Top 10 Signings in the EFL so far this summer

Yesterday, I put up a post looking at the top 10 signings so far in the National League.

Now, it’s the turn of the EFL as I look back on all of the deals that have been completed to date during the close season and put together a top 10 of the standout signings.

Luke Offord (MK Dons)

After falling short in the play-off semi-finals this season, MK Dons had to go into the close season displaying ambition to make an even stronger play for promotion next season. And, there’s no better way to show a statement of intent for what they hope to achieve in 2024-25 in being able to prize away defender – and captain – Luke Offord from fellow top 7 shortcomers Crewe Alexandra.

The fact that Crewe Alexandra will themselves be looking to bounce back from heartbreak in the play-offs and that their skipper has decided to go and sign for another club that they will likely competing against at the top of the division speaks volumes of how well MK Dons have done to land this deal. They needed to improve defensively, with major criticism of Mike Williamson and his side’s ability to keep clean sheets last term, and so to be able to land one of the best centre-backs in League Two last season is a major coup.

Having been captain with Crewe Alexandra, Offord should bring a composure and calm to the MK Dons backline, as well as strong organisational qualities, is vocal and is the exact type of profile they need leading their efforts at the back. He’s already shown he is a top-end, League Two performer and if he keeps up his former, he could well be a League One player in 2025-25 with MK Dons.

Matt Macey (Colchester United)

When I did my piece on Colchester United about who they should sign during the summer, I suggested that they should go for Matt Macey. I said at the time that I felt it would be an ambitious signing for Colchester United if they were able to pull it off, albeit one that they should be looking to try and sign. The fact that they have indeed been able to make it happen means that he is a shoe-in for an inclusion on this list.

Let’s have it frank; Matt Lacey should not be playing in League Two. He is a League One footballer. He has experience of having played at a higher level with the likes of Portsmouth, and so the fact that The Cowley’s have been able to attract him down to the EFL’s basement tier should – on paper – give them one of, if not the best goalkeepers in the division. For a side that will be looking to improve on the seasons of previous years, having a goalkeeper of that ilk in net could well be the difference that earns them the couple of extra points to indeed improve.

Lacey is a big, imposing goalkeeper that commands his area well, comes for crosses and has an athletic leap on him. He should be playing higher, and it is testament to the project that Danny Cowley and his brother are putting together that they have been able to attract him to the club. He is a strong shot-stopper, has a good kick on him and his distribution is good enough for the style of play Cowley wants. All in all, this is a really encouraging start to the summer business for Colchester United.

Liam Kelly (Rotherham United)

Rotherham United have certainly not been shy in the transfer window so far, with a whole host of players having come through the door under new boss Steve Evans. And, I think that one of the most impressive of those deals is former Coventry City man Liam Kelly.

When Liam Kelly was announced as leaving Coventry City, he would have no doubt had a lot of offers – both in the Championship and in League One – having played a key role in The Sky Blues’ rise through the divisions to then having stabilised themselves as a top-end, Championship outfit under Mark Robins. Perhaps above everything, one thing that really impresses me with the signing of Kelly is the fact that The Millers are getting a top character that will be influential in re-erecting standards in the team with the way that he organises, leads and motivates.

Steve Evans has talked already about the importance that he has put on the leaders within his new group, and Kelly – as former captain of The Sky Blues – will be a key addition to his ranks. Not to mention, he is a steady midfielder in his own right as someone who is neat and tidy with the ball and diligent off it, and so I think that the success of this deal may be measured even more so by his impact in the changing room than it is on the grass. Overall, a top signing that has very much set the bar for their ambitions this season.

Joe Sbarra (Doncaster Rovers)

After Solihull Moors’ shortcomings in the play-off final, it was no surprise that midfielder Joe Sbarra would be on the move. He has consistently been one of the standout performers in the National League in recent years, and so he is a coup for Doncaster Rovers to sign on a free.

Sbarra is an attacking midfielder by trade, one that relishes playing on the shoulder and finding pockets of space in between the opposition midfield and defence. He may only be a diminutive player, but he is a tricky, technical and high-energy player that constantly buzzes around the pitch and looks to play quick one-two’s, thread delicate through balls and make clever runs into the box from deep and providing an option beyond the opposition defence.

After it was made clear he would not be stating at Damson Park, he would have had lots of interest for a potential move and so it is credit to the way that Doncaster Rovers finished the season and the ambition that they are showing under Grant McCann that they managed to land him.

Keanu Baccus (Mansfield Town)

For an Australian international midfielder to leave the Scottish Premiership in favour of a move to the EFL, you would somewhat expect them to sign for a club in the Championship. It is a coup, therefore, that Mansfield Town have been able to sign an Australian international operating near the peak of their powers in the form of Keanu Baccus.

Baccus signs from Scottish side St Mirren, and is currently on the books of the international side. A powerful, all-action, energetic, athletic midfielder that can get about the pitch, get stuck in, carry the ball and break up play. He’s a bit of a physical beast, largely a defensive midfielder by trade that will look to sit, but has the high-energy, imposing style that can win the ball back and force the opposition into mistakes.

It speaks volumes of the ambition from The Stags that they were able to attract a player of his quality, and I think he has all of the attributes needed to be one of the best in his position in League One next term.

Viktor Johansson (Stoke City)

When Swedish goalkeeper Viktor Johansson announced that he was leaving Rotherham United ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, there would have no doubt been a mass rush to try and land the goalkeeper’s services. Luckily, it was Stoke City that were the lucky benefactors as they managed to sign the standout goalkeeper from the Championship ahead of the new season.

