Yan Valery's Sheffield Wednesday future latest after defender makes first appearance since World Cup
Yan Valery played 45 minutes on Saturday
Sheffield Wednesday hope to keep one of their key men after he returned to action at the weekend.
Yan Valery was pictured back at Middlewood Road last week and played the first-half of the pre-season goalless draw against Accrington Stanley on Saturday. The 27-year-old reminded everyone of his qualities. He would undoubtedly be one of the best players in League One, should The Owls retain his services.
The Tunisia international was given an extended break after playing for his country in this summer’s World Cup but is now back with the Wednesday squad ahead of the 2026/2027 campaign. Valery played in all three of Tunisia’s World Cup matches, suffering heavy defeats to Sweden, Japan and Holland. Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after the first game but it made no difference as they failed to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Playing against some of the best players in the world will likely have made Valery, who can play right-back and central midfield, determined to play at the highest level he can. He spent the second-half of last season on loan at Swiss side Young Boys, making 14 appearances, providing three assists. His exit allowed Wednesday to make significant savings on wages during their financial troubles. Valery, who has one year left on his contract, had been expected to leave this summer, and he still might, but for now he remains a Wednesday player.
Asked whether they have held talks with Valery about his future, Henrik Pedersen told The Star: “We have. We told him we are happy to see him again, and then we take it week by week. I'm happy that he's here and he has done well. He'll be a strong player for us if we if he stays with us. So I hope he will.”
As explained by David Storch in a recent statement, although fees received from player sales can be reinvested into the squad in wages, they do not raise the amount the club can spend in transfer and loan fees. Agreements with the EFL are in place for the next two years.