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As the dust settles on the football season, we are looking ahead to the 2025/26 campaign already, with a rundown of the 20 best players in League One right now.
The EFL season for 2024/25 is now officially over and we know where each of the 92 teams will be playing next term after a thrilling run through the regulation campaign and the play-offs.
League One waves goodbye to the record-breaking Birmingham City, history-makers Wrexham, and Nathan Jones’ spirited Charlton Athletic side.
The third tier also welcomes the likes of Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle, and Cardiff City who were all relegated from the Championship. Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, Bradford City, and AFC Wimbledon are coming up next season.
So, with the 24 teams locked in, it’s time to assess the talent on offer with our list of the best players in League One ahead of the new campaign.
20 best players in League One right now
Lewis Wing
The experienced central midfielder played every league game for Reading in 2024/25, registering nine goals and seven assists from the middle of the park, as well as a further four goal contributions in the cups. In many ways, Lewis Wing does the dirty work there, to allow Charlie Savage to thrive higher up the pitch.
Szabolcs Schon
Bolton Wanderers have one of the most impressive left-sided players in the division, with Hungarian international Szabolcs Schon proving to be a shrewd signing back in August of last year. At just 24-years-old, Schon has plenty of room to develop, and his versatility makes him a valuable commodity for the Trotters.
Sonny Perkins
Another player who was new to League One this season is Leyton Orient winger Sonny Perkins. The 21-year-old registered 12 goal contributions across the campaign after arriving from the Leeds United youth team, and he will be one to watch in 2025/26 for sure.
Ben Wiles
Another titan in the middle of the park, Ben Wiles is the glue that holds Huddersfield Town together in many ways. The dynamic midfielder can also play out wide if needed, and his versatility and creativity will make him a key asset for new manager Lee Grant this coming season.
James Carragher
James Carragher’s decision to play for Malta at international level caught the headlines earlier this season, but he’s far more than just the son of a Liverpool legend. No, the Wigan defender is assured on the ball and a rock at the back for his team, and will surely be playing in the Championship in the near future.
Malik Mothersille
Peterborough United may have struggled in the league this season, but they did secure the EFL Trophy, and Malik Mothersille’s goals were crucial to the Posh’s progress. The former Chelsea youngster bagged 16 goals and ten assists in all competitions this term, and will be eager to show what he can do again in 2025/26.
Lorent Tolaj
This Port Vale striker is the only man to make our list of the best players in League One who actually played in League Two last season. That’s testament to how highly we rate the 23-year-old, who comes off the back of a 15-goal campaign where he helped fire his side to promotion. Now, we just have to see how he copes with the step up to League One.
Josh Koroma
What the future holds for Josh Koroma is unknown at this stage. His contract with Huddersfield comes to an end later this month, and he will be free to find a new club. After hitting 12 goals for the Terriers this season, we expect there to be plenty of clubs queuing up to sign the left winger.
Andre Garcia
Premier League clubs are keen on Andre Garcia already, and it’s no surprise. At just 17-years-old, the Reading starlet has featured in almost every game this season and did not look out of his depth in League One at all. We do not expect this promising young defender to be in the third tier for long.
Ryan Hardie
Now, we have the first player in this list to be dropping down a division this summer. Plymouth Argyle were unable to avoid the drop, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying on Ryan Hardie’s part. The striker bagged 12 goals in all competitions for the Pilgrims, and is on the radar of a number of Championship clubs.
Ethan Erhahon
Naturally, the best players in League One are always going to be targeted by bigger clubs, and Ethan Erhahon has certainly proven his worth this season for Lincoln City. He’s now wanted by the likes of Derby and Blackburn, and the 24-year-old will be a huge loss for the Imps if and when he does move on.
Davis Keillor-Dunn
Barnsley ended up sliding down the League One table in the latter stages of the 2024/25 campaign, but their star striker, Davis Keillor-Dunn, never stopped scoring. Having joined the Tykes in the summer, Keillor-Dunn went on to bag 18 goals in the league, including five in his last eight games.
Charlie Savage
As the son of Robbie Savage, Charlie was always going to enjoy a bit of a high profile, but luckily he’s got the talent to match it. Both Wrexham and Birmingham want Savage this summer, and the Reading midfielder is very likely to make that jump to the Championship, having already made his full Wales debut and looking every bit the accomplished midfielder.
Sam Tickle
Aside from the likes of Arthur Okonkwo and Ryan Allsop, who are both headed for the Championship, Sam Tickle is arguably the best goalkeeper in League One. The Wigan youngster enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign in 2024/25, keeping 20 clean sheets, and is now thought to be attracting attention from the likes of Norwich City this summer.
Richard Kone
Another player on Norwich’s radar is Richard Kone. The Wycombe Wanderers striker was prolific this season, bagging 18 league goals as the Chairboys just missed out on promotion. At 21-years-old, he’s got a high ceiling, and is one of the most naturally gifted goalscorers in the EFL.
- READ MORE: The best loan signings in the EFL this season as Leeds United ace and Leyton Orient duo make the XI
Thelo Aasgaard
Thelo Aasgaard was already one of the best players in League One this season thanks to his impressive form for Wigan Athletic in the first half of the campaign. He then made the switch to Luton Town but is heading back down to the third tier. It would not be a surprise to see the Norwegian ace picked up by a Championship club soon, though.
Ethan Galbraith
Aside from Leyton Orient’s incredible loan stars this season, the main man propelling them into the play-offs was Ethan Galbraith. The O’s bagged the young Northern Irishman from the Man Utd youth setup a couple of years ago, and turned down a £1m offer from Swansea in January. We expect those kinds of offers to come again.
Maksym Talovierov
Another Plymouth star grabs a spot in our list of the best players in League One, but again, there’s speculation he may not stick around at Home Park for long. Maksym Talovierov signed for the Pilgrims in January and was a revelation at the back, leading to attention from the likes of Wrexham ahead of the new season.
Kwame Poku
Like Josh Koroma, Kwame Poku is available on a free transfer this summer and is certain to leave Peterborough United for pastures new. We know Birmingham City and Rangers are keen on the winger, but Poku is assessing all his options. He was easily one of the very best in the division this season, registering 12 goals and eight assists for the Posh in the league.
Alfie Doughty
If Luton can somehow hang on to Alfie Doughty through another relegation, the Hatters will have the best player in the league. The full-back impressed when Luton were in the Premier League and it’s a real surprise he hasn’t been picked up by a bigger club already. Keeping him could be key to Luton’s hopes of promotion in 2025/26.