Championship

Championship news

Jude Bellingham Birmingham

Bellingham could return to Birmingham at stunning new stadium

Birmingham City have been outlining their exciting vision for the future of the club, and that could include bringing home-grown superstar Jude Bellingham back to his roots. England international Bellingham left his boyhood team in 2020 when joining Borussia Dortmund, and is now on the books of Real Madrid. He could retrace steps to the West Midlands at some stage.

Birmingham City release plans for new stadium

'Bouncy castle' - Birmingham mocked over new stadium plans

Birmingham City have revealed new images of their planned 62,000-seater stadium but the designs have been brutally mocked by rival fans. The Championship side unveiled their proposal during a launch event on Thursday and despite the Blues being very excited about this initiative, social media has shown no mercy in mocking them from pillar to post.

Phil Parkinson Rob McElhenney Ryan Reynolds

'Spend some money!' - Reynolds & Mac urged to splash the cash in Jan

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been urged to dig deep once again, with calls growing for Wrexham’s Hollywood hierarchy to make a decisive financial splash in the January transfer window. The Red Dragons arrive at the third international pause of the season in 13th place in the Championship, a mere four points shy of the play-off picture in what has become one of the tightest second-tier campaigns in recent history.

Wrexham AFC v Birmingham City - Sky Bet Championship

Wrexham lose Man City loanee Kabore for rest of 2025

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Issa Kabore suffered a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Burkina Faso. Kabore will now spend time with parent club Manchester City to have treatment, and Wrexham have been informed of how long they can realistically expect him to be out.

Tom Brady Birmingham

Win it all advice! Birmingham players urged to phone Brady

Birmingham City players are being urged to take advantage of the fact that Tom Brady is on the other end of a phone line, with the NFL legend knowing what it takes to win it all. Former Blues striker Clinton Morrison has told GOAL, in an exclusive interview, why “big plans” for the future at St Andrew’s can see ambitious dreams turned into reality.

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Frank Lampard Coventry

Next job? Intriguing Lampard prediction as ‘sky’s the limit’

Frank Lampard has been told that the “sky is the limit” when it comes to his coaching career, with his reputation in management being rebuilt during a productive spell at Coventry City. The ex-England captain has previously worked with Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League and could soon find himself back in the top tier while being linked with other big jobs.

Dele Alli Tottenham

'Main man' - Championship bosses urged to sign free agent Dele

Championship bosses are being urged to snap up free agent Dele Alli and make him the "main man" in their plans. Ex-Premier League star Clinton Morrison, who was briefly at MK Dons during the same time as Dele, has told GOAL why the former Tottenham midfielder should be prepared to take a step back into the EFL after enduring a disastrous stint in Italy with Como.

Rob McElhenney Ryan Reynolds Wrexham

Why Reynolds & Mac had to find £30m for record-breaking spend

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has explained why the club’s Hollywood co-owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, were left with little choice but to find £30 million ($40m) for a record-breaking spending spree in the summer of 2025. Transfer bars have been raised on a regular basis in North Wales across recent years, with the Red Dragons operating at a different level to many of their rivals - including Birmingham City, who now have NFL legend Tom Brady on board.

Haji Wright Coventry 2025-26

USMNT star Wright given ‘be the man’ PL transfer advice

USMNT star Haji Wright has been advised to shun any interest shown in him during the January transfer window, with Coventry looking for him to “be the man” that fires them back into the Premier League. Ex-Sky Blues striker Clinton Morrison has explained, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, why Wright is on course to hit his top-flight target in England.

Welcome to Wrexham Premier League

Why Reynolds, Mac & Wrexham are already drawing up PL plans

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has explained why Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and the rest of the club’s board are already planning for life in the Premier League. The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise under Hollywood co-owners and continue to make no secret of the fact that their ultimate objective is to deliver top-flight football to the Racecourse Ground.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho's son insists he feels no pressure to emulate his father

Ronaldinho's son, Joao Mendes, has claimed that he is not burdened by the pressure to emulate his legendary father and is working hard to make a name for himself with Hull City. He featured in the Premier League Cup against Bournemouth last month, and the youngster is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as tougher challenges await him in the EFL.

