Best Left-Backs in the Championship (Jun 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Market Overview: Championship Left-Backs 2022-23
Our database tracked 52 Championship Left-Backs in the 2022-23 season, representing 32 clubs with a combined market value of €115.0M. The average market value for Championship Left-Backs was €2.2M, with the average age at 26 years old.
The most valuable left-back in the Championship was Leif Davis, worth €20.0M and played for Ipswich Town at 26 years old. The top 5 Left-Backs averaged €11.0M in market value, including Victor Kristiansen and Samuel Iling-Junior.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked left-back was Harry Amass (19 years, Norwich City, €5.0M), while the oldest was Aaron Cresswell (36 years, Stoke City, €450K). Research shows Left-Backs typically peak at age 27.
Historical analysis showed 24 Left-Backs (46%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Championship market for Left-Backs remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2022-23 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in Championship
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Championship Left-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 32 clubs with €115.0M combined value.
Age Distribution: Championship Left-Backs
The Championship LB market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 24-26 bracket (16 players, 31% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at €43.8M, averaging €2.7M per player.
Top Left-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (3 players)
21-23 Years (11 players)
24-26 Years (16 players)
27-29 Years (14 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 6 Left-Backs (12% of players) control €60.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with high (€15-30m) tier representing 2% of the Championship LB pool.
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Championship Left-Backs
Among 32 Championship clubs, Ipswich Town leads with 2 Left-Backs worth €20.5M (averaging €10.3M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 44% of tracked Left-Backs.
Ipswich Town (2 Left-Backs)
Leicester City (2 Left-Backs)
West Bromwich Albion (2 Left-Backs)
Birmingham City (3 Left-Backs)
Player Rankings
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Leif Davis
Ipswich Town • 26 years old
€17.3M
€20.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €20.6M
72.3
Victor Kristiansen
Leicester City • 23 years old
€12.1M
€14.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.0M
69.3
Samuel Iling-Junior
West Bromwich Albion • 22 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.6M
60.9
Luke Thomas
Leicester City • 25 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.9M
54.2
Kai Wagner
Birmingham City • 29 years old
€6.5M
€5.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €4.1M
51.8
Harry Amass
Norwich City • 19 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.0M
50.4
Matt Targett
Middlesbrough FC • 30 years old
€4.5M
€3.5M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.9M
47.5
Josh Tymon
Swansea City • 27 years old
€3.7M
€3.5M
-5.4%
Expected: €3.1M
47.1
Welington
Southampton FC • 25 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.9M
42.0
Liberato Cacace
Wrexham AFC • 25 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.9M
42.0
Thierry Small
Preston North End • 21 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.3M
41.7
Ryan Manning
Southampton FC • 29 years old
€3.6M
€2.8M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.3M
41.0
Neto Borges
Bristol City • 29 years old
€3.4M
€2.6M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.2M
40.0
Alex Cochrane
Birmingham City • 26 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.6M
39.2
Max Lowe
Sheffield Wednesday • 29 years old
€2.8M
€2.2M
-22.6%
Expected: €1.8M
38.0
Rhys Norrington-Davies
Queens Park Rangers • 27 years old
€2.3M
€2.2M
-5.4%
Expected: €1.9M
37.7
Eric-Junior Bocat
Stoke City • 26 years old
€1.9M
€2.2M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.3M
37.6
Juan Larios
Southampton FC • 22 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.1M
37.3
Charlie Taylor
West Bromwich Albion • 32 years old
€2.6M
€2.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €1.8M
37.1
Jamal Lewis
Preston North End • 28 years old
€2.6M
€2.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €1.8M
36.7
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Leicester City's Victor Kristiansen at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 17.50×. That means Victor Kristiansen is valued 17.50× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket-representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is West Bromwich Albion's Samuel Iling-Junior, who is 22 years old, with a 12.50× PPVE. Third is Harry Amass of Norwich City, who is 19 years old with a 7.14× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 17.50× means the player is worth 1650% more than typical players their age-making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 23 | 21-23 | €14.0M | €800K | 17.50× |
| #2 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 21-23 | €10.0M | €800K | 12.50× |
| #3 | Harry Amass Norwich City | 19 | U21 | €5.0M | €700K | 7.14× |
| #4 | Luke Thomas Leicester City | 25 | 24-26 | €6.0M | €1.0M | 6.00× |
| #5 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €800K | 3.75× |
