The Championship is the perfect breeding ground for clubs to sign players at a relatively modest price and develop them before selling for a vast fortune to teams in the Premier League looking to strengthen.

Previously, only those lingering at the bottom of the top flight would poach players who had shone in the league below.

As time has passed, especially due to the finances involved in the English game, better players have moved to the second tier. This means clubs in the upper echelons have begun to take notice and spend big money to sign Championship players.

These types of moves have increased exponentially in recent years. With this in mind, we have explored the top 15 record sales by Championship clubs over the years.

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ByStephan Georgiou Feb 3, 2025

Rank

Player

Sold by

Club joined

Fee

Roméo Lavia

Southampton

Chelsea

Georginio Rutter

Leeds

Brighton

Tino Livramento

Southampton

Newcastle United

James Maddison

Leicester

Tottenham Hotspur

Nathan Ake

Bournemouth

Man City

Harvey Barnes

Leicester

Newcastle United

Ollie Watkins

Brentford

Aston Villa

Jude Bellingham

Birmingham

Borussia Dortmund

Archie Gray

Leeds

Tottenham Hotspur

James Ward-Prowse

Southampton

West Ham United

Ryan Sessegnon

Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur

Moussa Sissoko

Newcastle

Tottenham Hotspur

Joao Pedro

Watford

Brighton

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds

West Ham

Wilson Odobert

Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur

15 Wilson Odobert Burnley to Tottenham (£25m)

Burnley may have been relegated after winning just five games in the top flight last season, but one of the few bright sparks was Wilson Odobert.

The teenager registered six goal contributions for the club, and this alerted clubs in the Premier League, who were looking to take advantage of the Clarets’ relegation.

Tottenham Hotspur won the race, splurging £25m to bring the Frenchman to London. So far this season, he has made just five appearances for Spurs amid injury problems. Hardly money well spent so far.

14 Crysencio Summerville Leeds to West Ham (£25m)

Crysencio Summerville wasn’t someone who was going to linger around for long in the second tier. During his three full seasons at Leeds United, the winger scored 25 goals while chipping in with 12 assists for the club.

After 19 goals last term, West Ham United emerged as the frontrunners to sign the Dutchman, finally securing his signature in a deal worth around £25m.

With just one goal for the Irons thus far, he is finding life a tad more difficult in the top flight.

13 Joao Pedro Watford to Brighton (£30m)

Joao Pedro had some Premier League pedigree before moving to Brighton, featuring 28 times for Watford as they suffered relegation in the 2021/22 season.

The south coast side had seen enough to bid for the forward themselves, especially as he scored 11 times in the second tier the following season. According to reports, Brighton spent just under £30m on the Brazilian, and he has looked like a solid signing thus far.

25 goals across 56 matches certainly represents a success, and he will only get better.

12 Moussa Sissoko Newcastle to Tottenham (£30m)

Moussa Sissoko was one of the few positives for Newcastle United throughout the 2015/16 season amid the club’s relegation.

He played six times for France at Euro 2016, and these displays impressed Spurs, who spent £30m to bring the midfielder to north London.

Spurs got value for money, as Sissoko went on to play over 200 times for the club, although he couldn’t help them win a trophy.

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ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025 11 Ryan Sessegnon Fulham to Tottenham (£30m)

Ryan Sessegnon made his debut for Fulham aged just 16 years and 81 days back in August 2016. Three years and 120 appearances later, Spurs earmarked the youngster as the next big thing.

A fee in the region of £25m was paid by Spurs to bring the Englishman to north London, which totalled £30m with add-ons. On the surface, it looked like it could be a wise investment, but Sessegnon failed to sparkle for the club, scoring just three goals during his spell there.

10 James Ward-Prowse Southampton to West Ham (£30m)

James Ward-Prowse demonstrated his dead-ball skills throughout his Southampton career, and during their relegation campaign in the 2022/23 season, he scored four direct free kicks along with three penalties, and his availability alerted West Ham United.

David Moyes was keen on signing the Championship star, and £30m was enough for Southampton to let him go.

