Our prediction: 8th
Likely finish: 5th–12th
Transfer window so far: 9/10
Biggest question
Can Stoke finally turn a strong transfer window into consistent results?
Why we have Stoke 8th
Stoke City may be the team we have the most confidence in outside the Championship’s leading group of promotion favourites. The club have put together a transfer window that feels considerably more coherent than some of their previous attempts to rebuild. Milan Smit, Ethan Galbraith, Djibril Soumaré, Svante Ingelsson, Luke Graham and Josh Griffiths have all arrived, and there appears to be a clear logic behind the recruitment.
Rather than simply collecting individual names, Stoke have strengthened different areas of the team with players whose qualities should complement one another.
Galbraith brings creativity and quality in possession, while Soumaré should provide greater balance and defensive security. Ingelsson adds energy and running power in midfield, Graham strengthens the defence and Griffiths represents an exciting investment in goal.
Then there is Milan Smit. If he adapts quickly, Stoke may finally have found the goalscorer they have been missing in recent seasons. On paper, this looks like a much better balanced Stoke squad. The question is whether that improvement will finally translate into results.
Strengths
Midfield could become Stoke’s biggest strength. They now have a combination of physicality, intensity and passing quality, which should make them capable of competing in different types of matches. Importantly, they also look less dependent on individual players than they have in previous seasons.
AdvertisementStoke should be better when they are required to take control of possession as well. In recent years, they have often looked relatively comfortable playing without the ball but lacked the creativity needed to break down compact opponents. Galbraith could be the player who changes that. His ability to dictate the tempo and find progressive passes should give Stoke another dimension against teams prepared to defend deep.
If the new midfield settles quickly, Stoke should be capable of controlling far more Championship matches than they have in recent seasons.
Weaknesses
The biggest question is not necessarily about the players. It is about Stoke City themselves. There have been several summers since relegation from the Premier League when optimism has returned following apparently promising recruitment, only for the season to drift towards another disappointing finish.
That history makes it difficult to put Stoke straight into our top six despite how much we like their transfer business. There is also considerable pressure on Milan Smit. Moving from Dutch football into the Championship is a significant adjustment, particularly given the physicality and relentless schedule of the division.
He may need time, and Stoke cannot afford to place the entire goalscoring burden on him if he does not immediately hit the ground running.
Key player
Ethan Galbraith
Galbraith has the potential to become the heartbeat of this Stoke team. He should be the midfielder who controls the tempo, progresses possession and finds the passes that turn territorial dominance into genuine opportunities. If he performs consistently, Stoke should become a much more accomplished side with the ball.
Player to watch
Milan Smit
Smit has the potential to become one of the Championship’s biggest positive surprises this season. There is inevitably some uncertainty over how quickly he will adapt, but if the goals arrive early and his confidence grows, Stoke’s ceiling rises considerably.
A successful first season from Smit could be the difference between another mid-table finish and a genuine playoff challenge.
Verdict
Stoke are our dark horses for the 2026/27 Championship season. We have them finishing 8th, but the potential is clearly there to go higher. The recruitment looks intelligent, the squad appears better balanced and there should be considerably more creativity in midfield.
If the new signings settle quickly and Stoke finally find the consistency that has eluded them for so long, they have enough quality to challenge seriously for the playoffs.
Past disappointments are the main reason we are stopping short of putting them in the top six.
Our prediction is 8th place – but Stoke are one of the teams we would not be surprised to see outperform that prediction.