegui in pre-season at Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.

6. Dan Neil

Sunderland midfielder Neil has kicked on once again this season, despite some maybe having concerns about his physical ability to step up to the second tier.

The 21-year-old is incredibly easy-on-the-eye in possession and has developed very quickly without the ball to become a more accomplished central midfielder.

A huge asset for the Black Cats, on a deal until the summer of 2025, it is a matter of when not if he goes on to play Premier League football.

5. Alex Scott

The youngest player in the list is Bristol City‘s Alex Scott.

The 19-year-old slotted into a variety of positions for the Robins last term, but seems to have settled nicely into a box-to-box midfield role under Nigel Pearson.

Comfortable receiving the ball in tight areas with an excellent range of passing, it is rare we see a player capable of dictating games at second tier level at such a young age, the sky is the limit.

Edging out team-mate Nathan Tella to make the top ten, Anass Zaroury has been a joy to watch this season.

Ten goals and three assists, in all competitions, does not tell the whole story, the Moroccan has elevated the Clarets’ level further since arriving from Charleroi at the back end of the summer window.

The 22-year-old’s threat from the left flank has also significantly increased the potency of Ian Maatsen behind him, another candidate for this list, one of the most talented full back and winger combinations the Championship has ever seen, and Zaroury is set to turn heads in the Premier League next season, with that iconic North African dribbling style, comparable to the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Hakim Ziyech, but on the opposite wing.

After taking some time to settle, Amad Diallo has gone on to prove why it took such a hefty fee for Manchester United to sign him from Atalanta.

The 20-year-old’s importance to Sunderland has increased substantially in the last few weeks with Ross Stewart’s injury and Ellis Simms’ recall, and the Ivorian could be up to the task.

Diallo has seven goals in the league, despite not getting off the mark until late October, and his performances suggest that this is the first and last time he plays in the Championship.

2. Iliman Ndiaye

A contender for Championship Player of the Season, Ndiaye has gone to a new level for the Blades this term.

The Senegalese forward showed tonnes of promise in operating just ahead of Morgan Gibbs-White at Bramall Lane last season, but becoming the attacking spearhead for Heckingbottom has seen him step up significantly.

Arguably the best dribbler in the division, Ndiaye has posted ten goals and seven assists, another five goals along with reaching double figures in the assist column would surely see the 22-year-old discussed for the above individual accolade.

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1. Joao Pedro

Only recently returning from injury, but Joao Pedro cannot be left off this list.

The Brazilian showed his true quality in flashes in the Premier League last season and has looked a class above in the second tier.

Watford‘s promotion is mainly on the shoulders of the 21-year-old, who almost signed for Newcastle United in the summer, and his presence in the frontline strikes fear into opposition defences.

It would be a surprise not to see Pedro playing European football in the next few seasons.