However, it didn’t quite work out for the midfielder at the London Stadium, and he has spent the current season on loan at Nottingham Forest, trying to regain the confidence that was on display at St Mary’s.

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ByLewis Thompson Jun 15, 2024 9 Archie Gray Leeds to Tottenham (£30m)

Archie Gray was among one of the most promising players in the Championship last season. The 18-year-old missed just two league matches as Leeds United reached the play-offs.

His performances convinced Ange Postecoglou to spend £30m on the youngster, who has a bright future ahead of him.

The Englishman has already featured plenty for Spurs this term, filling in across the backline due to several injury problems in the squad. Keep improving, and the initial £30m could turn into a bargain.

8 Jude Bellingham Birmingham to Borussia Dortmund (£30m)

Of everyone on this list, Jude Bellingham has had the best career, yet he is still only 21. He emerged as an extraordinary talent during his spell at Birmingham City, despite making just 44 appearances for the club.

His potential alerted Borussia Dortmund, who reportedly spent over £30m on the midfielder including add-ons in 2020 – and the move worked out fairly well. After three seasons in Germany, Real Madrid came calling and Bellingham can now count himself as one of the finest players in the world.

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ByLuke Randall Feb 29, 2024 7 Ollie Watkins Brentford to Aston Villa (£33m)

Ollie Watkins’ journey from non-league to the Premier League has been well-documented, especially after he scored the winner for England against the Netherlands at Euro 2024.

His spell at Brentford produced 49 goals across 143 matches in the Championship, which led Aston Villa to splash out a club-record fee of up to £33m to bring him to the Midlands.

Fast-forward five years, and the Englishman has scored 80 goals for the club, proving he has been an excellent signing.

6 Harvey Barnes Leicester to Newcastle (£38m)

The Magpies raided the relegated clubs in the summer of 2023, with Leicester City among their targets. They signed Harvey Barnes for £38m – a staggering amount for a Championship player.

The left-winger has already notched up 10 goals for the Toon since arriving 18 months ago. This number would likely have been higher had injury issues not played their part.

James Anderson hailed Ben Stokes as “an absolute freak” for his remarkable all-round exploits in the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford, but joked that he could be better still if he had “a body that functioned properly”, after England squared the series against South Africa with a crushing innings-and-85-run victory.Stokes was named as Player of the Match following a game-seizing century on the second afternoon, but it was his gruelling 14-over spell either side of the tea break that set England up for victory inside three days. In the space of nine balls after the break, he prised out both of South Africa’s set batters, Rassie van der Dussen and Keegan Petersen, before ceding the stage to Anderson and Ollie Robinson, armed with the new ball, whose combined haul of five wickets in 31 balls delivered the victory in style.”It’s frightening. He’s just an absolute freak,” Anderson told Sky Sports. “He does that day in, day out, he’s just got a hundred as well yesterday. He batted for however long, and then to be able to put in that sort of spell and get the wickets that he did.”That was the key, being able to break them open before the new ball made a huge difference,” Anderson added. “And imagine if he had a body that actually functioned properly, he’d be absolutely frightening. He’s an absolute machine and he leads by example as well. He’s not just a good captain on the field. The way he just shows us how to play the game is a real credit to him.”Speaking during the post-match presentations, Stokes himself explained the logic behind his extended spell.”I looked at the scoreboard to see how many overs we had to the new ball,” he said. “I really wanted to make sure that I didn’t have to turn to Jimmy or Robbo before the new ball, because I knew how important that period was going to be for us. I felt really good rhythm. The ball was reverse-swinging, I got my tail up, everything felt good, and it worked out well.”Anderson, who finished with match figures of 6 for 62 in 30 overs, was full of admiration for Stokes’ efforts, but also gratitude for the impact on his own role. After years of being asked to bowl the hard yards at uncompromising moments of matches, he admitted to a new lease of life at the age of 40, and added that he feels like a leader of the attack in the truest sense, now that England are fully committed to attacking games under the new management of Stokes and Brendon McCullum.”I think I’ve smiled more than I ever have on a cricket field, I’m absolutely loving it,” Anderson said. “I’ve really enjoyed the last few months. The way Ben and Brendon want to play, my role’s become a little bit different. I’m not a defensive bowler anymore at all. They want me to take wickets the whole time, and think about taking wickets the whole time. So that’s my sole focus, and the group’s sole focus.”Everyone’s clear on their role,” he added. “They’re clear about what the captain and coach expect of them, which is a massive help. It just takes away any doubt, it allows you to focus on your job. Which it might sound simple, but sometimes things can get cloudy. There’s so much to think about, especially from a technique point of view in this game, whether you’re a batter or a bowler. So having that clarity when you go out on the field, it makes a huge difference.”Ben Stokes and James Anderson react after a near miss•Getty Images

