Sheffield Wednesday have a player who could be like a new signing next season
Sheffield Wednesday will need to recruit countless new faces in this summer’s transfer window to rebuild their squad - but the return of one current squad member will be like encountering a new signing.
The 2026/27 campaign will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Sheffield Wednesday’s rich and colourful history.
After more than a decade of soap operas, embargoes and points deductions under former owner Dejphon Chansiri, everyone associated with the Owls is optimistic about a brighter future under the stewardship of Arise Capital Partners.
The US consortium, which is made up of David Storch, Michael Storch and Tom Costin, has made a positive impact at Hillsborough, vowing to deliver a plan and a strategy that will hopefully take Wednesday forward. The man in charge of leading that plan on the ground, David Bruce, has also banked plenty of credit early on.
The size and scale of the challenge Arise have agreed to take on is enormous. Wednesday, both on and off the pitch, are in need of investment, and a lot of it. Arise have already shared just some of their plans to improve Hillsborough while Bruce has confirmed the club plans to be ‘aggressive and active’ in the transfer market.
There is no doubt Wednesday need to rebuild their squad this summer after it was ripped apart 12 months ago, but some areas of it do look stronger than others at this particular juncture, and it is at centre-back where the Owls do look in reasonably good shape.
Despite saying farewell to Dominic Iorfa earlier this month, Wednesday still have good depth in the heart of their defence for now. Although it remains to be seen if Liam Cooper and Max Lowe will stay at Hillsborough this summer, Wednesday still have Liam Palmer, Gabriel Otegbayo, Cole McGhee and Ernie Weaver on their books.
Wednesday also still have Di’Shon Bernard. The Jamaican international has been sidelined for over a year after being forced off in the Owls’ 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns in February 2025 with a serious knee injury.
After requiring two rounds of surgery, the 25-year-old has been sidelined for much longer than originally anticipated, meaning he has lost more than a year of his career. For a brief period earlier this year, Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen was hopeful the defender would be able to feature before the end of the campaign in some capacity, but that wish failed to materialise.
With the Owls having been destined for relegation for months prior to it becoming official in February, most Wednesdayites were in favour of Wednesday’s medical staff taking their time with Bernard and not running any risks by declaring him fit too soon with nothing to play for.
The Owls, at the very end of March, released video footage of Bernard being back out on the grass at Middlewood Road, undertaking some light running exercises with physiotherapist Dean Taylor. It was a landmark moment on his road to recovery.
Unless the defender encounters any further setbacks, it is hoped it will be all systems go for the start of pre-season. Bernard has another year left on his Wednesday contract, meaning the only way he will leave Hillsborough this summer is if another club comes in with a bid.
After more than a year out, Wednesday, one would think, are unlikely to be inundated with offers, meaning his lengthy stint on the sidelines should strengthen the Owls’ chances of keeping him for life in League One.
“He is a fantastic player, he has a fantastic personality,” Pedersen said of Bernard earlier this year. “So, of course, he will bring a big, big value to the squad when the time comes, and he'll be back.”
Bernard, who had loan spells at Salford City, Portsmouth and Hull City prior to putting down some roots in S6 Wednesday’s best centre-back. He is comfortable on the ball, he has a strong reading of the game, and he is a strong and physical defender, meaning he has all the necessary ingredients to slot straight back into the Owls’ rearguard and attempt to get his career back on track after a period that will have been tough both physically and mentally for the former Manchester United youngster.
A number of Wednesdayites on social media have already quipped that they believe Bernard, provided he stays, will be the best centre-back in League One next season. How good he will be after more than 12 months on the sidelines, though, remains to be seen.
However, Wednesday will be stronger with him than without him. He was sorely missed throughout this season, meaning he will be like having a new signing at the back next term.