Hull City's Championship playoff triumph in May was widely considered a shock. The club had begun the season as relegation favorites and operated under a transfer embargo throughout the campaign, while conceding 66 league goals, the fourth-highest in the division. Premier League survival will require another improbable achievement.
Owner Acun Ilicali has expressed optimism about the club's prospects, saying Hull should be thought of as "a volcano" that is "boiling right now and it's going to erupt." The club plans to make 14 new signings on a smaller budget than Sunderland managed last summer. So far, 11 players have arrived, including goalkeeper Jack Butland, midfielder Hidemasa Morita, defender Matt Targett, and central defender Nobel Mendy, a club record signing from Rayo Vallecano for just over £20 million.
Manager Sergej Jakirovic said the transfer market had been slow but expected activity to accelerate in the final week of the window. He expressed interest in Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor and Swansea's Zan Vipotnik, last season's 23-goal Championship top scorer. Pre-season injuries have complicated preparations, with Butland facing the prospect of missing until Christmas with an arm problem.
The club avoided a near-certain six-point deduction in June by selling goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and midfielder Aidon Shehu to Rangers and Panathinaikos respectively for a combined £8.5 million. Access to Premier League broadcasting revenue has since made Hull significantly wealthier. Ilicali has pledged not to risk the club's future through overspending and, at the time of writing, had invested around £78 million on new players.
Jakirovic, 49, arrived from Turkey's Kayserispor in June 2025 and led Hull to sixth place in the Championship before guiding them to victory over Middlesbrough in the playoff final. The Bosnian-Croatian international previously led Dinamo Zagreb to the Croatian League and Cup double in 2024. Young defender Charlie Hughes, 22, was Hull's player of the year last season but will miss the start of the campaign after hernia surgery, though he is expected back by early autumn.
