As another thrilling Sky Bet Championship season draws to a close with the exciting play-off final at Wembley on May 24, attention turns to the standout performers who lit up the league week after week.
The end-of-season awards, which took place prior to the play-off semi-finals, celebrate individual brilliance across the second tier of English football, and two of the most prestigious honours are the Player and Young Player of the Season accolades.
These awards not only recognise consistent excellence and game-changing performances but also highlight the emerging stars destined for the top. So, with the Blades the favourites in the Sheffield United vs Sunderland betting, let’s take a look at who took home the individual silverware in 2025—and how they earned it?
Player of the Season: Gustavo Hamer – Sheffield United
Gustavo Hamer has been crowned the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season after a sensational campaign at the heart of Sheffield United’s midfield. The Brazilian-born Dutchman has played a vital role in the Blades’ push for the play-offs, helping the club mount an immediate response to last season’s relegation from the Premier League.
Hamer, 27, joined Sheffield United from Coventry City for a reported £15 million fee in the summer of 2023. While he was unable to prevent the Blades from slipping out of the top flight—having managed just three wins all season—he found his rhythm again back in the Championship, a division where he has consistently excelled.
This season, Hamer has been nothing short of dominant. Known for his energy, aggressive pressing, and creative flair, he contributed 16 goals and assists from midfield—scoring nine and setting up seven more. Those contributions accounted for a remarkable 25% of Sheffield United’s goals in the league, underlining his importance as both a creator and finisher.
While he’s occasionally earned a reputation for being a hot-headed presence, his fiery edge is part of what makes him such a standout performer. Whether breaking up play, dictating tempo, or delivering a pinpoint final ball, Hamer has been a driving force in helping United be favourable in the Championship betting.
His performances haven’t gone unnoticed either. Reports suggest Premier League sides, including Everton, are monitoring his situation closely, with a potential summer move on the cards. If this does prove to be his final season at Bramall Lane, he’ll leave having made a huge impact in a short space of time—and with individual honours to prove it.
Young Player of the Season: Jobe Bellingham – Sunderland
If the surname sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham, is beginning to carve out his own identity—and he’s doing so impressively in the Championship.
Named the Sky Bet Championship Young Player of the Season for 2025, Bellingham has emerged as a vital figure in Sunderland’s midfield. At just 19 years old, he’s already amassed over 100 appearances in the second tier, a testament to both his consistency and durability. Over the past two seasons, he’s featured 85 times for the Black Cats, missing just seven league matches during that period.
Unlike his brother, who is known for marauding forward runs and goalscoring instincts, Jobe’s game is built more around defensive intelligence, work rate, and positional awareness. His contributions might not always make the highlights reel, but they are invaluable to Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side.
This season, Bellingham’s maturity on the pitch has been particularly impressive. Whether sitting deep to shield the back four or pressing high to disrupt the opposition’s build-up, he’s shown versatility and tactical acumen well beyond his years.
His development has not gone unnoticed across Europe either, with top clubs reportedly keeping tabs on his progress—including Borussia Dortmund, where Jude famously rose to prominence. There’s still a long way to go in Jobe Bellingham’s career, but his trajectory is clearly heading upward.