With ten new players in, Chesterfield's summer transfer business is surely all but done as the 2026/27 League Two season comes into view. The spaces left by the departed loan trio Sil Swinkels, Sammy Braybrooke, and Sam Curtis have been filled, not to mention Armando Dobra. From my relatively short time on the Chesterfield reporting beat, here's a look at the current state of play of the squad in terms of positions, mindful of course that players can slot in elsewhere if circumstances dictate.
Goalkeepers: Well covered here with Ryan Boot and Zach Hemming, plus young James Sissons also around. Hemming will be back from a wrist injury soon and will have to wait his turn given Boot's sheer consistency in recent months. "Booooot" has become a fans' favourite.
Right back: Some attacking thrust has been added to the right-back position. Junior Eccleston has looked decent in pre-season and Remeao Hutton also likes to bomb on and arrives with tons of experience from Gillingham. Theirs will be an interesting tussle for a starting shirt.
Left back: Slightly lighter here at the moment because Tom Pearce is working his way back from injury. Lewis Gordon, with a full pre-season behind him, has a chance to stake a claim in the coming weeks.
Central defence: Chesterfield lost a sound left-sided centre half in Sil Swinkels, now with Sheffield Wednesday. Left-sided newcomer Jack Simpson knows his way around the lower divisions and, at 29, brings leadership. The pre-season team selections suggest another newcomer, Alfie Pond, will partner Simpson in central defence. Add in Kyle McFadzean, Chey Dunkley, and Malik Owolabi-Belewu (when fit) and the squad looks well stocked in this area.
Midfield: George McEachran checked in early in the summer from Grimsby to stake a claim for a deep-lying or central midfield role. He'll have competition from Luke Butterfield and then there's young Rafiq Lamptey who has come in on loan from Millwall promising to show plenty of aggression and get a foot in. With last year's Players' Player of the Year Tom Naylor and fit-again Ryan Stirk still around, Paul Cook doesn't lack options.
Forwards: Dilan Markanday is one of the first names on the team sheet, as is reigning Player of the Year Liam Mandeville. If Cook can get a tune out of Josh Koroma, who stalled at Leyton Orient last season, then he'll have a livewire on his hands. Dylan Duffy is another useful wide option providing he can stay fit and healthy and then there's trialist-turned-permanent signing Danny Anisjko, who looked as bright as a button in the early matches of pre-season. Another new face, Cypriot operator Ruel Sitiriou, can play winger or number 10.
Strikers: The calls for a bit more physicality up front have, on paper at least, been answered by the signing of Fraser Bryden. The trick for him is to bring his effectiveness (and his goals) to League Two from Irish football. Of course, Lee Bonis (17 goals in all competitions last season) remains the main man up top. The injured Will Dickson unfortunately won't be fit until January at the very least while it looks increasingly like Will Grigg's future lays elsewhere.
Chesterfield's next fixture is against Bristol Rovers at home on 2027-02-27, where they currently sit third in the table.
