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Opinion

Seven League One stars to watch out for in the 2025/26 season including Chelsea loanee

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The League One season gets underway and it’s bound to be a close-fought competition.

There are some big hitters in the division with Huddersfield Town recruiting Alfie May and the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County all hoping to be involved in the promotion race.

League One will be tough to call and the quality of the English third tier is at an all-time high with plenty of players ready to shine.

So, with that, EFL Analysis has named seven stars in the third tier that you should keep an eye on.

Andre Garcia leaps over Rop Apter during Reading vs Blackpool
Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images

Brandon Khela – Peterborough United

Peterborough United endured a difficult campaign last season and the fanbase seems to believe that it’s going to be another long season. One saving grace this season though could be midfielder Brandon Khela.

After impressing on loan in Scotland with Ross County and Bradford City, the Posh signed Khela on a permanent deal from Birmingham City.

Khela has been Peterborough’s most impressive player in pre-season and could end up being a diamond in the rough for a side tipped to struggle.

Teddy Sharman-Lowe – Bolton Wanderers

One of the many of the Chelsea conveyor belt, Teddy Sharman-Lowe will get the chance to impress in League One after winning promotion with Doncaster Rovers last year.

That promotion on his CV will be vital for Sharman-Lowe and with Bolton seemingly intent on promotion or nothing this season, Steven Schumacher will be grateful to have an ever-reliable option.

Bolton are one of the favourites for the promotion race and the 22-year-old is going to have a big season.

Andre Garcia – Reading

Reading could have the best young player in the league on their hands.

Andre Garcia is 17 and already a mainstay in the first team having made 38 appearances for the Royals last year.

He will be the first name on the team sheet and if Reading don’t go up, they could be banking a healthy fee for the young defender.

Lamine Dabo – Luton Town

Luton Town have suffered back-to-back relegations and will want to stop the rot by securing promotion back to the Championship.

Lamine Dabo spent the second half of last season at Luton after excelling in Sweden’s top flight with AIK.

Lamine Dabo closes down Ryan Yates during Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The midfielder is energetic and a proper combat midfielder who can break up play and unleash the Luton attack to get them forward.

Bradley Fink – Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers are backed by Georgian-Kazakh billionaire Mikhail Lomtadze and have spent big this summer in the hope of going one better than their play-off failure last time.

Plenty of new signings have come to Adams Park but none are more exciting than Bradley Fink.

The Swiss striker was once a part of the Borussia Dortmund academy and is set to be one of the league’s leading talisman.

Sean Roughan – Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield are being tipped to romp the division and you could’ve picked from plenty of their new arrivals.

The one that may go under the radar though is Sean Roughan, who was signed from divisional rivals Lincoln City.

Roughan will be licking his lips at the prospect of crossing in balls to May and his defensive abilities will also be music to Lee Grant’s ears.

Paul Mullin – Wigan Athletic

Last, but by no means least, how can we forget Paul Mullin?

Mullin joined Wigan Athletic on loan from Wrexham after they decided he wouldn’t be good enough for their upcoming campaign.

The striker has proven himself time and time again and could be what Wigan need to propel themselves into the promotion conversation.