It doesn’t always go right, of course, and England were given the hurry-up in the Lord’s Test last week, when it was South Africa’s turn to seal an innings win inside three days. But Anderson insisted that the team had never lost faith in the methods that had delivered four thrilling wins against New Zealand and India earlier in the summer.”We spoke a lot after the last game about how we can be better,” he said. “Certainly with the ball, we stuck to our guns. We tried to keep attacking fields and catchers in the whole way through the game. And with the bat, what we spoke about was trying to learn when to soak up pressure when we needed to, and when to be able to put it back on to the opposition.”Anderson and Stokes both singled out the efforts of Zak Crawley at the top of the order, who had come into the match under pressure following a run of low scores, and once again missed out on a significant total in making 38 from 101 balls in England’s only innings. However, he did so by resisting South Africa’s quicks during the most hostile passage of the match, a performance which Anderson said had been “wise beyond his years”.”I think he knows that he’s got the backing of the group,” Anderson added. “We all know how good a player is. He’s not performed to the standard that he would set of himself, and got the runs that he would have liked. But that’s Test cricket as an opener, especially in England, it’s a hard place to bat. But for me, it’s about trying to keep him positive. He deserves his place in the team.”Related

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• Stokes inspires England as Anderson, Robinson round up South Africa for innings win

As for his own standards, Anderson has once again shown he’s right at the top of his game. In the course of his final day’s work, he went past Glenn McGrath’s haul of 949 wickets across all formats of international cricket – the previous most by any quick bowler – and with 24 wickets at 17.66 for the summer so far, he is arguably bowling better now than any previous stage of his already stellar career – and in no mood to give it all up just yet.”In Test cricket, you’ve got to run in hard, especially on a pitch like this where it slowed up when it got older,” he said. “I try and look after my body so I’m able to do it, because I absolutely love doing it. With the skills there, it’s just about trying to make sure the body can allow me to do it.”The older you get, the more you’ve got to look after yourself,” he added. “Niggles do creep in a little bit more, it takes longer to recover from injuries as well. So for me, I’ve got to try and keep myself in the best shape, keep those niggles away, and I’ll need a bit of luck as well along the way. But yeah, I’m absolutely loving it.”

“My contract is till November 2023. I am fully committed to the BCB for the next 15 months”

Mohammad Isam25-Aug-2022

Russell Domingo took up the Bangladesh job in September 2019•BCB

Russell Domingo has reaffirmed his commitment as Bangladesh’s head coach in the Test and ODI formats after reports on Thursday morning said that he had resigned. Domingo and the BCB have both denied those claims, saying that Domingo’s contract remains intact till November next year.Domingo, who is currently in South Africa, said that he would get back to work in October with the Bangladesh A side that takes on Afghanistan A in the UAE, before joining the senior team ahead of their preparation for the India series at home in December.”This is to confirm that all the rumours and speculations that I have resigned from the Bangladesh Cricket Board are not true,” Domingo told ESPNcricinfo. “I am trying to get our cricket to where it needs to be in the one-day and Test format. I will be going to Abu Dhabi in October to work with the A side. I will then join the national team in December. As far as I am concerned, it is business as usual. I will continue the journey that I have started. My contract is till November 2023. I am fully committed to the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the next 15 months.”Earlier this week, the BCB replaced Domingo with S Sriram as the one in charge of the T20I side, although they stopped short of calling Sriram the head coach, using the term “technical consultant”. Domingo said at the time that he was happy with the arrangement as it gave him more time to prepare for the ODI and Test teams, as well as giving him time with his family back in South Africa.Domingo took up the Bangladesh job in September 2019. Since then, he has overseen the ODI side into the second position in the World Cup Super League, while winning a Test in New Zealand. His record in T20Is, however, came under scrutiny after Bangladesh’s underwhelming performance at the T20 World Cup last year. This year so far, the team has just two wins from seven completed T20Is.Bangladesh are currently in Dubai for the Asia Cup. After that, they will play a T20I tri-series in New Zealand that also involves Pakistan, before heading to Australia for the T20 World Cup in late October.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss shared his perspectives on various topics including promotion-relegation and youth soccer

