Sheffield Wednesday new boy Ricardo Santos has already received the ultimate League One compliment
Ricardo Santos has become Sheffield Wednesday’s first signing of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window.
New Sheffield Wednesday recruit Ricardo Santos was once described as one of the best centre-backs outside the Premier League by former Bolton Wanderers head coach Ian Evatt.
Santos was unveiled as the Owls’ first signing of the summer transfer window on Friday, arriving for an undisclosed fee from Swansea City. He has signed a one-year deal at Hillsborough with a club option of an additional 12 months.
The defender, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, brings a wealth of League One experience to Hillsborough, making almost 200 appearances at this level. He spent five years at Bolton prior to moving to Swansea in last summer’s transfer window.
Recruited from Barnet in August 2020, Santos was often a pillar of consistency during his time at Bolton, helping them reach the League One play-offs in 2022/23 and 2023/24 respectively.
Santos, who made just one appearance during his time at Swansea, appearing as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat to Bristol City at Ashton Gate last November, frequently stood out for his dominance in the air, his physical power and being calm in possession.
Former Wanderers boss Evatt was so impressed by Santos that he labelled him the “best defender” in League One and suggested that he was one of the best defenders outside the top flight.
“For me, Rico is the best defender in the league,” said Evatt, as quoted by The Bolton News, after a 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in March 2022. “I think you will struggle to see anybody as good as him outside of the Premier League, and that’s how highly I rate him.
“He is our captain, he is our leader. The attributes he has are hard to find. We think the world of him, and he is a top player.”
Although his time at Swansea did not go according to plan, Santos’ record in League One speaks for itself. He is vastly experienced in England’s third tier, meaning he will bring leadership and guidance to Wednesday’s centre-back pool.
The Owls need strength, power and aggression at the back, meaning Santos’ addition ticks several boxes for manager Henrik Pedersen, who is expected to add more faces to his squad in the coming weeks.
Santos, who made it into the PFA League One Team of the Season three campaigns in a row, will discover who he could make his competitive Wednesday debut against when the fixtures for the 2026/27 League One campaign and are revealed on Thursday.