William Hill SPFL Championship - Summer Transfer Window
Date: Wednesday, 9th Sep 2026It was a bit of a hectic time with the transfer window which closed earlier in the week.
We have had a review and look at the changes that have affected the other clubs in the Championship.
ARBROATH
The Red Lichties have had to rebuild after a mass exodus of loan players.
Co-Managers David Gold and Colin Hamilton have leaned heavily on their Dundee United connections this Summer, with Calvin Beattie arriving permanently, plus Scott Constable and Charlie Dewar signing on loan from the Tannadice side. Jude Bonnar from Celtic and Cormac Daly from Hearts add Premiership academy quality on loan deals, too.
Experienced Championship names like Sean Mackie from Falkirk and Andy Winter from Livingston give them know-how, as well as Michael McKenna returning to the Gayfield side from East Fife.
Harry Cochrane has gone to league rival Greenock Morton, whilst Jack Wilkie joined Livingston. Six loans returned - Lewis Gillie, Luke Kenny, Tom Lang, Jacob MacIntyre, Findlay Marshall and Aiden Nesbitt. Ross Callachan has retired. Marshall and MacIntyre will be difficult players to replace, but the Angus club will be hoping their recruitment this Summer will see them have another successful campaign.
AYR UNITED
Ayr have been one of the busiest, turning loans into assets.
Leon King and Ben Summers have had their Rangers and Celtic loans made permanent - King is a statement signing for this level. Reece Lyon from Queen of the South and Luke McBeth from Partick Thistle strengthen midfield, with McBeth moving in the opposite direction to Ben Dempsey, with the Honest Men`s Captain from last campaign choosing to leave Somerset Park at the end of his contract.
Ross Taylor arrives from promoted Stenhousemuir, following new manager Gary Naysmith to Ayrshire, alongside Motherwell loanee Olly Whyte, who thrived under the guidance of the former Everton and Scotland left-back last season at Ochilview. Eye-catching loans include Josh Landers from West Ham United and Harry Stone from Hearts.
Alongside Dempsey, a huge amount of experience went out the door - Stuart Bannigan to Hamilton, David Mitchell to Queen`s Park, George Oakley and Anton Dowds both to Raith Rovers. Curtis Main is now a free agent after his deal ended. Five Celtic / Everton / Newcastle loans have returned to their parent clubs, also.
DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC
The Pars have gone international and youthful.
A real variety in recruitment under Neil Lennon ahead of the 2026/2027 term, with Olamilekan Adams from Dynamo Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Republic, Kian Corbally from Ballymena United and Musa Dibaga from Crusaders in Northern Ireland arriving, as well as Trayvion Jackson and Luke Robinson from down south. Oli Shaw arrives from Hamilton Academical to add goals, while Aston Oxborough and Olly Thomas have had their Motherwell and Bristol City loans turned permanent. The loan market has been utilised too, with Aaron Donnelly from Dundee, Dylan Lobban from Aberdeen, Allan Oyirwoth from New England Revolution in the MLS, and Freddie Turley from Derby County all joining throughout the Summer.
Fan favourite Matty Todd chose to leave the club in at the end of his contract, preferring a move to St. Johnstone in the Premiership, is arguably the biggest blow to Lennon`s squad over the close season. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen to Wigan Athletic, plus Ewan Otoo and Kieran Ngwenya to Rotherham United are notable moves down south, whilst Pars fan and Vice-Captain Chris Hamilton has swapped Dunfermline for Dingwall, joining League 1 hopefuls Ross County.
Club Captain Kyle Benedictus has retired and taken up a role within the Coaching Department at KDM Group East End Park, too. Two players are currently free agents - Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Kane Ritchie-Hosler, who had surgery at the end of last season and could be out for the majority of this campaign.
GREENOCK MORTON
Morton have not had their financial issues to seek over the course of the past few months, but have managed a late rally of signings, having gone global with their loan strategy.
