Callum Slattery profiled as Sheffield Wednesday close in on latest transfer deal
Sheffield Wednesday desperately need to bolster their midfield options - and they are understood to be edging closer to landing Callum Slattery.
Sheffield Wednesday are understood to be closing in on the signing of soon-to-be free agent Callum Slattery.
As revealed by The Star on Wednesday evening, the midfielder, who will officially leave Motherwell when his contract expires at the end of this month, is expected to make the journey south to Hillsborough and bolster the Owls’ midfield options.
It was announced last month that Slattery will be leaving Fir Park this summer after five years at the club. He made 148 appearances for the Steelmen after arriving from Southampton in 2021.
With the likelihood of a move to Hillsborough increasing, The Star has produced a profile on Slattery ahead of him potentially becoming Wednesday’s latest signing of the summer transfer window.
Who is Callum Slattery?
Slattery is a 27-year-old midfielder who, as already documented, will officially leave Motherwell when his contract expires next week. He joined the Scottish outfit from Southampton in July 2021, arriving for an undisclosed fee.
Initially signing a three-year deal, the box-to-box midfielder signed a new one-year deal in June 2024, featuring a club option of a further year, taking him through until this summer.
The midfielder is highly-rated north of the border, developing a reputation for being a technical, box-to-box midfield operator and being clever with the ball at his feet. He is also considered a threat from set pieces.
What has he done so far?
Born in Oxfordshire, Slattery initially started out as Chelsea as a youngster before moving to Southampton, joining their academy in 2008. After navigating his way through the various youth teams at St Mary’s, the midfielder eventually established himself as a regular fixture for their Under-21s side, meaning he was within touching distance of the first team.
He became a regular for the Saints’ U21s in the Premier League 2 and sampled the taste of first team football via their involvement in the EFL Trophy. He made ten appearances in the competition between November 2016 and September 2020, scoring four goals and registering three assists.
During that period, he made his senior debut for Southampton, making his bow by starting a 2-2 draw with Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup at Pride Park in January 2019. Completing the full 90 minutes, he did enough to come off the bench in the following weekend’s Premier League victory to Leicester City.
He made three further appearances for the Saints during the 2018/19 season, featuring twice in the Premier League and in the FA Cup replay against Derby. He bagged his first and only Premier League start against Burnley at Turf Moor in February 2019, completing the full 90 minutes of a 1-1 stalemate.
Despite making that breakthrough to the Saints’ first team, the midfielder did not feature during the first half of the 2019/20 season, meaning he was sent out on loan for the first time in January 2020, joining Dutch club De Graafschap for the remainder of the season. He made five appearances, chipping in with one goal.
The first half of the 2020/21 season saw him feature regularly for Southampton’s U21s before heading to Gillingham, who were in League One at the time, on loan for the second half of the campaign in the January transfer window. However, he was restricted to just seven appearances for the Gills before an ankle injury brought his campaign to a premature conclusion.
Following two temporary stints away from St Mary’s in as many seasons, he left Southampton on a permanent basis in July 2021, moving north of the border to join Motherwell. He immediately established himself as a regular starter at Fir Park, making 34 appearances in his debut season in Scotland.
His first two-and-a-half seasons with Motherwell were highly successful, but his progress was derailed when he suffered a serious knee injury in training in January 2024, sidelining him for just over a year. Following his return, however, he finished the 2024/25 season with six goals and one assist in 17 matches.
Back to full fitness, Slattery played a key role in helping Motherwell finish fourth in 2025/26, marking their highest finish in the Scottish Premiership since finishing third in 2019/20. He scored three goals and registered ten assists across all competitions last term.
The midfielder has also represented England at youth level, representing England at U16s, U17s and U20s level.
What has been said about him?
After missing out on a place in the PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year in April, Slattery’s omission was addressed by Motherwell captain Paul McGinn, who waxed lyrical about the former Southampton man.
McGinn told Premier Sports: “If he wasn’t to stay, whoever gets him... he is some player, Callum Slattery. His ability to take the ball and twist you up is massive for us.
“He is honestly one of the best players I have ever played with.”
Why do Wednesday want him?
Where do you start answering that question? Wednesday, first and foremost, are desperately light in midfield. At the time of writing, Svante Ingelsson is the only senior midfielder the Owls currently have on their books following the departures of Nathaniel Chalobah, Marvelous Nakamba, Jaden Heskey and Rio Shipston this summer.
It is not unrealistic to say Wednesday need four or five new signings in midfield to rebuild that particular area of the team. Barry Bannan is expected to return to the club from Millwall, but Wednesday need more than just the Scot.
Slattery has earned high praise throughout his time at Motherwell and a quick online search tells you just how highly rated he is by their supporters. Wednesday need to add technical quality and creativity to their midfield ranks, and Slattery will provide both of those qualities.