| #6 | Liberato Cacace Wrexham AFC | 25 | 24-26 | €3.0M | €1.0M | 3.00× |
| #7 | Welington Southampton FC | 25 | 24-26 | €3.0M | €1.0M | 3.00× |
| #8 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | 22 | 21-23 | €2.0M | €800K | 2.50× |
| #9 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 22 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €800K | 1.88× |
| #10 | Lee Buchanan Birmingham City | 25 | 24-26 | €1.8M | €1.0M | 1.80× |
| #11 | Sam McCallum Sheffield United | 25 | 24-26 | €1.4M | €1.0M | 1.40× |
| #12 | Brandon Williams Hull City | 25 | 24-26 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00× |
| #13 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 23 | 21-23 | €800K | €800K | 1.00× |
| #14 | Miguel Ángel Brau Coventry City | 24 | 24-26 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00× |
| #15 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21 | 21-23 | €800K | €800K | 1.00× |
| #16 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | 20 | U21 | €700K | €700K | 1.00× |
| #17 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21 | 21-23 | €600K | €800K | 0.75× |
| #18 | James Morris Watford FC | 24 | 24-26 | €500K | €1.0M | 0.50× |
| #19 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | 21 | 21-23 | €250K | €800K | 0.31× |
| #20 | James Furlong Hull City | 24 | 24-26 | €300K | €1.0M | 0.30× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
Understanding Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Norwich City's Harry Amass at 19 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Harry Amass is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 7 years-representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Swansea City's Ishé Samuels-Smith, who is 20 years old, with a +35% RPP (6 years to peak). Third is Henry Fieldson of Queen's Park FC, who is 20 years old with a +35% RPP (6 years to peak).
How RPP is calculated: RPP compares a player's current market value to their forecasted peak value, calculating the percentage appreciation potential. A 40% RPP means the player is expected to gain 40% value as they enter their prime-making them excellent growth investments.
Recovery Potential by Player
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harry Amass Norwich City | 19 | 7 | €5.0M | €8.3M | +40% |
| #2 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | 20 | 6 | €700K | €1.1M | +35% |
| #3 | Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | 20 | 6 | €125K | €193K | +35% |
| #4 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | 21 | 5 | €250K | €359K | +30% |
| #5 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21 | 5 | €600K | €862K | +30% |
| #6 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21 | 5 | €3.0M | €4.3M | +30% |
| #7 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21 | 5 | €800K | €1.1M | +30% |
| #8 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 4 | €10.0M | €13.4M | +25% |
| #9 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | 22 | 4 | €175K | €234K | +25% |
| #10 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | 22 | 4 | €2.0M | €2.7M | +25% |
| #11 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 22 | 4 | €1.5M | €2.0M | +25% |
| #12 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 23 | 3 | €175K | €218K | +20% |
| #13 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 23 | 3 | €14.0M | €17.4M | +20% |
| #14 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 23 | 3 | €800K | €995K | +20% |
| #15 | Josh Reid Ross County FC | 24 | 2 | €150K | €173K | +14% |
| #16 | James Furlong Hull City | 24 | 2 | €300K | €347K | +14% |
| #17 | James Morris Watford FC | 24 | 2 | €500K | €578K | +14% |
| #18 | Zak Delaney Greenock Morton FC | 24 | 2 | €125K | €145K | +14% |
| #19 | Miguel Ángel Brau Coventry City | 24 | 2 | €1.0M | €1.2M | +14% |
| #20 | Sam McCallum Sheffield United | 25 | 1 | €1.4M | €1.5M | +7% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Norwich City's Harry Amass has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Harry Amass has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty-representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Queen's Park FC's Henry Fieldson with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Ishé Samuels-Smith of Swansea City with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 58.0 means the upside is 58.0× greater than the uncertainty-making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harry Amass Norwich City | €6.0M | €5.1M-6.8M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | €143K | €124K-163K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #3 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | €803K | €692K-913K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #4 | Thierry Small Preston North End | €3.3M | €2.9M-3.8M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #5 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | €662K | €570K-753K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #6 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | €276K | €238K-314K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #7 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | €882K | €760K-1.0M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #8 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | €15.0M | €13.2M-16.8M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #9 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | €187K | €165K-210K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #10 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | €857K | €754K-959K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #11 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | €185K | €163K-207K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #12 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | €2.1M | €1.9M-2.4M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #13 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #14 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | €10.6M | €9.3M-11.9M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #15 | Lewis Strapp Airdrieonians FC | €154K | €136K-173K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #16 | Alex Bangura Middlesbrough FC | €721K | €634K-807K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #17 | Alex Cochrane Birmingham City | €2.6M | €2.3M-2.9M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #18 | Leif Davis Ipswich Town | €20.6M | €18.1M-23.1M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #19 | Eric-Junior Bocat Stoke City | €2.3M | €2.0M-2.5M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #20 | Josh Reid Ross County FC | €154K | €135K-172K | +2% | 9.8 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: left-back position shows strong depth (avg Z-score: 0.00). RPI: 0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Ipswich Town's Conor Townsend in the 30+ age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-8.3%. That means Matt Targett captures 7.0% of total market value while representing only 15.4% of players in their age group-showing dominant elite status.
In second is Millwall FC's Joe Bryan with a +-8.3% ASC (7.0% value share vs 15.4% player share in 30+ bracket). Third is Charlie Taylor of West Bromwich Albion with a +-8.3% ASC (7.0% value vs 15.4% players in 30+ bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-8.3% ASC means the player captures -8.3% more market value than their numerical representation-indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Conor Townsend Ipswich Town | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #2 | Joe Bryan Millwall FC | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #3 | Charlie Taylor West Bromwich Albion | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #4 | Greg Leigh Oxford United | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #5 | Connor Ogilvie Portsmouth FC | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #6 | Matt Targett Middlesbrough FC | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #7 | Callum Elder Derby County | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #8 | Aaron Cresswell Stoke City | 30+ | 7.0% | 15.4% | -8.3% |
| #9 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #10 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #11 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #12 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #13 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #14 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #15 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #16 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #17 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #18 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #19 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | 21-23 | 29.0% | 21.2% | +7.8% |
| #20 | Alex Cochrane Birmingham City | 24-26 | 38.1% | 30.8% | +7.3% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use:"Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets."Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months."Peak" = pay premium for proven performers."Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 1 immediate targets, 13 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 23 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €400K. 0 undervalued, 2 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | €10.0M | €1.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | €125K | €1.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Matty Foulds St. Johnstone FC | €125K | €1.0M | -0.69 | Good Value |
Sean Mackie Ross County FC | €125K | €1.0M | -0.69 | Good Value |
Scott McMann Ayr United FC | €175K | €1.0M | -0.66 | Good Value |
Paddy Reading Partick Thistle FC | €200K | €1.0M | -0.65 | Good Value |
Andrija Vukcevic Preston North End | €500K | €1.0M | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | €175K | €1.0M | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | €175K | €1.0M | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Zak Delaney Greenock Morton FC | €125K | €1.0M | -0.46 | Fair Value |
Lewis Strapp Airdrieonians FC | €150K | €1.0M | -0.45 | Fair Value |
Josh Reid Ross County FC | €150K | €1.0M | -0.45 | Fair Value |
Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | €250K | €1.0M | -0.44 | Fair Value |
James Furlong Hull City | €300K | €1.0M | -0.37 | Fair Value |
James Morris Watford FC | €500K | €1.0M | -0.26 | Fair Value |
Yuri Ribeiro Blackburn Rovers | €1.0M | €1.0M | -0.25 | Fair Value |
Greg Leigh Oxford United | €200K | €1.0M | -0.19 | Fair Value |
Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | €600K | €1.0M | -0.16 | Fair Value |
Alex Bangura Middlesbrough FC | €700K | €1.0M | -0.16 | Fair Value |
Callum Elder Derby County | €400K | €1.0M | -0.06 | Fair Value |