Market Milestones: McAteer and Hackney Shine as Coventry Soars

238 players have had their values updated

Transfermarkt has revised the market values of 238 players in its latest Championship update this October. Impressively, the second tier of English football now ranks as the sixth most valuable league globally, positioned just behind Europe’s elite five leagues. The Championship is a vibrant competition filled with talent as teams vie for promotion to the Premier League. Notable value increases were seen for Ipswich Town’s new recruit Kasey McAteer, Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, and Leicester winger Issahaku Fatawu. Ipswich, Southampton, and Coventry experienced the most significant increases in squad values, whereas Hull City and Blackburn Rovers were the only clubs to see a decline.

Kasey McAteer, Hayden Hackney & Co. – Major Value Increases

McAteer made a high-profile move from Leicester to Ipswich for €13.9 million, despite transferring from one relegated team to another. Though he has played seven matches for the Tractor Boys without scoring or assisting, his market value surged from €2 million to €12 million, an increase of €10 million. The second-largest jump belongs to Middlesbrough’s England U21 international Hackney, whose impressive performance in Euro 2025 helped elevate his worth from €12 million to €20 million, with Premier League interest reported following a potential move to Ipswich that was rumored to exceed €20 million.

Additionally, Leicester’s Fatawu has emerged as a major threat this season, with his value rising by €7 million to €18 million. Other notable increases include West Brom midfielder Isaac Price (+€7 million to €10 million), Ipswich’s young talent Sindre Walle Egeli (+€5 million to €20 million), Norwich striker Josh Sargent (+€4 million to €20 million), and Birmingham forward Jay Stansfield (€15 million).

League MVPs: Taylor Harwood-Bellis & Leif Davis Retain Top Value

The Championship’s most valuable players are Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ipswich’s Leif Davis, each maintaining a market value of €22 million. Both players continue to attract interest from Premier League teams, though they must improve their teams’ performances to remain at the top of the value rankings. Following them are Walle Egeli (€20 million), Hackney (€20 million), and Sargent (€20 million). Also in the top tier are Fatawu (€18 million), Jacob Greaves (€18 million), and Swansea’s Malick Yalcouyé (€17 million), with Jaden Philogene (€16 million) and Finn Azaz (€16 million) completing the top ten.

Rising Stars: Jay Robinson & Jeremy Monga Recognized

Among the Championship’s emerging talents are Southampton’s Jay Robinson and Leicester’s Jeremy Monga. Robinson received his first market valuation of €1 million after starting the Saints’ first game of the season and has since scored a goal and provided an assist in seven appearances, causing his value to increase to €6 million. Monga, who became the second youngest player in Premier League history, also attracted interest from top European clubs before opting for a pre-contract deal with Leicester, set to take effect when he turns 17 next summer. Despite being currently injured, Monga’s value has risen from €5 million to €8 million.

Ipswich & Coventry Experience Notable Squad Value Growth

Ipswich leads the squad market value increases with a rise of +€19 million, bringing their total squad valuation to €198.4 million, thus maintaining their status as the Championship’s most valuable club despite a shaky start. Following them is Southampton, whose squad value increased by +€15.7 million to €188.5 million. Coventry, under Frank Lampard, also saw a substantial rise, with their squad value climbing by +€15.3 million to €108 million after a strong start to the season.

Understanding Transfermarkt Market Values

Transfermarkt’s market values are determined through various pricing models, heavily influenced by the insights of its community members who discuss and assess player values in depth. It is important to note that these market values should not be directly equated with transfer fees. Rather, they aim to reflect the expected value of players in an open market, taking into account individual transfer conditions and situational factors. More details on the methodology can be found via the detailed market value definition here.