Middlesbrough v Ipswich Town - Sky Bet Championship

Wolves launch surprise swoop for Wrexham star

Wolves could reportedly swoop in for Wrexham star Conor Coady as new manager Rob Edwards is keen to reunite with the defender. The Molineux club have turned to a familiar face in a desperate bid to rescue their season by bringing Edwards in on a three-and-a-half-year deal following the sacking of Vitor Pereira. The former Luton and Middlesbrough boss now inherits a team who are sitting rock bottom of the Premier League table with just two points from 11 games, and are staring relegation squarely in the face.

Wrexham AFC v Queens Park Rangers - Sky Bet Championship

Reynolds bursting with pride as Wrexham's unbeaten run goes on

Ryan Reynolds has praised Wrexham’s “heart” after the club’s impressive rise continued with a determined 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic. Josh Windass’ penalty extended the Red Dragons’ unbeaten run to five matches and lifted them to 13th in the Championship, just four points off the play-off spots, capping off a strong turnaround that has left the Hollywood co-owner beaming with pride.

Blackburn Rovers v Derby County - Sky Bet Championship

WATCH: USMNT's Agyemang scores as Derby secures 2-1 victory

Patrick Agyemang continued his transition to English football with a powerful header that helped Derby County earn a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. The 25-year-old American striker scored his second goal of the 2025-26 Championship campaign just before half-time, extending Derby’s lead after Carlton Morris’ opener and sealing the Rams’ fifth straight victory.

Leicester City v Wrexham AFC - Sky Bet Championship

Spot on! Windass bags late penalty to secure crucial Wrexham win

Josh Windass scored a late penalty to secure a crucial win over Charlton as Wrexham returned to winning ways in front of a raucous Racecourse crowd. After a turbulent October, when the Red Dragons managed just one victory in five league games, they have started this month firing on all cylinders. They were brilliant to snatch a 3-2 victory over Coventry, fought hard to eke out a draw against Portsmouth, and now they have picked up another win to collect seven points from a possible nine in just eight days.

Middlesbrough v Stoke City - Sky Bet Championship

Wolves strike deal to appoint ex-defender as new manager

Wolves have reportedly struck a deal to appoint former defender Rob Edwards as their new manager after Middlesbrough rejected their initial approach. The Molineux-club parted ways with Vitor Pereira, whose nightmare reign ended with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Fulham. Wolves have turned to a man who has been one of their own, and the appointment is a sort of homecoming for Edwards.

Derby County v Preston North End - Sky Bet Championship

Osmajic handed nine-game ban for racially abusing Hannibal

Preston North End attacker Milutin Osmajic has been handed a nine-game ban after being charged with racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. The incident took place during Preston's goalless draw with Burnley in February and now he will be out of action until late December. The forward denied the allegations but he has been fined £21,000.

Portsmouth v Coventry City - Sky Bet Championship

'I'm not stupid' - Lampard responds to journalist's Coventry praise

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was visibly taken aback when a journalist praised him for the work he is doing at Premier League-chasing Coventry City. The former England international took over the Sky Blues just under a year ago when they were hovering above the Championship relegation zone; but now, they are top of the division. And when it was put to him what a great job he was doing, Lampard was touched.

James McClean Wrexham 2025-26

'Never a good thing'- Wrexham star delivers shock message

Wrexham star James McClean delivered a shock message to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side amid a lack of game time. The winger has dropped a stunning revelation, claiming that his passion for boxing has eclipsed his love for football, and he’s planning to hang up his boots for gloves sooner rather than later.

