After winning the League One title with 101 points in the 2022-23 season, a return to the Championship for the first time in over a decade awaits Plymouth Argyle.
In what will be their first campaign in the second tier since the 2009-10 season, Argyle have shown that they are not there to make up the numbers after breaking their club record transfer fee twice.
Pilgrims' boss Steven Schumacher paid in the region of £1million to sign bring midfielder Morgan Whittaker back to Home Park on a permanent basis, following a loan spell from Swansea City.
Then, in a matter of weeks, Schumacher replicated the fee to bring another loanee from the 2022-23 campaign back to the club in the form of attacking wing-back Bali Mumba from Norwich City.
In addition to this, Schumacher has also made a number of other potentially astute signings in the form of Spanish defender Julio Pleguezuelo from FC Twente and goalkeeper Conor Hazard from Celtic who will provide not only cover for Michael Cooper as he recovers from injury, but also competition.
Following their previous promotions to the second tier in 1974-75, 1985-86 and 2003-04, Argyle always managed to consolate their position in the division, staying there for two years (1975 to 77), six years (1986 to 1992) and six years (2004 to 2010). And with a core of young players, including midfielders Jordan Houghton and Adam Randell, the Pilgrims have a group of players who could potentially remain with the club for a number of seasons.
Survival will be Argyle's first priority in 2023-24, but after that the path followed by similar sized clubs such as Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford and Luton Town could yet be become open to them in the near to distant future.
Player to Watch: Bali Mumba
The £500,000 that the Pilgrims paid Cardiff City for Steven McLean had stood as the club's record transfer paid since January 2008 until this summer, as Argyle paid in the region of £1million plus for both Morgan Whittaker and Bali Mumba.
During his loan spell from Norwich City, Mumba won the EFL League One young player of the season award and was named in the League One team of the season for 2022-23.
Mumba will now be looking to enjoy further success with the Pilgrims after returning to Home Park on a permanent basis.
In: Julio Pleguezuelo (FC Twente), Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Aston Villa, loan), Conor Hazard (Glasgow Celtic), Morgan Whittaker (Swansea City), Bali Mumba (Norwich City), Lewis Gibson (Everton), Lewis Warrington (Everton, loan)
Out: Niall Ennis (Blackburn Rovers), Danny Mayor (Fleetwood Town), James Wilson (Bristol Rovers), Conor Grant (Port Vale), Ryan Law (Truro City), Finley Craske (Torquay United), Will Jenkins-Davies (Torquay United, loan)