He has played for The Millers over the course of the last few years and has understandably been given a high value of work during that time as United stopper , but that shouldn’t detract from his efforts; he has without doubt been one of, if not the best-performing goalkeeper in the Championship. You could argue by some distance, too. As such, Stoke City will be confident that in landing Johansson they will have one of the best in the division next term.

I wouldn’t say that The Potters particularly needed a new goalkeeper, albeit at the same time I suppose you don’t turn down players of Johansson’s quality when they become available on the market. He saves a lot of goals – with xG prevented through the roof – and for a Stoke City side that have underwhelmed in the last few seasons, having an international goalkeeper of Johansson’s ability could well be the difference.

Paddy Madden (Chesterfield)

After Paddy Madden played such a prominent figure for Stockport County in their promotion from League Two, many felt that he would stick around at Edegley Park and try to help The Hatters stabilise in League One. As it is, the forward has decided to stick around in League Two and embark on a fresh, new challenge in the form of League Two newcomers Chesterfield.

The forward was one of the best in the fourth tier last term and as a result it is a bit of a surprise that he opted against remaining with The Hatters’ in League One in favour of another season in the EFL’s basement tier. Now, they’ve managed to land one of the most in-form strikers in the division that will almost surely be a safe bet for 15-20 goals.

Madden is very much more than just a goal scorer, with an ability to drop short and link the play. One thing that I thought last year when watching Chesterfield was that while they had a good striker in Will Gregg, he didn’t provide a great deal outside of simply being a presence in the penalty area to get on the end of chances. Madden is a more multi-faceted with a rounded skillset. He’s more mobile, plays in a more connected fashion, and is a signing of the calibre you’d expect to go and make a fist of promotion.

Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham United)

I couldn’t have finished this list without including former Peterborough United front man Jonson Clarke-Harris, could I? The forward has been one of the most reliable goal-scorers at league One level for what seems like an eternity and with a number of sides no doubt circling for his signature this summer, it was ambitious Rotherham United that managed to bring him to the club as a major statement of their intent.

Rotherham United already had some good striking options on their books in the form of Sam Nombe and Jordan Hugely, but to be able to land a striker of Jonson Clarke-Harris’ ilk is impressive and not the sort of opportunity that you pass up. And, if there’s anything that Steve Evans has shown during his career that he likes then it is stockpiling his squad with good quality strikers.

The Millers have had a strong start to the summer window, and while he may not be the most all-action of players in terms of all-round game, what he will guarantee The Millers is goals. That could well be the difference for United in being able to win promotion from League One at the first time of asking.

Raphael (Coventry City)

I will admit that I include this player almost with little knowledge of the player that The Sky Blues are signing; while the EFL and non-league football is very much my thing, European football isn’t. However, from the reports that I have read about the Australian attacker, it seems as if Coventry City have been able to land another up-and-coming prospect.

The Sky Blues have a fair degree of success in signing from foreign markets – with Milan van Ewijk and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto both impressing – and Raphael is the latest to swap foreign waters for a spell in Coventry after signing for Mark Robins’ side this summer. And, if the reports are to provide an accurate reflection of the player that The Sky Blues have forked out to sign, there is an expectation that Raphael could well be the pick of the talent as a player right out of the very top drawer.

The winger is described as being a trademark flair type, with dancing feet, close control, neat footwork and will be the type of dynamic, attacking player that will inject energy and expression into the City offence. I will wait to see how the attacker fares on English soil, but he comes highly-rated and with a billing as a bit of Australian ace, I am excited to see him play. It could well end up being another Mark Robins masterclass.

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SIGNING OF THE SUMMER SO FAR

ANTONI SARCEVIC (BRADFORD CITY)

I was torn over who to pick for this, as there were a number of deals that in particular have impressed me this summer. However, I have opted for former Stockport County man Antoni Sarcevic’s move from League One Hatters to join up with Bradford City in League Two. The Bantams haven’t got a great deal of recruitment right over the last few seasons, but I think will be a deal they look back on in time and feel that they got spot on.

There are two key reasons why I like this deal. One of those is the experience that he brings to this City side, and the recency of having got promoted out of the division last term with Stockport County. The Bantams have been long underachieving in League Two – in my opinion – and they needed to make the right moves this summer – more so than anything – to alter the feeling in the place and change the dynamic from being play-off hopefuls (as they have been in recent terms) to promotion probables; they needn’t look any further than “Mr EFL Promotion” himself.

Often, you only need that one player who can change the dynamic and Antoni Sarcevic is capable of that. He has consistently been a top-end, League Two performer and so will give The Bantams an upgrade on what they have currently in the centre of the park. A box-crashing, goal-scoring midfielder that is able to drive the ball forward from deep, is a strong ball-carrier and a good size that is able to handle the physical side of the game; he is one of the best midfielders that League Two has to offer and was a key driving force in The Hatter’s efforts last term in winning the league.

And, The Bantams get all of that whilst signing a midfielder that boss Graham Alexander knows well; Sarcevic was on the books of Fleetwood Town when they were promoted from League Two. As such, The Bantams will know that they have the right manager to get the best out of the midfielder. With Stockport County, Mansfield Town and Wrexham – three big-hitters – having left the league, now is the time for City to go for the jugular in order to try and win promotion and the signing of Sarcevic could well be the catalyst for that.