McAuley highlights significant improvement in American soccerHe expresses strong support for USL's promotion-relegation plansIndy Eleven face Philadelphia Union in Round 4 of the U.S. Open CupGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED

Indy Eleven head coach Sean McAuley offered a candid assessment of American soccer’s developmental progress, drawing from his experience across both the English and U.S. systems. The veteran coach credited recent structural changes, particularly MLS Next Pro, for helping raise the overall standard of play.

“I’m seeing a lot of quality in the USL and I will say this, I think there’s a lot of quality in the USL 1 as well,” McAuley said in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo America. “I think that’s probably down to the fact that MLS Next Pro is producing players, and everybody is now sorta getting a better program at a younger age, or there’s more opportunities at a younger age group, so it’s creating more players. And these players are finding the way into the USL, you know, you look at the draft or the combine.”

McAuley also pointed to the draft process as an indirect contributor to USL depth.

“But if you look at the players that are coming out of the draft, a lot of them are internationals so the ones that don’t get taken because of the international roster spots in the MLS are dropped into the USL, and they’re good players,” he explained. “And I feel as though the standard is improving. I would say, on an honest opinion, it’s difficult for the USL to catch the MLS because the MLS is not getting worse.”

AdvertisementWHAT SEAN MCAULEY SAID

The Indy Eleven coach was also asked about promotion and relegation being brought into the USL and McAuley believes that it’s a good thing although he added that there needs to be safeguards.

“I think it can be very impactful,” McAuley said when asked if the promotion-relegation system could be impactful. “I have questions on it, my experience is that it’s tough, people lose their jobs, but what I would like the country to embrace is that relegation is not a bad thing. Until you’ve lived through it, do you think Southampton supporters are looking forward to next season? And the answer would be yes.

“So if we can look at promotion/relegation as a part of the game and safeguard the club so that if they get relegated, they can still be here and still be alive, then it can be a good thing. The players can get another club, another job, but the tea lady, the kit-man loses their job and gets their wages cut. I think we’ve got to make sure that we’ve got safeguards in place for all the clubs, so that if you get relegated, then you still got to survive, you still got to be alive, and I don’t know where that comes from.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

American soccer continues to evolve structurally, with the USL's potential promotion-relegation system representing a significant departure from the closed league model that has dominated professional sports in the United States. The MLS isn’t a part of the discussions at the moment, but the system will be introduced into the USL over the next few years.

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WHAT’S NEXT?

The USL is expected to make formal announcements regarding its promotion-relegation plans in the coming months, potentially implementing the system for the 2026 season. Meanwhile, McAuley and Indy Eleven continue their 2025 campaign with them making the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, where they’ll face MLS giants Philadelphia Union on May 7.

MCC also recommended that umpires enforce laws relating to penalty runs for repeated time wasting more strictly, and time drinks breaks better

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Sep-2022The MCC, through its World Cricket Committee, has called for the ICC to speed up restarts after DRS reviews, and tighten up the DRS process itself, in a bid to address the issue of slow over rates in the game.The MCC, the keeper of the laws of cricket, made the recommendations following research into how much time was lost on each day’s play during New Zealand’s three Tests in England in June. It has also recommended that umpires enforce the laws of the game relating to penalty runs for repeated time wasting more strictly, and time drinks breaks better.The recommendations were made with a specific focus on Test cricket.How to make the DRS quicker
The recommendations to streamline DRS processes were twofold: one, to ensure the players don’t inadvertently waste time around reviews, and two, to ensure the umpires do not go through unnecessary steps during the review process.Related

