Hackney to Ipswich set to break record - Most expensive transfers in Championship history

The Championship remains a superb platform for emerging talents to showcase their ability before earning big moves, often to the Premier League. The second-tier of English football is also an incredible league in it its own right. Not only is it often one of the most unpredictable divisions in world football, but it's currently the sixth most valuable league in the world, boasting a more valuable collection of players than Liga Portugal and the Dutch Eredivisie. As the riches of English football filters down, Championship clubs are also beginning to spend big themselves, and this summer, the league looks set to break its record for the most expensive signing of all-time.

Middlesbrough and England U21 midfielder Hayden Hackney is reportedly set to swap the north-east for the south-east and sign for relegated Ipswich in a Championship record deal. Reports suggest a fee in the region of €23.2 million has been agreed by the two clubs, which would make the 23-year-old the most expensive transfer in the league's history. But which other deals feature in the top 10?

The most expensive transfers in Championship history

As aforementioned, once completed, Hackney's €23.2m switch will top the list. That move will overtake the previous record, which was Burnley's €18m signing of winger Mike Trésor in the 2023/24 season. Third place goes to Wolves acquisition of midfielder Rúben Neves from Porto for €17.9m. In fourth is Middlesbrough's signing of striker Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest for €17.1m. João Carvalho's €15m from Benfica to Forest takes fifth, followed by Helder Costa's transfer from Benfica to Wolves in sixth - also for €15m.

In seventh is Ross McCormack's switch from Fulham to Aston Villa for €14.3m in the 2016/17 campaign. In eighth position is Leeds' signing of striker Joël Piroe from Swansea for €14m in the 2023/24 season. Ninth goes to Harry Wilson, after the Welshman went from Liverpool to Fulham for €14m in the 2021/22 season, whilst Benik Afobe's €13.5m transfer from Wolves to Stoke in the 2018/19 campaign completes the top 10.