It is less than a week until the 2024/25 EFL season commences. There has been a flurry of transfer activity and squads are beginning to take shape ahead of the new campaign. Ahead of the opening weekend, it is time to identify and analyse the leading contenders and pick an early winner from the Championship, League One and Two.
The summer transfer window remains open until the 30th of August so there is still an opportunity for sides to strengthen after the opening fixtures but here are the early contenders for silverware and a prediction of who will be crowned champions in 2025.
EFL Champions Predictions for 2024/25 Season
Championship – Relegated Sides Look Above Second-Tier Regulars
The success of the teams that were relegated in 2022/23 was hard to overlook, as they occupied three of the top four positions at the end of the season. Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town suffered relegation from the Premier League after just one campaign in the top-flight and two of those three look prime to sit at the top of the Championship in 2024/25.
The Clarets have lost Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich and replaced the former Manchester City captain in the dugout with Scott Parker. The 43-year-old has led Bournemouth and Fulham to promotion from the Championship and has kept most of the squad together despite relegation. They have excellent depth in each position and should be in the automatic promotion picture.
Chris Wilder has secured some shrewd additions but has seen a large number of his squad depart and Sheffield United look light in forward areas. There should be more transfer activity before the end of the transfer window and that will be a relief to another contender in Leeds United.
Daniel Farke has lost several key players but they still have a squad that is hard to look past as major contenders. They will need to add at least one central midfield player after many departures in this position. Norwich, Hull City and West Brom are unlikely to compete at the same level as last season.
Middlesbrough and Sunderland should be closer to the playoffs but keep an eye out for Coventry City. The Sky Blues have added quality in the transfer window and appear settled with Mark Robins in charge, who has led them to EFL success with League Two promotion, the League One title and an FA Cup semi-final.
They have an excellent partnership up front with Ellis Simms and Haji Wright and they could usurp the sides that have dropped down from the Premier League and secure the Championship title.
Champions: Coventry City
EFL League One – Standout Blues Look Ready to Take Third Tier Title
Bolton Wanderers finished third last season and have kept their squad intact and should be in the playoffs at the very least. Peterborough United, who finished fourth in 2023/24, have lost some key players such as Harrison Burrows, Ronnie Edwards and Josh Knight. They look depleted and will struggle to replicate their exploits from last season.
Huddersfield Town are starting a new regime with Michael Duff in charge and should compete at the top end of the table. Several clubs look primed for a top-six place such as Stockport County, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic and Bristol Rovers but there is one club that looks significantly above the rest.
Birmingham City have spent heavily in the transfer market and have a squad that wouldn’t look out of place competing at the top end of the Championship table and it would be a major disaster if they didn’t secure the league title, let alone automatic promotion.
Chris Davies knows his side will have a target on their backs and the 39-year-old has been a key component of the coaching staff at Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester under Brendan Rodgers. He was most recently at Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou but this is his first role as a manager. He has all the tools to be a success and nothing less than a convincing League One title win will be good enough.
Champions: Birmingham City
League Two – Beaten Playoff Sides Remain Contenders
Mike Williamson’s MK Dons have seen a high turnover in their playing squad this summer but still look to have a squad capable of challenging for the League Two title and sealing a return to the third tier after finishing fourth in their bid to bounce straight back into League One last season.
Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra should be in the playoff conversation again at the very least but Colchester United are a side to keep an eye on in the EFL this campaign. Danny Cowley has also seen a few key departures but their incoming players look to have significantly increased the quality of the squad and they should be far better than last season’s 22nd place finish.
Port Vale were relegated from League One but have an excellent manager in Darren Moore and the signing of forward Jayden Stockley from fellow relegated side Fleetwood Town could turn out to be one of the signings of the summer.
Notts County and Salford should improve on their showings from last season but it does appear to be a straight pick between MK Dons and Port Vale, with both sides looking like potential champions with the campaign set to begin next weekend.
Champions: Port Vale