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“In general, [the MCC recommends] ICC playing regulations be reviewed to tighten the parameters around when substitutes are permitted onto the field of play i.e. with gloves, drinks etc,” the MCC’s statement said. “More specifically, when a not-out decision is reviewed by the fielding side (or when an umpire review is made with a not-out soft signal), the fielding team should immediately return to their positions, ready to bowl the next delivery.”Batters should also remain in the proximity and prepare to recommence play. No drinks should be brought onto the field. If the decision is overturned to out, the fielding side will still have time to celebrate.”To speed up DRS reviews, the MCC recommended that the “standard protocol should be cut short as soon as the TV production team is aware that it will be not out. For example, time is often spent trying to discern an inside edge for lbws, only to see that the ball was missing the stumps. As soon as the ball tracking has been loaded, if it will result in a not-out decision, the TV umpire should be informed immediately.”Penalty runs for time wasting
Significantly, the MCC wants umpires to more actively enforce the laws of the game that are concerned with time wasting. Law 41.9 and 41.10, which deal with delays by the bowling and batting side respectively, allow the umpire to issue an official warning if they “consider that the progress of an over is unnecessarily slow, or time is being wasted in any other way”, followed by five penalty runs for a repeat offence.Law 41.9 further says: “If the waste of time is during the course of an over, [the umpire will] direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from bowling. The bowler thus suspended shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings.”Drinks to go with the flow of the game, not interrupt it
The MCC’s research found that during the Tests, drinks were “taken at scheduled times regardless of what happened in the previous hour e.g. even if wickets/reviews meant drinks had been taken recently.”Ball checks/changes – usually not because they have landed in a pint of beer – is one of five major reasons for delays•PA Images/GettyTo cut down on time lost to this, it said drinks intervals should be adjusted to coincide with other naturally occurring breaks in play. “Drinks intervals should be taken immediately if a wicket falls or a DRS review is made within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, and not re-taken at […] at the next scheduled break.”Where exactly is time lost during a game?
The MCC found that on average, 31.5 minutes were lost on each full day of play at the England-New Zealand Test series. Of this, the time taken to reset between overs was the major source of delay, with 20 minutes taken in changing ends four minutes were lost to reviews three minutes lost to ball checks/changes two-and-a-half minutes lost to changing other equipment two minutes to movements behind the bowler and adjusting sightscreensIn comparison, the MCC’s research found, “the average change between overs in Test cricket took 10-15 seconds longer than in County Championship cricket… The average ‘standard’ change of over (without a new bowler or batter) was 55 seconds in Tests and 45 seconds in county cricket.”Breaking down the time lost to the DRS process further, the MCC noted “there were approximately 64 minutes lost during the series to the DRS, which consisted of the following: player discussions where no review was taken (six minutes), player reviews (47 minutes) and umpire reviews (11 minutes).”It took an average of 25 seconds for the fielding side to be ready to bowl the next ball after the DRS had confirmed an umpire’s not-out decision.”Who’s on the World Cricket Committee?
Mike Gatting (chair), Jamie Cox, Suzie Bates, Alastair Cook, Kumar Dharmasena, Sourav Ganguly, Tim May, Brendon McCullum, Ramiz Raja, Kumar Sangakkara, Vince van der Bijl and Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt.

Leeds United extended their lead at the top of the Championship table to two points after they picked up a point away from home against Burnley on Monday night.

The Whites secured a hard-fought draw with the Clarets at Turf Moor, with neither side doing much to test either Illan Meslier or James Trafford throughout the match.

Given that Burnley are also competing for automatic promotion and were in the Premier League last season, it was a good test for some of Daniel Farke’s players to see if they have the credentials to make the step up to the top flight.

Sadly, one player failed to prove that he has what it takes to make the grade if Leeds are promoted to the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign.

Leeds' biggest underperformer against Burnley

The Dutch forward had a terrific opportunity to prove to Farke, and the supporters, that he can be the difference-maker against a potentially top-flight level defence.

Unfortunately, he became just the latest striker to fail to score past England goalkeeper James Trafford, who has kept 19 clean sheets in 28 matches.

