EFL journalist and pundit Gab Sutton has selected 10 summer signings in the EFL that he feels will be successful next season.
There have already been plenty of incomings and outgoings in the Championship, League One and League Two following the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.
Owners, directors of football and managers are working night and day to ensure that their respective clubs are well prepared for pre-season and the challenges of next season.
Here are ten players that look set to make an impact for their new clubs come August.
Ryan Glover - Stockport County
A season of stylistic transition is ahead for Stockport County, after Jim McNulty was appointed to replace club legend Dave Challinor in the hot-seat, and bring about a more possession-based style.
In order for him to do that successfully, McNulty needed the opportunity to bring in players who suit that approach, and he’s been backed to bring in his former Dale players in Oli Whatmuff, on loan from Manchester City, and defender Kyron Gordon – two excellent signings.
They’ve also signed Ryan Glover, who steps up to a third level in as many seasons, after winning the National League title with Barnet, and then impressing in League Two.
With four goals and seven assists in the division below, Glover didn’t exactly wrack up the big numbers, but he created tonnes of chances in a team that didn’t find it’s clinical edge until spring.
Glover is a delightful footballer to watch: although he has a degree of power to his game, he also has a lovely ability to glide in from central areas and create, as well as curling in inch-perfect deliveries from either side.
The 25-year-old is used to the type of style McNulty wants and could be the perfect fit.
Daniel Peretz - Southampton
Retentions have been key for Southampton this summer, and keeping hold of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, along with striker Cyle Larin, was essential to their hopes of another promotion challenge.
Peretz had a transformative impact after joining on loan from Bayern Munich in the second half of last season, keeping nine clean sheets in 20 as the Saints flew up the table.
The Israel international made 4.1 saves per 90, and at 25, still has the best years for a goalkeeper ahead of him, so that four-year contract could come in extremely handy, both for footballing reasons and financial ones.
Harrison Jones - Peterborough United
Peterborough have proven to be a fantastic destination for young players looking to launch their careers, and that’s a trend that should continue with Harrison Jones.
The versatile midfielder arrives with glowing reviews from Sunderland, where Under-21s head coach Graeme Murty describes him as somebody who understands complex tactical instructions very intuitively, and who is willing to adopt any type of role that will make those around him better.
For a manager very detail-driven, particularly in terms of in-possession principles, like Luke Williams, having such a flexible, universal footballer could be extremely helpful – whether that’s to partner, or replace, Brandon Khela.
Bobby Clark - Derby County
After a stunning 2025-26 campaign with Derby, on loan from Salzburg, Bobby Clark would have been in demand across the Premier League, Championship, and Germany.
So, for him to pledge his future to the Rams, and sign a four-year deal, speaks volumes for how much he enjoyed playing under John Eustace last season.
Eustace deployed an attacking system in 2025-26, often with four forwards, gung-ho full-backs and only David Ozoh sitting back to protect the centre halves, but this forced opposition back, which created the space for Clark to make third-man runs into the channels and intelligently pick out pockets of space to support attacks with coolness and precision.
Clark will want to add more numbers to his game, and stand-out more definitively in individual metrics, but after a full season to develop, he looks ready to make that next step and be one of the best players in the Championship.
Ethan Brierley - Huddersfield Town
Back in October 2022, Rochdale were losing 1-0 at Walsall, looking dour with no source of creativity, ingenuity or spark.
Enter Ethan Brierley. The youngster came off the bench in the second half and immediately, was demanding the ball off defenders and starting attacks, which completely changed the game: Dale nearly got a point.
The following game, he came off the bench again to assist Ian Henderson, in scoring the winner against Salford, and the goal that would make him Dale’s all-time top goalscorer in the Football League.
From then on, Brierley didn’t quite establish himself as a regular for the Dale, goodness knows why, but he showed splendid quality and earnt a move to Brentford.
The midfielder’s time in Brentford’s B Team, with no loans, stalled his development, but he showed his class at Exeter last season, with some tremendous passes to flying wing-back Ilmari Niskanen, and now he has the move that could kick-start his career.
Moving back nearer to home, Brierley is going to a team that should be playing more on the front-foot, which should help him get on the ball more and dictate play, and stamping his personality on games like he did for Rochdale.
It’s not just Brierley’s ability – of which he has plenty - but it’s his desire to have the ball when he’s under pressure that really sets him apart.
When he leaves Huddersfield, he’ll be spoken about as the best playmaker they’ve had since Aaron Mooy.
Dan Sweeney - AFC Wimbledon
Sweeney came through the academy system at Wimbledon, but didn’t quite get to first-team level, instead having to go in the other route with successful stints at Barnet, Forest Green and Stevenage.
A towering defensive presence, Sweeney has been part of some water-tight defensive rear-guards in his career so far, most notably under Steve Evans and Alex Revell with his most recent employers, and should be ready to make a big contribution at Plough Lane.
Sweeney is a natural leader, who loves to head balls out of the box, a trait the Dons – expecting to be on the back foot in a lot of games – could find rather handy.
Isaac Heath - Cambridge United
Getting Isaac Heath on a three-year contract looks one of the best pieces of business in the EFL this summer from Cambridge.
The versatile winger won Academy Player of the Year at Everton, one of the biggest clubs in English football, as recently as 2024-25, and then had a positive loan spell at Accrington Stanley last season.
Heath is a direct runner, has bags of energy, and can also operate as a wing-back where required for the U’s, who like to shape shift under Neil Harris.
He’ll be wanting a touch more productivity in terms of numbers than he managed last year, but the long-term potential is enormous.
Jasper Moon - Port Vale
Moon is unlucky to find himself back in League Two, because he’s not done much wrong in his career, since starting out in the Championship with Barnsley.
Timing wasn’t great for him initially, when he had to play out of position as a full-back under Markus Schopp and Poya Asbaghyi, in a struggling side when he first came through, but he’s since had positive stints since moving to Burton, with two successful runs in the side in League One, and in League Two with Harrogate.
In fact, many Brewers fans are disappointed to see Moon released, regarding him to be top half League One calibre, but their loss could be Port Vale’s gain.
Moon isn’t super dominant, in that he doesn’t go for every header and he isn’t a powerful defensive presence, but he is extremely intelligent, he only goes for the duels he knows he can win, and his diligence means he’s often pole-positioned for crucial last-ditch blocks and clearances.
Alongside more of a towering battler in Connor Hall, Moon could be the perfect foil.
Kofi Balmer - Bristol Rovers
Balmer made a real impact at Bristol Rovers in the second half of last season, bringing excellent physicality, some great battling qualities, and a striking long throw on loan.
It was hardly surprising, therefore, when Steve Evans was eager to bring Balmer back to the Mem, to operate in central defence next to Alfie Kilgour.
Known for his great leadership qualities, Balmer is approaching the peak years of his career at 25 and could be one of the top defenders in League Two this season.
Cian Hayes - Rochdale
After gaining attention for his early promise at Fleetwood, Cian Hayes’ development hasn’t been linear.
While he was well-liked at his most recent employers, Peterborough, for an astonishing work ethic, nice dribbling qualities and sharp link-up play, he couldn’t quite get the numbers he wanted, which is the difference between a move up to the Championship and a move down a league to Rochdale.
In terms of general performance, though, there isn’t a lot wrong with Hayes’ all-round game, and at 23, he could be about to hit the best years of his career.
The Irishman is already a fan favourite at Spotland (Crown Oil Arena) from a prior loan spell, and could be set for the best season of his career in League Two.