Middlesbrough v Stoke City - Sky Bet Championship

Wolves approach Middlesbrough boss Edwards after Pereira exit

Wolves have reportedly approached Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards after cutting ties with Vitor Pereira, whose nightmare reign ended with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Fulham last weekend. The Portuguese manager produced no wins during this current Premier League campaign and was sacked less than 24 hours after the final whistle at Craven Cottage, which left them at rock bottom of the table.

Phil Parkinson Rob McElhenney Ryan Reynolds

'Like drinking from a fire hose' - Wrexham chief left 'exhausted'

Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson admitted to being left "exhausted" as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s side continue to chase their Premier League dream. The man tasked with turning the wild English top-flight ambition into reality has lifted the lid on the relentless pressure of managing one of the world’s most-watched football clubs.

James McClean Wrexham 2025-26

Wrexham star McClean explains why he punched fan

James McClean has explained how and why he ended up punching a Cardiff fan during a car park altercation. The veteran winger was put in an uncomfortable position as Wrexham faced fierce Welsh rivals in a Carabao Cup derby clash. With emotions running high at the Racecourse, tempers boiled over behind the scenes - leading to McClean being forced to lash out.

Portsmouth v Wrexham AFC - Sky Bet Championship

Wrexham's heroic defending earns them a draw at Portsmouth

Wrexham held on to a valuable point away from home as the Red Dragons extended their unbeaten Championship run, thanks to some heroic defending in a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth. Phil Parkinson's men went to the south coast on the back of a thrilling 3-2 win over league leaders Coventry, and they put in a gritty performance on Wednesday evening to snatch a point from the dominant hosts.

Christian Eriksen Wrexham

Eriksen didn't want any part in 'Welcome to Wrexham' docuseries

Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson has revealed why Christian Eriksen declined an approach from the club during the summer transfer window, with the former Manchester United midfielder initially worried about being asked to feature in Wrexham’s popular documentary series, 'Welcome to Wrexham'. The Dane instead joined Bundesliga side Wolfsburg as a free agent.

Tom Brady 2025

Brady claims dog Junie cloned from deceased family pet

NFL icon and Birmingham City minority owner Tom Brady has claimed that his dog, Junie, is a genetic clone of family pet Lua, who died in 2023. According to the former quarterback, the cloning was carried out by Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotechnology firm in which Brady is an investor. The news was announced in a statement by Colossal as they look to lead the industry in the technology.

Derby County v Southampton - Sky Bet Championship

Southampton sack Will Still after 16 games in charge

Southampton have sacked manager Will Still after just 16 games in charge, with the Championship promotion hopefuls languishing in 21st place. The 33-year-old managed only four wins during a torrid start to life back in England, and Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Preston proved to be his final match in charge as the Saints turn to interim boss Tonda Eckert.

Frequently asked questions

Orlando City and Louisville City share the record for the most USL Championship titles, each winning the championship two times. Orlando City won in 2011 and 2013, while Louisville City won in 2017 and 2018.

The 2024 season of USL will see 24 teams compete for the league. When the league was founded in 2011 as USL Pro, only 12 teams contested. That number rose to 14 in 2014, 24 in 2015, 30 in 2017, 36 in 2019, and now back at 24.

Jamaican midfielder Kenardo Forbes is the player with the most appearances in USL history, having featured in 303 games.

With 105 goals (and counting) in 249 games, Jamaican forward Dane Kelly is USL's leading goalscorer of all-time.

Axel Kei, a centre-forward, holds the record as the youngest-ever player in USL Championship history. He made his debut in 2021 at the remarkable age of 13 years and 282 days.

Jamie Vardy, Gareth Bale, James Maddison, John Stones, and Darren Bent are some of the most iconic players to have played in the Championship.

Alen Marcina, Mark Briggs, Trevor James, and Noah Delgado are among the most popular coaches in USL history.

Protective Stadium, which is where Birmingham Legion FC play their home games, is the biggest stadium in the USL with a capacity of 47,000.

Fanendo Ali is the most expensive player in USL history, being bought for $1 million (allocation money) by FC Cincinnati in a trade with Portland Timbers.