The shot-stopper had an easy evening at Turf Moor, though, because Piroe failed to offer much up against CJ Egan Riley and Maxime Esteve, who dominated him all night.

Minutes

71

Shots on target

0

Key passes

0

Duels won

0/2

Pass accuracy

50% (6/12)

Possession lost

10x

As you can see in the table above, the former Swansea man’s lack of mobility and physicality allowed the Burnley defenders to enjoy a comfortable evening, as he failed to win a single duel and did not make any impact at the top end of the pitch.

It was a chance for Piroe to prove that he has the physical and technical attributes to make the step up to the Premier League, and he failed on both counts – which is why Farke must drop him from the team.

Why Farke should drop Piroe

It was a lethargic and poor display from the Dutch striker and it was his third match without a goal in the Championship, recording just one chance created in those three outings.

In fact, Piroe has only scored six goals in his 19 starts in the second tier, with a further four as a substitute, and this shows that he has failed to offer consistent quality in the final third.

The left-footed attacker has lost a whopping 75% of his duels in the Championship this season, which illustrates his lack of strength in physical battles with opposition defenders, and this means that Leeds are not getting a physical presence or regular goals from him as a starting option.

Piroe does have quality as a finisher, as shown in the clip above and by his ten goals from 7.05 xG, but his all-round game and lack of athleticism, as shown in the draw with Burnley, suggests that he does not have what it takes to make it in the Premier League.

Therefore, Farke should drop the Dutchman in the short-term, given his recent performances, whilst also considering what to do with the number nine position heading into next season.

Raphinha repeat: Leeds lining up move for a star who was once worth £59m

Leeds are reportedly one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign the midfielder.

ByDan Emery Jan 27, 2025

Leaving their business until the final hours, Fulham reportedly made a last-minute attempt to sign a London rival who only discovered their pursuit of his signature in the final hour of deadline day.

Fulham transfer news

Up until deadline day, the Cottagers endured a fairly quiet window before seemingly springing into life. The biggest headline at the West London club came when reports revealed that they had reached an agreement to re-sign 36-year-old Willian on a free deal after he left Olympiacos as a free agent. The Brazilian, set to make another Premier League return, will be looking to leave one last mark on England’s top flight.

Meanwhile, since the transfer window has slammed shut, Fulham have seemingly set their sights on another bargain deal in the form of a transfer for Bright Osayi-Samuel.

The Fenerbahce full-back is out of contract this summer and the West London club are reportedly working on negotiations to secure his services on a pre-contract agreement. It’s a right-back problem that needs solving amid Kenny Tete’s own contract doubts and it’s one which a rival star could have solved in the dying embers of the window.

According to talkSPORT, Fulham made a last-minute attempt to sign Vladimir Coufal from West Ham United, but failed in their attempts as the right-back only discovered their interest in the final hour of the window given he was taking part in a match in West London on deadline day.

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Busy in a derby day defeat at the hands of Chelsea, Coufal very nearly had a simple journey following that 2-1 loss on Monday evening only to stay put at West Ham instead. Whether Fulham return for his signature when the summer arrives remains to be seen in what would certainly be a wise addition.

"Brilliant" Coufal could be Osayi-Samuel alternative

Whilst Fulham’s focus should be on signing Osayi-Samuel, Coufal wouldn’t exactly be a bad alternative to turn to should they fail to sign the Fenerbahce man ahead of the summer window. At 32 years old, the West Ham defender is a man full of experience and Premier League knowhow, having adapted to England’s top flight almost as soon as he arrived in 2020.

Dubbed “brilliant” by former West Ham boss David Moyes during his first season at the club, Coufal may be an ageing option but he’s also one that is still capable of making an impact when called on from the bench.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Vladimir Coufal

Kenny Tete

Starts

8

15

Assists

0

2

Tackles Won P90

1.10

1.93

Ball Recoveries P90

2.93

3.50

If it’s not to be Osayi-Samuel, then Coufal could arrive as a back-up option to Timothy Castagne, who would be thrown into the starting role once and for all at Craven Cottage.

