Iké Ugbo makes Danny Röhl exit claim as he outlines reasons behind Sheffield Wednesday struggles
Iké Ugbo sealed a temporary exit from Sheffield Wednesday over the weekend, joining Cypriot club Apollon Limassol on loan.
Striker Iké Ugbo has claimed that Danny Röhl’s exit as Sheffield Wednesday manager in July 2025 had an impact on his struggles at Hillsborough, following his recent move to Apollon Limassol.
Ugbo completed a season-long loan move to the Cypriot outfit on Sunday, bringing an end to a period of uncertainty surrounding his future in South Yorkshire.
The striker asked Wednesday to try to facilitate a fresh start for him this summer, meaning his move to Apollon has finally provided a sense of clarity for all parties. Ugbo has scored just two goals in 62 appearances since joining the Owls on a permanent basis two years ago.
Former Wednesday boss Röhl pushed to sign the Canadian international on a permanent basis during the 2024 summer transfer window after the striker had scored seven goals during a highly successful loan spell at Hillsborough in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Despite working with Röhl throughout the 2024/25 season, Ugbo scored just one goal in his first campaign as a permanent Wednesday player, finding the net in a 5-1 victory over Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Off-field chaos led to Röhl’s departure as Owls boss last summer, meaning the German’s former assistant, Henrik Pedersen, stepped up to replace him. Ugbo ended his goal drought against Bolton Wanderers in the first round of the Carabao Cup, giving everyone hope that he would build on that moment and get his career back on track. However, that dream scenario failed to materialise, and he made just 24 appearances across all competitions last season.
Having now secured a temporary exit, the 27-year-old has said Röhl’s departure, alongside a lack of direction at the club, contributed to his struggles.
Addressing why his first two seasons at Hillsborough failed to work out, Ugbo told Apollon’s club website: “Several things happened. The coach who had brought me to the team left very early and that affected the situation.
“Then there was no clear direction. All of that made things more difficult for me.”
Despite the difficulties he faced throughout the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns, Ugbo has said they have given him the strength to try to get his career back on track.
“It made me stronger,” he continued. “In every footballer's career there are good and difficult moments.
“The important thing is to find the strength to come back. I've done it before and I believe I can do it again now.”
Confident a temporary move to Cyprus will give him the platform he needs to get his career back on track, the former Troyes and Chelsea man has said he was attracted by a move to Apollon because of their style of play.
Ugbo added: “I am a striker who loves to move in the area and finish the passes. That is my role. I want to score goals, but also to provide energy and a lot of work on the pitch.
“I like to work with coaches who have a clear philosophy and want their teams to play attacking football. That suits my characteristics best. From our first conversation I understood that the coach has clear ideas about the football he wants to play and that was something that won me over.”