Former Sheffield United midfielder 'closing in' on immediate Championship return - report
Former Sheffield United loanee Djibril Soumaré looks set to secure an immediate return to the Championship.
Stoke City are reportedly edging closer to completing the signing of former Sheffield United loanee Djibril Soumaré on a permanent deal from SC Braga.
It emerged last week that Stoke were keen on signing the 23-year-old to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign. It was reported by French publication Onze Mondial that Braga had agreed a sale worth €4.5million.
It has now been reported by Portuguese journalist Sebastião Sousa-Pinto that Soumaré’s anticipated switch to the bet365 Stadium is edging closer. He has claimed the former United midfielder is expected to fly to England ‘in the next few hours’ to take the move one step closer to its conclusion.
Soumaré spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Bramall Lane after arriving from Braga last August. The deal included an obligation to buy upon certain criteria being met, but United never planned to bring him back to the club on a full-time basis.
The Senegalese midfielder blew hot and cold throughout his time in South Yorkshire, struggling to find a rhythm of consistency in the Blades’ engine room. He did not feature in any of the Blades’ last five games of the season, last appearing in the 1-0 defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Easter Monday.
Recruited by former Blades boss Rubén Sellés, who was appointed exactly a year ago today, Soumaré only made three appearances under him before he was dismissed in September, meaning 24 of his 27 outings for the Blades were made under Chris Wilder.
The United boss strengthened his midfield options in the winter transfer window, recruiting Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City and Joe Rothwell on a permanent deal from Rangers. Soumaré featured on just six occasions following the end of the mid-season window, making only three starts.
Stoke need to bolster their ranks this summer after finishing 17th in the Championship last term, marking an eighth successive bottom half finish since dropping out of the Premier League in 2017/18.