Fulham haven’t been afraid of welcoming rival stars in the past – signing Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal last summer – and could yet repeat that trick when they get another chance this summer.

Manchester United were hit with awful news about a key player last week when they found out Lisandro Martinez is set to be out of action for the rest of the season.

Losing the Argentine is a huge blow for Ruben Amorim, given his importance in possession, particularly in United’s build-up play.

The Argentine plays an average of 6.01 progressive passes and 1.18 progressive carries per game this season, ranking him in the top 7% and top 14% of defenders respectively, as per FBref. He is essential to Amorim’s side in how they progress play from deeper areas.

With the transfer window now shut, the Red Devils will have to search for an in-house solution to replace Martinez. One of the candidates is Luke Shaw.

Why Shaw could replace Martinez

Once described as “the best left back in the country” by United legend turned Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville, there is no doubting Shaw’s ability. However, he has struggled for any kind of availability this season, with injuries affecting him once more.

Sadly, the England international, who went to Euro 2024 over the summer, has managed just three appearances during the 2024/25 campaign.

He is yet to play in 2025, with his last game on the 1st of December, a fantastic 4-0 win for the Red Devils.

In terms of his suitability at left centre-back, this is actually something Shaw has done plenty of times during his United career so far, mainly under Erik ten Hag. He has played 24 times at centre-back, and would also be suited to the left of a back three, given he sometimes tucks into centre-back when playing as a left-back.

The biggest concern with Shaw replacing Martinez is his injury record. He has really struggled to stay fit this season. It has been a problem throughout his career, but the 2024/25 campaign has been particularly bad. Even now, Chris Wheeler reports he has suffered another short injury setback, to prolong his frustration at being sidelined.

Instead, to preserve Shaw’s longevity in a United shirt, that could lead Amorim to start one of his new signings to replace Martinez.

The player who could replace Martinez

The player in question here is new Red Devils centre-back Ayden Heaven. The Arsenal academy graduate made the move from the Gunners to Old Trafford at the end of the January transfer window, for a reported fee of around £1.5m.

The 18-year-old only ever played once for the first team under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium. His professional debut and his only competitive senior appearance to date came against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

He has been on the bench a few times for the Gunners, however, including for their 2-0 win over United in the Premier League earlier in the season. Given how hard it is to break into an Arsenal defence that includes the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba, it is understandable that more regular minutes were not on the table.

The key thing that the London-born starlet could bring to the United side is progression from the back, which is exactly what they will lose in Martinez’s absence. His in-possession ability was described as “fantastic” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, who has also noted his “highly unique” profile.

The 18-year-old is actually a midfielder by trade. This means that the ability he has to progress play forward and carry the ball out of defence, something Martinez has done so well this season, will have been learned from a more advanced role.

Indeed, that was on show during one of Arsenal’s pre-season games against a Premier League opponent. Bournemouth were on the receiving end of that impressive Heaven performance. That day, as per Sofascore, he completed 88% of his passes and four out of eight long balls.

Stat

Number

Touches

59

Pass accuracy

88%

Passes completed

46/52

Long balls completed

4/8

Ground duels won

2/3

Aerial duels won

1/1

Clearances

3

Heaven could be the exact solution United are looking for as their Martinez replacement. The club has a rich history of giving young players a platform to grow and show their skills, and he is a Hale End graduate rather than a Carrington product, the same certainly applies.

This could be a huge chance for Heaven to showcase his skills and prove he can be a regular starter in Martinez’s absence.

Man Utd can forget Tel by unleashing "ridiculous" teen Hojlund replacement

He has yet to play first-team football for Man United but looks like an exciting talent.

ByJoe Nuttall Feb 4, 2025

The USMNT star discussed his approach to handling the increasing attention, transfer speculation, and expectations that has come with his performances

• Luna emphasizes importance of maintaining focus despite external noise
• RSL star credits support system for keeping him grounded
• Luna also talks about his career so far

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna spoke candidly about the challenges of managing his rapidly growing profile in American soccer. The 21-year-old was recently named MLS Young Player of the Year for his performances in the 2024 season, where he had 20 goal contributions. It has led to increased attention and speculation about his future, and Luna discussed his mental approach to handling transfer speculation, social media attention, and the pressures that accompany all that.

