Sheffield United depth chart as Chris Wilder prepares to oversee summer rebuild
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has a lot of work to do this summer in his mission to rebuild his squad following an underwhelming 2025/26 season.
A busy summer lies ahead for Sheffield United after an underwhelming 2025/26 campaign saw them finish 13th in the Championship table.
Hierarchy mistakes, featuring the sacking of Chris Wilder and the appointment of Rubén Sellés, cost United dearly this season, meaning they fell well short of their pre-season target of securing promotion back to the Premier League after narrowly missing out in last season’s Championship play-off final.
United gradually improved after Wilder was reinstated last September, successfully staving off the very realistic threat of relegation, and had the ninth-best record in the division from the juncture that marked his return. With the top eight in with a shot of promotion from next term, United will be hoping they can bridge that gap with a sensible summer’s worth of recruitment and a proper pre-season without any disruption.
Wilder is keen to bring in players with Championship pedigree and improve the character and mentality of the squad so that is more aligned with United’s culture and values.
Ahead of the retained list being confirmed, The Star has had a look at the current condition of United’s squad, taking into account players who are set to depart and who will be returning from loan spells elsewhere.
Contracts expiring
Five first-team players are out-of-contract at Bramall Lane this summer and United have already confirmed midfielder Tom Davies will be departing after three injury-plagued seasons at the club.
Ben Mee, who joined the club on a one-year deal last September, swiftly announced his departure following the end of the season and later announced his retirement. Mee’s former Burnley teammate, Danny Ings, is, as revealed by The Star earlier this month, also set to depart after less than a year at the club.
Jaïro Riedewald, technically, is also out-of-contract this summer after his original short-term deal was extended through to the end of the campaign in December. He joined United as a free agent last October to strengthen their midfield options.
That new agreement featured the option for United to extend the Dutchman’s stay by a further year, and it is an option that could be activated. Alternatively, there could be a scenario where he signs a new deal that is valid for more than just one year. Talks are understood to be ongoing and details just need ironing out.
Goalkeeper Adam Davies is the other senior player whose contract is up this summer and it remains to be seen if he will be offered a new deal. Signing his most recent contract in 2024, he started the final 12 games of the Championship campaign after Michael Cooper suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Loans ending
United ended the campaign with six loanees on their books after signing Tyler Bindon, Djibril Soumaré and Chiedozie Ogbene last summer and then Ki-Jana Hoever, Leo Hjelde and Kalvin Phillips in the mid-season window. All six of them are going to return to their parent clubs.
Of the sextet, the only individual who could return to Bramall Lane ahead of next season is thought to be Manchester City midfield enforcer Phillips. Despite struggling for minutes during his time in S2 because of a knee problem that required a small operation, he made a positive impression on and off the pitch.
The Star reported in April that United will explore the possibility of signing the former Leeds United man and that he is keen on a return to the club.
Loanees returning
United sent a cluster of players out on loan this season, either last summer or in the mid-season window, meaning decisions will have to be made on each of them ahead of next season. Some of them do not have futures in S2 while others will be hoping to fight their way into Wilder’s plans.
Goalkeeper Ivo Grbić has spent this season on loan at Turkish club Fatih Karagümrük S.K. and has just over a year left remaining on his United contract, meaning the Blades will require a transfer fee to get him off the books on a permanent basis this summer.
The other high profile loanees who are set to return to S2 this summer include Rhys Norrington-Davies, who is under contract until 2027, Nils Zätterström, who signed a four-year deal last August, and talented youngster Ryan Oné, who is also tied down until the summer of 2029.
Italian club Genoa have the option to sign Zätterström on a permanent deal, but it remains to be seen if that option will be activated.
Others who are scheduled to return to Bramall Lane are youngsters Sam Curtis, who is currently on loan at Chesterfield, Jamal Baptiste, who spent the campaign at Rotherham United, Billy Blacker, who spent the season with Tranmere Rovers, Ehije Ukaki, who joined Greek club Atromitos in February, and Christian Nwachukwu, who has been with Turkish outfit Serikspor since February.
Senior players under contract for 2026/27:
Goalkeepers: Michael Cooper, Ivo Grbić, Luke Faxon.
Right-backs: Femi Seriki, Jamie Shackleton.
Centre-backs: Japhet Tanganga, Mark McGuinness, Nils Zätterström.
Left-backs: Sam McCallum, Harrison Burrows, Rhys Norrington-Davies.
Midfielders: Oliver Arblaster, Sydie Peck, Joe Rothwell, Alex Matos, Jaïro Riedewald*.
Attacking-midfielders: Callum O’Hare, Gustavo Hamer.
Wingers: Andre Brooks, Tahith Chong.
Strikers: Tyrese Campbell, Tom Cannon, Patrick Bamford, Ryan Oné.
*Denotes United can activate an option to trigger one-year contract extension.