Domestically, Harry Cochrane arrives from Arbroath and Grant Savoury from Queen`s Park. MacKenzie Carse from Stirling Albion and Laiith Fairnie from Eastbourne Borough joined Ian Murray`s men too.
The standout signings however are their six international loans - Dylan Borso and Christopher Cupps have signed temporary transfers from Chicago Fire in the USA; Sahil Bashir from Huddersfield, Phil Croker from Crewe, Calvin Okike from Hull City and Elyh Harrison from Manchester United.
Murray eventually has a squad of players available to him which he will now hope can climb the league ladder, away from danger.
Cammy MacPherson to Livingston and Zak Delaney to Raith Rovers are moves to Championship rivals for key players from the Cappielow club this Summer. Curtis Main`s loan ended but he hasn`t resigned for Morton despite being a Free Agent.
Four players who were under contract with Murrays side last season are now also Free Agents: Ali Crawford, Zak McKay, Nathan Shaw and Kris Moore, who mutually terminated his contract just prior to the Transfer Deadline.
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE
Back in the Championship, Inverness have mixed things up, between Highland League value and top-flight experience.
Miller Keir is the only fee paid by Caley Thistle this Transfer Window - £30k for the young striker from Turriff United. The headline - and statement - signing is Graeme Shinnie returning from Aberdeen. Joining him in the Highlands from the Pittodrie side is Ryan Duncan, whilst fellow young Scot, Kerr Smith has signed from Aston Villa.
Roddy MacGregor returns to the club from Queen`s Park and Daniel Mackay arrives back at the Caledonian Stadium from Partick Thistle, where he`s spent an injury plagued spell. Liam Sole has had his Livingston loan made permanent. However, Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart both returning on loan from Aberdeen has been a major boost for Scott Kellacher`s men.
A huge turnover of players went out the way, as the Highlanders stepped back up from League One. Hamzad Kargbo only joined in the Summer, but has quickly had his contract mutually terminated, has since signed for divisional rivals Stenhousemuir. Oscar MacIntyre has also moved to Stenny, whilst Ross Millen to Raith Rovers has seen another of ICT`s League 1 winning squad depart for another Championship club this Summer.
Club legend Billy McKay has retired and will focus fully now on being Kellacher`s Assistant Manager. Jake Davidson and Chanka Zimba are currently Free Agents after being released at the end of last term. Former Par Joe Chalmers is currently out on loan to Cove Rangers in Scotland`s third-tier.
LIVINGSTON
Relegated from the Premiership, the Lions had a chaotic summer - appointing former Stoke and Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan as manager, then sacking him just five matches into the Scottish Championship campaign!
Despite the turmoil, recruitment was strong. Bruce Anderson and Liam Polworth both arrived from Kilmarnock - Anderson returning to West Lothian for a second spell with the Club. Cammy MacPherson from Morton, Jack Wilkie from Arbroath and Sam Nicholson from Motherwell have all arrived, alongside Jordan Doherty from Raith Rovers and Tyrese Sinclair from York City.
There has been many more players who have joined Livi this Summer, but many have struggled to make an impact at the Home of the Set Fare Arena, so far. David martindale returns to the dugout in the short-term until a successor is found for Whelan.
The sale of Lewis Smith to Aberdeen for £300k is the biggest fee in the Championship window for an outgoing player. Tete Yengi`s loan from Machida Zelvia was made permanent following the Aussie`s participation at this Summer`s FIFA World Cup, whilst Liam Sole`s loan to Inverness was made permanent, also.
Andrew Shinnie joined promoted Stenhousemuir, amongst a whole host of others to leave the Lions. Senior names who left and are currently still Free Agents include Scott Arfield, Samson Lawal, Barrie McKay and Mohamad Sylla.
PARTICK THISTLE
A more settled Transfer Window at Firhill, focusing on making loans permanent.