  “Yeah for me, it’s all just talks and whatever. I always tell my agents and people around me that I don’t want to hear anything about what’s going on unless I have to make a decision,” Luna told . “Unless it’s something that it’s right there, at that moment and ok, we need to look in this deep. So, I kind of try to tell them to keep that stuff away from me because it’s all just talk and as you know there’s people that talk good, talk bad and it’s everywhere so I kinda like to stay away from that.”

  “And yeah, I think for me it’s just naturally just chilling, playing soccer and you know, working hard providing for my family and you know whatever comes from that and whatever comes from performing, we’ll talk about it.”

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• WHAT DIEGO LUNA SAID

  The 21-year-old also opened up about how hard it was to step into a locker room at the age of 17 alongside grown men and professional footballers when he first broke out.

  “Yeah, I think that was a whole other journey on itself,” Luna revealed on his first professional move to El Paso Locomotive. “Moving away to another place where you don’t know anybody, and this time it’s the real deal, right? You’re getting paid to do this, to perform and being a 17-year-old stepping into a locker filled with grown men, it was hard.

  “But it took a lot of confidence at the right time to understand that I’m meant to be there and to perform, and of course, the trust in the coach, at the time Mark Lowry, who gave me the opportunity to perform.”

  Luna further expanded on his pathway into professional football and admitted that while it wasn’t the traditional route, it worked for him.

  “You know, I think each player has their own pathway, I can really say that it’s better one way or the other but for me, it was the pathway that I took, that I felt was right for me,” Luna mentioned. “I think I made sacrifices and the decisions that I think when I needed to be challenged is when I took that next step.

  “I didn’t like to be comfortable and not grow and not learn about the game or myself or be challenged, and each time I was [comfortable], I made that leap. So for me it was, you know it’s cool to say it’s not the original pathway that people have in mind, but I’m proud to say that I made it this way.”

  Outside of club football, Luna has also been regularly appearing for the USMNT and opened up about the 2026 World Cup and what it means for the US and Mexico.

  “I think for me right now it’s, you know, just besides me playing and the soccer part, it’s just amazing to have the World Cup here, in the USA and Mexico, it’s crazy. So, besides all that, and now putting in the aspect that I am having the opportunity to perform and be in that circle of players that could be chosen for this, so I think that’s very exciting. And that just gives me another thing and motivation to work for and work harder now than ever to be able to be on that roster,” Luna added.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 21-year-old Real Salt Lake star enjoyed a career-high campaign in the 2024 season for Real Salt Lake as he contributed to 20 goals across all competitions with 16 of those coming in the MLS. Things haven’t quite gone Luna’s way this term as he’s only managed three goal contributions in eight appearances, but the attacker’s form is picking up as he scored a brace in the club’s win over LA Galaxy a few weeks ago.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  With his red card rescinded, Diego Luna is free to play for Real Salt Lake again as they face San Diego FC on April 26 in the MLS before another road game against the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 3. The are enduring a tough start to the season and currently sit ninth on the Western Conference with as many points to their name after three wins and six losses.

Jude Bellingham is being urged to undergo surgery this summer, with the Real Madrid superstar still clearly struggling with a shoulder problem.

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Issues first surfaced at DortmundSuffered dislocation in 2023Decided against going under the knifeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The England international first suffered issues with that part of his body during a three-year stint in Germany with Borussia Dortmund. He would often take to the field wearing shoulder supports.

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Bellingham then dislocated his left shoulder during an outing for Real against Raya Vallecano in November 2023. He was forced to miss fixtures for club and country as a result of that injury setback.

DID YOU KNOW?

The expectation was that the 21-year-old would go under the knife, but an operation never happened. Bellingham is still nursing a familiar ailment, though, with the Three Lions midfielder seen getting heavy strapping before stepping off the bench for Real against Getafe.

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It took a member of the Blancos’ medical staff over a minute to ready Bellingham for action. He has previously said of nursing a shoulder complaint: “It’s OK. I’m still in the sling, which is a little uncomfortable, but the overall feeling is pretty good.”