Two West Brom stars in Championship team of the season so far alongside Leeds United & Middlesbrough men

We are nine games into the 2024/25 Championship season and there have been plenty of standout performers so far in the current campaign. Today, we’ll be looking at an XI of the best players at this early stage of the campaign.

The team contains players from clubs such as Norwich City, Middlesbrough and Sunderland while there is also a pair of representatives from West Bromwich Albion, following the Baggies’ decent start to the footballing year.

Norwich have more players than any other club in the XI with three - Middlesbrough and West Brom both have two, while Leeds United, Stoke City, Sunderland and Sheffield United all have one each. This XI is not based on our own opinions - instead, we will be looking at which players have the highest ratings according to WhoScored. With that out of the way, let’s see who made the cut.

2024/25 Championship team of the season so far

GK: Viktor Johansson (Stoke City) - 7.1

Stoke’s Viktor Johansson is up first - with 33 saves, only Hull City’s Ivor Pandur has kept his team out of trouble more times than the Swedish international this season. He also boasts an impressive save percentage of 73.3% [via FBref].

RB: Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) - 7.2

Veteran full back Luke Aylin occupies the right back position - he was known for his attacking prowess in his younger years, but has developed into a very capable defender in the twilight of his career. He has made more tackles than any other player in the division so far and has also made 17 blocks.

CB: Matt Clarke (Middlesbrough) - 7.3

Matt Clarke is next up, who plays alongside Ayling for Boro. Michael Carrick’s men have struggled to score goals so far, but they have been very strong defensively with just seven goals conceded.

CB: Callum Doyle (Norwich City) - 7.2

This season has been a much improved one for Norwich thus far - one of their biggest success stories has been 21 year old Callum Doyle, who has slotted into the first team with next to no teething troubles.

LB: Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) - 7.5

Dennis Cirkin has been fantastic at both ends of the pitch for Sunderland. He’s no slouch defensively with 16 tackles to his name - he also has a goal and an assist under his belt.

RM: Willy Gnonto (Leeds United) - 7.3

Willy Gnonto is something of a cheat code in the Championship. Defences find it very difficult to deal with his electric pace and dribbling ability - he has two goals and four assists thus far.

CM: Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) - 7.3

Vini Souza hasn’t scored any goals or registered any assists at the time of writing, but his ability to dictate the tempo of a game makes him crucial to Sheffield United’s play.

CM: Alex Mowatt (West Brom) - 7.4

Alex Mowatt is on fire this season from the heart of West Brom’s midfield. He’s scored three goals so far and has also played a total of 15 key passes - he has been integral to the Baggies’ promotion charge.

LM: Borja Sainz (Norwich City) - 7.4

With seven goals to his name, Borja Sainz is the joint-top scorer in the Championship at this point in the season. With two assists to go alongside them, the Canaries have a real gem on their hands.

ST: Josh Sargent (Norwich City) - 7.1

The final Norwich player in the XI is Josh Sargent, whose tireless running and ability to lead the line cannot be overstated. He has scored four goals this season, alongside three assists.

ST: Josh Maja (West Brom) - 7.2

The other joint-top goal scorer in the Championship this season is Josh Maja - after a few false starts earlier in his career, the 25-year-old finally seems to have found a home in the form of the Hawthorns.