Ethan Ingram, Ben McPherson and Oisin Smyth have all had their Celtic, Dundee and St. Mirren loans turned into permanent deals. Ben Dempsey is a direct rival recruit from Ayr United, with Luke McBeth going the other way. Seb Drozd arrives from Queen`s Park and is making an instant impact for Mark Wilson`s side.
Kyle Turner to Raith Rovers and Daniel Mackay to Inverness are moves within the league. Scott Martin made his Queen`s Park loan permanent, too. Youngster Che Campbell is currently a free agent after leaving. But, the biggest `Out` was an unexpected piece of business for Thistle. Partick originally agreed a Pre-Contract with goalkeeper Josh Clarke to remain with Wilson`s men permanently.
Shortly after his Celtic contract expired, Doncaster Rovers wanted to sign the shot-stopper. The Jags agreed to a loan deal with a clause which would make Clarke`s move down south become permanent. That clause has now been triggered, with Clarke no longer a Partick Thistle player.
QUEEN`S PARK
The Spiders have leaned into the Co-Operation Loan Agreement strategy again this season, with a partnership being formed with Rangers for the 26/27 term.
Senior signings saw Jack Hamilton arrive from Raith Rovers and David Mitchell from Ayr United, to refresh the goalkeeping department. Scott Martin makes his Partick Thistle loan move permanent. Ben Brannan joins on loan from Kilmarnock, plus three Rangers youngsters - Zebedee Lawson, Aiden McCallion and Lewis Stewart.
Roddy MacGregor to Inverness, Seb Drozd to Partick Thistle and Grant Savoury to Morton are all moves to divisional rivals, for key players within Sean Crighton`s team. Calum Ferrie has stepped up to Kilmarnock in arguably the biggest loss of the Summer for the Lesser Hampden side. Michael Collie and Aiden McGinlay are currently Free Agents.
RAITH ROVERS
Raith have recruited heavily from within the division this Summer, giving them an extremely experienced Championship squad.
Direct rival signings are the theme - Anton Dowds and George Oakley from Ayr United, Zak Delaney from Morton, Ross Millen from Inverness and Kyle Turner from Partick Thistle. Jack Baird has been re-united with former management team Dougie Imrie and Andy Millen following his move from St. Johnstone, whilst Charlie Telfer from Airdrieonians add nous into the middle of the park.
Three loans have joined the Kirkcaldy club too - Calum Adamson from Rangers, Luke Armstrong from Cardiff City and Scott Tiffoney from Kilmarnock, arguably a very impressive signing from the Rovers.
Jack Hamilton to Queen`s Park and Jordan Doherty to Livingston were big named losses for Imrie this Transfer Window. Josh Mullin has dropped to Stirling Albion, where he is now Player-Assistant Manager to former DAFC player Steven Whittaker. Veteran Ross Matthews has moved to Australia to join Bentleigh Greens.
STENHOUSEMUIR
The Warriors have been shrewd after promotion from League One. New manager Marvin Bartley has done an excellent job so far for the part-time side, as they test themselves out in Scotland`s second-tier.
A double swoop from Inverness has saw the arrivals of Hamzad Kargbo and Oscar MacIntyre. Andrew Shinnie arrives from Livingston to add much needed experience to a young Stenny squad, whilst Sam Young has signed in at Ochilview, following his release from Dunfermline. Scott Bright has signed from St. Johnstone and Robbie Hemfrey has agreed to be Darren Jamieson`s back-up for this season, after moving on from East Fife.
Stenhousemuir have utilised the loan market too, with Co-Operation Loans in place with Hearts for Matthew Gillies and Gus Stevenson - plus Lewis Hodgkiss and Callum Penman from St. Mirren have also joined on temporary transfers.
Scott McGill to Arbroath and Ross Taylor to Ayr United are losses to Championship rivals, two players Bartley would`ve loved to have remained in Larbert. Kelsey Ewen has retired, but otherwise it has been a relatively settled squad for Bartley to inherit this close season.
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