Chris Wilder has reunited with Hamza Choudhury after the Leicester City man completed a permanent return to Bramall Lane, handing the Blades another experienced option ahead of tomorrow’s transfer deadline

Chris Wilder believes Hamza Choudhury “mirrors everything we are about at this football club” after bringing him back to Sheffield United from Leicester City. The midfielder has penned an initial one-year deal at Bramall Lane.

The Bangladesh international becomes United's latest addition of the summer after the Blades moved quickly to strike a deal with Leicester City, where Choudhury had spent almost two decades after joining the Foxes' academy as a youngster.

Choudhury returns to South Yorkshire having already established himself as a favourite among United supporters during a loan spell in the second half of the 2024/25 season, when he helped United reach the Championship play-off final.

"I'm very excited. It's somewhere I really enjoyed my time last time I was here, so I'm really happy to get it over the line,” Choudury said. “I've worked with the manager for a short period at Watford and then obviously the last spell I had here, and we've always kept in touch. I really love playing under him.

"It's a big change for me. I've been at Leicester for 20 years now, so it's a change for me and my family, but one I'm really looking forward to and hopefully we can have a big season here.

"I stayed in touch with all the lads. We had a really good group when I was here, so we all stayed in touch over the last year to 18 months. It's nice to see some familiar faces."

Primarily a midfielder, Choudhury is also capable of playing at right-back and was earmarked as a potential addition after Femi Seriki’s injury last Tuesday at Blackburn Rovers. There is still uncertainty over how long the Blades’ first-choice will be out as a result.

The 28-year-old offers United valuable flexibility and experience at a time when injuries and departures have stretched United's squad. He helped City win the FA Cup in 2021 and also lift the Championship title in 2023/24.

"I spoke after the game against Cardiff about how we needed to strengthen,” added Wilder. “And with one or two injuries that we currently have, it was imperative that we improved competition at right back. We all know that Hamza can do that role and so much more.

"Everyone knows what I think of Hamza as a player and a person. And Blades fans know from his first spell here that we have a terrific footballer with an attitude and determination which mirrors everything we are about at this football club.

“During the last 10 games of his first spell here, he was arguably our best player, which included the play-off semi-finals and final. Hamza will give us that physicality and energy which endeared him to the fans first time around.

“He's a winner, he's played at the highest level, he was at the club when Leicester won the Premier League, and he played in their winning FA Cup final team. He also knows what it takes to be successful at this level and he'll be a real driving force within the dressing room.

"Again, I would like to thank the owners and Stephen Bettis who have been very supportive."

As we revealed earlier this week, United negotiated an essentially free-transfer permanent deal for Choudhury with City keen to get his wages off the books after they were relegated to League One.

He will be eligible to make his debut in tomorrow night’s Championship clash against Bolton Wanderers at Bramall Lane, which kicks off just hours before the 11pm transfer deadline.

It is the second time in the space of a few days that United have thwarted a Derby County transfer move. The Rams were keen to re-sign Ben Brereton Diaz, who instead joined the Blades last week, and were also keen on signing Choudhury after Leicester dropped into the third tier.