Sheffield United January Transfer Rumours: Who Do The Blades Need?
If you’d asked Sheffield United fans earlier in the campaign where this season was going, the responses would not have been positive to say the least.
Chris Wilder has at least steadied the ship since returning, but let’s not pretend everything is now back on track. The Blades are still stuck below mid-table, miles off where they want to be, and carrying a squad that looks like it was assembled with a scatter-gun approach.
Which is why this January transfer window is massive for the club.
Here’s everything we know about Sheffield United’s January business so far - who’s in, who’s out, who they’re linked with and what Wilder actually needs to fix.
Sheffield United’s January transfer window so far
This isn’t one of those “nice little tidy-up” windows.
This feels like a salvage operation.
The Blades are 16th in the Championship, clear of danger but nowhere near the play-off conversation. The unsuccessful Ruben Selles summer experiment has already been partly undone, and Wilder is now trying to turn a bloated, unbalanced squad into something that actually looks like a winning football team.
That’s why you’re seeing loans terminated, fringe players pushed out, and the loan market being raided early.
Why this window matters for the Blades
Chris Wilder has made it clear this isn’t just about adding quality - it’s about reshaping the entire squad.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Wilder said:
“The three or four players that we need in…we’d like to do a couple early on… AFCON is involved as well… Taking players out of Premier League teams will be a market that we’ll be looking at.”
He also confirmed the club want to reduce the squad size while improving quality.
Who Sheffield United have signed in January
The Blades have already made three additions.
Ki-Jana Hoever (Loan - Wolves)
The big one.
Hoever arrives from Wolves to finally give United some balance on the right. He can play wing-back, winger, full-back and even centre-back.
Hoever told the Sheffield Star:
“I have quality on the ball, a good right foot, good passing. And defensively I'm solid… I feel fit. And I'm ready to go.”
Wilder was even clearer about why he was signed:
“It is no secret that we need to strengthen on the right side… Ki’s name was always one which featured prominently.”
In other words: this was a clear key priority.
Jaïro Riedewald (Free Agent)
A left-field addition, but an interesting one.
Riedewald gives United another defensive midfield option - something Wilder has openly said they need more of.
Patrick Bamford (Free Agent)
Yes, that Patrick Bamford.
He was brought in as a short-term gamble in November for goals and experience and Sheffield United seem confident the gamble has paid off, as Bamford recently extended his stay with the club, putting pen to paper on an 18-month contract.
Who has already left Bramall Lane
This could be a crucial January transfer window for The Blades
The clear-out has begun.
Ben Godfrey
Returned to Atalanta after his loan was cut short.
Louie Barry
Back to Aston Villa U21s after failing to make an impact.
Sam Curtis
Loaned to Chesterfield for minutes.
Sheffield United January transfer rumours
Now to the fun part.
Marc Leonard (Birmingham City)
United are interested in the Birmingham midfielder, who is said to be unhappy with his game time.
With Wilder desperate for more midfield energy, this one makes a lot of sense.
Luke Graham (Dundee)
The 21-year-old centre-back is one of the most exciting young defenders in Scotland right now.
Sheffield United, QPR and Portsmouth are all interested. Dundee are trying to tie him down to a new deal - which usually means clubs are circling.
Graham’s boss Steven Pressley said:
“He has that steely determination… He has a big future.”
Sounds like a ready-made Wilder defender.
AFCON-linked midfielders & defenders
Wilder has confirmed that some of his targets are currently playing at AFCON, meaning deals could be delayed until mid-January.
These are likely to be Championship-ready, Premier League-fringe players rather than long-term projects.
Who Chris Wilder wants to sign
This is the most important part.
Wilder’s shopping list is very clear:
Midfield energy
Defensive stability
Right-sided balance
Which Sheffield United players could leave
Expect exits. Plenty of them.
Alex Matos
Signed in the summer. Already out of favour.
Just two substitute appearances since November. The Blades are open to offers.
Ehije Ukaki
Another player recruited through the club’s AI-driven recruitment model.
Hasn’t featured in a league game and is now expected to leave.
Other AI signings
According to The Sheffield Star, United will also listen to offers for:
Mihail Polendakov
Christian Nwachukwu
This follows Jefferson Cáceres already being sold.
All of this suggests the strategy of using an AI-driven recruitment model so far hasn’t delivered and the clean-up is underway.
Ryan One
The young forward has loan interest from Rotherham United.
So… who should Sheffield United sign?
Wilder is trying to drag this squad back to what Sheffield United used to be:
aggressive, organised, horrible to play against.
The signings reflect that.
Leonard would add bite and legs
Graham would add youth and steel
This isn’t about flair.
It’s about survival, structure and momentum.
Get this window right and Sheffield United can push into the top half.
Get it wrong and this season quietly drifts into nothing or potentially worse.
And no Blades fans want that.
