There is always a large number of players playing in League One and Two on loan from their parent clubs looking to build experience and prove themselves capable of becoming a regular at a higher level or playing to prove that they are worthy of a career in the Football League.
It can be difficult to pick players to watch from the outset. Premier League clubs have been relatively quiet regarding incomings and departures, so we have identified three players to watch who have moved from Championship clubs to League One ahead of the 2024/25 season.
League One Loanees to Watch in 2024/25
Charlie Kelman – Queens Park Rangers to Leyton Orient
The 22-year-old is returning to the O’s after a successful loan spell with the club in the 2022/23 season. The forward made 43 appearances, 26 of which were starts, scored seven goals and provided a further three assists. The former United States underage international arrived on the scene by scoring on his debut with Southend from inside in his own half in 2019 but has failed to deliver on his initial potential since.
QPR have not given him a consistent run in the team and his loan spell at Wigan in the second half of last season provided further evidence of his goalscoring capabilities as he scored three goals from just six starts. Kelman is a player who likes to get on the ball and has proven that he is a capable finisher when given the opportunity. He has a real chance to become the target man for Richie Wellens’ side this season.
Leyton Orient have lost their top scorer Ruel Sotiriou to Bristol Rovers and appear light on goalscoring options despite the arrival of prospect Sonny Perkins from Leeds United. The team finished in 11th place but struggled in forward areas at times and needed players who could get on the ball and attack teams to take pressure off at the other end.
They ranked in the bottom three as a team for total successful dribbles per game and Kelman has the attributes needed for Orient to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle this season.
Josh Griffiths – West Brom to Bristol Rovers
The former England under-21 goalkeeper played a starring role in Cheltenham Town’s League Two title success in 2020/21. He kept 21 clean sheets from 44 appearances but despite reasonable success on loan at Lincoln City and Portsmouth, he has not delivered on the initial signs of promise.
He is being brought into a Bristol Rovers side that has been ambitious in the transfer market under Matt Taylor and Griffiths is almost certainly going to be first choice when the season commences. Bristol Rovers conceded 66 goals in League One last season, 4.5 times more than their expected goals against which was the second-worst record in the division.
Despite a heavy investment in attacking players a significant improvement is needed at the back if they are to improve on their 15th place finish last season. All eyes will be on Griffiths to help coordinate and solidify a defence that has conceded 141 goals in the last two campaigns and has averaged just over 70 goals conceded in their last three League One campaigns.
Taylor Richards – Queens Park Rangers to Cambridge United
Championship side QPR feature for a second time as the parent club of former Manchester City starlet Taylor Richards. The midfielder’s career has stalled since an exceptional loan spell with Doncaster Rovers in League One in 2020/21 where he excelled in an advanced midfield role with ten goals and five assists.
Cambridge United scored just 39 goals last season and must add extra dimensions to their attacking play if they are to preserve their League One status. Manager Garry Monk has his work cut out to keep Cambridge United in the third tier but has recruited Shayne Lavery in attack but it is the signing of Richards which could prove to be decisive.
The U’s ranked bottom of League One for shots per game, second last for shots on target per game and were propping up the table for shots outside the box per game. Richards’ expertise is in an advanced midfield role, scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates in areas just off the forward players.
There may not be much evidence of his talent since his loan spell at Doncaster but if the 23-year-old can replicate that form and the promise that he showed for Manchester City at the academy level he could be the difference in the club’s battle for survival.