Sheffield Wednesday striker Ike Ugbo joins Cypriot club on season loan
A departure from SWFC...
Owls striker Iké Ugbo has joined Cypriot side Apollon Limassol on a season loan.
The 27-year-old had been linked with the move earlier in the week and the deal has now been completed and confirmed. The forward has not featured in pre-season and has been training alone, with all parties in agreement that a fresh start was needed.
Ugbo scored seven goals in 18 appearances after joining on loan from French club Troyes in January 2024, earning himself a permanent move to Hillsborough, for a fee believed to be about £2.5m. But he has not netted in his last 55 league appearances and did not play much last season despite Wednesday’s well-known struggles. An administration report earlier this year stated The Owls still owed around £2m of the £2.5m fee.
Owls sporting director, Simon Wilson, said: “After a difficult period, Iké asked the club to facilitate a fresh start this summer, with the objective getting back to his best for the benefit of himself and the club.
“We have worked collaboratively together throughout the off season to identify the right opportunity and believe we have secured something we are all happy with. We all go into this next chapter with positivity and optimism, and wish Iké well.”
It is widely-known that Ugbo, who is understood to still have two years left to run on his Owls contract, is one of Wednesday’s highest earners, which is believed to have been a stumbling block in him moving elsewhere before now.
The Canadian now joins top-flight Cypriot outfit, Apollon Limassol, who have a Uefa Conference League third qualifying round tie coming up this week away at Norwegian side SK Brann. Apollon finished third last season, 20 points behind leaders Omonoia.
As for Wednesday, their search for more firepower continues. They brought in Mason Burstow, 22, on a season loan from Hull City before the weekend but more attacking reinforcements are needed, as highlighted in Saturday’s two friendlies against Accrington Stanley and Oldham Athletic, where they failed to score in both games against League Two opposition.
Wednesday now turn their attention to the Carabao Cup first round clash against Bolton on Saturday at Hillsborough.