Attacker excelling as quintet struggle for minutes in Sheffield United loan round-up
All the very latest on Sheffield United’s loan contingent following the end of a busy summer transfer window.
It goes without saying that the 2026 summer transfer window will not be remembered particularly fondly by Sheffield United supporters.
After watching their side finish 13th in the Championship last season, Blades fans had aspirations of seeing their team mount a promotion push this season. However, after the club decided to cash in on Andre Brooks, Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare without replacing them, those hopes have weakened.
United were reliant on free transfers and loans during the summer window, meaning boss Chris Wilder was not given the resources he needed to try to rebuild his squad. The Blades oversaw more departures than incomings, meaning United supporters were less than impressed with how the summer unfolded.
Alongside overseeing a number of permanent departures, United also sent a plethora of players out on loan. With that in mind, The Star has taken a look at how those currently out on loan have been getting on so far this season...
Alex Matos - Göztepe S.K.
After joining the Blades from Chelsea in last summer’s transfer window, midfielder Matos struggled for regular game time, making just eight appearances throughout the 2025/26 campaign. Five of those eight appearances came before the October international break, meaning he barely featured for the remainder of the campaign.
After last appearing for the Blades on December 29, he was allowed to head out on loan in July, joining Turkish club Göztepe S.K. for the duration of the 2026/27 season. He has made five appearances for Göztepe so far, scoring one goal.
He was on the scoresheet on his debut, opening the scoring in a 3-3 draw with Samsunspor on the opening day. He has started four of their first six league games this season.
Mihail Polendakov - Ludogorets Razgrad
One of three players brought to Bramall Lane from Bulgaria in 2025, Polendakov failed to force his way into the first-team squad, making no appearances last season. Naturally, it made sense for the Blades to send the teenager out on loan this season, with Ludogorets having both an option and an obligation to sign him permanently at the end of his loan spell.
The 19-year-old right-back has made just one appearance for Ludogorets so far this season, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 win over Cherno More Varna last month. Polendakov has also made three appearances for their reserve team, all of which have come as a starter.
Ehije Ukaki - Botev Plovdiv
After joining the Blades from Botev Plovdiv in June last year, Ukaki returned to his former club on loan for the remainder of the season earlier this month. The 21-year-old winger has made just one appearance for the Blades so far, starting their 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City in the first round of the Carabao Cup last season.
Since returning to Bulgaria, Ukaki has not made a single appearance, meaning he is still waiting to make his second Botev Plovdiv debut.
Nils Zätterström - Raków Częstochowa
Like Ukaki, Zätterström also left Bramall Lane after the window had closed in England, joining Polish outfit Raków Częstochowa. The Swedish centre-back, who joined the Blades from Malmö FF in August last year, spent the second half of last season on loan at Italian side Genoa, meaning a second departure from Bramall Lane was expected throughout the summer.
The 21-year-old defender has not featured for the Polish outfit yet, failing to make it off the bench in each of the first three matches for which he has been available since joining the club.
Sam Curtis - Cambridge United
After making his mark on loan in League Two with Chesterfield during the second half of last season, right-back Curtis joined League One side Cambridge United on deadline day. He frequently impressed for the Spireites, meaning it made sense for United to place him in a higher division when allowing him to head out on loan this time around.
He has made two appearances for Neil Harris’ side so far, making one start and one substitute appearance. He started Cambridge’s 1-1 draw with Oxford United just over a week ago before heading away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, who are scheduled to face Kazakhstan on Tuesday night.
Louie Marsh - Chesterfield
Swapping Bramall Lane for the SMH Group Stadium just before the window closed, Marsh has made a fantastic start to his time on loan at Chesterfield, scoring five goals in his first seven appearances for the club.
After scoring twice on his first start for the League Two club, helping them draw 3-3 with Barnet, he has since added to his tally with goals against Manchester City’s Under-21s, Port Vale and Cheltenham Town. His goals against Barnet and Cheltenham were scored in the league, while his efforts against City and Port Vale came in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
Operating in the No.10 position, the 22-year-old, who featured in United’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in the second round of the Carabao Cup before heading out on loan, is taking full advantage of his temporary stint in North Derbyshire so far.
Zain Tahir - Oldham Athletic
After spending time on loan in the National League with Scunthorpe United last term, Tahir was allowed to join Oldham for the duration of this season in July, presenting him with the opportunity to make his mark in League Two for the first time.
However, he has made just one appearance for the club so far, starting the Latics’ 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town in their Jersey Mike’s Trophy opener last week. He is yet to be included in a matchday squad for a league fixture.
Jili Buyabu - Rotherham United
Elsewhere in League Two, Buyabu has been faring much better at the Blades’ South Yorkshire rivals, Rotherham. He joined the Millers on a season-long loan in July, offering him the chance to make the step up after impressing on loan at Forest Green Rovers last season.
The 23-year-old, who is a left-sided player, has made ten appearances for Alex Bruce’s side so far, scoring two goals. After scoring in their League Two opener against Cheltenham last month, he was also on the scoresheet against York City in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
He has started six of the Millers’ first eight league games.
Sai Sachdev - Boston United
United made the decision to send right-back Sachdev out on loan to non-league outfit Boston until January in July. The 21-year-old, who joined the Blades in 2021, had not been out on loan since spending the second half of the 2023/24 season at Oldham Athletic, who were in the National League at the time.
Sachdev has quickly established himself as a key figure in Boston chief Paul Hurst’s plans, racking up 12 appearances in all competitions so far this season. Operating in a wing-back role, the Leicester-born youngster has scored one goal and registered two assists.
Boston are currently 18th in the National League table, two points above the relegation zone.
Luke Faxon - Boston United
Sachdev’s temporary switch to Boston saw him link up with United teammate Faxon, who had made the move to Lincolnshire earlier in July. The goalkeeper joined the club on loan for the first half of the season to try to secure some first-team football.
However, the 21-year-old has been limited to just two appearances so far this season, with both coming in the National League Cup against Birmingham City’s U21s and West Bromwich Albion’s U21s, respectively. Louis Chadwick is Boston’s first-choice goalkeeper, meaning he has started their opening ten league games this season, leaving Faxon on the bench.