Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is expected to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window as the team prepares for the second half of the season. Following an impressive survival effort last year under Rohl’s leadership, which saw a dramatic turnaround in the club’s fortunes, Wednesday had a busy summer, bringing in 11 new players. Many anticipated a rise up the table this season. While most of the summer signings have made a positive impact, the team has shown inconsistency, and despite a decent start, Rohl will be eager to address the squad’s lingering weaknesses in January.
| Sheffield Wednesday summer signings | ||
| Player | From | Loan/Permanent |
| James Beadle | Brighton & Hove Albion | Loan |
| Ben Hamer | Watford | Permanent |
| Yan Valery | Angers | Permanent |
| Max Lowe | Sheffield United | Permanent |
| Svante Ingelsson | Hansa Rostock | Permanent |
| Nathaniel Chalobah | West Bromwich Albion | Permanent |
| Shea Charles | Southampton | Loan |
| Olaf Kobacki | Arka Gdynia | Permanent |
| Jamal Lowe | Bournemouth | Permanent |
| Charlie McNeill | Manchester United | Permanent |
| Ike Ugbo | Troyes | Permanent |
The opening months of this campaign have exposed areas of vulnerability within the squad, underscoring the need for reinforcements. Sheffield Wednesday’s track record in the transfer market has been mixed over the years, and with the winter window approaching, the club will need to avoid repeating some of its past mistakes. Reflecting on some of the more infamous transfer missteps in the club’s history provides insight into the risks involved in the January market.
One such mistake was the signing of Darryl Lachman in the summer of 2015. The Curacao international arrived from FC Twente with a solid reputation, having played in the Eredivisie for several clubs. However, Lachman’s arrival came just days before Carlos Carvalhal was appointed manager, and the new head coach did not rate him. As a result, Lachman was sent to train with the reserves, and after loan spells at SC Cambuur and Willem II, he left the club in 2017 without ever making a senior appearance.
Another notorious transfer was Joost van Aken’s move from Heerenveen in 2017. After a prolonged search for defensive reinforcements, Sheffield Wednesday hoped van Aken would solve their defensive issues. However, he struggled to impress and failed to establish himself in the first team. Although he was loaned to VfL Osnabruck in 2019-20 and briefly reintegrated into the squad by Garry Monk, van Aken’s second stint at Hillsborough proved short-lived, and he was eventually released in 2021 after making just 33 appearances in four years.
In 2016, the club made an unexpected move by signing Urby Emanuelson, a former Dutch international who had played for top clubs like Ajax and AC Milan. Despite his illustrious career, Emanuelson’s time at Hillsborough was disastrous. He struggled with injuries, and after just one substitute appearance in the final match of the 2016-17 season, he was released. Despite being a free transfer, Emanuelson was paid a high wage, making his signing a costly mistake for the club.
Midfielder Almen Abdi’s move to Sheffield Wednesday in 2016 also stands out as one of the club’s most disappointing transfers. After a successful spell at Watford, Abdi was expected to make an impact at Hillsborough, but he failed to live up to expectations. Over three years, he scored just one goal in 23 appearances and missed an entire season due to injury. His time at the club ended with his release, and Abdi later revealed he felt untrusted by manager Carlos Carvalhal and had requested to leave several times, though this did little to endear him to the club’s supporters.
Finally, the signing of striker Jordan Rhodes in 2017, following years of fan demand, was initially met with great excitement. Rhodes had a stellar reputation in the EFL, and his £8 million transfer from Middlesbrough was a club-record deal. However, despite his prolific goalscoring history, Rhodes struggled to meet the high expectations placed on him at Sheffield Wednesday. He was loaned out to Norwich City in 2018, where he helped the Canaries secure the Championship title, but his return to Hillsborough saw his form falter. Ultimately, he was released in 2021 after scoring only 20 goals in 112 appearances for the Owls.
These examples serve as a reminder of the potential pitfalls in the transfer market, and Sheffield Wednesday will need to ensure they avoid repeating such mistakes as they approach the January window.
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