The Championship season reached a conclusion on Sunday as Nottingham Forest claimed a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the playoff final at Wembley.
Forest have now joined Fulham and Bournemouth in the Premier League, but how many players from the promoted clubs have been included in our Championship team of the season?
GK - Lee Nicholls - Huddersfield Town
Not many people batted an eyelid when Huddersfield signed Nicholls from MK Dons last summer, but the 29-year-old has excelled during his first season at the John Smith's Stadium. Nicholls kept 18 clean sheets during the regular campaign, while no keeper made more saves than the former Wigan Athletic youngster (137).
RB - Djed Spence - Nottingham Forest
Signed on loan from Middlesbrough, right-back Spence was a key figure in Forest's promotion, with his attacking qualities particularly coming to the fore. No defender completed more dribbles than the 21-year-old during the regular season (76), while he contributed two goals, five assists and played 40 key passes during a breakthrough campaign.
CB - Joe Worrall - Nottingham Forest
Academy graduate Worrall captained Forest to their playoff final success and was an integral part of a defence that conceded just 40 goals during the regular season (the second fewest in the division). Worrall also ranked highly for interceptions made during the campaign (73) and perhaps underlined that he is ready to make the step up to the Premier League.
CB - Tim Ream - Fulham
United States international Ream was an ever present as Fulham clinched the Championship title. The 34-year-old may have struggled to establish himself at Premier League level in the past, but he played an integral role as Fulham conceded less than a goal a game this term. Ream also produced more interceptions than any other member of Marco Silva's squad.
LB - Lloyd Kelly - Bournemouth
Part of the Championship's meanest defence, Bournemouth star Kelly was the one constant in a back four that changed for the Cherries throughout the season. Equally effective in both central defence and at left back, the 23-year-old also helped Bournemouth to 21 clean sheets - more than any other side.
CM - John Swift - Reading
It shows what a good season Swift had that he's included in this team despite playing for a Reading side that only narrowly avoided relegation. The former England under-21 star was directly involved in 24 of the Royals' 54 goals during 2021/22, scoring 11 and providing 13 assists, while he has already secured a move to West Brom for next season.
CM - Philip Billing - Bournemouth
Not only did Bournemouth star Billing reach double figures for both goals and assists this season (10 apiece), he also boasted one of the best aerial success rates in the division and was a key cog as the Cherries conceded just 39 league goals. The Dane looks like a player that will stay in the Premier League regardless of how long Bournemouth stick around for in the top flight.
RW - Brennan Johnson - Nottingham Forest
After starring on loan at Lincoln in League One last season, Forest ace Johnson took the Championship by storm this term, scoring 18 goals and providing 10 assists. The 21-year-old was also named EFL Young Player of the Season and is sure to shine in the Premier League, whether that is with Forest or not perhaps remains to be seen.
LW - Harry Wilson - Fulham
Wilson was the assist king in the Championship this season, with his tally of 19 being six more than anyone else in the division. The Wales international also chipped in with 10 goals and made the most key passes of any player in the second tier (105). His creativity was key to Fulham scoring a stunning 106 goals during the campaign.
ST - Aleksandar Mitrovic - Fulham
Wilson may have been Fulham's source for creativity, but Championship Player of the Season Mitrovic scored the goals that fired the Cottagers back to the Premier League. It was a record-breaking season for the Serbian, who struck a staggering 43 league goals, 14 more than anyone else and shattering the previous Championship record. Mitrovic's tally was so high he scored more goals individually than both Hull (41) and Barnsley (33) managed as a collective.
ST - Dominic Solanke - Bournemouth
In most other Championship seasons, Solanke's tally of 29 goals would have seen him pick up the Golden Boot, with the one-time England international almost doubling his best-ever goalscoring season. The 24-year-old also finished second only to Mitrovic for most shots (164) and clear-cut chances scored (21), underlining his new-found clinical edge.
Honourable mentions
It is always difficult to narrow a team of the season down to just 11 players after a gruelling 46-game campaign.
Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers may feel aggrieved to miss out after keeping the most clean sheets in the division (20), while Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo and Nottingham Forest centre back Scott McKenna could easily have been included in the back line.
Luton Town enjoyed a sensational season in reaching the playoffs, with midfielder Allan Campbell and the versatile Kal Naismith unlucky to miss out, while Huddersfield duo Lewis O'Brien and Sorba Thomas were also considered.
Bristol City forward Andreas Weimann contributed 22 goals and 10 assists in a side that finished 17th, while Swansea's Joel Piroe (22) and Ben Brereton Diaz (22) of Blackburn also shone in the final third - the problem for them is it paled into insignificance when compared to Mitrovic.
