The best loan signings in the EFL this season as Leeds United ace and Leyton Orient duo make the XI

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The EFL season is about to come to an end once the play-off finals are settled, and we’re looking back now at the best loan signings of the season.

In the Championship, Leeds United managed to lift the title thanks to their superior goal difference compared to second-placed Burnley.

Elsewhere, Birmingham City’s record-breaking title win in League One was only slightly overshadowed by Wrexham’s historic third-successive promotion.

The League Two season may have flown under the radar, but it was a fascinating race for promotion there, with Bradford City tasting success after six long years in the fourth tier.

We saw some incredible players strutting their stuff in the EFL this year, and while the best players in the Championship and beyond deserve credit, we’re here to look specifically at the best loan signings that had an impact for their team this season.

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The best loan signings in the EFL for 2024/25

Owen Goodman – AFC Wimbledon (from Crystal Palace)

Kicking off our loan signings XI is a young goalkeeper who thrived in League Two this year and has helped his temporary team make it to the play-off final.

Owen Goodman joined AFC Wimbledon from Crystal Palace and the 21-year-old has racked up 24 clean sheets this term, including two in the play-off semi-finals to help his club past Notts County.

Dons fans have fallen in love with Goodman this season and are desperate to keep him. However, that’s only likely to happen if they can beat Walsall in the final this weekend — and even then, teams higher up the football pyramid may well be keen on the young ‘keeper.

Hamza Choudhury – Sheffield United (from Leicester City)

When Hamza Choudhury signed for Sheffield United on a season-long loan last summer, it’s likely he and the fans expected the Leicester City man to play in midfield. And he did, at times, but it is actually as a makeshift right-back that the Bangladeshi star flourished.

Blades fans are eager for Choudhury to stay, and it’s easy to see why. He’s brought composure, class, and real quality to the wide areas, while also helping United become one of the most solid defensive teams in the second tier.

Ronnie Edwards – QPR (from Southampton)

Southampton are heading back to the Championship for next season, and they’ll be eager to get Ronnie Edwards straight into the fold at St. Mary’s after seeing him excel with QPR this year.

The 21-year-old joined in January and played the full 90 minutes in all but one league game from there onwards. Edwards is a dynamic, ball-playing centre-half who has a bright future ahead of him.

Jack Shepherd – Bradford City (from Barnsley)

We head down to League Two again for our next pick, with a player Bradford City fans have been raving about all season: Jack Shepherd.

The 24-year-old was on loan from Barnsley and helped the Bantams clinch automatic promotion in the closing stages of the season with his rock-solid displays at the back. There’s now every chance he stays with Bradford as they take on League One next season.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden – Preston North End (from Aston Villa)

Preston North End may have ended up flirting with relegation by the end of the season, but one bright spark for them this year was the performances of Kaine Kesler-Hayden at left-back. Sadly, though, he’s only on loan from Aston Villa.

It’s no surprise Coventry City want to spend £5m on him this summer, and Villa are ready to let him go. If that happens, Kesler-Hayden could and should develop into one of the very best full-backs in the division in 2025/26.

• READ MORE: Championship transfer round-up: Jamie Vardy twist, Wrexham going big, Coventry City crumbling

Marcus Edwards – Burnley (from Sporting Lisbon)

It was a toss-up between Ben Doak at Middlesbrough and Marcus Edwards at Burnley for this spot on the right wing, but the injury to Doak ultimately hampered his progress while Edwards came in and transformed Burnley.

Joining on loan from Sporting Lisbon in January, Edwards helped the Clarets become an attacking force, bringing creativity and flair to a team that had been branded boring before his arrival.

Shea Charles – Sheffield Wednesday (from Southampton)

Southampton have yet another gem ready to jump straight into their starting line-up next season, with Shea Charles enjoying a phenomenal campaign at Sheffield Wednesday this year.

Charles was described as a ‘massive talent’ by Owls fans, who are gutted to see him go. Operating in midfield alongside Barry Bannan, Charles’ hard-working displays and excellent reading of the game were crucial to making Wednesday tick.

Jamie Donley – Leyton Orient (from Tottenham Hotspur)

The first of two Leyton Orient players to make this list, and also the first of two Spurs men to break into our loan signings XI, Jamie Donley has truly thrived in League One. That said, it did take him some time to get up to speed.

After slowly but surely adapting to the men’s game, Donley became the most creative player in League One and topped the assists chart, registering eight goals and 11 assists across the campaign. He’s got a wand of a left foot, impeccable vision, and is almost guaranteed to be in the Championship next year whether Orient make it or not.

Manor Solomon – Leeds United (from Tottenham Hotspur)

Spurs loaned out Manor Solomon for the season, and it was the best move for the winger, who was integral to Leeds United’s title win. In fact, Solomon scored the decisive goal on the final day to clinch the prize for the Whites; one of ten goals and 13 assists he clocked up this season.

Leeds have a good chance of keeping Solomon permanently, but he’s also got interest from Marseille. It’s not surprising, as he was one of the standout stars in the second tier this year.

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Charlie Kelman – Leyton Orient (from QPR)

Arguably the best loan signing of the season across any of the divisions, Charlie Kelman has fired in 27 goals in all competitions this term, and he will surely have a big say on the League One play-off final this weekend.

Kelman will be ready to explode with QPR next season when he undoubtedly returns to his parent club. Losing him will be a huge blow for Leyton Orient, especially if they go up; it’ll be nigh on impossible to replace such a prolific striker.

Louie Barry – Stockport County (from Aston Villa)

If we were talking about the first half of the season, there would have been few loan signings better than Louie Barry, who racked up 15 goals in 23 games for Stockport County.

Aston Villa made the decision to recall him in January and send him to the Championship with Hull City instead, but injury struck soon after, ending Barry’s season early.