Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson will monitor more than 50 Irish players across 20 EFL Championship clubs during the new season.
England's second tier presents a volatile environment where manager changes occurred every 15 days on average over the past four seasons, a figure skewed by Watford. A play-off system change after 35 years has added two extra spots, allowing teams sitting 18th or 19th in March to reach eighth place by season's end.
Relegated Premier League side West Ham are among the promotion favorites alongside Burnley and Wolves. West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo retained Jarrod Bowen at his boyhood club, though the Hammers currently have no Irish players while pursuing Troy Parrott.
Cardiff City and Northwest Clubs
Brian Barry-Murphy from Cork leads Cardiff City after guiding the division's second youngest squad out of League One in his first season. Midfielder Jack Moylan scored on his Cardiff debut following his move from Lincoln City, where he scored 11 goals last season. Moylan, who scored a hat-trick on his international debut, joins Joel Bagan and Callum Robinson in South Wales.
At Blackburn Rovers, 29-year-old Cork native Sean McLoughlin aims to build on an ever-present season after six years at Hull City. Ireland under-21 defender Connor O'Riordan returns to Blackburn seeking a defensive role after loan spells at Cambridge, Crewe, and Doncaster over the past two seasons.
Bolton Wanderers returned to the Championship with sporting director Fergal Harkin, the Donegal native who previously worked at Manchester City. Forward Johnny Kenny returned to Celtic to impress Martin O'Neill after scoring on loan, while goalkeepers Jack Bonham and David Harrington compete for the starting spot. Veteran defender Cyrus Christie adds Championship experience, while Lewis Temple joined League Two side Oldham Athletic on loan after signing from Shelbourne in January.
Midlands and Yorkshire Squads
Burnley captain Josh Cullen faces recovery from an ACL injury that impacted Ireland's World Cup qualification hopes and Burnley's Premier League survival bid. Striker Michael Obafemi enters his third year at Turf Moor following a loan spell at Blackpool that ended in February due to ankle ligament damage.
Derby County extended the loan of 30-year-old attacker Sammie Szmodics from Ipswich Town for the full season with an obligation to buy based on appearances. Szmodics reunites with manager John Eustace, the former assistant to Stephen Kenny with Ireland, under whom Szmodics won the Championship Golden Boot in the 2023-24 season at Blackburn.
Stoke City feature 23-year-old Dubliner Bosun Lawal, whose hamstring issues last season prompted public comments from manager Mark Robins. Defender Raphael-Pijius Otegbayo joined from Cobh Ramblers, while former Manchester City youth player Gabriel Kelly impressed in pre-season alongside sporting director Jonathan Walters.
At Sheffield United, defender Matt Doherty signed a one-year contract, joining Mark McGuinness, Tom Cannon, and Sam Curtis. McGuinness made 25 appearances last season, Cannon scored twice on his Ireland debut against Grenada in May, and Curtis returned after loans at St Johnstone, Peterborough, and Chesterfield.
London Clubs and Southern Squads
Charlton Athletic signed 26-year-old winger Millenic Alli on a four-year contract after he made his senior Ireland debut in the summer following his departure from Portsmouth. The Lucan native previously played non-league football in the sixth and seventh tiers after starting at St Francis. Midfielder Connor Coventry, Ireland under-21 goalkeeper Tiarnan Brooks, and defender Danny McNamara complete the playing squad alongside assistant manager Curtis Fleming and goalkeeper coach Stephen Henderson.
Queens Park Rangers captain Jimmy Dunne leads a squad that includes 22-year-old Harvey Vale. Vale captained England under-19s to a European title in 2022 alongside Alex Scott, Liam Delap, and Jarell Quansah before declaring for Ireland through his Kerry grandparents ahead of the March World Cup play-off.
Millwall retain midfielder Mark Sykes alongside sporting director Steve Gallen, whose side narrowly missed Premier League promotion last season. Norwich City signed 18-year-old former Dundalk midfielder Vinnie Leonard, while Portsmouth forward Eoin Kenny made his debut against West Ham in the EFL Cup after winning July player of the month at Dundalk, joining defender Connor Shaughnessy, Franco Umeh, and coach Michael Doyle.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert oversees Finn Azaz, Ryan Manning, Romeo Akachukwu, Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh, and George Moloney, while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is linked with a loan move to Derby County. Bristol City feature captain Jason Knight, centre-half Luke McNally following an ACL injury in 2025, and Ireland youth internationals Adam Murphy and Billy O'Neill.
Remaining Championship Squads
Lincoln City secured 18-year-old Wicklow forward Mason Melia on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The former St Pat's player joins defender Josh Honohan, striker James Collins, and coach Paul McShane, while Oisin Gallagher joined Barnet on loan from Derry City.
West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby has made 142 appearances over four years in a squad featuring goalkeeper Max O'Leary and winger Mikey Johnston, who recovered from an ankle injury suffered in Prague. At Wolves, striker Nathan Fraser returned following an injury-disrupted loan in the Belgian second tier where he made four substitute appearances.
Swansea City, co-owned by Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, feature striker Adam Idah and defender Josh Key. At Watford, midfielder Rocco Vata remains the sole Irish representative after James Abankwah returned to Udinese. Wrexham retain no Irish players after James McClean returned to his hometown club and Eoghan O'Connell joined Stockport, though Knockbridge native Kevin Mulholland serves as head of performance, sports science, and medicine.
Five Key Prospects for Hallgrimsson
Stoke midfielder Lawal offers versatility and ball retention for Ireland if he avoids further hamstring issues following his appearances across Stoke's defense. Lincoln forward Melia faces physical development in the Championship after entering senior football at St Pat's, where he will adapt to limited possession in a struggling side.
QPR midfielder Vale provides options on either wing or in central attack ahead of the upcoming Nations League campaign. Cardiff forward Moylan brings goalscoring form from Lincoln City and Shelbourne to South Wales, having previously scored a hat-trick on his international debut.
Charlton winger Alli secures long-term stability under manager Nathan Jones as he seeks to add to his initial senior cap following his rise through non-league football.
