How Sheffield Wednesday transfers actually work: who finds players, who negotiates deals and who has the final say

The transfer window is a baffling time of rumours, eleventh hour deals and missed opportunities – but how do transfers really work at Sheffield Wednesday?
Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce with chairman Dejphon Chansiri.Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce with chairman Dejphon Chansiri.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce with chairman Dejphon Chansiri.

Shortly after Dejphon Chansiri completed his buy-out of the Owls in March 2015, he hired Adam Pearson and Glenn Roeder to work alongside Stuart Gray as part of a transfer committee.

After Gray lost his job in the summer and Pearson departed the club, Carlos Carvalhal brought changes to the transfer structure at Hillsborough. The club eventually decided to streamline their committee, prompting the Owls to adopt a more traditional model where the head coach has a significant input into their transfer business but the final word – and responsibility for negotiations – lies with Chansiri and his global advisers. "It is down to the coach to identify players but, of course, I still have the final say,” said Chansiri. "If I'm the one who chooses the players, I should not hire a coach and I should be the coach!"

Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce with chairman Dejphon Chansiri.Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce with chairman Dejphon Chansiri.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Bruce with chairman Dejphon Chansiri.
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Bruce ‘simply commands respect’

THE FIVE KEY MEN

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Dejphon Chansiri  Based in Bangkok but regularly attends Wednesday matches – Chansiri plays a big part in the transfer committee. Agents frequently contact Chansiri but he has stressed: "I have always said it is down to the coach to identify potential transfer targets, not me."

Amadeu Paixao

Paixao, formerly an agent with Doyen Sports, has been a close advisor to Chansiri for a number of years. He has his own football connections and is heavily involved in the negotation process.

Steve Bruce

This summer is Bruce's first full transfer window and the Owls boss is vastly-experienced with an array of contacts in the game.

Bruce, together with Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence, identifies potential targets and puts forward names of players he wants.

David Downes and Dean Hughes

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Bruce raided his former club Aston Villa to bring in the pair earlier this year. Downes was appointed Wednesday's head of recruitment while Hughes is their recruitment analyst.

Downes worked closely with Bruce at Villa Park and will go to watch players home and abroad. Hughes, meanwhile, was part of Bruce's Hull City set-up.

THE OWLS’ TRANSFER RECORD Some observers have criticised the club's transfer dealings since Wednesday lost to Hull City in the play-off final three years ago. Almen Abdi, David Jones, George Boyd and Joost van Aken - to name a few - all flopped. But Chansiri has repeatedly defended their transfer policy, pointing out that even the top clubs in the country do not hit the jackpot when it comes to buying and selling players. It is worth pointing out that Adam Reach's market value has risen considerably in recent years following a string of eye-catching performances and Steven Fletcher has proven a solid free recruit. Bruce has only signed three players so far. Dominic Iorfa has showed glimpses of his ability and should only get better. The loan signings of Rolando Aarons and Achraf Lazaar looked good in patches but injuries prevented them from making a bigger impact. Only time will tell whether Bruce's decision to restructure their recruitment team has paid off.