Championship

Championship news

Tom Brady Birmingham

Revealed: Birmingham's revolutionary plan that targets UCL players

Birmingham City are ripping up the transfer rulebook as they reportedly target Champions League players with the Blues chasing a Premier League return. Backed by the deep pockets of Knighthead Capital and the star power of NFL icon Tom Brady, the Blues are no longer thinking like a club fresh out of League One. Instead, they are daring to dream of mixing it with Europe’s elite within the next two to three seasons, and they’re building a plan to make it happen.

Advertisement
Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney Wrexham

Wrexham handed PL boost amid play-off expansion plan

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Premier League dream has been handed a major boost as the Championship reportedly consider expanding the play-offs to six teams. The English Football League is weighing up a bold revamp of its play-off system that could dramatically alter the promotion race and inject fresh hope into clubs with Premier League ambitions.

Dele Alli Ryan Reynolds Rob McElhenney Wrexham

Why Dele is expected to miss out on Wrexham transfer

Dele Alli’s hopes of securing a lifeline move to Wrexham appear over, with manager Phil Parkinson hinting that his final squad spot will instead go to returning star Ollie Rathbone. The former Tottenham and England midfielder, recently released by Como, had been linked with the Hollywood-owned club but now looks set to continue his uncertain search for a new home.

Leicester City v Birmingham City - Sky Bet Championship

Vardy reveals advice from Maresca before Cremonese transfer

Jamie Vardy has revealed that he received special advice from Chelsea's ex-Leicester boss Enzo Maresca before completing a sensational free transfer to Cremonese. After 13 unforgettable years at the King Power Stadium, the 38-year-old striker has swapped the East Midlands for northern Italy, penning a one-year deal with the Serie A outfit.

Wrexham v Hull City - Carabao Cup First Round

Why Parkinson is ‘probably’ under pressure at Wrexham

Phil Parkinson has been warned that he is under pressure at Wrexham, despite guiding the club to three successive promotions. After a ÂŁ33 million summer recruitment drive funded by co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, questions are being raised over whether the manager can guide the new-look team to success in the Championship.

Everton v Peterborough United - Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Ashley Young's son Tyler follows him to Ipswich

Ashley Young and his son Tyler could write Championship history after the 19-year-old signed with Ipswich Town’s U21s, raising the possibility of the pair playing together. The 40-year-old ex-Man Utd star joined the Tractor Boys earlier this summer, and now his son is following in his footsteps after securing a deal with the development squad.

Southampton v Wrexham AFC - Sky Bet Championship

Huge blow for Wrexham! New signing faces surgery on serious injury

Wrexham’s fairytale return to the Championship has been rocked by a gutting injury to hometown hero Danny Ward, who is set to go under the knife on Friday after dislocating his elbow in a sickening collision. The 32-year-old shot-stopper, who only rejoined the club this summer following his Leicester City exit, crashed to the turf during a bruising clash with Millwall at The Den. Although Wrexham went on to secure a gritty 2-0 win, Ward’s injury marred the victory.

Frequently asked questions

Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi Pro League side ever, having won an astonishing 19 league titles. Their first-ever league title came at the end of the 1976-77 campaign. Currently, they are also the defending champions, having gone all the way in the 2023-24 season.

Currently, there are 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League. In the first season ever, which took place in 1976-77, there were just eight teams. The number increased to 10 in the following season. Ahead of the 1981-82, Saudi Premier League and Saudi First Division merged to form one single league for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. However, from the 1984-85 season, the number teams reverted to 12.

Legendary Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea holds the record for most appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Deayea played for Al-Taee and Al-Hilal and managed 406 appearances inthe league.

Majed Abdullah, also known as the Arabian Pele, is the league's all-time leading topscorer with 189 goals in 194 league games, all of them coming with Al-Nassr in a 21-year span. He is Al-Nassr's record goalscorer, with 259 goals in just 266 games.

Former Syrian midfielder Jehad Al-Hussain has registered the most assists in Saudi Pro League history, setting up 50 goals for his teammates in 208 games.

Former Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to ever feature in Saudi Pro League. El Hadary was 45 years and 81 days old when he featured for Al-Taawoun in April 2018.

Teenage sensation Talal Haji, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is the youngest player to ever play in Saudi Pro League. Haji achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and five days when he came on as a substitute for Romarinho in Al-Ittihad's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh in September 2023.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Riyad Mahrez, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, N'Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, Yassine Bounou, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, and Fabinho are among the most famous players to have played in the Saudi Pro League.

Steven Gerrard, Laurent Blanc, and Stefano Pioli are some of Saudi Pro League's most prominent managers in history.

The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, which is home to Al-Shabab and Al-Riyadh, is the biggest stadium in Saudi Pro League. It has a capacity of 68,752.

Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, costing a whopping ÂŁ77.6 million when Al-Hilal bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.