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The EFL Championship is considered by many as one of the toughest leagues in the world for their competitiveness and frenzied schedule. The Championship is the gateway to the riches and prestige of the English Premier League.
The Jump from the Championship to the Top Tier
Many Premier League clubs prefer to look abroad for players or buy from clubs within the league. Whilst many recent household names like Jamie Vardy, Jack Grealish and Troy Deeney were afforded a chance to play on the Premier League platform with their teams promotion, few players have made the jump to an existing Premier League club with great success. Here are five former Championship players who have successfully made the step up themselves to the Premier League in recent years:
#5. Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins was identified by Aston Villa as a clinical goalscoring center forward on the back of his exploits with Brentford in the Championship. In 2019/20, Watkins scored 26 goals for Brentford dragging them to within a game of the Premier League, falling short at the playoff final hurdle. His personal performances, however, earned him a 28 million pound move to Aston Villa, having been highly touted at the club as the man to deliver them to Premier League safety.
His first season at Premier League level has seen an outstanding return of 14 goals in all competitions, earning him an England cap and an international goal on debut. Watkins' hat-trick against Liverpool in a landmark 7-2 victory for the Midlands club was one of the shock performances of the season and gives a glimpse of the striker's immense potential and value which is only going to grow in the coming seasons.
#4. Eberechi Eze, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace paid almost 20 million to sign the 23 year old Eze from Championship side Queens Park Rangers. Eze came with a huge reputation having scored 14 goals and made the 2019-20 EFL Championship team of the year.
In his debut Premier League season, he has backed up his potential and impressed many with his talent to glide across the pitch with a football at his feet. A lethal inverted winger who can play across three attacking midfield positions for Palace, his one-on-one ability and clever set-piece technique all stand out. His tenacity to take on players, much like his teammate Wilfred Zaha, is a vital part of Crystal Palace's counterattacking style of football.
Growing up in the cages of Greenwich, greater London, his favorite player was said to be Ronaldinho, whose style he imitates not just from appearance but also in his slick dribbling ability and entertainment value on the pitch. There is so much more to come from Eze that many a neutral can take delight in watching
#3. Michail Antonio, West Ham United
A career earned the "hard way," Michail Antonio rose through non-league football before plying his trade with a number of Championship and League One clubs. Having had an eye-catching 2015 campaign with Nottingham Forrest, winning the club's player of the year award earned him a fairytale move to West Ham United. Blessed with immense physical strength, natural aerial ability and blistering sprint speed, Antonio is an incredibly versatile footballer, having played in fullback and winger positions before settling on his role as a hard working forward. With 46 goals for the Hammers so far, he has established himself as a reliable fan favorite that epitomizes West Ham's hard working class background.
#2. James Maddison, Leicester City
Once of Norwich City, winning the club's Player of the year award and the EFL Championship's Young Player of the year award, James Maddison has become an established midfielder with Leicester City. Completing a move of around 20 million pounds in 2018 Maddison's star has risen to be one of the Premier central midfielders in the top flight. Maddison's technical ability surpasses many of his peers, and is a testament to the style of football that Daniel Farke's Norwich City have prided themselves on over the last few seasons.
Blessed with a sniper-like vision to thread passes and link up play, the 24 year old has become an all-action box-to-box midfielder. With Brendan Rodgers' team emphasizing control and possession, Maddison found it easy to replicate his Norwich City form and quickly became an established Premier League star
#1. John Stones, Manchester City
Signed as an 18 year old from Barnsley by Everton, John Stones is one of England's most skilled center backs. Fresh from being a European runner-up for both club and country, the stylish center back has silenced doubters and critics alike with his resilience to return to form.
Identified by Pep Guardiola as a vital part of his possession-based football, John Stones' comfort on the ball, dribbling ability and confidence were all key factors in his 50 million pound move from Everton to Manchester City. Having been in and out of the Manchester City team since 2016, Stones endured a difficult period where his basic defensive ability was questioned by many, having been displaced by Aymeric Laporte. The 27 year old has rekindled his defensive form, forming a part of Manchester City's airtight defensive setup in 2020/21 conceding a mere 32 goals in a title-winning campaign and drawing comparisons with the likes of Rio Ferdinand for his "total football" approach to playing centre back.
