Romelle Donovan: Spotlight on Sheffield United transfer target as Blades “agree deal” for “real star in the making”

Sheffield United are closing in on the signing of a young man described as “a real star in the making” as they look to tie up their first new face of the summer transfer window. A busy off-season has so far been dominated by exits, with Jairo Riedewald re-signing last week.

One of the most notable departures so far was that of Andre Brooks to Norwich City, leaving another hole to be filled on the right wing. And according to Mike McGrath of the Telegraph, the Blades are looking to plug that with the loan signing of Brentford starlet Romelle Donovan.

Donovan, who can play as an attacking midfielder or winger, signed for Brentford initially on loan from Birmingham City before penning a five-year deal with the Bees.

An England youth international at U18 and U19 level, 19-year-old Donovan also had a loan spell at Burton Albion during his time in the Midlands and has played 29 games at senior level.

One of those came back in January of this year in an FA Cup win over the Blades’ city rivals Wednesday at Hillsborough, with Donovan making his full Bees debut in a 2-0 victory. Afterwards Bees fan Ian Westbrook told the BBC: “The other thing to proverbially get fans off their seats was the long-awaited full debut of teenage attacking midfielder Romelle Donovan.

“He has shown his talent in the B team with some spectacular goals, leaving us desperate to see him in first-team action.

“Donovan took his chance on Saturday with both hands. He led the inexperienced Owls defence a merry dance and was brought down for our penalty - but also did not neglect his defensive duties, tracking back to make a crucial tackle early on.

“I don't want to go overboard about someone so young after only one game - but if he carries on like this, we have a real star in the making on our hands.”

Speaking after signing his first professional deal at Birmingham two years ago, Donovan said: “My journey started when I was around seven, when I started getting into a proper team. By the age of two I was kicking football but my family didn't really know about football and where to go.

“I used to be a centre-back, I used to love dribbling out from the field. I spent one season there, then I just got picked up by the Blues.”

Donovan followed in the footsteps of a young Jude Bellingham by playing in the Championship at just 16 years of age. “Since I was young, I loved pressure,” he added. “I loved playing in front of people.

“I loved having crowds in school, in the park, anywhere I was playing, I loved people watching me, so I feel like when I stepped on that pitch I felt like I was free. That's what I've been waiting for my whole life.

“So when I see the fans cheering when I'm coming on, when I'm seeing people saying: ‘Oh, that's Romelle Donovan, the young one, he's coming on,’ then I feel an uplift and I feel like I'm ready to show what I'm about. Because at the end of the day that's what I want to do.”