The 2024/25 Championship season came to an end on Saturday afternoon, as Sunderland ran out 2-1 winners over Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley to secure their place in the Premier League.
It brought to an end an incredible campaign, as Leeds United and Burnley both reached 100 points at the top of the table, while there were two surprise top six finishers in Bristol City and the Black Cats.
At the bottom of the division, Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City were all relegated as the battle to avoid the drop went to the final day, with five sides fighting for survival in gameweek 46.
However, we now have just under three months to wait until the first ball is kicked in anger once again in the second tier. But, with the EFL transfer window just days away from opening, EFL Analysis has taken a look at three reasons why the 2025/26 season could be the best in Championship history.
Three reasons why 2025/26 could be the best Championship campaign of all time
Bitter rivalries are back across the division
While we still had the Steel City derby, the South Wales derby and Lancashire derby last season, in 2025/26, that list of rivalries will grow with the re-introduction of one incredibly exciting clash.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Following Southampton’s record-breaking relegation, the second tier will see the South Coast derby played in the league for the first time since the 2011/12 campaign as Portsmouth prepare to welcome their bitter rivals to Fratton Park once again.
Meanwhile, the East Anglian derby is back after a one-year hiatus after Ipswich Town were relegated back to the Championship. Norwich City have dominated the rivalry recently, with the Tractor Boys’ last victory coming in 2009 – while they have not won at Carrow Road since 2006.
The M69 derby between Leicester City and Coventry City also returns, while a version of the East Midlands derby also rears its head as the Foxes get set to face Derby County for the first time in the league since 2013/14.
The arrival of Birmingham City and Wrexham could shake up the establishment
All three promoted sides from League One survived in the Championship in 2024/25, and after Charlton Athletic won the play-offs to confirm their place in the second tier, the division has taken shape ready for next season.
Photo by Kya Banasko/Getty Images
Photo by Kya Banasko/Getty Images
The two sides who automatically won promotion, Birmingham City and Wrexham, will be looking to shake up the establishment once August comes about, with both able to offer big contracts to players thanks to their American owners.
Although the Red Dragons do have a little more work to do than Blues, there is a strong chance that at least one of the two sides will be pushing into the top half of the table and beyond, which will cause excitement for supporters of both teams.
The race for promotion in the Championship is wide open
After the battle for the title went to the final day in 2024/25, next season opens up even more questions about who will make their way to the Premier League.
Leicester’s financial problems will cause them issues in their bid to return to the top flight, while there will be plenty of interest in Will Still’s Southampton team after he was announced as the new head coach of the Saints.
Elsewhere, Chris Wilder and Frank Lampard will both be hoping for a reaction after play-off heartbreak with Sheffield United and Coventry respectively, as the likes of Norwich City and Watford look to push towards the top six with their new managers.
There are stories to be written across the second tier, and August cannot come soon enough as we await the next iteration of the Championship.